I Am Boleyn

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I Am Boleyn- LONDON BASED ARTIST I AM BOLEYN COMBINES THE NOSTALGIA OF RETRO SYNTHS WITH THE MODERNITY OF ELECTRO POP.

Interview conducted on February 09, 2021

By Dan Locke

I Am Boleyn grew up in St. Petersburg, Russia, went to Oxford University to study history and has been writing songs since she was young

What is your upbringing?

I grew up in Russia, in St Petersburg. My father had been in the army and learned Russian, so used that skill to start a business there. My brothers and I went to an international school there. It was a great way to grow up, experiencing new things and meeting new people from all over the world as they came and went on their Russian adventure.

You were influenced by Robyn, Mo, Goldfrapp and Anna of the North. How did you discover music?

My father loved music, he used to play us Van Morrison, David Bowie and Lou Reed. It was an important part of this life and became an important part of all of ours as a family.

How did you start to write music?

I used to make up little songs when I was really young, 7 or 8. I loved writing stories so I started singing them too. I started in earnest when I was 18, just after I left school.

Describe your music.

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It has undergone some transformation, as I have grown as a creative. The sound that we have now is synth pop, influenced by 80’s electro sounds.

How did you get your name?

I was also fascinated by Anne Boleyn and Tudor’s history in general. She struck me as one of the few female figures in history, pre-1900, that made her mark. So when I was thinking about a stage name I like the idea of channeling my interest in her.

What was your first performance at like?

My first performance in front of an audience was at school, with my school band. It was great because it was a very safe environment and I was onstage with one of my best friends. My first solo show was a few years later – in London at The Troubadour. I was very very nervous!

How was your coffee House Session Tour back in 2013?

That was really good fun. It was a great way to see parts of England that I didn’t know!

How was your show at The Peppermint Club for your debut concert?

That was one of the most memorable shows that I’ve ever done. It was such a special night and venue. The first time singing my new material to an audience.

What makes a good songwriter?

I think that songwriters need to be honest, the greatest song writers in the world tell stories that touch people because they are true.

What is the process of writing your music?

I am so luckily to write with some of the most talented people I know – creating collaborative arts required trust and openness. You can have to feel safe. The process is playing bits, singing bits, writing bits… seeing what can be built.

What is the best place to write. Stockholm, London or LA?

I love writing in Stockholm. Perhaps because it reminds me a little of St Petersburg! I find it calming and inspiring.

Do you belong to any to songwriters’ organizations like the International singer-songwriter association, SESAC, BMI or ASCAP?

Yes, I belong to BMI.

What was the title of your first original song? Did you record it?

I have a demo of it! Its called ‘Don’t touch me that way.’

How long ago did you record “Someone to Love” – Acoustic?

About a year ago I think, November 2019.

Tell me about the making of your first single :Too Much”?

It was the first song that I wrote in Sweden, I wanted to write a song that immersed you in that feeling of soaking, drowning in ‘too much’.

Tell me about your 7 track EP “Paris to Boleyn”?

I am so excited for it to come out! It has been 3 years in the making. The nice things about an EP is that you can order the tracks how you want them to be listened too. The tracklisting reflects the order that I think they should be played in.

Are you still doing jazz?

I haven’t sung Jazz in a while! But I would love to again soon.

Tell me about your latest single “Another Me”?

I love this song! It was written in LA, and then recorded in Sweden. It changed so much over those six months, it originally was a Ballad. It is fun when a song takes on a life of its own like that.

What is your favorite track on the album?

It would be very hard to pick a favourite! The opening track, Limit of Love, does hold a special place is in my heart though.

What are you’re feeling about streaming music?

Streaming has allowed unprecedented access to music, so that is a good thing. It is hard of musicians to make a living from streaming allow though, so that is tough.

How can people forget about the origin hashtag # Sharp in a musical score?

haha! Yes that is true.

Digital vs. vinyl?

I am very pleased that Vinyl is making a comeback. There is the sound quality of course, but also having something physical, with the artwork so you can actually see it properly is nice!

What song from the past is in your mind right now? Moreover, what is the meaning that song means to you?

Anything by Van Morrison reminded me of my father – Tupelo Honey, Moondance,
Madame George and Have I told you lately. Those songs make me feel happy and still.
There is so much depth to the music and the lyrics, they are not frantic. I think it is a useful reminder for my writing sometimes. It’s ok to slow it down.

Both (Pfizer and BioNTech) and Moderna have conclude Phase 3 Study of the Coronavirus vaccine. With the both vaccine, it takes two shots. How many people do you think will take it and how many will forget to take the second shot?

I hope that everyone takes the vaccine. It will help to make us all safer and it is very important people take the second one too, so I hope that people remember to do that also.

