by alex grainger
photo by julian gillstrom
Winona Oak recently released her latest hit “Island of the Sun” and we can’t stop listening. “Island of the Sun” takes us deeper into the beautiful world and mind of Winona as the hit single describes her hometown in Sollerön, Sweden. It’s an ode to the feelings of happiness and simplicity. The electric pop single is the first track off her highly anticipated upcoming album, giving us a glimpse into the incredible tracks and stories she will share. Read all about “Island of the Sun” and Winona Oak below!
Can you tell us a little about what “Island of the Sun” is about?
Winona: ”’Island of the sun’ is named after the island where I grew up in the middle of the Nordic forests in Sweden. I wrote it on a sunny day in LA when I was feeling more homesick than ever. The island represents a happy and peaceful place within myself and/or in a relationship, a place I ache to go again.”
What was your creative process for this single? How did it compare to your previous releases?
Winona: “Like almost always when I create music, I started the session with drinking (tons of) coffee and talking about life for hours. I feel like that’s how all of my songs are born, from honest conversations and different energies creating some sort of magic in the room. This song is the first one that I ever wrote using my hometown as a metaphor for a happy place in a relationship so it was a bit of a challenge, but luckily I was surrounded by a lot of geniuses that day.”
The music video is captivating with the strikingly powerful visuals. What was the inspiration behind it?
Winona: “We wanted to invite the world into my winter wonderland. There’s also something captivating about the contrast of the lyrics longing for a summertime while exploring a frozen paradise.”
Sollerön, which is where the music video was shot and is the “Island of the Sun,” is the polar opposite of Los Angeles where the song was created. In what ways do both places inspire your music?
Winona: “I love LA for being a place full of life and experiences. There’s so much art, creativity, and different cultures to enjoy. So many different people with different stories. There’s definitely a special energy that I can’t put my finger on, but it inspires me just to be in the middle of that bubble of never ending sunshine and big dreams. Sollerön on the other hand is peaceful and quiet, it allows me to collect my thoughts and recharge. Just sitting there alone on a small wooden pier over the lake in the summertime and listening to the sounds of nature allows me to just lean into my own universe 100%.”
Is there a message you are sending to fans in “Island of the Sun?”
Winona: “It’s the first song off the album, so it definitely invites people to join me into this new album era. I want them to see where it all started, to get their own piece of my world.”
How would you describe your sound? In what ways has your sound developed and matured upon the release of your single?
Winona: “I always try to develop my sound and experiment with different genres and elements. I don’t ever want to get stuck in a box, so I honestly just go with the flow and create whatever feels authentic to me. Some days I write acoustic sad songs with just a guitar, and some days I want to go full on dance music with lots of electronic elements. I also love how you can transform a sad song into something that makes you want to dance all your sorrows away with just a few changes in the production and tempo. My album is a pretty big mix of everything, but the main thing is that it’s me telling stories from my life and every story deserves its own kind of universe. Maybe one day I’ll try to make an album within a specific frame/subject/genre, but I think it’s gonna be a real tough challenge for my brain, hah.”
Do you have a specific lyric that is you favorite or is especially meaningful in “Island of the Sun?”
Winona: “I’m sorry, but I can’t choose…”
How, if at all, did your favorite musicians inspire this track?
Winona: “This track wasn’t inspired by a specific musician, but like always when you create music there’s probably elements in there that was inspired by someone at some point.”
What is next for you?
Winona: “Tour!! I’m gonna support the incredible Oh Wonder for the whole month of May. I am beyond excited and terrified at the same time, hah. It’s been so long now since I performed live for actual human beings. First day is May 8th in Toronto (!!!), come say hi!”