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CloudwatcherUno Podcast S10 – Ep 5 ~ Malin Pettersen

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Malin Pettersen talks with CloudwatcherUno for S10 Ep 5 of the podcast. We hear about the inspiration that drives Malin’s music and her albums. From going to Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts , where she studied Popular Music and Sound Technology it was a great foundation for her becoming a musician. Growing up listening to Iris Dement, Gillian Welch and others drove her need to communicate through melodies, music and an outlet for her thoughts and be able to put these into her songs.

“Pause” by Malin Pettersen

We meet at Franze & Evans Cafe Hackney after her show performing at The Americana Music Association UK festival. A great opportunity for artists from America such as Brennen Leigh, Norway Thenorthernbelle and beyond to meet up and share, songs, stories and the stage.

Malin Pettersen

At 3 and half years Malin went to dancing school, she learnt about performing on stage but it didn’t matter if mistakes were made or lyrics forgotten. The most important thing that matters most is to go on stage, play the music together and share her songs and have fun with friends on stage. Growing up Malin found that others didn’t appreciate her need to express herself through talking and communicating her thoughts and channelled this energy into her music instead.

“Queen of the Meadow” by Malin Pettersen

Malin will be revisiting the music of her youth and Justin Timberlake, TLC, Destiny’s Child by consciously using these formative listening experiences to influence the sound of her new album. The new album is being produced and mixed as we speak and will be a departure sonically from her last album Wildhorse with R&B, Pop and other aural adventures added to her new album’s soundscape.

Malin Pettersen

Being with Die With Your Boots On Records gives Malin the freedom that she wants to express herself and would rather be playing at intimate venues so that she connects with the right people who will appreciate her music. Malin has been fortunate to meet people who have supported her through her music, be a good person who cares about others and a dedicated mother to her children. Malin acknowledge the support of her mother Bente Helenesdatter Pettersen and her partner in enabling her to pursue her dreams as an artist.

“California” by Malin Pettersen

Malin will be playing at static roots festival and The Long Road Festival and a release tour to celebrate the new album in November 2023. Click below to join in with the conversation with CloudwatcherUno and Natalie Prauser. Also streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podcast Addict or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

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CloudwatcherUno Podcast S5 Ep 3 ~ Ingvild Flottorp

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Ingvild Flottorp is a fabulously talented 22 year old Nordicana (Norwegian Americana) artist from Åmli, Norway. Ingvild comes from a family of musicians that includes her older brother and sister Johanne and Tobias who play together in Ruby Red and the Moonshine Brothers while Johanne also plays in the legendary The Northern Belle band.

Ingvild is the next generation of singer songwriters to come out of Norway to carry the flame for the Nordicana music scene. Her voice and music are reminiscent of Iris Dement and Kate Bush but with lush country overtones.

Her debut album ‘It All Seems So Clear’ by Vestkyst Records came out in April 2021 and it’s a spellbinding display of virtuoso lyrics, heavenly vocals supported by sublime pedal steel and fiddle.

‘I Don’t Believe You Anymore’ by Ingvild Flottorp

In the podcast host CloudwatcherUno and Ingvild talk openly about the joys and lows of bringing an album to life only to have it nearly snatched away by the pandemic and the lockdown that followed not only in Norway but across the globe. It meant that the young star wouldn’t be able to promote her album by singing live to audiences across Norway.

With the help of Tobias who produced the whole album something magical has been born. Shania Twain was Ingvild’s hero and as a young girl dressed up and performed in videos for her siblings. This early exposure to country music from her father on road trips influenced her love for this genre. There’s also a rich folk tradition of making honest music that connects with audiences. The song writing process can sometimes take up to a year in trying to capture the sound that Ingvild is looking for.

The many faces of Ingvild Flottorp. Photos: CloudwatcherUno

Making and recording music brings joy to Ingvild and to us as fans of her imagination and you just have to listen to these magnificent songs. It took a year before Ingvild found a label that would champion her sound and promote it to a wider audience. Looking forward Ingvild has many more songs for her sophomore album which promises to be in a different direction.

Click below to hear the podcast from CloudwatcherUno featuring Ingvild Flottorp. Also streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podcast Addict or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

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CloudwatcherUno Podcast S2 Ep8 ~ Sweetheart

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John-Arne Gundersen and Anne Mette Hårdnes from Sweetheart

The Spellemann (Norwegian Grammy) award winning Sweetheart have just released a new self titled album ‘Sweetheart’ released by the label Mother Likes It Records It’s a phenomenal achievement for this band and one that places them on the music map. Sweetheart are John-Arne Gundersen and Anne Mette Hårdnes and hail from Norway. In 2003/4 Sweetheart was a three piece collective and then more of a country rock band. After a 14 year absence in 2018 the band was reformed into a more melancholic sounding band that currently tugs at your heart strings that carries you along into a different universe full of longing and memories of what could have been.

Sweetheart performing live on stage.

The new self titled album ‘Sweetheart’ explores the sense of missing something or someone. The songs feel like poems brought to life by the intense ghostly vocals that lay open the human condition.

‘Ghosts’ by Sweetheart from the self titled album ‘Sweetheart’ released by Mother Likes It Records

We get to hear the acoustic version of ‘Leaving for Stockholm’ which describes the true life experience of what it feels like when someone you love leaves to travel away from the family home. We also hear the acoustic track ‘Can We Make It Out Of Here Alive’ a song that could be an anthem for 2020. There’s also a favorite of mine ‘The Pines By The River’ that opens the podcast.

You need to add Sweetheart to your playlist.

Being a musician was always a childhood dream for Anne Mette and one that she always wanted to follow through into adulthood. Meeting John-Arne has focused her energies with his in producing an album that channels her beautiful voice to full effect. The turning point for John-Arne was listening to the album ‘Heartbreaker’ from Ryan Adams.

John-Arne Gundersen and Anne Mette Hårdnes from Sweetheart talking on the podcast. Photo: CloudwatcherUno © 2020

Click down below to hear the podcast from CloudwatcherUno featuring Sweetheart. Also streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podcast Addict and many other platforms.

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CloudwatcherUno Podcast S2 Ep3 ~ So Are We

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So Are We are songwriters Guro Vikingstad (L) and Stian Haslie (R)

So Are We are a phenomenal duo who are a refreshing change in the world of Americana music. Guro’s voice is precisely the breath of fresh air you need in your music streams. And add Stian’s dreamy guitar and you’ve got a killer combination to make sure you have their songs playing on repeat.

‘LA Love’ by So Are We

In this podcast CloudwatcherUno sits down with Guro and Stian to talk about growing up in their native Norway and being exposed to the English language in all its forms from movies, television and most importantly music. It’s their mutual love of music that brought them together not only as songwriters but as a couple. In this podcast we get to hear two acoustic songs ‘Be Alright’ and ‘Alive Again’ with ‘LA Love’ as a bonus track.

Guro Vikingstad and Stian Haslie from the podcast. Photo: CloudwatcherUno © 2020

We also discuss what it takes for artists to create, produce and release music in these pandemic times and what drives Guro and Stian to want to showcase their sound onto the global stage. Norway has seen an explosion of singer songwriters who have carved out a place for themselves in this uniquely western of genres.

‘Alive Again’ by So Are We

Having just released their latest single ‘LA Love’ from their upcoming album ‘Piece of the Puzzle’ out on 9th October 2020 the talented duo are making sure their musical vision is being heard loud and clear.

‘Piece of the Puzzle’ is the upcoming album by So Are We.

Click down below to hear the podcast from CloudwatcherUno featuring So Are We. Also streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podcast Addict and many other platforms.