“OXYGEN” (Official Video)
Box fresh music video and song with a strong message by Rikke Normann
“ Take my hand I’ll help you to your feet again, give you oxygen to breathe”
With her brand new single “OXYGEN” Rikke Normann wants to give hope to the hopeless and shed light on a very important and personal topic; mental health awareness and suicide prevention.
“The most important song I’ve ever written is finally out! I’m so glad to share OXYGEN with you!” Rikke declares to her followers on release day. Today the official video to this stunning little pop gem and important message is ready for the world to see!
Watch Rikke Normann’s official video to “OXYGEN” here:
“Over a decade ago I lost a dear friend to suicide. I was young and new to feelings of shock, grief, loss and something so hard to comprehend. I didn’t know how to deal with my own feelings, and more importantly, how to be there for my best friend, his girlfriend. How to act? What to say or not say. I wish I had known then, that there is no right or wrong, just be there. 🧡
I hope by sharing “Oxygen” and this story with you, I can help someone else. There’s always someone who finds themselves in the darker corners of life, maybe even right now. Let’s see them. Lets be there for them”
Oxygen is an honest, uplifting song with a slow beat and a message that goes straight to your heart but leaves you feeling uplifted. Recorded live in the studio, it’s raw and sincere, with Rikke’s soulful and soft-spoken voice sings about wanting to help someone.
“We wanted to make a sort of art video that could match the rawness, feeling and vibe of the song without overclouding the message. A traditional music video would be too glossy for the song and soul of it, so we thought; what better way to give you “OXYGEN” than show you oxygen! In it’s true form! Air and trees, nature and serenity. Rikke keeps it raw and real singing straight into the camera, straight to you, and so does the choices in recording techniques, minimal filters and our playful way of working together. We find the outcome ,aka the art/video, feels the most real when we get together with a few ideas, a great song and feel to what we want to do, and then improvise on the rest” says producer Jon Marius Nilsson.
“We also love nerdy stuff, artsy videos and experimenting, so when we figured out the smoke bombs and green screen-is techniques would fit prefectly, because of the extra dimension it would add to our story, we were pretty happy. It resembles the lack of air, oxygen and hope you feel when you’re lost. When it’s dark and hopeless, and you feel like you can’t breathe. But sadness is a new beginning if you let it” adds Rikke Normann.
“OXYGEN” is Rikke’s 3rd single off the upcoming album “35”, due Feb 8 2019. Similar artists include Halsey, Emilie Nicholas, Bernhoft, Amy Winehouse and Ellie Goulding.
Song written by Rikke Normann, produced by Christian Engfelt.
Official video produced by Jon Marius Nilsson.
1.) What elements and/or characteristics made you say to yourself that you wanted to do music for a living? Who are your influences/heroes/role models?
It wasn’t really something I decided to do, it was more like it just happened. Music chose me. I started singing because I heard songs, melodies and lyrics in my head. When I started singing other people’s songs (which I love cause there’s so much good music out there) I felt something was missing, it was fun, but just not fully me, so I taught my self to play the piano to make the music inside my head come to life. And since then I’ve been a true songwriting-nerd and my singing is a tool to express my stories and music.
My influences and role models include songwriters, and in specific songs, in every genre, because my heroes are more songs than people. But to mention some artists and songwriters, I’m a great fan of Fleetwood Mac, Elton John, Lady Gaga, Adele and Halsey.
2.) If you could compare yourself to an already established artist, who would that be and why? If you don’t like to compare yourself, then music-wise, what separates you from other musicians?
What separates me from the most solo artists in mainstream music today is that I write my music alone, in a kind of old school singer-songwriter way, on an acoustic instrument. I feel a great song needs to sound just as amazing or even better alone by itself accompanied only by a piano or guitar, than in it’s full production. The story/theme/lyrics has to make you think or feel something sincere, or make you think of your personal version of the story or in a way bring back memories. That to me is a quality song. Sometimes we are fooled by a great production thinking the song/topline is really great, but when you strip it down to it’s core, you realize it’s actually not that good. I know people have different approaches to what good music is, but to me this is a good song.
