KULTURA / CULTURE
dom and connection. I actually don’t really think about it too much and I think that’s the most important fac- tor. You just do what you do and what- ever emerges is your essence. Don’t think about how you should sound, just be free. I think my voice is quite distinctive and people will always rec- ognise it. That’s the common thread running through all the music I make – I always have that strong, raw, soul- ful voice and that’s who I am. It is my identity, even without thinking. But I can be really free when it comes to genre, and I like to do that. Is there any part of you that the audience has yet to see that might emerge in this new chap- ter? - What I do now on stage is to dive completely freely into so-called angel- ic singing that’s very high pitched and that I never used before. But the feel- ing is incredibly liberating. It is also very soothing for the voice. This con- nects me more strongly to my fore- mothers in a way – it’s really emotion- al to sing in that register. What are your expectations as you prepare to arrive in Bel- grade? - I’m really looking forward to it! We will bring more than enough free- dom, confidence, burning desire and fire to ensure a very good concert! I re- ally can’t wait! And if I had to briefly describe what I expect, I would say – liberation, emotion and connection. Selah Sue and The Gallands are creating music that’s liberated, vibrant and deeply alive, with every performance representing a unique experience
Your work often balances vul- nerability and strength. How aware of that duality are you when performing? - I think I’m pretty well aware of that. People often also tell me that, given that I’m very open when it comes to my mental challenges. But, in a way, it is precisely that openness that makes me strong, which people also notice. I’m not ashamed or scared of being like that. For me, that means I can turn my weakness into some- thing strong. And that can really reso- nate among people who are in a simi- lar situation and perhaps feel like they shouldn’t be feeling certain things. With the new album slow- ly coming together, what kind of emotional mark would you like it to leave on listeners? - I think it’s an ode to moving on, as that’s also the name of the al- bum [Movin’]. Don’t stay stuck in your emotions, just surrender to them, accept them and let them pass through you. And realise that you aren’t alone. We’re all one, all connect- ed and all come from the same source. So, the message is really about free-
stage. On the other hand, Elvin Galland provides a stronger sense of structure on keyboards, so I think we find each other somewhere in the middle. I some- how find myself between those two worlds. I like the fact that we always re- turn to the chorus, but there’s plenty of room for experimentation within that, especially in the verses. That keeps me awake and present, because just singing is easy, but it’s much more interesting when I can find new ways to sing. Do you feel like you now sing from a different inner space than at the beginning of your career? - I was already very honest from the outset. My early work, like the really powerful This World and Raggamuffin, which is also very honest, came from a very real and authentic place. I nev- er made music with the idea that it had to play on the radio. It has always been about expressing something honest. Of course, time changes everything; you grow and change. I’m no longer that twenty-year-old woman. There are dif- ferent things that I want to say and ex- press. And I’m truly proud of the fact that I’ve always followed what seems true to me.
52 | Muzika » Music
Made with FlippingBook interactive PDF creator