SVALA started very young in the music industry since then, her career has been very successful, when she was only 7 years she reached the top of the lists in Iceland, today his musical life is constantly evolving and now, she is extremely proud to represent Iceland in Eurovision and, defend a song in which she believes firmly and faithfully, here is the interview that she kindly granted us.
OgaeRowLatino: You started very early in the music industry with great success, what do you remember from those days?
Svala: I was very young when I started to record music and have hits on the radio, so I do not remember everything. I was 7 when I started recording in studios. I remember being bullied and intimidated in school by older children because I was famous.
She says at her 16 years old, when she got her second #1 in Iceland, she lived incredible moments, she was more “mature” and independent as a singer: “that was an amazing time, making music with my friends and touring all over Iceland and having lot of fun.”
As an artist, growth and learning have not stopped and, is difficult for her to name what has been the biggest learning of all this time: “It is difficult to say. I am always evolving as a person, as a singer and songwriter. I am very proud of the 10 years I was with my band Steed Lord”, 2006-2016 during that time they made 3 albums.
She describes her personality in three words: Kind, Funny and Loyal, we could say that the first one, defines her song Paper: “I wrote my song “Paper”about a very personal experience. It is about dealing with the difficulties in your life and overcoming them. I´ve been very open in the media in Iceland that I dealt with a lot of anxiety throughout my teenage years and early twenties. Music has always been my salvation and my safe place and I wanted to write about what I went through when I dealt with those difficulties”.
“When I wrote the lyrics I wanted to describe the relationship I have with myself while dealing with anxiety. My anxiety makes me feel fragile and makes me feel vulnerable like paper” (word she uses in her song as a metaphor to represent emotions).” No one has a perfect life. This is what connects us as human beings”.
Her purpose in writing “Paper” was to open up and be honest with herself without being ashamed because she is convinced that: “when we are open and when we talk to each other, we are setting ourselves free. By not being ashamed we are facing our fears and we are not giving up. I still have my bad days but thankfully I´m at a much better place now and anxiety doesn´t control my life anymore. But it´s so important to me to talk about it to be able to help others and inspire”.
ORLA: Can you tell us about the most intense emotion you’ve experienced?
SVALA: When I married my soulmate Einar Egilsson in 2013. That day was the happiest day I have ever experienced. I felt euphoric and I laughed and cried the whole day and whole night. So many emotions that day but all happy ones.
ORLA: What do you prefer, cut the paper or just throw it?
SVALA: Cut the paper. I would not throw paper away cause you can recycle it to be more earth friendly.
ORLA: How did the opportunity come to be in Söngvakeppnin 2017?
SVALA: Me and my husband Einar wrote the song together with Lester Mendez and Lily Elise in LA where we live, in 2016. The song was not written for Eurovision originally. We have been in many writing sessions for the last two years cause we have been writing for our new band Blissful and other artists in LA. And “Paper” came out of those writing sessions.
It was actually my husbands idea and not mine to submit it to the national selection in Iceland. He saw the ad on facebook that RÚV was looking for songs to compete in the national selection in Iceland.
It took me a couple of days to be convinced but then I decided to do it cause the message is so important in my song and I knew that it would probably do pretty well in the national selection.
Also, I only wanted to compete in Eurovision if it was on my own terms and with a song that I co-wrote and could stand behind completely and “Paper” is such a personal song and I´m very proud of it. And it feels right to compete with a song that I believe in so strongly.”
She is convinced to bring originality to the festival and make his country feel proud, that will be his contribution to the ESC 2017 edition in Kiev.
She also confess which have been her favorite Iceland’s entry in Eurovision:
“My dad competed on Icelands behalf in 1995 in Eurovision with a song he co-wrote called “Núna” and it´s one of my favourites. But I also love “All Out Of Luck” (Selma 1999) and “Is It True” (Yohanna 2009).
ORLA: Eurovision is a festival followed by hundreds in Latin America, did you know that? what do you think about it?
SVALA: Yes I know. I´ve been getting messages from a lot of people from latin America that support me and my song. I think it´s awesome..
ORLA: Have you been to some of our countries?
SVALA: I´ve been to Mexico. I toured there with my band Steed Lord in 2008. I loved it and the people were so friendly.
ORLA: A final message for our readers in Latin America and beyond.
SVALA: Thank you for reading my interview. Sending you love and light. Can´t wait to perform in my semi final may 9th. If you want to get to know me better follow me on social media!!
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/svalakali/?hl=en
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/svalakali/
Snapchat: svalakali