After the guitarist's Robert Buras passing away, the Norwegian rock band Madrugada broke up. Their singer, Sivert Hoyem, kept up with a solo carreer, and therefore is touring Greece between 28/11 - 2/12 starting from Patras. Check what he said to Rock Overdose on the interview below.
Rockoverdose.gr: Welcome to Rockoverdose. I am very glad that I have the chance to talk to you Sivert, how are you?
Sivert: Thanks. I'm fine.
Rockoverdose.gr: First of all, I want to say that I enjoyed a lot your show in Ioannina (Greece) last year. How was your visit in Greece this time?
Sivert: I'm glad you enjoyed it. I thought the crowd was fantastic, and I had been looking forward to playing in Greece for a long time. Sadly I had a severe case of throat infection, and the show almost didn't happen because of that. However, a helpful doctor in Ioannina gave me some hard core medication so that I could go on with the show, but then I had to cancel in Patras the following day, which broke my heart. The rest of the Greek shows could go on as planned though. Hopefully this time it won't be as dramatic.
Rockoverdose.gr: Tell us about your latest news. What are the next steps after your latest album?
Sivert: I have a new EP out these days, and I'm touring round Europe as a solo performer, just me on stage with my guitars. I'm also writing new material, for a new LP, which is going to be fantastic... of course.
Rockoverdose.gr: Because of a Greek TV series, Madrugada was the only band in my opinion that influenced many people in Greece who didnʼt know anything about this kind of music before. How does this sound to you? Did you expect such a great success in Greece?
Sivert: No, I don't think anyone can expect that kind of reaction. I am grateful and humbled by the way Madrugada and me have been received in Greece. Someone told me about the TV series a few years ago, frankly I was a little surprised to hear it.
Rockoverdose.gr: If I ask you to go back in time and think about your best and worst period of your life, which are these?
Sivert: The low point would obviously have to be 2007, the year Robert died. I lost my father in a boating accident that same year. My father, one of my best friends, my band and my livelihood, all lost within a few months, set me adrift for a long time. I hadn't been doing too well in the first place either. The best parts? I don't know. Happiness comes in spurts. I can remember moments when I must have been feeling pretty good, moments that stand out in retrospect. One great life-changing event I can mention is, of course, the birth of my daughter, that changed everything.
Rockoverdose.gr: The combination of your music and lyric parts makes an emotional trip to all of us. Tell us about your inspiration on lyrics.
Sivert: Writing song lyrics is such a mystery to me. They have to come from an honest place. They come freely, or they don't come at all. When I'm inspired I know I can do great work. When I'm just going to work and try to force something out I can be a pretty lousy lyricist, too. It's mostly about being in the right mind set, sometimes you change your surroundings because the situation doesn't allow you to be true, and that's the most important part of it, of what we are as people, it's the truth in us, that's what's worth communicating. I find it's a constant struggle to remain truthful. Of course you can help the words on their way. I read a lot. I like, or I've liked at a certain time in my life; Paul Auster, Kurt Vonnegut, Cormack McCarthy, Stephan Zweig, Hillary Mantel, Hamsun, Spanish poet Federico Garcia Lorca, and Norwegians Tor Ulven and Stein Mehren.
Rockoverdose.gr: Which song of your career is your favorite or emotionally closer to you and why?
Sivert: "Honey Bee" is very close to my heart, and it was all my work even if it was a Madrugada song. "Long Slow Distance", "Valley of Deception" and "Blown Away" are special too, but the one that is most precious to me is "Hands Up -I Love You". I can remember so well writing those lyrics. The words express exactly how I felt at the time, what I was thinking. It is honest, and that is a rare thing.
Rockoverdose.gr: Tell us about your upcoming live shows.
Sivert: I've been touring alone, as a solo performer, this autumn. It has been very liberating, and challenging too, the tour so far has been a great success. I'm playing both acoustic and electric, and I'm using a lot of effects, so it's not a standard unplugged thing. The repertoire is made up of old and new solo material and quite a few classic Madrugada songs as well. People will get to hear music they haven't heard played live in a long time.
Rockoverdose.gr: If you could change one thing in the world what would this be?
Sivert: At some point our financial system will have to change, the one we have today exists only to ensure that the rich stay rich, and keep getting richer. We would probably do a lot better without organized religion, too.
Rockoverdose.gr: Thank you very much. I am looking forward to see you on stage again soon. Take care!
For Rockoverdose.gr: Vivi Gkiouzi
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