Anja Björk is a Swedish songwriter who built a life for herself in Norway, then left. She releases her third single “With Every Heartbeat” in reference to the struggle of leaving. The cover of Robyn’s 2005 hit is an evocative ballad which exhibits the best of Björk’s smooth pop vocal. The single leads to the release of the artist's first EP, a collection of songs for those whom have had to leave a place and recognize that every step is sad in your heart.
By Kamil Bobin
Discovered via Musosoup
Hello Anja Björk. What made you decide to move to Norway and then return?
From the beginning it was to earn money it’s was a common to go to Norway when I was graduating highschool. At the end of my year I met my ex and then after I went travelling I came back to Norway and got together with him. After a couple of years the relationship didn’t seem right and I also wanted to invest further in music. So I started applying to different music schools in Sweden and after a lot of agony broke up with my boyfriend and moved.
What were your beginnings related to music? What did you start with?
I have always loved to sing but the music making I didn’t have a lot of confidence in. Before studying music I was sneaking around with making music. I remembered I sat by the piano in the common room in our current student hall and we’re whispering songs that I wrought. But it wasn’t until I studied music I gained the confidence of writing and performing my songs.
Your latest track is 'With Every Heartbeat'. Can you share with us the background of its creation and did any unusual things happen during its creation?
We got an assignment on the music school I studied at to take a song and make it our own. I was so happy I got With Every Heartbeat with Robyn since she has been a favourite of mine since I was a kid. I changed a few chords slowed the tempo down and made it more melodic. After performing it I changed the lyrics to Swedish and I was really proud of the lyrics, but unfortunately I couldn’t release it because of legal grounds. So I recorded the song again but this time in English.
What excites you most about music?
So many different things but mostly I think all the emotions that can be contained in music.
How do you spend your time?
I work at a pharmacy, study, lead a choir and hang out my family and also release music. It’s a lot of things I wanna do it’s hard to prioritise sometimes, but my family is of course the most important thing.
What are you most proud of?
I think over time it was that I had the courage to leave Oslo and the security I had there and try something quite insecure as studying music. Right now it’s my fantastic daughter.
What advice do you have for beginning artists?
I think studies is a very good way to start. The most important thing is to not give up, if it is something you really love.
What are you doing to ensure you continue to grow and develop as an artist?
The boring answer to that is I not really doing anything, right now I have so much things in my life I’m just trying to hold everything together. But maybe after I released this music I will see if I can get any gigs.
Do you think that technology is improving lives?
Technology has helped us to get at more comfortable life and will continue to grow and solve a lot of problems in the future. I am really looking forward to self-driving cars and easier ways to spend times with friends far away.
What are your plans for the future?
I am studying to become a music teacher so that is one goal. I will also keep on working with my music and see we’re that goes. Ass long as I can do it now and then I am happy but of course if I could earn something on it that would mean I could spend more time on it.