Exposed Vocals Interviews Kolbrún
My name is Kolbrún Gunnarsdóttir. I was born in Reykjavík, Iceland (May 8,1990). My parents divorced when I was 3. My mom moved to Denmark and took me and my brother with her (age 4). We moved around a lot. We moved back and forth between Denmark and Iceland, and back and forth from place to place in each country. Both parents found new partners and got more children – so now I have 7 siblings. I had a very hectic childhood with a lot of traumatizing experiences which led me to therapy, therapy and some more therapy.
I’ve always had a sense for music and I’m very sensitive to sound. That’s why I sleep with earmuffs on every night or else I notice each and every sound. Sounds others don’t hear or notice.
My mom and dad used to play guitar and sing Icelandic lullabies for me when I was little. I’ve always enjoyed playing instruments myself. I played the piano and violin as a kid…. and guitar and drums as a teenager. I was not a genius at it, just ok. My teachers never could teach me notes or music theory for that matter. But I was a very good student otherwise. Very stubborn. If I wanted to learn “Für Elise” on the piano, even though reading notes for me was like reading Chines, I learned how to play it…using my ears and my memory.
I always enjoyed sports. So a lot of my time as a child I also spent playing football, basket and volleyball. I remember in a small town in Iceland ‘’Grundarfjörður”, where I lived for two years, I met up with my friends almost every night to play football. I also trained Taekwondo for three years (age 20-23). I’ve always enjoyed knitting and I sold my first hat when I was 12 years old. From age 18-24 I sold a lot of hand knitted sweaters, mittens, hats etc. instead of working a typical job while studying.
More about music
I was always very shy when it came to music. Especially when it came to my voice. I secretly loved to sing and I only did it in public if a lot of other people were singing too – so I would blend in and not be heard. After basic school (9th grade in Denmark) I was so tired of being schooled, so I chose a more practical way; studying to be a carpenter. But as a woman it was very hard to get a deal with a carpenter company in Denmark. After that I worked a lot with children as a kindergarden teacher. When I finally had enough of working I went back to school (2008).I wrote my first song called “Free” when I was 16 years old (2006), playing the guitar and singing. But it wasn’t until I was 20 I played it in front of others; a music teacher and a music judge. They told me I was good but needed to be more open and not be so shy with my voice. I always dreamed about studying music at the university in Aalborg, Denmark. But I was very scared of the audition it required to get in. After crashing a car in an accident and loosing my job as a made because of some periodic back pain… I saw it as a sign that I was not on my right path, and that I needed to do something about it, regardless of my fear. So I went to the audition and played my song “Free” and got accepted at the university I had dreamed of getting into. There I studied “popular music and sound production” for three years (undergraduate education). Among a lot of things I learned how to record vocal and different instruments and how to mix, using Logic. I got into recording sounds and using them as an instrument (sampling). When I was finished, I decided to continue studying music and get a graduate degree. I switched from singing to ‘electronic live music’ instead. And since october 2015 I’ve been using Ableton Live and learning how to perform live with a laptop. Very exciting! And I of course combine my singing with the electronic music I create.
My equipment is my Macbook Pro, Logic and Ableton Live, RME Babyface sound card, Shure 58 microphone, Zoom recorder, midi keyboard, midi drum pad and a monotribe drum machine.
My university projects have been about sound and our senses, sound and healing methods, and how noise effects people and animals. I don’t know what my master project will be about yet. Hopefully something with electronic music and programming.
I enjoy creating music, kayaking, climbing, winter bathing, doing yoga, photographing, filming, knitting, growing vegetables, cooking vegan food, blogging about animal rights, tarot card reading and being in nature.
I live in a small community in Aalborg down by the water. It’s a very primitive way of living. Kind of like tiny houses, just more old school. I have no hot water. My only heat resource comes from a fire stove. I have to boil water every time I do my dishes. I shower whenever I go swimming, or when I go winter bathing. I prefer living this way. And my dream place is similar but even more out in nature. I love mountains, forests and water – and that would be the best neighbor for me to have.
My music is on soundcloud
This is my newest song called “Jealousy” https://soundcloud.com/kolbr-n/jealousy This one is called “Wouldn’t You Like That” where I use organic sounds that I’ve recorded here and there. https://soundcloud.com/kolbr-
n/wouldnt-you-like-that Then there is “Calm Down” which has a message about animal rights https://soundcloud.com/kolbr-
n/calm-down I’ve made other songs as well and also some without vocal. And more is on the way!
You can find it on https://soundcloud.com/kolbr-nI’m working on getting my music on Spotify and other streaming services as well.
You can also follow me on Instagram ‘kolbrunisti’ or Twitter ‘K0Lbrun’ where I share links to my music whenever I make something new.
