We’ve been privileged to know the peripatetic Norwegian all-female trio of Eline Brun, Gøril Nilsen and Lill Scheie, who are collectively I See Rivers, since 2015. The trio, who have now settled in Wales, have joined us to answer some questions – serious and not so serious – about their musical background, what they are up to just now and a host of other things.
NMR: Hi, how are you?
ISR: We're good, thank you! How are you? We're just about ok thanks! What’s the weather like?
Eline: It's really sunny in Pembrokeshire! Gøril: I'm so excited for spring, but at the moment every news paper says something like "While the capital has 17 degrees roads keep closing because of snowstorms in the north". But I know spring will arrive in Bodø soon enough <3
Lill: Here in Oslo the sun is shining and everything is just green and lovely. How do most of your songs start like? A piano part? A chord? Or melody?
It can be so different each time, but mostly it starts with a chord. Have you ever been star-struck?
We were all pretty star-struck when we had a writing session with Paul McCartney at Uni. The Royal Family: should they stay or should they go?
We really like our Norwegian Royal Family. Our king and queen are such amazing, warm human beings! If you weren’t doing this, what would you like to be?
Eline: I would like to be a baker and bake bread for people. Gøril: I'd be a fisherwoman. Lill: I'd become a really talented photographer and then I'd travel the world taking photos of animals and going on adventures. What’s your favourite book?
Eline: I recently read To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee and I loved it. Gøril: I have more than one, but right now I'm reading "The Hidden Life of Trees". This book has changed me somehow. Might be because I live in the woods. It's beautiful, but also painful in a way, realising how little I knew about the nature that surrounds me. Lill: Hmm, it's not exactly my favourite, but I keep returning to and rereading The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami.
Right now I'm reading "The Hidden Life of Trees". This book has changed me somehow
What were you like at school?
Eline: I was really hard working. I had a dream of getting in to music college, but your grades had to be really good to get in, so I worked so hard to get the best grades and luckily I succeeded. Gøril: I always loved school. Might be because I found some of the loveliest people that I know at the different schools I went to. And I was a nerd as well, haha.
Lill: I only started working hard and taking school really seriously when I started uni, before that I just wasn't that bothered to be honest. I never failed a class or anything, I just didn't find it all too interesting. I was really quiet and in a constant state of embarrassment. What’s the music scene like in Norway right now?
The music scenes in Norway varies a lot from city to city (and, especially between the bigger cities), and there's a lot of interesting stuff going on in both Bergen and Oslo at the moment.
Best gig you’ve played so far?
We had an amazing show in Vienna a few years back. We supported Cosmo Sheldrake on his European tour and the audience in Vienna made us feel so welcome. We were jumping up and down in joy!
We supported Cosmo Sheldrake on his European tour and the audience in Vienna made us feel so welcome. We were jumping up and down in joy!
What’s your favourite single?
They all our little babies and we couldn't pick one. What were your favourite artists growing up?
Eline: No Doubt and Aqua. Gøril: The Norwegian band Cyaneed
Lill: BRITNEY FOR EVER!
Who would you want to play you in the film of your life?
Eline: Can it be an animation film and can Mulan play the role as me? Gøril: I'd just like to be Ronja Røverdatter.. Not answering the question, but you know.. I'd also like to be Harry Potter, but it would probably be a bit weird if Daniel Radcliffe played the role as me. Lill: Cate Blanchett please Vinyl, CD, Download or stream?
Vinyl all day long! What’s the best cover version you have ever heard?
James Blake - Limit to your love
Tell us about your recent release?
We just released our fourth single from our upcoming album. It's called "How" and it's an up-beat, summery tune. We hope it can bring a bit of positivity to the people in these crazy times.
Any hopes for 2020?
We hope that all artists in the world get to perform their music to huge audiences of dancing people again.
We hope that all artists in the world get to perform their music to huge audiences of dancing people again. What would be your dream collaboration if any?
We love Sufjan Stevens and Frank Ocean, we're ready for a collaboration at any point!!!
Thanks! After lockdown we can't wait for an 'I See Rivers' gig somewhere sometime….!
‘I See Rivers’ are included in our brand new Nordic Indie playlist which you can find here on Spotify. Please help support other Nordic artists by following and liking it.