Alexander Rybak Interview

This was a piece we ran a few weeks ago. Pretty sound guy.

This was the least camp picture I could find

Alexander Rybak Interview

By

Alan Del Rio

This week The Local News sat down with 2009 Eurovision winner Alexander Rybak. The 23-year old Norwegian, born in Belarus, blitzed the competition in May when “Fairytale” - a song he wrote and composed - won with a record-breaking 387 points. His first album, also entitled “Fairytale” is out now.

Alex, what should someone listening to your music for the first time expect?

My music is nothing groundbreaking (laughs). I write simple tunes, but catchy. I always hope my music is catchy. It is a mix of Norwegian folk music and Belarussian folk music.

Fairytale in particular sounds like a fusion of Russian and Norwegian folk. Was your place of birth something that drew you to this music?

When I did Eurovision I had to mix styles to get as many points from the judges as possible (laughs). No, I like to mix Belarussian folk in there because I like the style of the chords. If you listen to Fairytale, you can tell that although I'm singing about love, that the chords are loaded with nostalgic feelings, ans the result is actually quite melancholy.

What was foremost in your mind when you were collaborating on writing your new album?

There were a few things influencing me, I had letters coming in from the whole of Europe, even Ireland, saying that they wanted me to keep the folk music in, because it's great for dancing. My parents think that I should write ballads, because they think that is what I do best, and then my violin teacher wants me to write songs that include the violin. So all these things came together on the album.

Is there a specific way you go about writing a new song?

I write the melody first, then the lyrics. It's best if everything comes together at once though. I usually will have a catchy chorus in my head before writing. On Fairytale everything came together at the same time. It was perfect.

What are your earliest memories of Eurovision?

I started watching about five years ago. I think it is great to see all the nations sharing a stage. I think it is slightly stupid when when people say it is a poor competition, and that the songs aren't very good. It is hard to have twenty new artists pushed in your face over the course of a few hours. If you were to listen to an act like Madonna in Eurovision I think it would be the same. You need some time to acclimatise to an artist's music.

What are your top 5 favourite albums?

I don't really have a top five albums. I generally like single songs, then I get disappointed when I listen to the album. There are some artists, and I like everything that they do. Michael Jackson is brilliant, Sting, Blink 182, although if you've heard one of their songs you've heard them all, and Eminem – I think he is a genius. I know that is only four. Can I say my own album also (laughs)?

Do you have any plans to do a show in Ireland?

Well, I was on a show there recently - The Late Late Show - but I do hope to come back at some stage in the future to do a concert for the Irish people. Yes, that would be nice.