My main focus as a songwriter and artist is to bring back great songwriting, with actual and important things to talk about and make people aware of. Like topics or feelings we find it hard to communicate and talk about. I don’t just want something mass produced or written in one of a hundred sessions with different producers. I want to touch your heart and make you think, maybe even change your ways when it comes to certain things. I want to help people.
3.) Everyone in life goes through adversity of some sort. Is there anything in your life that has any influence on the kind of songs you write? What is the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure on your path to becoming a musician?
The most difficult thing for me has to be the feeling of never really fitting in or belonging anywhere. I have always done my own thing and never really fitted in anywhere. It’s hard sticking it out and keep pushing through when you feel so alone in yourself and music. It’s not always easy to be good at something either. People get jealous and envious and push you away so that not only do you feel alone, you are alone. I have written a song to my piano called “All I Got” which is about just this. A song to my only true friend, and in times the only thing I’ve got, my piano, my music my songwriting. “All I got” will be released February 8 on my new album if you want to check it out 😉
4.) How do you prepare yourself to write certain songs? What is your song-writing and recording process?
My songwriting process is my everyday life. I write, sing and record voice memos on things I see, experience and feel on the go. And also personal situations that I’m in. Every heartbreak or difficult situation in my life turns out a song in some way or another. And sometimes the good stuff and happy things also become songs! But the hard/sad stuff is a safe bet there will be music, haha! All of this can be really exhausting, I know people say it’s a gift, which it is, but you also never really get a break from it. As I mentioned earlier, music chose me, and this is a huge part of why it feels like that. I’ve tried quitting music and songwriting many times but it always comes back to me, it’s just who I am.
5.) Unfortunately the music industry is full of talented individuals who just don’t get any recognition for their talent and/or work. What do you plan to do to make sure you stand out and get noticed?
I just have to continue being me and focus on getting my message clearly across. If you keep following your heart and vision, at the end of the day at least you’ll be content with your work and who you are. Remember, the music you release is forever, and you have to live with your choices for the rest of your life. My choice is being me, making quality music with a message for people who need it. The rest is up to
luck and hard work (which I of course put in)!
6.) Would you rather be on a major label or would you rather stay independent? Why or why not? In regards to the music industry itself, do you think that the traditional music industry model as we know it is dead?
I think the industry is changing, yes, and we don’t really know where it will end up yet. As a small indie artist with my own record label “RikkiLeaks” I can totally feel the change. We have to think more outside the box than ever because the regular channel of going about getting your music heard are fewer and tighter. When it comes to major or indie labels I feel it’s all about chemistry and hooking up with the right people for you. Someone who truly believes in your product and vision and doesn’t only see the money. It’s really hard so I think again, it’s very important to do this for the right reasons, not only cause you want recognition or fame or whatever, but because you love it and just have to do it.
7.) How do you think the internet and social media affected the music industry and how musicians are able to market themselves? Social media is obviously an extremely important element in today’s world, especially when it comes to business, branding, marketing, etc. With that being said, do you think an artist will be able to survive in today’s music industry if they’re not social media savvy?
Haha, you can always pay someone I guess! But I think it’s important to try to keep up with technology to stay in the game. The most important thing is also telling your personal story, cause that’s what sets you apart from the rest, and in that case you can’t just pay someone. It has to come from you in your own words. So yeah, to survive you have to work as hell on all platforms including social media. Just give, give, give in a way comfortable to you.
8.) Artists who try to make music for the general public and make more money are usually seen as “sell-outs.” Do you see it that way and if so, what do you plan to do to make sure your music stays true to your brand and make a good living at the same time without having to “sell out”?
I don’t see anyone as sell-outs, people and artists have to do what’s right for them individually. If that includes tweaking your music into a potentially easy-money rise and fall temporary thing, that’s ok. We all gotta pay our bills, I just don’t depend and put all the weight on my own music, because I ‘d rather stay true to the art. Even though it doesn’t make me rich.
9.) Professionally, where do you see yourself 5 years from now?
Helping people by touring the world with my music! On my own or with a very small band, I want to meet people and shed light and awareness on different topics and feelings through my music, message and stories. And if possible help them be a better version of themselves in a way, to be totally comfortable with who they are, no matter who that is. Everyone is unique and as long as we try to be kind, humble and understanding, we’ll come a long way. Music is the universal language and also the language I speak best to get this across.
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