Eide Olsen “Anchored”
Good music rarely need much of a description. It takes you on a journey and makes you think deeper about life. It brings back long-forgotten feelings and lift up your spirits. “Anchored” is all those things. With the golden glitters of jazz dissolves into a dark-soaked sonic palette, filtered through cinematic, scenic lens, transcending into a sonic landscape that’s timeless and unique. The atmosphere is a little hazy and smoky, but only from the brewing of rich and complex emotions.
Is life truly worth it? Once or twice in our life, for some, maybe many times too often, we find ourselves in deep water and asking the very question. In most cases, we let out a long sigh and keep on keeping on, but the deep mental pain and exhaustion leading up to existential crisis is beeping in high alarm. “Anchored” comes in the threads woven from this question. Eide Olsen aims to uplift those in deep water. In truth, he takes the listeners on a much needed, soul-searching trip.
Like a sonic film that rolls before your mind eyes and like a semi-lucid dream, “Anchored” drops you into deeper introspection. Thunders came rumbling underneath Olsen’s airy deep voice. Like a time capsule itself that sees the concentration of years of living, “Anchored” captured him in soul-baring state, authentically channeling the deep pains and fights into his music. There’s so much that goes on, spiritually and emotionally, with the words and melodic landscapes splashing against the sonic shore.
Listening to “Anchored” is like taking a walk of solitude or a cross country trip where you face your most feared demons. Such journey is turbulent and thorny, but also memorable and life-altering. It holds a special place in your heart, and every time you think about it, you’ll remember how far you’ve come. “Anchored” is like that movie you keep revisiting. It’s deep and epic, therapeutic and stirring.
The harmonious echos and resonance comes from a remarkable 14-year-old vocalist, whose innocence and ethereal voice adds another layer to the song.
Below we chat with Olsen on the creation of “Anchored” and his musical styles.
Punk Head: I love the intricacy and message "Anchored" send. What's the inspiration behind the song?
Eide Olsen: Most of us sometimes find life in general challenging but maybe just once or twice during our lifetime we actually feel it necessary to (sincerely) ask ourselves the question, is it worth it? And if we ever come to that point it's almost impossible to find a way out of the overwhelming darkness. The song aspires to give an answer on how to overcome such mental pain, but honestly I do not know if it does.
PH: Can you talk about any collaborations you had while making this single?
Olsen: The girl that sings along with me on the song is only 14 years old and in my opinion a remarkable talent. The hopeful innocence of her voice becomes a strong contrast to the darkness of the lyrics. Also I would like to mention Irek Wojtzcak, the soprano saxophone player. Renowned throughout Europe as a jazz avant-gardist, Irek in this piece shows a new side of his talent, filling the melodic landscape with the most endearing and beautiful colors.
PH: What is your creative vision as an artist?
Olsen: To me music is like colors reflecting thoughts and feelings. My creative ambition is to be honest in the ways I put it all together. Lyrics, melodies, expression and production - when all the variables connect and fit - it comes out as a whole, and the listener can feel that there is something there! If I can make that happen, the song fulfills its mission and that is the reward I seek.
PH: Who are your biggest influences?
Olsen: The singer/songwriter tradition holds a lot of names I could mention but if I have to start from the top: Paul Simon, Billy Joel, Mark Knopfler, Phil Collins, Paul McCartney... So yes indeed, it is fair to say I am a bit old-school.
PH: What is the one thing that you’d like your fans to know about you?
Olsen: That I am an almost fanaticly romantic person that lives by the rule: Use your head about tomorrow, but the heart about today!
