We had the pleasure of interviewing Hanna Ögonsten, and here’s what she had to say:
Q: What was your inspiration for “Kick Off My Shoes”?
ÖGONSTEN: It was inspired by a relationship where I realised quite late that the other person didn’t have pure intentions.
Q: At what point did you know this song was complete and ready for release?
ÖGONSTEN: I knew it was ready when I blasted the first mixed version in the car speakers!
Q: Could you walk us through your creative and production process for this song?
ÖGONSTEN: I wrote this song together with Carl Goldkuhl. It was late summer, and we were out in the countryside in Sweden. We had set up a small studio on their balcony, and the landscape was really inspiring. I think that formed the sound of the song a lot. It’s really lush, and when I listen to it, I can see that late summer night on the balcony in front of me.
Lyrically, I wanted to write about letting go and seeing someone’s true colors. I wanted to find a metaphor and was inspired by Ben Howard’s song “Black Flies.” I flipped his line ‘No man is an island’ to ‘If you were an island, I wouldn’t set my foot there.’ The process for the lyrics on this one was kind of random, but I like how it turned out.
Q: Was there a time when you felt stuck while working on this song and the EP? If so, what’d you do to get out of that state?
ÖGONSTEN: Compared to other projects I’ve worked on, this EP was a relatively easy process. However, we did struggle a bit with the production of “Big Teeth.” Instead of trying to force it, we took a break from the song for a couple of weeks and didn’t listen to it at all. Once we returned to the project, it became easier to work on.
Q: You just released your sophomore EP – have you seen my mind cause I’ve lost it. What’s your favorite song on it? Why?
ÖGONSTEN: Right now it’s ‘’stupidasscoolboys’’, it’s very personal and since its release, I’ve connected to new people through it.
Q: Which instruments do you play and which is your favorite? Why?
ÖGONSTEN: Nowadays, I mainly sing and produce on the computer. That’s what I enjoy doing the most, but I also play guitar and some piano. I’d say that guitar is my favorite instrument. I like how it can be used for so many different purposes – as the main instrument or as an atmospheric element that’s just laying in the background and creating a mood. It’s so special that it always seems to have its own spot in a song.
Interviewed by Zoey King
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