While earlier being categorized as post-punk, the music of NICOLE SABOUNÉ has nowadays changed into something on its own. After her second album „Miman“ was released outside of Scandinavia as well via Century Media, we did an interview with the outstanding Swedish musician in which she told us about how Harry Martinson’s poem „Aniara“ influenced her, why there’s a Madonna cover on the album, and what her grandfather has got to do with the artwork.
Let’s start with a general question: By which musicians and bands have you been influenced?
It switches all the time, but on „Miman“ it was a lot of Nick Cave, Dead Can Dance, Diamanda Galas, early Black Sabbath…
Do you also listen to Metal?
I listen to Black Sabbath, Chelsea Wolfe, Sunn O))), Anna Von Hausswolff…
Your music is mostly described as Post-Punk, however, on your new album „Miman“ there’s not much of it to be found. How would you yourself describe your music?
It’s so hard to say how music sounds like, I think. That’s up to journalists to put me in a genre. I only do music that I think sounds good. And that’s my only requirement.
You release your music under your own name, right? Are you recording all instruments on your own or do make use of session-musicians?
Yes, it’s my name. And I do have a band that has been playing with me since the beginning, so I always use the same people.
„Miman“ is your second full-length. Where do you spot the differences in comparison to your debut?
Personally I see and feel a lot of differences. The biggest one for me is my confidence and my way to not compromise on „Miman“. That was the biggest step for me. To be brave and really believe in what I do.
The album is named after a machine from Harry Martinson’s poem „Aniara“, which saves all of humanity’s memories. Why did you base the title on that machine?
I chose „Miman“ because I wanted the album to have the same properties as Miman. To be a collection of fragments, dreams and memories. The whole album is inspired by „Aniara“ so it felt natural to name the album after a character.
Which track on „Miman“ is the most important to you and why?
I feel a lot for „Bleeding Faster“. It was with that song I really knew how I wanted „Miman“ to be and sound like.
The closing track is a cover of Madonna’s „Frozen“. Why did you choose exactly this song to do a cover of it and include it on the album?
It was not my idea to put it on the album. The record label wanted that. It started as a live thing. „Frozen“ was one of my favorite songs when I was a kid, and it’s still one of my favorite pop songs from that era. So it felt just fun to try to make a cover of it. It has a beautiful melodic and melancholic feeling and I thought it would be interesting to try it on.
On the artwork we see the distorted face of a child. How does the artwork relate to the album’s lyrics and why did you choose exactly this image?
The picture is me when I was around 3-4 years old. Think it’s one of my first passport pictures. I chose that because it hung in my grandpas bedroom, and he died while I was writing „Miman“ so it felt like he was a part of it if I chose that picture. And it looks so rad, and I look like a very scary child. And I was.
„Miman“ has already been released in 2015, but just inside Scandinavia. Now Century Media also released it outside of Scandinavia. How did the contract with this label come about?
Jens from Century Media was in Gothenburg to see me live, and we met afterwards and liked each other. He has a great taste in music and is a real music lover, so I was very happy when he wanted to work with me. It’s exciting.
Do you plan on also releasing your debut outside of Scandinavia?
Don’t know actually. That album is still on my old record label.
Which bands and musicians would you like to do live shows with?
Nick Cave, PJ Harvey, Laurie Anderson, Brian Eno… There’s a lot of great artists out there…
What are your next plans for your near musical future?
The plan is to tour in Europe, to get „Miman“ around. And then I want to start with writing new stuff. Just have to figure out what and when.
It seems we are reaching the end of our interview. At last I want to ask you to take part in our traditional Metal1.info-Brainstorming. What comes to your mind while reading the following terms:
Pop: Madonna
Favorite album: Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds – „Skeleton Tree“
Gothic: Chelsea Wolfe
Winter: Snow
Politics: Lack of gender equality
Humanity: Women
Alright, thanks again for the Interview.
12. März 2017 Stephan Rajchl