Kari Rueslåtten, is the former vocalist of “The 3rd And The Mortal”, a member of the female troika known as “The Sirens” along with Liv Kristin and Anneke Van Giesbergen, but also, the goddess of song and spring… (shucks I’m getting carried away). Well after a musical exile of almost a decade to get a degree and start a family, Kari did resume her musical career following the advice of Nightwish main man Tuomas Holopainen (who also did re-cut an old 3rd And The Mortal song with her as a single) for her previous album. Not keeping us waiting too long, the lovely Norwegian muse is now back with a new album dedicated “To the North”, which she calls her homeland. We asked her all about it, and she happily complied to answer all our questions, even the weird ones...
Hello Kari and thanks for doing this interview.
K: It’s a pleasure, thank you for the interview…
Having made your return to the “scene” you didn’t take another 8 or so years to come up with a follow-up to “Time to Tell”. How did you approach “To the North” in comparison with the previous album and was is easier to make?
K: I was a little bit faster this time – 8 years is a long a break! Yes, in a way it was easier, because I knew it was going to be a follow-up album, so I had strong ideas in what directions I wanted to stretch the musical expressions further.
Do you fell that have found a balance of sorts between “career/family” and recording/touring?
K: Well, yes – it is not an easy balance, because my children are still quite small, they are 6 and 8 years of age, so they don’t want their Mum to be away for too long at the time – and neither does the Mum. So we are still working on the perfect balance.
Could we expect a more “steady” output of albums in the future?
K: Well, I try not to plan too far ahead, but I have good hopes that there will be another album not too long from now, that is in my plans.
How gratifying was it for you to get back into this? Is it important for you to “express” yourself in this way?
K: It was wonderful to come back to music. It is something I truly had missed, but I didn’t know it before I was back doing it. It feels like a piece of me that I was missing has come back.
Being a singer, do you burst in the song even privately, or is it something sort of reserved as a profession?
K: I am actually a little shy as a person. I do not like to draw too much attention in private settings. I always sing when I am on my own, though.
Which leads me to the next question, there have been plenty of songs attributed to the “Sirens” project released online but no proper release. Do you expect that one to be next up, or another solo album?
K: The Sirens have no plans of recording a studio album as of now. We are all busy with our solo-projects, so right now that seems to take up the time. But, we have a great time together on stage, so we will see what the future brings.
What “stories” has your mind concocted these time around? Usually there are bits of drama, bits of trauma, happy little bits – all sorts of things, but “To the North” feels a bit more “serious” in tone. Do you feel that way, or was it just how certain songs came out?
K: “To the North” to me is like a soundtrack to the north. I have tried to create music that makes one image the journey to the north and that reflects hopefully in both lyrics and music.
If you don’t mind – spoil the odd song story and share it with us... I always find it both interesting and fascinating to hear were people draw their inspiration from and sometimes, pretty surprising too...
K: I am very often inspired by people’s history and tales, why they made the choices they made, why they chose to do things that had such bad impact on those around them for instance. I am very fascinated by what’s going on the inside of a human mind.
And explain how the title came about? Was it just a strong song? Is it a statement of “where” you’re from?
K: The title was the first thing I came up with. I wanted to make a follow up to “Time to Tell”, and I wanted to take the listener “home”, and to me that is in The North.
Is there a musical style that you would like to attempt, even as an experimentation, even though you’ve sung on Black metal albums, electronic / dj stuff, done some quite folk-y albums? What do you think might have taken you out of your comfort zone?
K: Ha ha, good question! I don’t really know – I am quite open minded, as long as the music in any way touch me and tell a story to me.
Should we visit Trondheim, and if so why?
K: Indeed you should visit Trondheim! It is a very friendly town, nice people, nice things to see – quite famous cathedral among other things – and you will experience real weather. (i.n.: In mock Scottish accent : FYI Dear Kari, the writer called North Scotland his home for nearly a decade – he knows full well about “real weather”)
You seem to either “translate” other people’s stories – retelling them in first or third person sometimes or even make up some stuff and maybe there’s the occasional own memory turned into a song there, have you ever felt compelled to write about something sort of more “global”? With all the sort of crazy things going on at the moment, there might be an abundance of ideas...
K: I believe that what is going on around you always influence you as a writer, whether it comes out more directly or indirectly, it will make an impact.
You did some vinyl singles again. How did those do commercially?
K: I really like releasing music in hard copies – CDs and vinyl. It is growing in popularity the vinyls and I have released both albums, singles and pictures discs related to “To the North”, and they have done all right, but I release it because I like those products myself, not to make money on it. Vinyls are really expensive to produce so it’s not easy to make any “real” income on it.
Having released already an album with Despotz prior to this, are you happy with them?
K: Yes, Despotz Records are two guys based in Stockholm in Sweden, and they are very friendly and into music, so I am very happy with them.
When could we hope to see you in Greece? Either solo or as part of the Sirens, if ever?
K: Oh, I would very much love to play in Greece, hopefully one day that would happen. (i.n.: Can it be before 2050 please?!)
Weird questions!!! If you were one of the muses, which one would you like to be?
K: I would rather have a muse to come my way when inspiration is hard to find!
If you were not Kari, but could be any other person (historical or fictional, male or female) who would you choose to be and why?
K: I would I like to be in the mind of the first person who decided to be mean and change that behavior into being good, and by that change all mean behavior into good behavior once and for all – for all mankind to come.
What’s the most outrageous thing that has ever happened to you (in your musical career) can be funny... or just plainly “WTF”?
K: Hmmm, cannot think of one right now… sorry.
If you were a woman and I was a man (famous Robin beck tune) – If that happened to you by contraries for a day (like in some dodgy comedies) what would your reaction be?
K: You mean if I woke up one day and was a man? Oh, I think it would be really interesting!
