Pigeon Opinion Featuring an Interview with Grey & Purple Songbook

Interview with Grey & Purple Songbook

(^)> “Lessons Learned, Vision Clear” carries its message right in the title. What personal or creative experiences inspired the theme of growth and clarity?

The creative team at Grey & Purple Inc. consists of two persons, both are very interested in and concerned with the idea of ​​learning from experiences and shaping perspective and plans according to the lessons in life, both on a personal level as well as on a more general level such as politics and philosophy. Lessons Learned, Vision Clear is about precisely this. So the inspiration is more a result of the experiences one has had for oneself, but also a hope for the future, that this is also the case in today's political situation.

(^)> The song features a groovy jazz foundation with powerful brass elements. How did you develop that dynamic, brass-driven sound?

The music is generally expressed as the result of a process where the text is at the center. Both individual musical sequences and the musical whole are intended to support the content of the text. Specifically, the soundscape in the song was created by putting together beats that fit the content and mood of the text.

(^)> You emphasize starting with intentional text creation before composing the music. How does that writing-first approach shape the final result?

The creative process always starts with a brain storm where we find the idea and the message we want to convey. Then the actual writing process starts, before we start making the music, by finding beat modules and possibly prompts for the use of instruments. This is a time-consuming process. Then the process starts with finding the right version that best supports the message of the text. The lyrics can only be conveyed through a good song that reaches the heart. On average, we reject two thirds of all drafts.

(^)> The lyrics feel reflective yet forward-looking. How do you balance storytelling with delivering a clear, impactful message?

The balance between the "good story" and the communication of the message is a delicate one, but a lot lies in the intersection between identifying the message, finding the angle on the story in the text, and the process of finding the right song/sound image to support the message.

(^)> Jazz often leaves room for improvisation. Did this track allow space for spontaneity, or was it tightly structured around the lyrical narrative?

In the soundscape of jazz, one must always be open to a certain amount of improvisation, but improvisation with a "purpose." Much of the soundscape of a song lies in the selection process where the draft of a version is either rejected or accepted, but for jazz as a genre to be "credible" there must always be room for improvisation that forms an integrated part of the whole.

(^)> As a project known for text-based music stories, how does this release expand or refine your artistic identity?

For us at Grey and Purple Songbook, the lyrics will always be the most important thing, even though we love music and want the music to be as listener-friendly and enriching as possible. It is the music that conveys the content of the lyrics, the narrator if you will. It speaks to the heart. For us, the whole is the most important thing, lyrics and music are a whole, only in this way can we be true to our vision of making music that speaks to both the mind and the heart.

(^)> Being based in Oslo, Norway, does the local music culture influence your genre-blending approach in any way?

The starting point for Grey and Purple Songbook is genre-crossing music, our vision is that we should not be bound by a single genre. That is also where we believe the best music is developed. But we are of course also influenced by a musical trend where genre is no longer so important, but rather the musical whole, as is characteristic of much of the music scene in Oslo.

(^)> The groove is catchy and accessible, yet the message is thoughtful and layered. Who do you imagine as the ideal listener for this track?

At Grey and Purple Songboom we believe that many people and listeners both want and are interested in music that also conveys a message. We believe that the ideal listener would be someone who has an interest in learning from their own experiences, and therefore wants and appreciates personal development. This is also something we hope and believe is also the case in international politics.

(^)> Was there a particular lyric or musical moment in the song that felt like the emotional turning point?

It must be at the time 2:55 in the song where I feel a lot is summed up by the lyrics and music becoming powerful in their message.

(^)> If listeners take away just one idea after hearing “Lessons Learned, Vision Clear,” what do you hope it is?

It must be the message of being open to learning from life's experiences, and adjusting course if it provides better prospects in life and politics.

(•)> That's all, Folks! Check out Grey & Purple Songbook on the Pigeon Opinion Playlist