I was born and raised in Falsterbo, a small village in the south of Sweden,
were there was little else to do but to be creative. In my childhood home
there was always music and my father used to put me to sleep by placing me
under the grand piano - playing Fats Waller tunes. Music has always been an
important part of my life.
I wrote my first song when I was 10 years old, and I've continued to write
ever since. Me and my friends used to hang out and play music with and for
each other and that fed me enough inspiration to never stop writing. My first
song was about a girl who collected stones and how she saw that every single
one of those stones had its own story. I think that I was seeing myself
picking up different experiences through life... and here I am still picking
up those stones.
I started singing early in the church choir, mostly singing African-american
gospel hymns and participating in school musicals but it wasn't until the 7th
grade that I started to sing solo. I've always been lucky enough to sing
original music (both mine and others) and that's inspired me throughout the
years and taught me a lot about communicating and understanding music. I have
an open mind when it comes to music and I enjoy backing somebody up as much as
singing lead! There can just not be too much music in my life!
My first meeting with jazz was in Uppsala when I started to sing with a big
band. After getting a first taste of it I wanted to continue. I started out
at Skurups Folkhögskola (one of the best jazz improv schools in Sweden) a
school in the contryside where I spent 24/7 living music! We had access to
practice rooms, listening rooms and studios 24 hours a day and a lot of great
clinics, workshops and concerts. It was an amazing experience! The next step
was getting a degree so I packed my bags and moved to Stockholm and the Royal
College of Music.
As my experience grew bigger my goals were set higher. Since I've visited New
York City many times in the last five years it was a natural decision to go
there in 2003 to study at the New School University's Jazz and Contemporary
Music Program. It is amazing how quickly a year can pass! I spent two semesters
at NSU and it was a great time for me. I had so much fun and learned so much about
myself and my music that I would recommend anyone to do the same! I came back to
Stockholm in the spring of 2004 with much inspiration and confidence to finish my
studies. In May I held my senior recital at Berns Salonger which was my final
assignment at the Royal College of Music.
Since may 2004 I am working with music full time. I'm singing, composing,
arranging, recording, teaching and doing vocal coaching. I feel blessed to
have been given this wonderful opportunity to live a life of music.
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