Exposed Vocals: How did you hear about Exposed Vocals? What made you decide to sign up?
Kolbrún: Through Twitter! I got a message about doing an interview and I felt very lucky and of course wanted to!
Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?
Kolbrún: I was born in Iceland (Reykjavík) in 1990. Moved to Denmark at age 4. Since then I’ve moved a lot. Back and forth in both Denmark and Iceland. I don’t know if I decided to become an artist… but somehow I became one anyway. I have always been very sensitive to sounds and an easy learner when it comes to listening and remembering.
Exposed Vocals: How did you come up with that name? What was your inspiration behind it?
Kolbrún: I was given this name when I was born. When choosing an artist name I of course brainstormed a lot of options, but always ended up with Kolbrún. It’s icelandic and if you translate it to english it means dark brown. It’s a pretty common name in Iceland, but since I live in Denmark where it is rare, I think it’s good as an artist name. Björk and Sigurós is also just normal Icelandic names and they work great as an artist name.
Exposed Vocals: What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?
Kolbrún: It’s definitely something that has changed the music industry a lot! Personally I enjoy sharing my music for free on soundcloud, but I get a little frustrated about having to pay money to be able to play your own music (concerts, radio, streaming, etc. – at least in Denmark!). Of course that money is earned back over time. But in the beginning it’s quite expensive and a real jungle! It’s also hard to get on the radio here in Denmark because it’s usually the same songs that are chosen over and over and over. But I for shure think that Spotify and other streamingservices is good alternatives for downloading the music for free. At least the musicians get some money instead of none, when people listen on Spotify etc.
Exposed Vocals: Since everyone was a start-up once, can you give any smaller or local bands or artists looking to get gigs and airplay some tips?
Kolbrún: My tip is more for people who have ideas for their songs but feel like a producer is needed to move forward. DO IT YOURSELF! It’s so interesting to learn about and to put the knowledge to use. I new nothing about recording music 5 years ago. I just played my songs on my guitar at home and sang. But I had many ideas with more voices and so on. Then I decided to study music production and now I can record instruments and vocal…. hack even drums! And mix it too! Which gives me a lot of freedom to make my songs exactly as I want them. And it’s great to own everything… being the artist, manager and producer. So my advice is to give yourself some time to learn how to do it yourself (if you don’t already know). It’s like if you were going to build a house….. it saves you a lot of money to learn how to build it yourself and it makes you richer in experience and knowledge (no time wasted there). Recycling saves you money too…. the same goes for instruments….. go out in the world and record the sounds you hear. Cut the files…. and recycle those sounds and use them as your instruments!
Exposed Vocals: Do you ever make mistakes during performances? How do you handle that?
Kolbrún: Yes. I go with it and see where it takes me. I prefer that rather than crashing down or stopping. In the end of it all it is the experience people remember, not your small flaws here and there.
Exposed Vocals: Do you tour? Anything interesting happen on tour that you think our readers would enjoy hearing about?
Kolbrún: Nope. I’m finishing my masters degree in music (performance and production) first…. and then who knows 🙂 (fingers crossed!)
Exposed Vocals: Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual songwriting process?
Kolbrún: I usually gather my songwriting inspiration from my emotions, and what happens in the world. I’ve written two songs about animal rights because I think the way they’re treated is horrible. One of the song that I made was from the animals perspective and the other song from peoples perspective. But otherwise my songs can be about other hard topics such as sexual abuse, or dark emotions such as jealousy and hopelessness. Topics I like to put words on – instead of hiding. Because that will make it stay taboo… I think it’s healthy to write about it, make movies about it and write songs about it. But of course I also write about the most classical subject, love. Check out my new song called ‘Jealousy’ here: https://soundcloud.com/kolbr-
I usually sit down with my guitar and play some chords. The melody and text just pops up. From there I start the recording process. Now I’m using Ableton Live… which is great because it allows you to stay in a composing flow while recording…thanks to the automatic loop effect. I really enjoy using sounds from my everyday life as instruments through sampling. It can give a sound a totally new meaning! One example of this is when I used the sound from my fire stove as drums and melody in my song “Wouldn’t You Like That”: https://soundcloud.com/kolbr-
Once when I was in a train I started recording on my laptop… just all the random sounds there is in a train. And when I arrived to my destination 5 hours later… a song had been made. You can check it out here:https://soundcloud.com/kolbr-
What I’m trying to say is that there isn’t just one way for me to create music, it depends on which instruments I have or don’t have around me… and what else is surrounding me in that moment.
Exposed Vocals: Do you have a band website? What online platforms do you use to share your music?
