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iProng Interview In The First Issue of 2010

In iProng’s first issue of the new decade Bill Palmer interviewed Noush Skaugen on her background, motivation, future plans and the power of social media.

Download the article on their web site to read it in context.

Archival copy below

You were born in Sweden, grew up in London, spent time in Los Angeles and Nashville. How have those “citizen of the world” experiences impacted your musical philosophies?

Each place has its own unique music culture and perspective on what a good performance is. I have learnt a great deal in all places, which hopefully has made me more open to experiment and a more rounded performer. I grew up dancing round trees singing songs with my parents & guests merry on aquavite (a very potent Scandinavian alcohol) – so initially I guess I learnt that music is about having a good time!

In London you better be good because once the fellas get a few pints in, they’ll let you know if you’re not LA is all about entertaining and the passion of connecting with your fans. Nashville they don’t care what you look like or what’s on your CD, just play it to them on an acoustic guitar and you had better be good, because even the garbage man is probably a prodigy. It has made me step up my game, to compete with the best. I am striving to create the ultimate experience for my fans, from the music to exclusive deluxe content, with behind the scenes footage & interviews yet to be released.

A year ago you had a few thousand followers on Twitter. Now you have more than a million followers, more than Dave Matthews or Snoop Dogg, which seems an unlikely feat for an indie artist. Where are all these followers coming from?

It’s mad really… in a great way…The number keeps growing every day… The power of Social Media is massive. I suppose in the age of reality TV stars, I am the opposite – organic, real, my own creation from hard graft. I am transparent with my tweets, love to chat with my followers, letting them in on what’s going on behind the scenes of making a record.

I am not constrained by any label telling me what I can or cannot do or tweet – so it’s very fluid and brutally honest. There’s no smokescreen. It lets me connect on a one to one basis with them virtually, and for them to be on this journey with me, something acts 20 years ago could not have imagined. Born from this idea, I will do live interactive concerts in the new year and I have other really exciting plans for the fans in the new year that I’m working on.

Do you find Twitter more daunting now that each of your tweets is going to be read by up to a million of your fans?

Lol! Initially when it started growing at a big rate, I had that moment of pure fright, and didn’t tweet I think for a couple of days….but then I got over it You can’t change who you are just because more people are listening to you.

Being true and real is very important to me. I am very comfortable with it now. I imagine as if I am speaking to each person directly.

You’ve been making your songs podsafe for use in podcasts for a couple of years now. How has that worked out for you?

Great. I think podcasts are a fantastic way to get your music out there worldwide with a DJ in Missouri being able to reach someone in South Africa! The DJ’s are really passionate about the music they play. Podcasts have been very supportive of me and my music, Podsafe got me on Satellite radio first…. For me anyway to reach people with my music is a good thing. Red tape and rules can hinder artistic growth.

Many of your fans had been hoping for a new release from you in late 2009. I take it there’s a good reason you’ve chosen to wait until the spring to release your new album?

Yes… I had a whole new game plan set in motion autumn this year. I decided I wanted to release a full album, and held back the EP. My objective is to make the best album I can, one that is timeless and will still be played in decades to come. I am motivated to use the music medium to inspire people to dare to dream! I am taking the time to push myself to the limit in every way possible in terms of my lyrics, music and the whole artistic concept of the album. No fillers, no wasted words… a classic record.

Basically the thought and TLC any great album had back in the day, that seems to be missing today… I am lucky enough to have the fantastic opportunity to write with some of the best songwriters out there and am on an amazing journey. Hopefully my fans will understand the wait will be worth it:) I thank them from the bottom of my heart for their patience.

Dr. System and Run Baby Run, the two songs you’ve sent me so far, are both rockers. Is that indicative of where the new record is headed overall? 

Absolutely, this whole record will be rocking, taking no prisoners I am comfortable in my own skin, sexuality and fearless. This record will challenge the role of female artists today.

You’ve had acting parts in shows like CSI and Entourage. Is that something you plan to pursue more of?

Definitely. I trained at The Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London, which showed me the thrill of delving deep into a character so that they get under your skin. I love all forms of artistic expression and would love to do a movie and TV once the album is done… Acting allows me to be someone else for a while… explore other realities and history… which can only enrich the art that in turn pours out of me. It’s a fusion which can create fireworks.

Your Twitter bio reads “Together we can change the world” – what are your plans for doing just that?

Using my voice to motivate people to chase their dreams and follow their gut… be who they want to be, no matter what those close to them expect of them or the system tells them they can or cannot do. Anything is possible, the only limitations are the ones we place on ourselves. Music and art used to affect change, and I would love to see us artists bring it back to empowering the people.

I will also be standing behind certain causes, one of them I have already started to take part in is the fight against breast cancer, which I lost my mother to. Some of the proceeds from my album ‘Lost and Found’ goes to the cause.

Life is short and we should use the voices we have to push boundaries, the human race and live a riot baby!