OLA GJEILO - In conversation with Michael Adams
- Some of the tracks on the album have names that bring us to New York. Was this city an inspiration for you while writing the music?
Yes, definitely. I love New York with all my heart. It’s almost like a person to me, it has a very strong identity and soul. The first track on the album, Snow In New York, is a depiction of that dream-like calm I feel whenever I wake up and it snows in the City. Other tunes, like North Country, The Line, The Hudson, Serenity and April are also inspired by New York, while Michelle, Roxbury Park, January and Sienna are concerned with my experiences living in LA in 2006/2007. Roxbury Park is a small community park right next to where I used to live in Beverly Hills. That park meant so much to me, as a place I could walk around freely without having to drive anywhere, which is a rare thing in LA. That’s why this, to me, is the most joyous and care-free piece on the album. I think those two cities complement each other well; they are incredibly different and both have so many wonderful qualities.
- The album overall; to me it comes over as very reflective and with an emphasis on calmness and warmth. Was this a conscious choice?
Not really. I mean, that just seems to be the kind of music that comes out of me these days. I have always liked contemplative piano music though, especially from masters like Keith Jarrett. But I think I just wanted to write music that was friendly and communicative, from the very intimate to the more emotional and rhythmic. And I think it’s a nice way to start out - this being my first solo album.
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