Music – My Interview with Viktor Norðir

1. For who doesn’t know yet can you please introduce who is Viktor  Norðir?

“Viktor Norðir” is my artist name, I grew up in Siberia and am currently living in Germany in the City of Ulm. I love to reflect on the contradictions of life and learn from every experience  I make. I want to share those in my music. So when I write lyrics in English, German and Russian, I reflect on paradoxical topics from different perspectives and want to question one’s believes and encourages to embrace new pathways in life.

2. When did you discovered your music talent and your great voice? And when did you founded the indie band RIGNA FOLK?

My parents confirmed my early memory, of having an enthusiasm for the voices of the singers like Phil Collins and Freddy Mercury and my approaches to sing those Genesis and Queen Songs by myself loudly. As you can imagine, our neighbors did not share my enthusiasm, but I was having a blast!
My parents observed my extreme enthusiasm and bought me my first guitar. From there on, it became an essential part of my life to play and sing daily, to be in the clubs, hang out with guys that were more or less rock stars in my eyes, and just soak up the real world of the music scene. I looked up to these folks and I felt indescribably cool just to be hanging out with them. I made connections to fellow musicians and made my first experiences in writing my own songs and lyrics. I started to look for suited musicians and made further connections for my own band project.  This all led to my first band’s own gig at the “Musikmarathon” in 2009. It was a mindblowing experience! Rigna Folk was born!

3. Your talent has a beautiful way of expression, you speak multiple languages and often mix them in your lyrics how this idea came to you?  And you are able to divide yourself in two, having a solo project “Norðir” and a band project with RIGNA FOLK, can you tell us how you are able to menage both?

Thank you for your kind words! The idea, just to be myself in my arts and to express all of my thoughts, just inspired me to start my solo project in may of 2018. For some topics, I felt, a different Language felt more natural. So I developed this trilingual concept, which totally enables me to experiment and grow musically and lyrically. In the band Rigna Folk, we have a storytelling concept and it’s a different way of working on songs, it’s a whole unique experience and it’s precious to me. I want this to be a part of my life.
For the managing part: its classical project management I learned in college and by trying organizing the band myself from the beginning. I set the aims and prioritize the sub tasks, so it’s more fun for me and keeps me motivated and inspired. 

4.  Your music has a very unique sound and style how you define it as genre? And can you describe your creative process and what inspires you while creating your lyrics and melodies?

My music internalize paradoxes as well as my lyrics, playing with catchy and experimental elements, pending between indie pop tunes and dreamy electronic-psychedelic landscapes. I am totally inspired by moods and nature. in contrast, I am also inspired by lost places, abandoned cities, industrial architecture and the steampunk and goth genre! In my solo project, I love to focus on unique songs and develops them till they are finished. I am working with feedback by my bandmates, my fans and friends during the process, and like mo make refinements on my songs. In general, my aim is to keep the process open, so the end product has a history on its own.

5. You just released a new video few days ago for your solo project Norðir,  can you tell us about it? And do you have any tour dates for live gigs as solo and with the band?

The lyrics of “No Hell No“ reflect on the topics xenophobia and national identity. This as a current topic in Germany right now. I was facing some kind of hatred in my first years in German school. Interestingly, it was not the case in the very beginning when I started to make friends, but later, when their parents got involved when I visited my friends in their homes. As I am thinking, this speaks for a conceptualized kind of artificial hatred based on shaped believes. I think, when you are self-aware, you will never choose the path of hatred.
The song argues the decision not to hate anyone you do not know or understand yet. It raises the question of what would have happened if one had been born in another place in the world and where the feeling of hate towards the unknown comes from.

Just Released!

I have organized my first Solo Tour with “Norðir” and there is also one Concert with my band Rigna Folk here there are some dates in Germany:

TOUR 2018 /2019 :
28.09. DE-Aalen / Frapé
30.09. CH-Baden / Club Joy Grand Casino
02.10. DE-München / Lost Weekend
05.10. DE-Kirchheim / ClubBastion  (with Rigna Folk)
09.10. DE-Schwäbisch Gmünd / Leuchtturm
16.11. DE-Ulm / Studentencafe
14.11. DE-Esslingen / 4-Peh
27.11. DE-Göppingen / Radiobühne Weltweit
11.12. DE-Stuttgart / Rosenau
12.12. DE-Tübingen / Sudhaus
18.12. DE-Waiblingen / Kulturhaus Schwanen
26.01. CH-Zürich / Big Ben Westside
06.03. DE-Asperg / Glasperlenspiel

6. What is your creative Dream Project?

At the moment, I want to find additional independent musicians for my solo project. I want to work with different artists and to exchange our skills and to learn. Also, I am fascinated by combining music with visual arts, as we did in our “Stillness” project!

7. I always love to ask this question, because is personal and introspective, If you describe or picture your inner soul how will you describe it? And what color would it be?

During the last 2 years, I am working on my awareness and am discovering the fact, that my conceptualized ego was the main driving force behind my decisions and shaped a major part of my life. The more I get into reflecting, the more I feel happier, fulfilled and peaceful.
So at this point, I would describe my inner soul on being on a journey into the inner core of awareness. it would consist of all colors, because there are so many facets. When I ask my ego, it would prefer black, but I  know there are more ( fun fact: yeah when you add all colors in RGB it would be black 🙂

8. I loved to collaborate and create the mini video “Stillness” my art combined with your music, I thank you for allow me to use your music and I like to ask you what do you like about my Art? 

I loved our project Carolina!
I think that your arts and my music totally harmonize together and create something new together.
When I  perceive your art, I am feeling an overall energy of positivity and playfulness, and every piece of art I have seen from you so far, brings me in a fairy tale world, in a fable where I can take a walk and discover new elements.
It’s like a whole unique universe, and for me, this is the kind of art which is resonating with me the most.

I really loved your questions, thank you so much! 🙂

Thank you so much Viktor I loved all your answers 🙂 and I am very happy that this is a more unique interview because it reveals more the insight and inner soul behind your creativity and music success. I am honored to have you here on my Blog!