Can’t Imagine Not Living by the Ocean: Salóme Katrín talks about her album Water
Water album cover / Kata Jóhanness
Salóme Katrín is a 25-year-old musician from Ísafjörður. She moved to Reykjavík in the fall of 2015 and started studying philosophy at the University of Iceland but soon realized that her mind was preoccupied with music. She left the university and began studying at a music school, from which she graduated last spring. Now, she is taking her first steps as a musician and songwriter. She recently released her debut album, Water. She wrote her own songs, provides vocals, and plays the piano, accompanied by percussion, string, and wind instruments.
The process has been an emotional rollercoaster!
Like others, Salóme has had to change her plans during the pandemic. “COVID has undeniably affected the album release quite a lot. Originally, the album was supposed to come out in the spring of 2020, and I had planned a big release concert to celebrate. That didn't happen. We moved the release to November, and looking back, I think that may have actually been the perfect time. I believe that whatever happens is supposed to happen,” says Salóme. Asked about the process behind making an album, Salóme replies: “The process has been an emotional rollercoaster! I think that’s really all that needs to be said, for the most part. It all began in the fall of 2017 when I wrote my first song, ‘Elsewhere’, which ended up on the EP. We started recording the EP in summer 2019 and finished last spring. When all is said and done, the experience was beautiful, rewarding, and incredibly formative. I got to meet so many amazing artists, and I will be forever grateful for that.”
Photo / Kata Jóhanness
The lovechild of Kate Bush and Regina Spektor
Salóme’s inspiration comes from various directions: “My inspiration is first and foremost my own emotions, the people around me, and my surroundings. I have also listened to a lot of musicians, people I personally know and love, as well as artists from all over the world, and they have greatly inspired me in many ways,” says Salóme. She has been described as the lovechild of Kate Bush and Regina Spektor, so it’s not surprising that she mentions them as inspirations in addition to Angel Olsen and Aldous Harding. These days, Salóme is listening to Songs, Adrianne Lenker’s new album. “I think the song ‘Anything’ from that album is really beautiful,” she says.
Most of Salóme’s songs are in English, and when asked about that she tells me it was just something that happened unintentionally. “The majority of the music I listened to was always in English. English is a wonderful language. At one point, I thought I was going to study English at university. I ended up picking philosophy instead, which I subsequently abandoned so I could focus on my musical education at FÍH. But who knows? Maybe I’ll join the English department at UI next autumn,“ Salóme says.
Contributed photo
Water was released both digitally and on vinyl. Asked why, Salóme answers, “I really wanted to release the EP as a real, tangible object - one that would allow for the creation of a kind of holistic piece of art. I got help from three amazing artists, photographer Kata Jóhanessdóttir, artist Gabríela Friðriskdóttir, and graphic designer Anton Kaldal. They all brought some of their own artistic sensibilities and ideas to the project, and I really feel that something magical happened when it all came together. We were really able to expand the world that Water invites listeners to explore.”
Photo / Kata Jóhanness
Water and the future
Water was released on November 20. Asked about the title, Salóme explains, “The name came from one of the songs, which I guess is the title track. Apparently you’re not supposed to pick favorites, but I think that’s my favorite song on the album. It manages to capture everything I’ve been going through and writing about these last few years. It’s an album about emotions, and emotions are like water in so many ways. Water is everywhere. Water is a necessity, a basic need. Water is shaped by its surroundings and its surroundings are shaped by it - just like emotions.”
Salóme comes from Ísafjörður, a small town in the Westfjords on the ocean. I asked her how that has affected her as an artist. “I think growing up close to the ocean has instilled in me a deep connection with nature and given me endless inspiration. Ísafjörður is a fishing village, and I think growing up with that immediate connection to the ocean was important for me. I can't imagine not living next to the sea. I am both terrified of it and infatuated with it. It's a part of me. The sea gives and the sea takes. I keep that with me,” says Salóme, adding, “I think growing up in Ísafjörður has had an entirely positive effect on me as an artist! It's where I learned to play the piano and sing, in the town’s two music schools. When I first started performing my own music and played in the annual “Aldrei Fór Ég Suður” music festival in 2019, it felt like the entire town was behind me. I felt such an incredible sense of love and support. Suddenly nothing felt impossible to me.”
When asked about the future, Salóme answers, “Next on the agenda is continuing my work with Kata Jóhannessdóttir and Monika Kiburyté in making a music video for the title track of the album, Water. We already shot most of it this fall in the Westfjords. I can't wait to show it to everybody. It's gonna knock some socks off, I'm sure of it. Then I am mostly just looking forward to maybe playing a concert, one day, eventually… and making some more music!”
After the publication of the 2. issue, Salóme Katrín received Kraumsverðlaunin (The Kraums prize). The Student Paper congratulates her wholeheartedly .
Photo / Kata Jóhanness