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Vanessa Siebrass

Interview: "BRB" - Joselin


Photo credit: Anna Nordström



“BRB” is a poignant tune, and your vocals are heartfelt. Can you share the backstory for this song?


Joselin: BRB is the first song I wrote after a breakup that left me in a state of denial where I was expecting the person to be right back. It was intended to be a “therapy song” just for me, but after thinking about it I felt that those types of honest songs might be the most important ones.


You completed the songwriting program at the Lillehammer Institute of Music Production and Industries. What are some of your favourite memories and moments from that experience?


Joselin: I loved the songwriting program in Lillehammer! I rented a small room above a garage halfway up the Olympic mountain in the small town mostly known for its 1994 winter Olympics. So in the wintertime, when recording sessions had lasted past the last night bus, I had to walk through heavy snow. I remember being exhausted as I got home. I learned a lot from mentors such as our head instructor, songwriter Amund Björklund (Train’s “Hey Soul Sister” & Beyoncé’s “Irreplaceable”), who kept giving fantastic advice. I can still hear his voice in my head as I remember the insights he shared. Sarah Hudson, Dagny, and Fred Ball were others I learned a lot from.







What was it like collaborating with Alexander Linnerstam on “Excuses”, which led to you winning P4 Nästa Kronoberg?


Joselin: It was a bit of a shock for both of us to find out we won, and I’m still so grateful for that experience. “Excuses” started with a song idea on the piano, and I sent over a voice memo to Alexander which inspired him to produce an instrumental. I knew from the first moment I heard it that it was the perfect sound. "Excuses" was the first song Alex and I made together, and now "BRB" will be the most recent.



How exciting was it to win the gold ticket for your performance of “If I Had A Weapon” on Idol?


Joselin: Receiving the gold ticket on Idol was one of the best days of my life. I had been nervous about my voice the years prior, wondering if it was good enough. That validation and positive feedback from the jury really changed my perspective and gave me confidence that I can do this for real.




Photo credit: Anna Nordström



Can you describe your songwriting process for us, and give some insight as to what gets your creativity flowing?


Joselin: I have a few different processes for writing. Oftentimes when I write for myself, I prefer to be in my own space with my guitar. That’s how I wrote BRB. Other times, I also love spending time in the studio and bouncing ideas off a producer in the room. During that process, it’s like every part of the song is being built at once from the ground up, which can be quite exciting.



How would you describe your unique sound?


Joselin: I strive to always be very honest and vulnerable in the lyrics I write. And to keep lyrics modern, although I often like the production to be a bit vintage and classical. I do have synesthesia, which is quite common among musicians, which pretty much means that I can see colors in sounds and music. This also impacts my songwriting as I try to reinforce the song’s color. This has led to some fun laughs with producers who don’t have synesthesia - if I ask them to add a certain color to the production and they wonder if I have gone nuts.



Interviewed By Vanessa Siebrass




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