Interview With Christina Dana

Have you always been interested in music? What is your story and how did you start making music?

As a little girl I always listen to Motown singers. I liked the rhythm and use to sing and dance. Later on as a teenager I fell in love with Creedence Clearwater Revival and the love lasted until I heard bo Hanson and Björn J.son Lind.

All through my life I have listen to a lot of music and in Sweden ABBA was always heard on the radio but I preferred Michael Jackson.

I had a busy family life so I didn’t have much time to sing but when my sons grew up, I started to sing in a choir. At a concert my family saw how happy I was so they bought me a present, a singing lesson.

There I discovered the power of my voice and how much I needed to express the feelings inside and the voice was a fantastic instrument. The anatomy of the voice and how one can train the muscles and develop the capacity and technique its marvelous.

At first, I sang what was chosen for me but later I realized jazz best suited my voice. I felt free when I sang jazz, it’s a fantastic way to express feelings and music is a universal language which unites people.

Later on I took the leap of creating my own music. Writing lyrics and melodies.

What are you working on now? Any future releases we can look forward to?

Now I am working in project of recording my song together with local musicians here in Öerobro, Sweden. During this time, I have met so many good musicians and people and the meetings generates creativity, friendship and motivation to do more music.

I often start the lyrics, then melody and the fantastic musicians contribute with their interpretation of the song. Everything is done such that we work closely together with trust and responsiveness not to disturb one another with judgement during the process plus we drink a lot of coffee and laugh a lot.

I have several songs in the pipeline. Sweeping emotion, acoustic is coming on 21 Mars and Linger on in 18 April and we are going to work with Moody Weather soon. Then I have more meetings with musicians and one producer in Sweden and one in France. I am really lucky.

What Is Your Ultimate Goal In The Music Industry?

My goal is to have fun and create songs with beautiful people. I would like to make these good musicians visible to a broader audience. I would also like if some of my music gives somebody extra energy or reflects on their own life. Al my lyrics is taken from experience and observations of life so if somebody could recognize themself or have a smile on their face I am glad.

What Has Been The Biggest Challenge In Your Career Thus Far?

Since I started late in life I have had to build a social net of new people. I didn’t meet anyone in music school so it takes a lot of courage and energy to get in touch with new people but I have managed fine until now and it’s becoming easier and easier. It takes a lot of time to build social connections and to publish promotion on social media.

How do you go about writing a song? Do you have a melody in your head and then write the other music for it or what’s Your typical songwriting process?

I record some tunes on my phone then I send it to the other musicians. The tunes comes at any time, in the night, in the car and so on.

Also I am fortunate to work with great people like Gunnar Hjorth, Emil Fahlén, Erik Slättberg and Frej Norrefalk, who have the patience to listen and find the right cords. I think we have found a sound that we all like and we like each other a lot so everyone feels free to come forward with ideas.

The first song I did Sunny Days VS I did with Jim Rapp-Farnes who had a hiphop beat. I wrote the lyrics and the melody to the beats thinking it could blend a little with jazz.

The second song Terrass, I send to Mats Norrefalk, guitar, who made a wonderful bossa.

Both songs are about the good life in my garden, where you can have a glass of wine and lay in the sun (when the sun comes out here in Sweden, we all go crazy)

How do you feel the Internet has impacted the music business?

I, for one, have a great opportunity to place my song on digital platforms but there is also a darker side to it for professional musicians I think. It’s getting harder to earn money and to live on music. there are so many people involved and it’s difficult to understand what is happening.

List some famous musicians currently on your playlist?

Sara Aldén, nominated for a Grammy this year There is no future here

Lovisa Jennerwall

Dianne Reeves

Caity Gyorge

Laufey

Becca Stevens

Beth Heart

Janiva Magness

What Did You Do Before You Started Making Music?

I was and I am a still a teacher in college.

Would you have any advice for young people wanting to follow in your footsteps?

Yes! Never give up on your dreams. You hear a lot of no, but one yes can take you were you are meant to be.

Be open. The person you long for to say yes may be not so nice while the person who you think is mediocre may be an asset and gives you support.

Have patience and believe in what you do. Other people will judge you and tell you what you are doing is wrong, impossible and so on.

Can I do it so can you.

And sometimes, just lay down and cry, eat, watch a movie. Let all out, then begin again.

There is always someone you can talk to, who will support you, hang on to that person and don’t forget to buy flowers now and then!

If you could change anything about the music industry, what would it be?

To play more new songs on the radio and don’t be so rigid to choose only artists who are famous, even the have worked hard to. The radio here plays nearly only music we already know. It’s like they are afraid to play new music. I would like to change that.

How do you feel about originality?

I like originality. I can express myself without form or boundaries. Everyone is unique, so every voice is an original. But I like the mainstream also sometime when I need regularity. the original becomes the mainstream also but it takes a little longer. Elvis was an original act and so on. ABBA was originality at first. Being original is compulsory in the music industry

Is there anything else we should know about you? or Something that you would like to add?

I hope my music gives some reflection and joy. It’s possible to make a music career later on in life and to learn about music.

The photo is made by Anders Nordqvist, please say that!

A big hug and thank you very much to be invited to this interview. Great fun! Christina

Links to Where Your Music Can be Purchased

open.spotify.com/artist/1w7lbSjzeCjrLwyaptSF5k?si=w2tgnzlfQ_SjHjyIgT6snw