If you could meet your younger self what advice would you give to her?
K: That is easy – I would advise her not to worry so much!
Thanks again, please give a salutation to all the readers of Grande Rock and everyone in Greece.
K: Thank you so much for reading this interview. I hope you are all find and that you will find time to listen to “To the North”! Hopefully see you on tour soon in Greece! All the best, Kari…
K: It’s a pleasure, thank you for the interview…
Having made your return to the “scene” you didn’t take another 8 or so years to come up with a follow-up to “Time to Tell”. How did you approach “To the North” in comparison with the previous album and was is easier to make?
K: I was a little bit faster this time – 8 years is a long a break! Yes, in a way it was easier, because I knew it was going to be a follow-up album, so I had strong ideas in what directions I wanted to stretch the musical expressions further.
Do you fell that have found a balance of sorts between “career/family” and recording/touring?
K: Well, yes – it is not an easy balance, because my children are still quite small, they are 6 and 8 years of age, so they don’t want their Mum to be away for too long at the time – and neither does the Mum. So we are still working on the perfect balance.
Could we expect a more “steady” output of albums in the future?
K: Well, I try not to plan too far ahead, but I have good hopes that there will be another album not too long from now, that is in my plans.
How gratifying was it for you to get back into this? Is it important for you to “express” yourself in this way?
K: It was wonderful to come back to music. It is something I truly had missed, but I didn’t know it before I was back doing it. It feels like a piece of me that I was missing has come back.
Being a singer, do you burst in the song even privately, or is it something sort of reserved as a profession?
K: I am actually a little shy as a person. I do not like to draw too much attention in private settings. I always sing when I am on my own, though.
Which leads me to the next question, there have been plenty of songs attributed to the “Sirens” project released online but no proper release. Do you expect that one to be next up, or another solo album?
K: The Sirens have no plans of recording a studio album as of now. We are all busy with our solo-projects, so right now that seems to take up the time. But, we have a great time together on stage, so we will see what the future brings.
What “stories” has your mind concocted these time around? Usually there are bits of drama, bits of trauma, happy little bits – all sorts of things, but “To the North” feels a bit more “serious” in tone. Do you feel that way, or was it just how certain songs came out?
K: “To the North” to me is like a soundtrack to the north. I have tried to create music that makes one image the journey to the north and that reflects hopefully in both lyrics and music.
If you don’t mind – spoil the odd song story and share it with us... I always find it both interesting and fascinating to hear were people draw their inspiration from and sometimes, pretty surprising too...
K: I am very often inspired by people’s history and tales, why they made the choices they made, why they chose to do things that had such bad impact on those around them for instance. I am very fascinated by what’s going on the inside of a human mind.
And explain how the title came about? Was it just a strong song? Is it a statement of “where” you’re from?
K: The title was the first thing I came up with. I wanted to make a follow up to “Time to Tell”, and I wanted to take the listener “home”, and to me that is in The North.
Is there a musical style that you would like to attempt, even as an experimentation, even though you’ve sung on Black metal albums, electronic / dj stuff, done some quite folk-y albums? What do you think might have taken you out of your comfort zone?
K: Ha ha, good question! I don’t really know – I am quite open minded, as long as the music in any way touch me and tell a story to me.
Should we visit Trondheim, and if so why?
K: Indeed you should visit Trondheim! It is a very friendly town, nice people, nice things to see – quite famous cathedral among other things – and you will experience real weather. (i.n.: In mock Scottish accent : FYI Dear Kari, the writer called North Scotland his home for nearly a decade – he knows full well about “real weather”)
You seem to either “translate” other people’s stories – retelling them in first or third person sometimes or even make up some stuff and maybe there’s the occasional own memory turned into a song there, have you ever felt compelled to write about something sort of more “global”? With all the sort of crazy things going on at the moment, there might be an abundance of ideas...
K: I believe that what is going on around you always influence you as a writer, whether it comes out more directly or indirectly, it will make an impact.
You did some vinyl singles again. How did those do commercially?
K: I really like releasing music in hard copies – CDs and vinyl. It is growing in popularity the vinyls and I have released both albums, singles and pictures discs related to “To the North”, and they have done all right, but I release it because I like those products myself, not to make money on it. Vinyls are really expensive to produce so it’s not easy to make any “real” income on it.
Having released already an album with Despotz prior to this, are you happy with them?
K: Yes, Despotz Records are two guys based in Stockholm in Sweden, and they are very friendly and into music, so I am very happy with them.
When could we hope to see you in Greece? Either solo or as part of the Sirens, if ever?
K: Oh, I would very much love to play in Greece, hopefully one day that would happen. (i.n.: Can it be before 2050 please?!)
Weird questions!!! If you were one of the muses, which one would you like to be?
K: I would rather have a muse to come my way when inspiration is hard to find!
If you were not Kari, but could be any other person (historical or fictional, male or female) who would you choose to be and why?
K: I would I like to be in the mind of the first person who decided to be mean and change that behavior into being good, and by that change all mean behavior into good behavior once and for all – for all mankind to come.
What’s the most outrageous thing that has ever happened to you (in your musical career) can be funny... or just plainly “WTF”?
K: Hmmm, cannot think of one right now… sorry.
If you were a woman and I was a man (famous Robin beck tune) – If that happened to you by contraries for a day (like in some dodgy comedies) what would your reaction be?
K: You mean if I woke up one day and was a man? Oh, I think it would be really interesting!
If you could meet your younger self what advice would you give to her?
K: That is easy – I would advise her not to worry so much!
Thanks again, please give a salutation to all the readers of Grande Rock and everyone in Greece.
K: Thank you so much for reading this interview. I hope you are all find and that you will find time to listen to “To the North”! Hopefully see you on tour soon in Greece! All the best, Kari…