Reportage
in the Aust-Agder Tidende on 30 May.
in the Aust-Agder Tidende on 30 May.
BY: OLE GUSTAV JOHNSEN
From Nashville with
love
love
11 years have
passed since Laila Hansen released her first CD. June, Friday the
13TH 2014, disc number two was released, “From Nashville with
love” which has been recorded in the United States. Aust-Agder
Tidende took up a chat with the country artist at the restaurant
Madam Reiersen where she is going to have its release party.
passed since Laila Hansen released her first CD. June, Friday the
13TH 2014, disc number two was released, “From Nashville with
love” which has been recorded in the United States. Aust-Agder
Tidende took up a chat with the country artist at the restaurant
Madam Reiersen where she is going to have its release party.
A large banner with
the image of the album cover greets us as well as an artist with an
even bigger smile. The release party of the CD on Friday the 13th
does not seem to worry the artist in particular. We sit outside and
Hansen talks about how the legacy of her mother was used for the
recording.
the image of the album cover greets us as well as an artist with an
even bigger smile. The release party of the CD on Friday the 13th
does not seem to worry the artist in particular. We sit outside and
Hansen talks about how the legacy of her mother was used for the
recording.
Our home was always
filled with joy and music. When both of my parents died in 2003, I
thought that I would honor them by using the legacy from my mother
and record a CD, something I’m sure they would have liked. Also, the
music was like a therapy through my mourning process.
filled with joy and music. When both of my parents died in 2003, I
thought that I would honor them by using the legacy from my mother
and record a CD, something I’m sure they would have liked. Also, the
music was like a therapy through my mourning process.
It all started in
the basement
the basement
Hansen had already
sung casually for a few years and went to purchase a P A System that
she placed in the basement at home. At the urging of friends who had
heard her sing, she decided to record the first album. Music had been
in a lot of genre, but by the time the album was scheduled for
recording, the choice fell on country.
sung casually for a few years and went to purchase a P A System that
she placed in the basement at home. At the urging of friends who had
heard her sing, she decided to record the first album. Music had been
in a lot of genre, but by the time the album was scheduled for
recording, the choice fell on country.
“I discovered that
many of the traditional elements of country music appealed to me,
“she said.
many of the traditional elements of country music appealed to me,
“she said.
Head-Start
The first album
“Never again” was very well received and Hansen was invited
to the Norwegian Country festival at Breim in 2004 and performed the
songs in front of an audience of about 10,000.
“Never again” was very well received and Hansen was invited
to the Norwegian Country festival at Breim in 2004 and performed the
songs in front of an audience of about 10,000.
To be honest, I was
terribly nervous and it took me a long time until I got the nerve to
go up on that stage, the artist chuckles.
terribly nervous and it took me a long time until I got the nerve to
go up on that stage, the artist chuckles.
But the old
instinct from the track and field competition woke up and she got to
finish on the stage and experienced an overwhelming positive
response. After that it was several appearances, both live and on
various radio stations in Norway and abroad.
instinct from the track and field competition woke up and she got to
finish on the stage and experienced an overwhelming positive
response. After that it was several appearances, both live and on
various radio stations in Norway and abroad.
On the ice
After some time
Hansen took a break from the music due to many circumstances in her
life. People started to wonder about the title of the first album
“Never again”, was there a statement, that they may never
hear another song from the artist they had become so fond of?
Hansen took a break from the music due to many circumstances in her
life. People started to wonder about the title of the first album
“Never again”, was there a statement, that they may never
hear another song from the artist they had become so fond of?
“I was in no way
tired of the music, but I used the time on so many other things that
I did not have the occasion to advance the music, “says Hansen.
tired of the music, but I used the time on so many other things that
I did not have the occasion to advance the music, “says Hansen.
The Comeback
But Hansen never
quite managed to let go of the music. Next to the assignments now and
then, there was always the dream in her mind, of making a new album.
quite managed to let go of the music. Next to the assignments now and
then, there was always the dream in her mind, of making a new album.