To make things a bit more complex, There is talk that people could either mix the manufactures of the vaccines or in the case of Moderna studies have show you could take a half doses for the first shot and still be alright for the second vaccine. Do you feel that this is right?

I am not sure about that, I would imagine its best to stick to the manufacture that you started with, but as I say I am not sure.

How long before the whole world will be vaccinated against the virus. You have to remember there only has to be a 70% for Herd immunity (Herd immunity occurs when a large portion of a community (the herd) becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. As a result, the whole community becomes protected — not just those who are immune.)

Because sadly we live in such an unequal world, I fear that wealthier countries will be vaccinated well before poorer countries. Without an international effort to help, it makes take years before the whole world is vaccinated.

If “Video Killed the Radio Star” do you think that the Covid-19 virus has killed live music? Do you feel the Covid-19 virus going to affect the music business in the future?

That is a great question. My hope is that the thirst for live music has not gone away, and people will come back for that unique experience when it is safe to do so. What would be a positive future effect of Covid might be that as people have gotten more used to live streams, live shows might continue to be live streamed and become a way for fans in other parts of the world to see a show they would otherwise miss. A mix of the two so to speak!

What have you been doing with your self-quarantine?

I have been writing and trying to stay fit.

How is your home studio coming along? And who is your four legged producer?

It is coming along nicely 🙂 My producer is my dog, a little bulldog. He is the light of my life!

What is your heathly go to snack?

I try to have some dried fruit or dark chocolate for an afternoon snack. I do get tempted by biscuits too…

Have you discovered or rediscovered any new hobbies?

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I have been trying to become a better cook – Amongst my friends and family am infamously terrible !

Are you still involved with the International Book Exchange?

No, sadly not. I would love to get involved again.

95% of people said that they have changed the way they watch television. This includes people who don’t have television and using their computers to do streaming of programs and movies. Which is your favorite streaming channel?

I like Netflix, I have also watched a few great shows on Apple recently.

With the streaming services (Disney (50+ new shows/movies Lizzie McGuire,The Sandlot, Beauty and the Beast prequel, Moana, Cars, Soul, Raya and the Last Dragon, Sister Act 3, Pinocchio, Peter Pan and Wendy, all future Star Wars and Marvel movies and shows) and HOB Max ( including Wonder Woman 2, Godzilla vs Kong, Top Gun: Maverick, Mortal Kombat, Tom and Jerry, The Many Saints of Newark, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, In the Heights, Space Jam: A New Legacy, The Suicide Squad, Dune, The Matrix 4) planning to pull all the upcoming movies from next year and put them on their streaming service. How will that affect the entertainment industry?

It is tough on cinemas that is for sure. I love going to the cinema, so I hope that they won’t be too damaged! It is crazy to think that such big movies won’t have an ‘opening weekend’ in the way that we have been used to!

Many artists are doing nightly concerts over either YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. In October that is going to change at least on Facebook. Facebook is cracking down on livestreamed shows that include recorded music with new terms of service, preventing artists from using the platform for “commercial or non-personal” purposes, unless they have obtained the relevant licenses.

The updated music guidelines state that users “may not use videos on our products [which include Instagram] to create a music listening experience […] This will includes [Facebook] Live,” and stipulates that such content should be posted for the enjoyment of friends and family only.

How do you think this will change the landscape of Facebook?

Wow I didn’t know that! That means strange to me that they would do that, livestreaming shows are an important way for artists to keep in touch with their fans at the moment.

How can bands keep their fans if they cannot play live in front of the fans and sell merchandise to them at the show?

It is really tough, especially because fans want new content and its difficult for artist to create at the moment.

Is pay to play still a thing? Now pay to play also means thinks like playlist on the internet and opening slots for a major band on tour.

I am sure that it will always be in some way – hopefully platforms like Spotify have helped to level the playing field a bit.

What about Holographic concerts in our living room?

I would love that!

Governments around the world are hearing the call of thousands of music creators and included protections for the music community in the omnibus bill. In addition to extended and improved unemployment benefits and small business loans for freelance creators, the package includes several bills which the Recording Academy, its members, and the larger music community advocated for. From the Save Our Stages Act, provided a lifeline to performance venues and promoters, to the CASE Act, which creates an avenue for smaller creators to defend their copyrighted works, Congress has ensured that both music creators and those who act behind the scenes to bring music to life are given the support they need during this difficult time.

Will this help save the industry?

I am so pleased that government have listened and I hope its enough. The irony is, what have we all be doing during lockdown? Listening to music, watching TV shows, laughing at memes… all these things need artists!

In the past if a musician stop doing music they find a new career. For example David Lee Roth from Van Halen became a a licensed EMT in NY for 6 years, San Spitz (guitarist for Anthrax) became a master watchmaker, Dee Snider (Twister Sister) voice over work for SpongeBob SquarePants.. If you can’t do music what would you like to be doing?