Kolbrún: At the moment I just use soundcloud profile: https://soundcloud.com/kolbr-n
I also use Twitter ‘K0Lbrun’ and Instagram ‘kolbrunisti’ where I post links to my music, and photos of the music in process among other stuff such as photos of nature and homemade vegan food.
Exposed Vocals: What are some really embarrassing songs that we might find on your mp3 player?
Kolbrún: Well that depends on what you think is embarrassing 😉 I would guess it’s the mp3 files I’ve recorded myself… You know… sometimes I forget that my soundrecorder is on (for sampling collection) and it just records everything that happens in my home or where I’m at. It will probably be very interesting and fun for me to listen to when I’m old. My random everyday. Those recordings I have a lot of. I think it can give you something totally different than just taking a photo of the moments. Having the unique sounds from exactly that day!
Exposed Vocals: If you were given half a million dollars and a year off, what would you do? How would you spend it?
Kolbrún: I would buy a big land in wild nature. Forrest. Lakes. Mountains. Divide the huge nature area I bought and build stables for each area. I would also build a tiny cabin somewhere on the land…using recycled materials. Then I would buy all the slaughterhouses I could afford and close them for all eternity. And then take all the animals that come to my so called “slaughterhouses” and bring them to my nature place. Where I have prepared different spaces for them to live…. in peace with loving beings around them.
There I would live. Care for them all. While making music and growing vegetables.
OMG can someone just give me half a million dollars right now!? I really want to do this 🙂
Exposed Vocals: Any planned studio upgrades? What are you working with now?
Kolbrún: I’m actually good right now. I have a MacBook Pro, RME Babyface soundcard, Zoom H2N handy recorder, Shure SM58 microphone, a Korg Monotribe Analogue Ribbon Station, M-Audio Oxygen midi-keyboard and an AKAI MPD26. Two guitars. An old violin from an antique store. An old harmonica from the 1940s. And my voice 🙂
In the future though I would love to upgrade my soundcard to one with at least 8 inputs. Get a new guitar. Lots of microphones such as A 2 AKG C414, Neumann U87, Shure SM57, Neumann KM184, Neumann SKM184 MT Stereo set and a shotgun microphone.
Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?
Kolbrún: I think social media is great for promoting music. Twitter, Instagram, Facebook etc. Especially with hashtags you can reach a lot of people!
Exposed Vocals: If you could perform anywhere and with any artists (Dead or Alive) where and who would it be with? Why?
Kolbrún: It would be performing with Radiohead playing the songs from their greatest album (in my opinion) “The King of Limbs”.. but it’s just so perfect as it is!!! So maybe I’ll do something different…. play in an inside a glacier in Iceland with Jon Hopkins, Thom Yorke, Nigel Godrich, Thomas Knak, Ólafur Arnalds and Niels Frahm…. and just see what comes out of that jam. I’m sure it will definitely be very interesting regardless of where we’ll play!
Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?
Kolbrún: We’ll I’m having a lot of interesting lectures this 8th semester @ Aalborg University (Denmark). Fx digital composition, live electronic music and improvisation. One of the lectures will be about MAX MSP and digital composition.. which will definitely open up an endless world of new sounds for me to explore and compose with. So my projects will be to continue making music….. and expand the way I do that! I just signed up for a competition where three artist will be chosen to do a huge concert. I’m hoping for that to happen…. but it also frightens me a lot! I’m shy that way 🙂
Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?
Kolbrún: Crack! But no worries…. I’m making music 😉 And I do a lot of stuff besides making music such as blogging about animal rights, cooking, knitting, photographing, watching TV series, kayaking, climbing, gardening, yoga, winter bathing, recording video….. and the list goes on!
Exposed Vocals: Do you remember buying your first album? Who was it? What was going through your head?
Kolbrún: No I actually don’t remember! But I remember listening to a lot of music as a kid that my ears cannot handle well today. Such as Britney Spears, Spice Girls and you know…. girl and boy bands in general. I guess we all find our ways to what we love when the time is right. I love discovering new sounds. The other day I just fell over Erased Tapes Records: Ólafur Arnalds and Nils Frahm – 20:17. And oh my!!!!! It’s pure love for my ears!
Exposed Vocals: How do you juggle the rest of your responsibilities while trying to stay ahead in your music life?
Kolbrún: It’s hard sometimes! Especially when studying music… I know! Weird right!? You would think that you would have endless time to make music when studying IT… but the academic assignments and projects are taking up most of my time. Sometimes the dishes doesn’t even get done… or the laundry… or the cleaning…… or the hanging out with some friends…….. and so on! That’s why I’m so happy about this 8th semester… because there seems to be some practical “making music” assignments among the other academic projects. And some challenging ones that will expand my way of working with my music.
Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in 2016?
Kolbrún: New songs and new structures in my music through MAX MSP programming!
