Interview With I Am Boleyn
What’s the story behind your artist name — and does it reflect who you are today?
My name is inspired by Anne Boleyn, who was the second wife of Henry VIII of England. She lived, and died (!) it such a colourful way, I was intrigued by her. Especially at a time when women really didn't feature in decision making. I wanted to incorporate her spirit into my stage persona in someway.
Which song of yours means the most to you, and what inspired it?
This is a really hard question to answer! I think I would have to pick Girl Like Me - it is inspired by I Am Boleyn's journey from space to earth where she falls in love with a human man. I wanted to explore the theme of love and all its disappointments and wonder through the lens of someone out of this world and its content.
How would you describe your sound in three words — and why those?
Nostalgic. Empowering. Fun!
What was the moment you truly felt like an artist — not just someone making music?
I love this question! Creating the character of I Am Boleyn and telling her story made me feel like an artist. All of the artwork as well as the music pulled together towards her voyage, which was the reason for the album title 'Voyager'.
Who are your biggest musical influences, and how do they show up in your work?
I love Stevie Nicks from Fleetwood Mac and Florence and the Machine. I also love Goldfrapp and Annie Lennox. So many wonderful women to be inspired by!
What’s your creative process like — from a blank page to a finished track?Usually I start with a lyrical idea, this album was quite conceptual as I wanted to tell the story of I Am Boleyn and her voyage through space to earth, falling in love and observing the chaos of our world before deciding if she wanted to stay. Then we built the tracks around those ideas and they were produced by the very talented, Johannes Willinder, Par Westerlund and Charlie Thomas.
If someone’s hearing you for the first time, which track should they start with — and why?
This is another great question! I think that 'Only Space' would be a good place to start. It is the opening track on the album and introduces my style quite well - it is synthy and cinematic and also fun!
What’s been your most unforgettable moment on your music journey so far?
There have been lots of great moments! Getting to see the full album, all fifteen tracks released was really special. Also my show in London as it was packed with a home crowd and it felt so great to perform a lot of the songs for the first time.
What do you want people to feel when they hear your music?
I love the idea that people will dance to my music - I love dancing! But then that they will also listen to the lyrics and feel comforted and inspired by them. I write a lot about love and also the power of letting go and blazing your own path.
What’s next for you — and what should fans be excited about?
My album 'Voyager' just came out and I have done some promo shows in Stockholm and London which were amazing. I'll be releasing more online about the songs, some videos and interviews to deep dive into the album!
