Music is My Everything
Music has shown me light in the darkness.
All About Me
What inspires your music?
That's a good question. I've loved singing and listening to music since I was a child. I sang in Denmark with the Danish Church and at Tivoli Gardens. When I moved to California I recorded an album of standards and was singing gigs around the Coachella Valley until I got sick in 2018. That's when one of my musician friends, Sergio Villegas, suggested I write songs about the emotions I was going through in dealing with a chronic illness. Being more or less housebound I used the time to learn to play the piano. I also picked up the ukulele, guitar and flute but the piano has been the most important instrument in my songwriting. It turns out having everything taken away from you, including food and water, is great inspiration for writing songs.
How has music helped you in your journey?
It has shown me there can be light in the darkness. The emotional roller coaster of living with and trying to diagnose a rare chronic illness will try the heartiest soul. There were some very dark and confusing times when all seemed lost. I was fortunate to have a loving family and access to good medical care but even then it was often more than I could bear. Writing music gave me comfort and an emotional outlet when nothing else was available to me. I don't know where I would be if I didn't have my music. I suppose I would have found Another Way but it would not have been as enriching as writing songs.
Who are some of your influences?
So many, but the ones that spring to mind are Sarah McLachlan, Nora Jones, Eva Cassidy, Sara Bareilles, Sting, Ed Sheeran, Jewel, Joni Mitchell, the Norwegian singer Sissel, and the Danish singers Søs Fenger and Anne Linnet.
What are some of your favorite memories of performing?
The last time I performed before I really got sick was in January 2019 and it was really special. I was invited to appear for a 30 minute show at a local country club. I was already in a wheelchair, struggling with terrible fatigue, brain fog and other ailments. But I was able to do a really nice set of standards with the crowd singing along and having a great time. It was so much fun!
Who are some of the collaborators who helped you create your favorite works?
The great Chilean musician Sergio Villegas who lives in the Coachella Valley planted the seed that got my creative juices flowing. We jammed and recorded together and he introduced me to his friends including the beautiful guitarist Pedro Cortés who was also a great collaborator. But Pedro's son Sebastian Cortés is the real reason this album has turned out so well. Seba, as his called, is a phenomenal musician and producer extraordinaire in Chile. He took my songwriting to the next level. I collaborated more with him than anyone else and I owe the beautiful arrangements and productions to him. Seba has been a gift from heaven.
What are you most excited to bring to your fans next?
My latest album "Another Way"! It has such a positive message about perseverance, adversity and how anything is possible if you're willing to find "Another Way". I dreamed about writing songs as a child and now here I am with an album of originals all these years later. It's a fulfilment of childhood dreams. "Another Way" is proof that you can do anything if you set your mind to it.
What are your goals for this upcoming year?
To release my album and have it enjoyed by as many people as possible. I've worked with some great musicians and want to continue those collaborations. I would also like to return to my native Denmark and work with some great musicians there too. I can't wait to perform these new songs in as many places and as often as I possibly can.
How can your fans and our readers best support you right now?
Stream and download my album on your favorite music platform and spread the word far and wide!