A soulful voice lights up the darkness; a darkness created by a cold synthesizer environment. It feels a bit like this metaphor when you first experience the music of Swedish singer NAOMI PILGRIM. But of course – as always – there’s mote than meets the eye. Of course the music of PILGRIM is far from being a cold affair; it’s an interesting mixture of different influences that results in a quite captivating sound. The singer was born to a Barbadian father and a Swedish mother and discovered her musical talent quite early when she grew up in Sweden. And once you discover such a voice there really is no way of going back to ‘normal’, wouldn’t you agree?
NAOMI PILGRIM is about to headline the forthcoming first Ja Ja Ja event in Berlin on October the 9th, next to BLAUE BLUME and ALFRED HALL. Find all infos about the event right here. The perfect time to introduce you a bit better to this talented lady and her dreamy neo-soul.
You are about to break-through and make it big. How does all the attention you get at the moment feel to you as a person?
I’m still not used to people coming up to me and start talking about my music, but I love it and I’m grateful they do.
In your own opinion: what makes you as an artist unique?
I think it’s the fact that I celebrate individuality instead of bending over and just do what’s expected of me as an artist. Also, it might be old and very ‘Miss Universe contestant number 2,’ but world peace and equality for all is something to fight for and I like to think I come with that message.
When it comes to other Scandinavian acts: who would you love to collaborate with one day? Who would it be outside Scandinavia?
I have a bucket list including NENNEH CHERRY, JOSE GONZALEZ, JENNY WILSON, MIIKE SNOW, GHOSTPOET, MASSIVE ATTACK, KENDRICK LAMAR, ANGEL HAZE, FRANK OCEAN and THE INTERNET to name just a few.
Imagine you don’t have any budget limits. Would sort of music video would you produce? Which guest stars, which plot?
I would do a video celebrating women with cameos including the people I look up to like Michelle Obama, Beyonce, my mother, Silvana Imam, all my friends cause they are absolutely brilliant, Gudrun Schyman, ROYBN etc. The plot would be ‘pussy power’ and it would be filmed around a conference table. Easy.
If you’re music would be a film how would you describe it?
Just like SADE sings ‘Sitting here waiting for you, would be like waiting for winter/ it’s gonna be cold, there may even be snow/ I still really really love you, Love is stronger than pride’
How would you describe your sound to a deaf person?
The sound of atmosphere and pounding beats.
Would you rather have a dragon or be a dragon?
I would love to have one
Would you rather have legs the size of fingers or fingers the size of legs?
Legs the size of fingers
Would you rather whisper or shout for the rest of your lives?
Whisper
What was your ‘The Moment That Everything Changed?’
Growing up and deciding who I wanted to be.
Always dark or always bright?
Always bright, I’m from Sweden.
And last, what do hope and passion mean to you?
It means absolutely everything. What would life be without it? Dull and meaningless.
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