In a powerful testament to the evolving landscape of the music industry, several compelling female voices from the Nordic region have shared their unique perspectives on creativity, resilience, and the journey of artistic self-discovery. To commemorate International Women’s Day, these artists have offered invaluable insights into the rituals that shape their music and offered a guiding light for aspiring creators. Their collective message resonates with a profound emphasis on embracing individuality, fostering a deep connection with one’s craft, and understanding that true artistic fulfillment often lies in the courage to be imperfectly authentic.
The overarching theme emerging from these conversations is the rejection of a prescribed artistic mold in favor of a "HER way" of creation—a hyper-personal approach that celebrates individual journeys and unique expressions. This philosophy stands in contrast to traditional industry pressures that often push artists toward conformity. The artists interviewed—Charlotte Dos Santos, garbagepink, mags, and Cyan Kicks—represent a diverse spectrum of emerging talent, each bringing a distinct flavor to the contemporary Nordic music scene. Their shared wisdom serves as a beacon for both emerging artists navigating the complexities of the industry and established listeners seeking a deeper understanding of the creative process. The core tenets of their advice underscore the enduring power of consistency, the inherent beauty found in imperfections, and the vital importance of staying true to one’s artistic vision.
A Chorus of Encouragement: Inspiring the Next Generation of Artists
When asked to impart wisdom to younger artists embarking on their creative paths, the responses were a resounding call to introspection, dedication, and unwavering self-belief.
Charlotte Dos Santos, a vocalist and producer known for her soulful and genre-bending sound, urged aspiring artists to cultivate a relentless sense of curiosity. "Stay curious, spend time on your craft and be your biggest fan," she advised. "Remember your why and look inwards." This sentiment highlights the internal compass that should guide artistic endeavors, emphasizing that external validation, while welcome, should not be the primary driver. Dos Santos’s own work often draws from a rich tapestry of personal experiences and historical narratives, suggesting that looking inward and outward simultaneously can fuel a potent creative engine.
The experimental electronic artist garbagepink offered a bold directive: to prioritize personal artistic satisfaction over the pursuit of widespread appeal. "Don’t be afraid to make music that sounds different," she implored. "Don’t necessarily make music that you think people might like. Make the music you like. Trust your gut." This encouragement to embrace sonic divergence and rely on innate intuition is particularly relevant in an era where algorithmic trends can easily dictate creative choices. Garbagepink’s approach often involves a synesthetic exploration of sound and visuals, demonstrating how pushing boundaries in one artistic realm can inform and enrich another.
Mags, a singer-songwriter whose lyrics are lauded for their raw honesty and emotional depth, spoke passionately about authenticity as a cornerstone of artistic impact. "I would like to inspire other artists to live and create in an environment and way that feels authentic and expansive to them," she stated. "I believe that one of the most powerful ways to make an impact is to remain authentic to oneself in how we create, love and live. I live and create with that in mind and hope to inspire other artists to do the same." Mags’s philosophy suggests that the creative process is intrinsically linked to one’s overall life experience, advocating for a holistic approach where personal integrity permeates all aspects of artistic output.
The indie-rock band Cyan Kicks, represented by their collective voice, offered a pragmatic yet inspiring perspective on overcoming self-doubt and embracing the journey of growth. "I think the biggest thing is not waiting until you feel ready, because most artists never do," they explained. "You just start and grow into it. Courage is way more important than perfection, and imperfection is much more interesting than perfection. The thing you might think makes you weird or different is usually the thing that makes you interesting as an artist. Talent is great, but consistency is what really builds a career. And through all of that, try to protect the part of you that genuinely loves music, because that’s the thing that will keep you going when everything else gets hard." This multifaceted advice encapsulates the dual nature of artistic development: the necessity of taking initiative and the long-term rewards of sustained effort, all while safeguarding the intrinsic passion that fuels the endeavor. The emphasis on consistency is particularly noteworthy, as it speaks to the disciplined dedication required to translate raw talent into a sustainable career, a reality often overlooked in the romanticized narratives of artistic success.
Sources of Sonic Alchemy: Unearthing Inspiration
The wellsprings of inspiration for these artists are as diverse as their musical styles, ranging from the quotidian to the deeply introspective.
Charlotte Dos Santos finds creative fodder in the everyday. "I draw inspiration from daily life, experiences, dreams, and books," she shared. "I love history and I love learning about our ancestors and people who came before us." This eclectic approach suggests that inspiration can be found in a multitude of sources, from personal reflections to the vast narratives of human history, enriching her music with a sense of depth and connection to the past.
Garbagepink’s creative process often involves a deliberate fusion of sensory experiences. "I love experiencing music together with visuals," she revealed. "In the studio I sometimes play my track over a muted music video on YouTube to see how it comes alive with the footage." This cross-modal inspiration highlights how artists can tap into different art forms to unlock new dimensions in their own work, fostering a more dynamic and immersive creative output.
Mags draws inspiration directly from the raw material of her own life, embracing vulnerability as a creative catalyst. "When it comes to my songwriting I usually draw the most inspiration from my own lived experiences. The good, the ugly and the bad," she explained. "Usually trying to capture the universal by being hyper personal and radically honest. Hoping that it makes someone feel less alone in their experience and/or feelings." This commitment to radical honesty underscores the power of personal narrative to forge universal connections, transforming individual struggles into shared experiences of catharsis and understanding. Her approach aligns with a growing trend in contemporary music where authenticity and emotional resonance are paramount.
