A pioneer of modern day Nordic Folk, Siv Jakobsen hails from the cold and frigid landscape of Norway, yet manages to sculpt an acoustic aura of warmth and mellow that echoes that of cozy winters gone by. For my first ‘Artist of the Month‘ feature, I’ll be covering one of my favourite singers of all time, who I was very fortunately given the opportunity to ask some questions. I’ll be focusing on specific songs, her music in general and her responses to some of my questions. If you haven’t checked her out yet, you can find her Twitter here, Facebook here and Spotify here.

Her Music

When I asked Siv who her idols were in music and who she’d compare herself to, she admitted that it’s hard to “hear who/what I sound like” but mentioned that she is commonly compared to Ane Brun and Laura Marling, who she identifies as “huge inspirations and idols” for her. Siv’s music perfectly encapsulates the soothing melodies of Brun and Marling’s work but I see it as unique in it’s own way.

What draws me to Siv Jakobsen’s music is not just the dreamy music, but the depth of the lyrics, and how, when Siv sings, you can feel the meaning in the words themselves. They have such relatable meaning and when I put in my earphones and listen to one of my favourites, such as the enchanting “How We Used To Love” or beautiful “Fix You”, I find myself matching the vocals to moments in my own life.

The charm of Siv’s Nordic Folk never fades and she is definitely going to be one to watch for the future. It sticks with you after the song stops playing and stays in your head all day long, but not in the way that a catchy but generic pop song does, in the way when a song connects with you so much that you can’t help but hum along as the magical melodies reverberate around your mind.

Song Focus: How We Used To Love

When I asked Siv if she had a favourite song of her own she told me that “they all mean a lot for different reasons” and that she doesn’t particularly have a favourite. However, she said that she really “likes How We Used To Love, because [she] feels like [she] was able to express something pure and honest both in the music and lyrics”. I couldn’t agree with her more as the lyrics of How We Used To Love seem to carry such depth and meaning that I rarely experience from listening to music.

How We Used To Love is probably Siv’s most recognised song with over 900,000 plays on Spotify as of this date. The lyrics tell a story of the love between a couple which has grown apart and faded, with the protagonist’s partner not communicating and having a dark history which they don’t talk about. To me, it represents the danger of a romance without trust and openness but also of the hurt someone can feel from a faded love.

Question Time!

SW: What led you to follow a career in music?

SJ: I’ve never really had an urge to do anything else – so it’s just been a natural progression from singing in a choir at a young age, to studying music in school, to becoming a professional musician and songwriter.

SW: What do you like to do in your spare time?

SJ: I’m big on reading, I find a lot of inspiration in reading novels. I also really like practicing guitar (I’m such a nerd) and learning other stringed instruments like the banjo and ukulele, which I’ve been doing lately.

SW: What tips would you have for any young musicians looking to follow a similar career to you?

SJ: You have to really really want to do it, otherwise it’ll be too hard I think. Also, practice your skill and instrument(s) a lot – I believe in really hard work more than pure talent. If you really want to be a musician, you can be – but you have to be willing to put in the work and time, just like with any other profession.

SW: What’s your favourite thing about what you do?

SJ: I really really love touring, because I get to travel and see new places, and play music to people. It’s an amazing thing. I do really love everything about the creative part of my job – the writing, the recording, and the performing. I’m very lucky to get to do what I do.

I’d like to thank Siv so much for allowing me to ask her a few questions and to cover her as my first ever Artist of the Month. If I haven’t managed to convince you to check out a bit of her stuff then I’m obviously not doing this right!

Again, you can check out her Spotify, Facebook, Website and Twitter by clicking on those links!