Lindy-Fay Hella
DMD: Lindy, thank you very much for granting us this interview, our website has always admired your work and we would love to know a little more about you and Wardruna, so this side of the world gets to know you better.
​
First of all, tell us:
How was your approach to music and your vocal coaching?
Lindy: Hei and thank you for your interest and nice words. Music has been in my daily life as long as I can remember. My earliest memories was when I was walking around one of those little ovens they had in the 70s, listening to whatever music my parents had on at the moment. At that time, our house was not properly isolated, so quite cold. So walking around the oven while listening to music was probably why it has become a habit. I still do that. Not walking around in circles like back then of course, but moving around while listening to music is something I do every day, if not ill.
​
I think this has also coloured the way I make music myself. I create things in some kind of dreaming mode. I do not think or calculate when in the creative process. I just do and feel. Using feelings and energies is how I create.
​
My grandfather gave me a little toy piano when I was around 5 or so. A very nice gift it was. I made my first songs with this and later went over to organ and synths. Since I was very shy, I never sang so others could hear it. However, my older cousin Roy, who is one of my dearest friends, talked me into singing. At first I refused, but he had for some reason made up his mind. I was going to sing, no matter what.
The feeling I then got when finally able to get out some sound, I remember clearly. It was a fantastic feeling of freedom and strength.
​
This is one of the things I focus on with the works shops I`ve started do lately. Working with energies around you and find your inner strength. Of course, this is individual, but there are some things we can practise with in order to get in touch with this. And there are no set rules. either.
Of course, there are some technical things when it comes to using the voice without damaging it,that is important to know, especially when it comes to loud singing.
​
I`ve started taking classes again with my former voice teacher Benedicte Sjøvold, to make sure technique is okay and getting tips on how explain what i do to others, in a safe way.
Benedicte teaches at the Grieg academy of music here in Bergen and has been a teacher for over 20 years. I really appreciate her expertise.
2. DMD: Who are the singers that have inspired you the most? What kind of music do you usually listen to?
Lindy: Difficult question really, because there are many. Brenda Lee and Connie Francis in early days. I remember being fascinating by something I felt was like sadness or something in Connie`s voice. Full of nerve. And Brenda with her tremendous energy and rhythm. Then it was Cyndi Lauper, Kate Bush, Bjork, Dave Gahan. Robert Smith, Nina Hagen, Morrisey, Lisa Gerrard, Elisabeth Fraser, Clare Grogan from altered images, Lisa Germano. These are those I can think of, but there are many more. I listen to a lot of dark techno really. It is very close up to tribal music in a way. I also listen to folk music from both Norway and also other parts of the world. Lately I`ve been introduced to Greek music, reorded in the 20s. This is new music for me and exiting because it is very different from Norwegian music, but full of ornaments and melancholy. Very beautiful.
3. DMD: How have you managed to connect so well with the essence of the ancient gods and how was your approach to ancient mythology and nordic culture?
Lindy:To be honest, all I go by is connect with what I feel is around me. What kind of energies are out there or what energies/feelings I have within myself. When I read or hear something from old history/cultures I take inspiration from it, but only if it feels relevant and touches a nerve. I am close to nature and believe there are more out there then we can see and this inspires me every day.
​
​
​
To know a little more about you in the band...
​
7. DMD:How did you end up in wardruna?
Lindy: Einar attended a concert with me and Arne Sandvoll many years ago. We have this electronica duo called Ullan Gensa, but have never released anything, only held a few concerts. He contacted me after this and asked if I could come up with something on one of his song. This was Bjarkan. Then, after that I just really never left.
8. DMD: In the band, you do the female voices, which complement the voice of Einar Selvik, besides this, you have some other function within Wardruna, ¿songwriting maybe?, ¿how they manage to be inspired to write?
Lindy: I`ve made some of the melody lines here and there, like for example on Isa (before the choir starts), Bjarkan, Sowelu, to mention a couple and choir arrangements. I have not done any of the lyrics. To take an example. With Sowelu, Einar made the lyrics after what I`ve been singing, that was originally without lyrics.
​
9. DMD: It's difficult - at least in Latin America - that women form a fundamental part of music, man has always had relevance by obscuring female talent. From your perspective. What do you think about the importance of this feminine part in your genre, and how can you achieve the vocal balance with the voice of Einar? Besides that, how is your relationship with the other musicians?
Lindy: I know what you are saying and I think every female musician out there has felt this at one point or another. I am lucky with this, because none of the musicians I work with are ever taking into consideration if you are a man or a woman. It has nothing to do with music at all.
