Part 1

Name: Julia Gjertsen
Nationality: Norwegian
Occupation: Pianist, composer, produce
Current release: Julia Gjertsen's current single "Undo" is out via Deep Heads. She also has a track on upcoming compilation Cosmic Vibrations Vol. 4 out on May 26th 2023.
Recommendations: I recommend checking out music by Takashi Yoshimatsu.

If you enjoyed this Julia Gjertsen interview and would like to stay up to date with her and her music, visit her official website. She is also on Instagram, twitter, and Facebook.



When I listen to music, I see shapes, objects and colours. What happens in your body when you're listening? Do you listen with your eyes open or closed?

My experience depends on the kind of music I'm listening to and how it resonates with me.

When I listen to music, I do that with my entire being, as if I become a sponge, absorbing the music as I listen. The same goes for when I create music. I become a listener, tuning within myself and allowing the music to guide me. Sometimes, I am in a more analytical state while listening, focusing on the details and how they make me feel.

As for whether I listen with my eyes open or closed, it depends on the situation and the music itself. Sometimes, closing my eyes allows me to focus more on the experience I'm having.
 
What were your very first steps in music like - and how do you rate gains made through experience versus the naiveté of those first steps?

Music has always been a big part of my life, even though I didn't grow up in a musical family.

As a child, I remember that I used to sing a lot and create melodies in my mind. I was introduced to piano at the age of 7, thanks to my grandmother's friend who was a piano teacher. My practice was enjoyable and stress-free, and I early started to create my own melodies for myself. During my teenage years, I became more involved in creating music with others by playing guitar and singing in bands. Later, I returned to playing the piano and continued to focus on composing instrumental music.

All these experiences have contributed to discovering my sound and style. I think that the simplicity of the songs I created back then is still present in my music. I also feel that when I'm sitting in front of a piano or a DAW, I often maintain that childlike sense of wonder and allow my intuition to guide me.

This approach is important to me, but I also appreciate the benefits of having specific ideas or limitations in my creative process. I love that magical moment when I happen to create something that surprises me. I would say that all of my steps throughout the years have been important in evolving my musical identity.
 
According to scientific studies, we make our deepest and most incisive musical experiences between the ages of 13-16. What did music mean to you at that age and what’s changed since then?

Indeed, during those years, music played a significant role in my life as I began creating many songs and sharing them with others. Music served as both a friend and therapy for me. It was a time of exploration and discovery, as I expressed myself creatively and was introduced to new music that opened up my mind.

The way I create and think about music has evolved, but I think the essence of my passion and curiosity is still a driving force for me. While some aspects have changed, such as transitioning from using my voice towards expressing myself through the piano and electronics, the role of music as a constant companion in my life is still there. In many ways, it is therapy for me and helps to process things that can be hard to express with words.

Music has been there for me during both good times and bad, and it enables me to connect with others in ways that nothing else can.

Over the course of your development, what have been your most important instruments and tools and how have they shaped your perspective on music?

Throughout my life, the piano has been an important instrument for me. Perhaps my connection to this instrument comes from a sense of safety and peace it offered me during my childhood. I find the piano's timbre to be very comforting, as it allows me to enter a meditative state, and sometimes it can evoke strong emotions within me.

Everytime I sit down to compose on the piano, I feel connected to the universe and it feels as if I am in my own world where time stands still, my worries dissolve, and I am able to create something that feels meaningful and authentic to me.

My perspective on what is possible to create and express through music was expanded when I started using digital tools, beginning with Propellerheads Reason in 2008. This introduction to electronic music production opened up new possibilities, leading me to where I am today. I like to think of each piece I create as a puzzle, bringing all its parts together, not only with the piano. I primarily use Ableton Live as my DAW, and I recently also started using Loopy Pro, an app for creating loops with my iPad, which has been important for my live performances.

When it comes to producing, blending acoustic and electronic elements and processing them in different ways allows me to expand my musical palette and express myself in different ways. My Korg Prologue synthesizer has also played an important role in the production of two of my albums, and I sometimes use field recordings to add more natural elements into my compositions.

The combination of natural sounds, synthesizers, and acoustic instruments has been essential for me when it comes to creating music.
 
What, would you say, are the key 3 ideas behind your approach to music and what motivates you to create?

My music is based on three core components I like to call the "3 I's": improvisation, intuition, and introspection.

I am driven by the need to express myself through music, and if it resonates with others or helps them in some way, I feel a sense of fulfillment. This is very meaningful to me because I understand the power of music when it comes to using it as a tool for healing.

I often find it challenging to express certain feelings or ideas through words alone. When I create music, I don't have to think about words, I can just speak through music, and that is the greatest motivation for me to continue creating.

Paul Simon said “the way that I listen to my own records is not for the chords or the lyrics - my first impression is of the overall sound.” What is your own take on that and how would you define your personal sound?

I think that the overall sound of a piece is shaped by a combination of different elements, including moments of silence.

When it comes to my own music, I find it hard to listen to my work after it has been released. I often need some time to gain distance before I can return to the piece and re-experience it as I felt during the first steps of the creation process. First impressions are usually crucial for me, both as a listener and a creator.

While composing, I become a listener myself. If the music resonates with me and captures my attention, gives me a moment of excitement or emotion, I consider the first impression to be successful.

After working on a piece for a while, it is easy to become "blind" to it, which is why some of the tracks I make are never finished or released.
 
Sound, song, and rhythm are all around us, from animal noises to the waves of the ocean. What, if any, are some of the most moving experiences you've had with these non-human-made sounds? In how far would you describe them as “musical”?

Music is indeed ubiquitous. We can experience it as controlled compositions we create or the uncontrolled soundscapes generated by our environment. If we pay close attention, we can find symphonies in the environment - perhaps it is our perception that determines whether these sounds are music to us or not.

I think that non-human-made sounds can be considered "musical" because they can affect us in the same way that traditional music does. Some sounds or soundscapes can evoke emotions in us.

Not all sounds in our environment are pleasant or easy to appreciate. As someone who has struggled with hyperacusis, I find some sounds in urban settings to be painful and disturbing. This sensitivity to sound can sometimes be overwhelming, but on the other hand, it probably has also allowed me to experience and appreciate some sounds more intensely.