Cyan Kicks delves into the internal landscape for their lyrical narratives, finding profound meaning in emotional intensity. "I draw inspiration from my own mental landscape; I take stories for my songs from what’s shouting the loudest inside me at the moment," they described. "It’s usually something heavy or intense, my songs rarely come from happy places. That said, even difficult emotions or experiences can be approached in a positive way and I often try to do that too. When I turn frustration or pain into a song and listen to the first version on repeat it actually helps heal the wound the song originally came from. I hope it can do the same for others too." This introspective process reveals music as a therapeutic tool, not only for the artist but also for the listener, offering a pathway to processing and healing through shared emotional journeys. The act of creation, in this context, becomes a transformative act of self-discovery and communal catharsis.
The Architecture of Creation: Unpacking Creative Processes
The methodologies employed by these artists to translate inspiration into tangible sonic works vary, yet each process is rooted in a deliberate and often iterative approach.
Charlotte Dos Santos views creativity as an ongoing, subconscious endeavor. "I think my creative process is every day—I think its like this for most humans really, we’re always thinking and downloading information in the back of our minds, subconsciously," she stated. "And having designated days in the studio is important too, to get the music down." This perspective emphasizes the constant intake of information that fuels creativity, while also acknowledging the necessity of dedicated time and space for the actualization of musical ideas. This dual approach, encompassing both ambient absorption and focused execution, is a common thread among prolific creators.
Garbagepink champions a rapid, instinctual approach in the studio, inspired by foundational artistic training. "I usually get my ideas in everyday life, writing down notes or recording voice memos when something comes to me," she explained. "In the studio I work very quickly with the production. When I went to art school we did croquis, drawing fast sketches without overworking them. I approach music in a similar way. I try to capture the foundation of a song quickly before thinking too much, then build from there with vocals and layers of guitars." This method, akin to capturing fleeting moments in a sketch, allows for the preservation of raw emotion and immediate creative impulses, forming a solid base upon which more intricate layers can be meticulously added. This echoes the principles of iterative design, where initial concepts are rapidly prototyped and refined.
Mags has undergone a significant evolution in her creative process, moving towards interdisciplinary exploration. "I have seen a shift in my creative process in the past year," she noted. "I have always written autobiographically with myself and (unusually) one other subject being the main characters. Recently I have had an urge to broaden and challenge that way of writing. As a part of that journey I have been dipping my toes into other forms of art through my creative studio CPC studio (cross pollination creatives). The idea of tapping into multiple creative mediums at once to create the most fulfilling creative experience is really driving my creative process at the moment." Her recent headliner concert at Vega, featuring an actress, a light artist, and a musician, exemplifies this innovative approach, merging concert, light installation, and theater. This ambitious expansion of her creative practice suggests a forward-thinking artist committed to pushing the boundaries of conventional performance and narrative. This aligns with a broader cultural movement towards the blurring of artistic lines, as seen in immersive exhibitions and multimedia performances.
Cyan Kicks employs a collaborative and adaptable songwriting method, emphasizing foundational elements before elaborate production. "We write songs both as a band and with external songwriters. It usually starts with a conversation about what we want to write about and what kind of vibe we’re going for," they detailed. "Most of the time we keep it really simple in the beginning, just an acoustic guitar or piano to find the direction instead of spending time building a full production right away. The nice thing about that approach is that the song doesn’t get locked into any specific style too early, so we can take it in any direction later on." They also highlighted the intensity of vocal recording and the need for a focused environment, stating, "I also need a lot of peace and focus during the writing process—if it gets too loud or chaotic, I kind of shut down." Their successful writing retreats abroad and subsequent studio refinements in Helsinki underscore a strategic approach to creativity, blending diverse environments with concentrated effort. The band’s evolution in co-writing, from initial nervousness to current comfort, reflects a personal growth that enhances their creative output. This systematic approach, prioritizing core musical ideas and then allowing for stylistic flexibility, is a hallmark of successful songwriting partnerships and demonstrates a mature understanding of the creative lifecycle.
The Enduring Resonance of Authenticity
The collective insights from Charlotte Dos Santos, garbagepink, mags, and Cyan Kicks offer a potent reminder that the journey of an artist is not defined by a singular path to success, but by the courage to forge one’s own way. Their emphasis on embracing imperfections, nurturing inner curiosity, and remaining steadfastly authentic provides a timeless blueprint for anyone navigating the creative landscape. As the music industry continues to evolve, the wisdom shared by these Nordic artists serves as a powerful testament to the enduring value of individuality and the profound impact of creating "HER way"—a way that is true, honest, and unapologetically personal. The lessons learned from their experiences—the importance of consistency, the acceptance of imperfection, and the unwavering protection of one’s passion—are universally applicable, offering encouragement and guidance to artists at every stage of their careers and to listeners who appreciate the depth and authenticity behind the music they love. This International Women’s Day conversation transcends a singular celebration, offering a sustainable framework for artistic integrity and personal fulfillment in the creative arts.