“The big dream was
to get to record a CD in the country music capital in Nashville in
the United States,” she explains.
to get to record a CD in the country music capital in Nashville in
the United States,” she explains.
After thinking about
it, she found out that the revenues of the previous CD combined with
the rest of the legacy from her mother would cover the cost of the
new record, but who was she going to get help from?
it, she found out that the revenues of the previous CD combined with
the rest of the legacy from her mother would cover the cost of the
new record, but who was she going to get help from?
When I was on the
“American Days” in Vanse the summer of 2012, I meet country music
artist, songwriter and producer Larry Patton and his wife Pamela.
They invited me back to Mandal where they were living while they were
in Norway and by the time they got to hear me sing they spontaneously
offered their help, stated an enthusiastic Hansen.
“American Days” in Vanse the summer of 2012, I meet country music
artist, songwriter and producer Larry Patton and his wife Pamela.
They invited me back to Mandal where they were living while they were
in Norway and by the time they got to hear me sing they spontaneously
offered their help, stated an enthusiastic Hansen.
Dramatic flight
The flight across
the pond would prove anything but trouble-free.
the pond would prove anything but trouble-free.
A few days before
departure, I was really Ill and got both the cold and flu. I was
thinking that I’m leaving anyway and gamble that I would get well
before recording. My fiancée and I were discussing the trip, and we
decided, that we would take the chance, “said Hansen.
departure, I was really Ill and got both the cold and flu. I was
thinking that I’m leaving anyway and gamble that I would get well
before recording. My fiancée and I were discussing the trip, and we
decided, that we would take the chance, “said Hansen.
During the stopover
in Amsterdam, she was however, strongly advised against traveling by
the airport doctor. He was deeply concerned that her eardrums could
break. End of the story was that Hansen had taken a hot shower and
crammed herself full of painkillers and so, she continued the tour.
in Amsterdam, she was however, strongly advised against traveling by
the airport doctor. He was deeply concerned that her eardrums could
break. End of the story was that Hansen had taken a hot shower and
crammed herself full of painkillers and so, she continued the tour.
Writing on the wall
Promotion in
Nashville. Hansen used the next few days to recover and relax, then
the day of the recording came, and she was well enough to sing.
Nashville. Hansen used the next few days to recover and relax, then
the day of the recording came, and she was well enough to sing.
The CD was recorded
in the Studio “Howard’s Place”. Imagine getting into a
studio with walls full of autographs by Worldrenowned artists such as
Bobby Bare and the sister of Dolly Parton. I thought, here comes
little me from Norway and wants to sing in this great Studio with
these skilled guys. You can really say that I saw the writing on the
wall, laughed Hansen.
in the Studio “Howard’s Place”. Imagine getting into a
studio with walls full of autographs by Worldrenowned artists such as
Bobby Bare and the sister of Dolly Parton. I thought, here comes
little me from Norway and wants to sing in this great Studio with
these skilled guys. You can really say that I saw the writing on the
wall, laughed Hansen.
The artist believes
that it was this seriousness that makes her do the very best. When
the break came, she was very excited to see what the producers
thought about her effort.
that it was this seriousness that makes her do the very best. When
the break came, she was very excited to see what the producers
thought about her effort.
“The time flew
and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. During the break they told me that
on one of the songs I had not only a flawless American accent, but I
also sang at one of the local dialects,” said Hansen. After a
few days, the vocal recording sessions where completed. The artist
tells us that the manufacturers were so pleased with her performance
that she did write two autographs on the studio wall.
and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. During the break they told me that
on one of the songs I had not only a flawless American accent, but I
also sang at one of the local dialects,” said Hansen. After a
few days, the vocal recording sessions where completed. The artist
tells us that the manufacturers were so pleased with her performance
that she did write two autographs on the studio wall.
Burn for music
The dream came true
and now hopefully new challenges. A humble artist hopes that many
will enjoy the most recent album and will invite her for gigs.
and now hopefully new challenges. A humble artist hopes that many
will enjoy the most recent album and will invite her for gigs.
