WINONA OAK: INTERVIEW


by sierra romano

photo courtesy of winona oak

Winona Oak tells Unclear all about her new album, Island of the Sun, and breaks down the process of making such a beautiful record. Oak says she wants people listening to her music to “feel good about themselves and feel less lonely” which is definitely what you will experience when hearing her tracks. Check out our most recent interview with her, and be sure to catch her at an upcoming headlining show!



Congrats on the album! What was the inspiration behind the title track “Island of the Sun” and how did you know it would open the album? 

Winona: “Well first of all, thank you so much! It feels pretty unreal that it is out in the world finally and it feels so nice to be able to perform all these songs live and see how people in real life connect with them. It just makes me so happy! Island of the Sun is named after the island where I grew up in Sweden, a small island in the middle of the Nordic forests. I was feeling pretty homesick when I was living in LA and I was going through some really tough things. The island works kind of as a metaphor for a place when everything is just beautiful and easy in a way — the place in your childhood where everything is as big and complicated as you make it.  I wanted that song to open up the album to take people back to where it all started, the place where I grew up. I wanted to invite them into my world and I think it's the perfect song to open up to them the rest of the album. I am really happy with the decision.”

 

What was the writing process like for this album as a whole?

Winona: “So this album is full of some of my favorite songs that I've written over these past four years. There's a lot of songs that didn't make it and it's always like that, like a puzzle you kind of have to piece together and see what sounds good as a whole. It’s kind of hard to be honest, it's a process and it took me a long time to make the decisions. I'm really proud of the album and happy with how it all turned out and I love every single song so that makes me happy.”

 

What was the most challenging part of completing the album? 

Winona: “Well definitely choosing the songs and choosing what order I was going to put them. It is hard, you need to listen to it over and over again and you need to switch out songs. It can be really hard because you get so attached to them. You can only have so many sad songs and so many up tempo songs. In an ideal world, at least for me, I wanted the album to contain a whole spectrum of emotions and have it be like a rollercoaster. I didn't want it to be an album where 13 songs sound the exact same, so that's definitely the hardest part.”

 

If you had to pick, what is your favorite song off the record? 

Winona: “I don't know, I can't choose really. They're all so different and I just love them all actually. It's really hard, I can't choose.”

 

Who are some artists that inspire you? 

Winona: “Well I have always been inspired by Leonard Cohen since I was very young. I just love his way of songwriting and the way that he uses his voice as the core. I have just always loved him. There are so many great artists out there! I love Christine and the Queens, Charli XCX, Tove Lo, RyaX. Honestly, there are so many great artists. Bjork, the list can go on and on, which is so lovely. There are so many beautiful creators out there.”

 

What is something that making this album has taught you about yourself? 

Winona: “Honestly, I feel like writing every single song on this album is like having a therapy session. I feel like when you go into the studio and write a song, because you talk about life and your experience and emotions for so long and that's kind of what creates the song. Every single song has definitely taught me something which is beautiful.”

 

As new fans are discovering your songs, what is something you want them to take away from your music? 

Winona: “Well I just want them to feel like they are a part of my world and they are beautiful and that they deserve the best, that they just feel good about themselves and feel less lonely. They can have my songs as soundtracks in their happy moments and in their sad moments and just feel like a deep connection from them. They know that I write these songs about my experiences and what I’ve learned and all the tough lessons. I just want new fans to feel like they can take something from that and that they feel good about it and that they are a part of something good.”

 

Are there any upcoming projects or shows the fans can look forward to? 

Winona: “Yeah definitely! I am so excited, I can't wait to do my own headline shows in the future and I am going to continue writing and I can't wait to write my next album and to collaborate with more people and artists. There's so much to create and that's so exciting because I have no idea what it will be but I know it will be amazing, so stay tuned!

 

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WINONA OAK: INTERVIEW


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!”

 

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