Swedish songwriter Eva No released her third EP ‘Stainless Steel’ towards the end of last month, and it’s essentially been the soundtrack to my life ever since. With modern production, synthy textures, and intricate layers of electronica, it’s an EP that once again proves Eva’s musical genius and flair.
Desperate to get to know her a little bit better, I was overjoyed when she agreed to chat with us! Walking us through a few of her biggest influences, how she takes an idea and turns it into a song, and why she hasn’t released a full-length album just yet, please give a big welcome to our friend Eva No!
Hey Eva, I’m so excited to introduce you to our ever-growing audience today! For those who haven’t discovered your musical prowess just yet, who is Eva No and when did your love affair with music begin?
Thank you for introducing me! Firstly, I’m a Swedish songwriter and a professional translator. In my late teens, I was a singer in a local band, and I have written songs ever since. I wanted to write songs for other artists, however, the competition was really fierce. So instead I started to release my own music under my artist name Eva No, and my debut EP ‘History of Now’ was released in 2020.
I’ve fallen in love with your latest EP ‘Stainless Steel’! It’s just so fresh, innovative, and eclectic! How proud are you of the record and who do you think needs to hear it most?
That’s so great to hear, I’m really happy you like it. I’m immensely proud of it, and I hope it will find an audience around the globe. My target group of listeners would be anyone who appreciates Swedish pop sprinkled with electro-pop influences.
Who are some of your biggest musical influences? Who did you grow up listening to? And would you say that your tastes have changed over the years?
There are so many! But to name a few, I would say Iggy Pop, David Bowie and Prince. And in more recent years Amy Winehouse and Lana Del Rey. But, nowadays, I mostly enjoy listening to classic jazz songs from the 1950s and 1960s – so yes, I would say that my taste in music has changed over the years.
When you’re not working on music, what does a day in the life of Eva look like? What keeps you happy and busy?
As I mentioned above, I’m a professional translator and that’s how I make a living. So I work because I have to, I make music because I need to, and I ride horses because it makes me happy. And, of course, I also enjoy spending time with my family. Having a good balance between all these things is good for my musical creativity.
We’re always intrigued by the different approaches that artists take when it comes to their creative process. Can you tell our readers a bit about yours? How do you take an idea and turn it into a complete song?
Normally, the melody of the chorus pops up in my head, and often it’s followed by some lyric fragments. Or, it might be the other way around: I hear a phrase somewhere, and suddenly there’s a melody to go with it. It’s easy to build on a song if you have the first lines of the chorus. So the chorus is always, with a few exceptions, the starting point for me. Also, I always try to finish the whole song in my head before I record it. Should I forget the melody, that just proves that it isn’t strong enough. And then I have to start all over again.
What is the best piece of musical (or general) advice that you’ve ever been given that you’d like to pass on to others?
One thing is that you shouldn’t let anyone else define if your music is good or not. That’s entirely up to you. I realized a long time ago that you can’t please everyone. What’s important is that you’re free to do what you want, without anyone telling you what to do.
If you were allowed to collaborate with any musician or band, who would you choose and why?
I’m always open to new collaborations! You don’t always connect with other artists, musicians or songwriters, but when you do, magic may occur!
Thanks so much for chatting with us Eva! I have no doubt that there are many more songs up your sleeve, and I truly can’t wait to hear what else you have in store! In a broader sense though, what do you hope for in your musical future?
Thank you for the opportunity, I really appreciate it! Who knows what the future may bring? But with three EPs behind me, I’m still waiting to complete my first full album. And the most difficult part of that is to find the time to do it haha!