But first and
foremost I sing because I’m passionate about it and I want to please
people, states the artist quickly.
foremost I sing because I’m passionate about it and I want to please
people, states the artist quickly.
Even Hansen is very
pleased with the new album, assured that she managed the very best,
and that she is looking forward enormously to the release.
pleased with the new album, assured that she managed the very best,
and that she is looking forward enormously to the release.
HAPPY with the
RESULTS:
RESULTS:
Laila is very well
pleased with the recording of the CD.
pleased with the recording of the CD.
By
15.06.2014 at 11: 00 Øyraas Eyvind 23: 00 Resounding
success for Laila
15.06.2014 at 11: 00 Øyraas Eyvind 23: 00 Resounding
success for Laila
When the
city’s and perhaps the entire country’s uncrowned Queen of the
Southern part of Norway Laila Hansen had the release party for her
new CD “From Nashville With Love” at Madam Reiersen Friday,
the audience stood far out on to the pier.
city’s and perhaps the entire country’s uncrowned Queen of the
Southern part of Norway Laila Hansen had the release party for her
new CD “From Nashville With Love” at Madam Reiersen Friday,
the audience stood far out on to the pier.
OUT with the
NEW CD: Laila Hansen brought with her Jan Ove Johansen to the
release- concert on Friday.
NEW CD: Laila Hansen brought with her Jan Ove Johansen to the
release- concert on Friday.
I was
completely overwhelmed, “said Laila to Ablikk after it was all
over and done with. And she had reason to smile, that the new CD ‘
would get such a welcome in her home town was more than she had
expected. But there are a lot of Laila-fans in Arendal and we had the
impression that most of the people were present on Friday.
completely overwhelmed, “said Laila to Ablikk after it was all
over and done with. And she had reason to smile, that the new CD ‘
would get such a welcome in her home town was more than she had
expected. But there are a lot of Laila-fans in Arendal and we had the
impression that most of the people were present on Friday.
Commendations
were many. The first was the restaurant host Gunnar Kalleberg, who
boasted of the girl from Eydehavn (Gunnar is also from the edges) and
presented her flowers. Roy introduced the artist and told a bit about
the background and the work of the CD recorded in Nashville and in
fact created quite a stir “over there”.
were many. The first was the restaurant host Gunnar Kalleberg, who
boasted of the girl from Eydehavn (Gunnar is also from the edges) and
presented her flowers. Roy introduced the artist and told a bit about
the background and the work of the CD recorded in Nashville and in
fact created quite a stir “over there”.
Then came the
actual concert, and the crowd smitten from the first tone. To put it
on the good local dialect, it was “tjokkfullt” by people
both inside and outside “Madammen”, and the CD sold like ”
hot cakes”. There where a lot of covers to sign afterwards.
actual concert, and the crowd smitten from the first tone. To put it
on the good local dialect, it was “tjokkfullt” by people
both inside and outside “Madammen”, and the CD sold like ”
hot cakes”. There where a lot of covers to sign afterwards.
As most
people will know it’s a bit of a chance to take when you go to the
United States to record a disc on ones own expense.
people will know it’s a bit of a chance to take when you go to the
United States to record a disc on ones own expense.
“But I’m
not doing this for the money, “said Laila.
not doing this for the money, “said Laila.
I like to
please people and there is a lot of the driving force behind what I
do, she adds. And even if the Music is not her livelihood, as are the
tasks in the queue for country artists. She will be in the near
future acting both on the Lillesand days, in Fyresdal, a little trip
to Denmark and then she’s going to have a concert at Margareta
Foundation for the residents there.
please people and there is a lot of the driving force behind what I
do, she adds. And even if the Music is not her livelihood, as are the
tasks in the queue for country artists. She will be in the near
future acting both on the Lillesand days, in Fyresdal, a little trip
to Denmark and then she’s going to have a concert at Margareta
Foundation for the residents there.
So we have
probably not heard the last from Laila yet.
probably not heard the last from Laila yet.
