Meet...Tuvaband

On the rise Tuvaband, is vastly becoming the Norwegian Queen of alt-pop and is ready to dominate the world.

Photographer Credit: Catherine Mamani Valles

Following the routes of her successful debut album, Tuvaband latest offering, Growing Pains & Pleasures, again proves why she was nominated for a Norwegian Grammy and tipped for big things. As she embarks on the ups and downs of the past behind her, Tuvaband special ability of atmospheric, dark soundscapes that capture you in a heartbeat is evident in her latest work. Though we see a different side, listeners are treated to her staple sound that's too hard to ignore.

With an honest vision of her storytelling and a continuous rise within the music world, Vibez caught up with the artist to talk about her latest work, her own label, Passion Flames and what is next.

Let's go straight in with the upcoming album Growing Pains & Pleasures - how excited are you for everyone to hear it and what do you hope to achieve?

I feel a big relief now that the album is finally out. I've never waited this long with releasing an album after it was made. It's been over a year already. So, it feels really good! Most of all, I hope the album can give something to others, just like it's given me so much to make it. Either in the form of a great listening experience, a relief, for contemplating, or if I'm even luckier - being someone’s daily soundtrack for a longer period helping someone through something.

As we talk about your latest album, what is the overall arching theme of Growing Pains & Pleasures, and do you hope to see it resonate with your fellow fans?

The overall theme is about change, changes within people, surroundings and in life. I wrote the album after having been voluntarily isolated over longer periods of time. So, therefore, it's also about how overwhelming it can feel to come out in the world again. This was before Corona. A friend who heard the album when it was finished, before corona, said there were too many songs she couldn't relate to - that it sounded a little bit too personal. I realised she might be right but hoping it would still be good, for some people. Now that isolation has been a worldwide thing, I'm suspecting it might be good for more people than I first thought. The song 'Doomsday' I intentionally wrote to all the people who struggle to sleep at times, so I wasn't trying to write each song for everyone in the world.

Taken on a calmer yet effective approach with the focus of detailed songwriting, how does this latest piece of work differ from your previous projects, and do you believe you have grown as an artist over these past years?

I think I learn and find new tools every year, so each release will be affected by this. Of course, I could have explored everything from the start with the help of others, but I didn't want to introduce elements/instruments before I knew exactly in what way I wanted them. On the first releases I was very stubborn on not bringing drums, because if I were going to have them the way people thought would be best for the music, I would have ended up with the lamest drums. And then the drums would be there just because you're supposed to have drums. Which also made me a little anti-drum in my own music. So, when I eventually knew what type of drums I wanted, I was more than ready and super excited about having drums. So yes, I take new steps for each album, in my own tempo, growing because I get interested in something and then learn about it.

Whilst we enjoy each track of Growing Pains & Pleasures - what would you say is your favourite and why?

I think Fully Mature Things. Both because it's the one I'm the proudest of and because I find it catchy (the way I find music catchy).

On the other hand, you also lead your own label - Passion Flames - what do those ventures entail and what is the dream?

I realized at a point in my career that if I'm not signing with one of the coolest labels in the world or a label that would fund external PR around the world and still let me have 100% creative freedom; then it's better I keep my songs close to my chest. My dream is to get one of the coolest indie labels in the world so I can skip a lot of the admin work, and therefore maybe have a real holiday where I can relax. But dreams about my own label; maybe, later, when I'm not so busy with my own music - I might find it interesting to be a label for others.

As we talk about your ongoing rise within the music industry, from millions of streams to gaining a Norwegian Grammy nomination, how did Tuvaband start, and have you always wanted to be part of the music world?

I started singing and making songs when I was studying something else. As I didn't have a band, I called myself Tuvaband, the one-woman band, as a joke amongst friends. I couldn't get a band, as I didn't dare to sing in front of others. Eventually, things happened, and I met a guitarist. Before that, I didn't have any plans to be part of the music world. But when I was a kid, I was always sure I was going to be the new Aretha Franklin or M2M. The plan was to move to England to become both an artist and a professional football player. So now I'll work a little more on my fame and see if I ever get back into my football goals again.

Being a rising star, what has been the key thing you've learnt from your travels?

That I miss my friends and family in Norway - and that I've taken socializing for granted the last years. Ups, this might have been what I learnt from corona. I've learnt that I will always make music no matter if I have to get another job or two.

And, finally, with many secrets about to unfold, what is next for Tuvaband?

This summer, I'll finish the arrangements for a new album I've been working on. Then re-record some of the instruments at the end of the summer. Then when I'm doing the album tour for 'Growing Pains & Pleasures', maybe I've already released another album and will have to make a two-album-tour.