Interview with Inga!

[L.S.]

IB: How do you approach song-writing and What influences you? Do
you have a visual image in your mind as the song is composed, or
does that come afterwards as a result of the song?

Answer: I try to approach song-writing like an observer or a storyteller. My songs usually carry a condensed message: a lesson I've learned, a feeling, or an observation. I play the classical guitar, which is different from the popular folk guitar that is widely used by songwriters. The classical guitar has a warm velvety timbre. Despite being known as a mellow instrument it's classical and flamenco origin make it quite an expressive and dynamic companion. I am inspired by life, love, friendships, nature, and spirituality. Most of the time my songs are born with strong visual associations. These visual "movies" are rich with detail and emotion. It can be something from memory or places and situations I have never before experienced.


IB: What's your philosophy on music today?

Answer: The easier it becomes to create and distribute music - the more the
artist should feel responsible for what he or she creates.


IB: Tell us about you, when did you begin writing songs ?

Answer: I grew up in a family of visual artists. I studied the visual arts
from a very young age. In my late teens I realized that I have the soul of
a musician, and I began to seek ways to express my passion for music. I
have always wanted to play the piano, but the opportunity didn't come. When
a meeting of fate introduced me to the classical guitar, I realized that the
guitar will be my companion for life. Soon after picking up the guitar I was
writing my first songs. They were very basic, but it was a start - a way
for me to reach deep into my being and connect my inner spiritual world with
the outer reality and vise versa.

IB: How many projects are you currently involved in?

Answer: After lending my vocals and song-writing to several new age
collaboration projects, and after releasing my electronic debut CD "Riding
the Wind" I am currently zoomed in on my acoustic material. I have written
many songs for just voice and classical guitar, and continue to write new
ones... I hope to dedicate the coming years to my solo work as a classical
guitarist and singer-songwriter.


IB: What's your long-term goal?
Answer: My long-term goal is not to take my work seriously! I have always
been very focused and determined and it can be exhausting!

IB: How did you get into music?
Answer: As a child taking art lessons, I would never miss an occasion to
turn paintbrushes into drum sticks! Equally I would rarely walk by a piano
without stroking a few keys and learning to play a tune here and there...
Actually it all happened rather quickly. When I picked up the guitar I
wrote a few simple songs. A friend in high school had some recording
equipment, we recorded several songs and it has been an ongoing journey ever
since.

IB: How long have you been performing?

Answer: I can't say that I have been out performing much at all. I enjoy
playing for family and friends, and occasionally at small intimate venues.
Performing has not yet been my focus, but someday it is something that I
would love to get into more.


IB: What other artists do you admire? And what bands\artists inspired
you the most early on?

Answer: I admire artists who are not afraid to be themselves. There is so
much uniformity globally. By being "oneself" you don't necessarily have to
make something unique and original that no one has created before. To me it
simply means following one's own path and being true to one's core values. I
was inspired by a lot of French and Russian music early on. Two Russian
singer/songwriters come to mind as my earliest influences: Veronika Dolina,
and Viktor Tsoi.



IB: What do you want out of life?

Answer: I'd like the Truth. Always the Truth.


IB: What is the most important lesson you think you have learned
so far?

Answer: I have learned that we are never given hardships and struggles
without due rewards. No matter how difficult a situation might be - it is
there so that it can bring out a treasure that otherwise we would not have
perceived or appreciated. I also observed that once we learn to seek out
life's lessons and treasures and truly appreciate our lot - the hardships
and suffering become gradually replaced by wisdom.

IB: Where do you want to be in the future?

Answer: Closing my eyes and looking into the future... I'd like to land on a
modest organic farm that I hopefully own and that supplies organic produce,
to an equally modest neighborhood. Sitting on a hand-built wooden porch
watching the morning sunlight scattered like glitter on a peaceful lake....
Being surrounded by loved ones and sharing delicious home-made pies with
neighbors! And of course playing the guitar and writing more songs about
hope, choices, perseverance, forgiveness, love, friendship, and everything
in-between!


IB: How many of your songs are 'instant' songs and how many are
channelled?

Answer: To me "instant" and "channeled" are synonymous. A good majority of
my acoustic songs are written quickly, within five or ten minutes. Because
the lyrics, melody, music, and the emotions usually come accompanied by
vivid imagery - simultaneously - I feel like the songs I write are kind of
like mini movies. Song-writing is my sacred time. It is a deeply
spiritual process through which I feel connected to my deepest Self, and to
the Universe at large. Like I am watching a play in which I am both the
audience, and the actors. It is spontaneous and entertaining, and at the
same time sort of transcending.

IB: Tell us about your latest project?

Answer: I am working on recording an acoustic album. From a production
perspective it is a lot harder than recording electronic music. The room,
the mics, the engineer's skills all play a crucial role in the final result.
You can't get away with drenching a mix in Reverb and burying the
shortcomings of your performance behind layers of pads! Also you don't have
the rhythm section so it's tricky to keep the groove going. Overall in
acoustic music your skills as a performer, songwriter, and producer are all
put to the test! Getting into recording and producing acoustic music is
sure a challenge, but a rewarding one!

IB: Is there anything else you would like to add?

Answer: Thank you IndieByte for this opportunity to share my vision and
music! Also, anyone interested in my acoustic music can visit my website
www.IngaMusic.com and join my Newsletter.... the upcoming acoustic album
will be available for a free download (for a limited time) to everyone on my
mailing list!