We simply just make music. The chemistry among us in Wardruna is fantastic. We are like a huge family when we are on tour. When it comes to the vocal, again I just do, I do not think that much and if things sounds unbalanced to my ears, I just try something else.
10. DMD: We have heard that you had a presentation in Brazil, it is your first time in Latin America. How was your experience?. We are hoping for a Latin America tour in the future. Do you think it is possible that some day more Wardruna shows will take place on this side of the world?
Lindy: I think is fully possible, i really hope so. Personally loved it in Brazil and wish we could stay for longer. I know the others had a great time as well.
11. DMD: We see on social networks that you are very close to Kristian Eivind (Gaahl). What is Wardruna's current relationship with him? Do you plan to do more shows with this singer?
Lindy: Yes, Kristian is one of my dearest friends and has been for almost 20 years. The other members of Wardruna are also friends with him. Kristian wants to concentrate on other projects and that is totally okay. We are planning to do something together, but are not in a hurry I will also probably guest Gaahl`s Wyrd again, on stage.
Wardruna
4. DMD: Which books would you recommend us to read to get closer to this type of knowledge?
Lindy: I would actually recommend to ask my good friend Lars Magnar Enoksen about this. He has a tremendous knowledge and has one of the biggest collection of books, containing information about our old culture. He also writes books himself.
5.DMD: What are your religious or spiritual beliefs?
Lindy: I choose to have an open mind. I do not have and do not need any set answers on if there are Gods/Godesses or not. However, I am always curious and believe there are things out there, energies that can appear God like, but i do not know what this is. I`ve seen things that I can not explain, several times during my life. It might be a logical explanation to it somehow or it might be something from another dimension or earlier life. Anyway, these experiences makes me believe that there are many things in the Universe we do not know of and maybe time, like we see it, is wrong. That there is some kind of energy/force that is total love though, that I am certain of.
6. DMD: What are your favorite activities when you go to the outside world and connect with nature?
Lindy: I like to take long walks and every time travelling somewhere, this is what I do if having the chance. To explore nature, I just observe. If I can take a swim or bath somewhere too, then it`s the perfect day for me. Every part of the world has it`s beauty. Although my favourite is green and lush nature, I learned to appreciate the desert as well, while visiting Arizona some years back. Hopefully, one day I will be able to visit the Namib Desert. I`ve heard that it is one of the most spectacular places to be when it comes to stargazing.
12. DMD: Sobre las colaboraciones, ¿cómo fue tu experiencia de grabación con Leaves eyes? ¿Con qué banda (metal o no) le gustaría hacer otra colaboración?
Lindy: Fue una colaboración interesante. Hice un arreglo de coro para ellos, basado en la melodía de Liv. De hecho, solo escuché su melodía cuando grabé el coro, una flauta, algunas guitarras acústicas y percusión. No fue hasta más tarde que escuché la canción completa de principio a fin. También tuve la oportunidad de conocer a Liv y su ex marido aquí en Bergen. Ambos son personas encantadoras.
13. DMD: ¿Tienes algún tipo de ritual antes del espectáculo? ¿Cómo es la preparación?
Lindy: Siempre tengo que dar un paseo (si es posible), bailar y luego descansar en mi habitación y preferiblemente tomar un baño con aceites esenciales como rosas, lavanda o algo cítrico. Depende de mi estado de ánimo. Y siempre doy un abrazo a los demás antes de subir al escenario. Es muy importante. Esto nunca se olvida.
​
14. DMD: Tell us, do you have any project in which you are working outside of Wardruna?
Lindy: Yes, I have the project with Arne Sandvoll, then a project with Ingolf Hella Torgersen, Jan Tore Ness and Roy Ole Førland, which is kind of experimental, dark disco/pop. I`m also working on a solo album or EP (I am not sure of the format yet). it started out as an acapella project, but I`ve decided to have some instruments to add depth/contrast and darkness to it. Among the musicians are Ingolf Hella Torgersen, Herbrand Larsen, Eilif Gundersen and Einar.
15. DMD: We know it's the end of the trilogy, but, what is expected for the band for the coming years?
Lindy: This is a secret ;) We will continue though, that`s for sure.
16. DMD: You will always be welcome here in Latin America. What message do you want to send to your fans?
Lindy: Thank you very much, we felt very welcomed in Brasil and hopefully we will be able to visit the rest of South Amerika as well.
I want to say thank you so much for your support. It is really appreciated and I hope to see you in the future. Until then, all the best! Greetings from Bergen, Norway.
