A chat with Firstnighter

I've had the pleasure of sharing a show with Sofie Larsson of Firstnighter a couple of times, a delicate pop/folk-act from Linköping, Sweden. Most recently, three weeks ago. After the show I asked her some questions:


- Sofie, you really have remarkable melodies in your songs, and your voice is kind of a very personal blend between Jason Molina and Joni Mitchell. What has been influential for your music? What was your favorite cd of 2007?

First of all; thank you very much for the compliments! Well, I’ve never heard that I sound like a mixture between Jason Molina and Joni Mitchell before, but that’s nice. 2007 was acctually the year I started listening more to Joni Mitchell and perhaps it’s already starting to show in my own music. I’m influenced by a lot of things: movies, poetry, things I hear people talk about on the bus or on the radio. My friend’s lives are also a big source of inspiration but I try my best not to reveal too many details about them in my songs.

- Thanks for the EP I got from you. I really like that one, when was it from and do you have plans for recording something new soon?

You’re welcome Thomas. The EP you got is from 2007. Right now I am recording my new songs and hope to finish a new EP by the end of this summer.


- Our first show together was in an old chapel, the next one in a dance venue from the 70's, what to expect next?

Haha! Maybe at Harrys in Linköping? Oh no, let’s hope not.


- You've studied music for a year now, seems like a dream. Sometimes though, I feel like that I never get in the mood for writing when having time for it. All of a sudden when you're working or don't have time or a pen, stuff starts to happen. How was your experience about productivity during the year, was it good for your music?

Worries about creativity trouble me as well, but this past year I’ve been forced to develop a new way of looking at my creativity. Almost every week we’ve been given new tasks in school. We’ve been told to write different types of music, pop/rock/classical/jazz or folk or we’ve been asked to put a melody to a poem or write a song that would suite on of our classmates etc. Sometimes we’ve had 20 minutes to finish the task, sometimes a week. While doing this I’ve had to learn not to be too serious about things, and I’ve tried to write music without judging myself during the process. I think I’ve become a braver songwriter but I’m still not brave enough.


- Finally, what song do you wish you had written yourself?

Oh, there are so many songs I wish I had written. One is Hjärta av Guld, written by Eva Dahlgren. I love it, especially when Nina Ramsby sings and Martin Hederos plays the piano.