Interview w. Singer / Songwriter Dagny

Shane Thomas — Sun, 25 Oct 2020 11:23:15 +0000

Dagny (Norvoll Sandvik) has officially solidified herself in recent years as one of Norway’s most exciting artists, live performers and songwriters.

Yielding over 450 million streams, as well as selling out international headline tours along with critical acclaim.

Dagny was also nominated for Songwriter of the Year and Song of the Year at 2019 Spellemannprisen Awards (Norwegian Grammys) – the third year in a row Dagny has been nominated.

Recently Shane from STG was able to have a virtual sit down and chat with the amazingly talented songstress on her new album ‘Strangers/Lovers’

Shane: Hi Dagny, lovely to virtually meet you. Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you end up in the music industry?

Dagny: Hi there, nice to virtually meet you too. I’m a songwriter and artist originally from Tromsø, which is a small town in the freezing, but beautiful North of Norway. I started writing songs on my acoustic guitar at the age of 15ish. Once I finished school I did a few years of traveling, and then I moved to London when I was 21. That’s when I got into music and music industry for real. The learning curve was steep and adventurous. I finally release my first single Backbeat in 2015 and that really kicked things off.

Shane: You have released a few singles recently and your new Album Strangers/ Lovers has just dropped as of the 2nd of October 2020. Having been able to preview the album, it has a very heavy relationship focus. Was there a reason for that?

Dagny: I guess that’s been a big inspiration over the last few years. I mean, love is definitely a reoccurring theme in my music. Strangers/Lovers basically follow the course of a relationship from the meet-and-greet to post breakup. Side A, which I dropped already in May, is about the start, and the happy part, of a relationship. Whilst Side B, that completed the album at the start of October, is about the breakup and post breakup.

Shane: From pop to dance and a mix of both, what can fans expect from Strangers/ Lovers?

Dagny: I guess now that it’s out, people can make up their own mind about it. But for me it’s an album that touches on some of the most basic, and also all-consuming, feelings we have as humans. Love, happiness, excitement, frustration, sadness and sorrow to mention a few… I recommend everyone to do at least one listen from start to finish, as we spend a lot of time on the track list to make it feel like a journey.

Shane: What advice would you give to aspiring song-writers and singers trying to break in to the recording industry?

Dagny: I would say: spend time learning you craft, whether it’s singing, playing the guitar or songwriting – and play live whenever the opportunity occurs, it’s training! Try to be honest in your music and stick to your gut. At the end of the day, no one really have the answer to what works or what doesn’t, but authenticity and music-joy always shines through. Also, never give up. I mean, I was 25 when things started kicking off. And I had many opportunities to give up prior to that.

Shane: I realise that your new album has just released – however looking forward, what is next up for you?

Dagny: Because of Covid-19, we not able to tour at the moment, which was originally the plan. Therefor I will just continue to write and record more music for next year. And obviously keep spreading the words on Strangers / Lovers and just enjoy the moment. An album doesn’t just happen every day, so it’s important to take a moment to let it sink it and to celebrate.

Strangers/Lovers has now been released and available on all streaming platforms and online music stores.

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The post Interview w. Singer / Songwriter Dagny appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

DAGNY Drops New Single – It’s Only A Heartbreak

STG News — Thu, 10 Sep 2020 09:13:02 +0000

Norwegian singer Dagny has announced that she will release her long-awaited debut album Strangers / Lovers this coming October via Little Daggers Records.

Showcasing her growth as an artist and her focused creative vision, the album – divided into distinct halves, tracks the journey of a relationship. The first half documenting the blossoming early stages of a new love, and the second – examining the fall out of that relationship.

In conjunction with the album announcement, Dagny has just released her new single “It’s Only A Heartbreak”, and the first taste of the second half of Strangers / Lovers.

Propelled forward by lush synths, bouncy electronics and jittering percussion, “It’s Only A Heartbreak” could well be her finest moment to date. The track’s conversational lyrics see Dagny reflecting on her own emotions post-breakup – and telling herself she can get through this: “Most days I wake up I’m okay / I’m doing my own thing, I don’t have a moment to think about you / Most days I’m up on a high wave, And I’m just like urgh, It’s only a heartbreak, I got to get through you”.

Speaking on the new single release, Dagny commented: “It’s Only A Heartbreak is actually partly inspired by the classic movie “Casablanca” from 1942, and Humphrey Bogart’s famous quote: “Here’s looking at you, kid”. Like the movie, the song is about knowing that you will never get someone back, but you can secretly still look at, and admire, that certain someone. The song carries a nonchalant expression, but the undertone makes it pretty obvious that you’re not over that person yet.”

Following the release of Side A of Strangers / Lovers in May earlier this year, its two lead singles “Come Over” and “Somebody” undoubtedly proved Dagny is in the songwriting form of her life. “Come Over” (described by The Guardian as a “thundering synthpop explosion” spent 3 weeks at the top of the Norwegian radio-airplay charts, and ”Somebody”, having already amassed over 14 million streams, was a mainstay in the Norwegian Top 10 on Spotify upon its release, and also hit the top 5 on the Norwegian radio-airplay charts.

The full Strangers / Lovers album, out October 2nd 2020, is the culmination of 5 years hard graft. Since the release of breakout debut single “Backbeat” in 2015, her debut full length album has always been the end goal.

Dagny’s story proves that the journey is just as important as the destination. It might not have followed the path she’d expected, but it’s made her the better for it. With Strangers / Lovers she has not only created some of the best songs of her career but found something equally as valuable: contentment.

“Being able to release music and playing shows is how I feel happy doing what I do. I would call that successful,” she says. “I need to try and not think too much about what this album is going to do, but remember how it all happened, the good times we had making it, the people I met while making it, the emotions that I tried to convey and whether I feel good. It needs to go and live its own life.”

“It’s Only A Heartbreak” has been released via her own record company Little Daggers Records, under an exclusive license agreement with Universal Music AS in a joint venture with Polydor DE.

Be a supporter of STG

Everyone that works on STG is a volunteer. If you like the site and it’s contents please think about donating. Even a small amount helps keep the servers running.

The post DAGNY Drops New Single – It’s Only A Heartbreak appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

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Interview w. Singer / Songwriter Dagny

DAGNY Drops New Single – It’s Only A Heartbreak