Interview with Søren Sko: Let go of the intellect and let your soul free …! Video

Jazz interview with jazz singer Søren Sko. An interview by email in writing. 

JazzBluesNews.Space: – First let’s start with where you grew up, and what got you interested in music?

Søren Sko: – I grew up in Aalborg Denmark and the very first encounter with the beauty of music, was my dad singing the tunes of Nat King Cole …

JBN.S: – What got you interested in picking up the jazz vocal? What teacher or teachers helped you progress to the level of playing you have today? What made you choose the jazz vocal?

SS: – I’m not a jazz singer and I never had any training or teacher – I’m all about DIY… This project was a dream of mine, to celebrate my early memories of a great singer – I normally work in the pop/rock department 🙂 So I never chose to be a jazz vocalist – It kinda chose me…

JBN.S: – How did your sound evolve over time? What did you do to find and develop your sound?

SS: – Like most male singers I tend to sing a little lower by age, but because I don’t smoke or drink, I have been able to maintain the voice I was given as a young man… I guess I developed my own sound listening to all the great singers and kinda blending their expressions with my own…

JBN.S: – What practice routine or exercise have you developed to maintain and improve your current musical ability especially pertaining to rhythm?

SS: – None really … Not in the sense of warming up or doing vocal excersices … I do a lot of yoga to concentrate and to control my breath – Works like a charm 🙂

JBN.S: – Which harmonies and harmonic patterns do you prefer now?

SS: – I’m a very intuitive singer and I have absolutely no theoretic background!! I couldn’t tell you were C is on the piano – I do it by heart 🙂

JBN.S: – Which are the best jazz albums for you of 2017 year?

SS: – Sinne Eeg: The bitter End

JBN.S: – What’s the balance in music between intellect and soul?

SS: – Let go of the intellect and let your soul free…! Practice and prepare all you can, and when you perform, you let go and improvise…

JBN.S: – Please any memories from gigs, jams, open acts and studio sessions which you’d like to share with us?

SS: – Too many 🙂

JBN.S: – Many aspiring musicians are always looking for advice when navigating thru the music business. Is there any piece of advice you can offer to aspiring students or even your peers that you believe will help them succeed and stay positive in this business?

SS: – Again … Practice and be the best you! Get a mentor and grow your own network – Just like in real life!

JBN.S: – Аnd furthermore, can jazz be a business today or someday?

SS: – I guess it’s hard … It’s become a niche business, but their will always be someone crossing over and making it – It goes up and down … 🙂

JBN.S: – Which collaboration have been the most important experiences for you?

SS: – Every new constellation teaches you something new, so it’s hard to pinpoint one specific… I would say that writing and playing with people not in your own field of expertise is always challenging and rewarding experience…

JBN.S: – How can we get young people interested in jazz when most of the standard tunes are half a century old?

SS: – Again … The crossing over is important … People like Michael Bouble, Jamie Collum and Amy Winhouse are important … The Lady Gaga/Tony Bennett project is important …

JBN.S: – John Coltrane said that music was his spirit. How do you understand the spirit and the meaning of life?

SS: – He was right – Music is the spirit – It is the meaning of life like love and food and air … Believe me 🙂

JBN.S: – What are your expectations of the future? What brings you fear or anxiety?

SS: – I’m not the fearful type, although today’s leaders could scare the hell out of you, but I choose to believe in the goodness of mankind – It will prevail…!

JBN.S: – If you could change one thing in the musical world and it would become a reality, what would that be?

SS: – Proper payment deals from the streaming services – It’s downright unfair… That way many more musiscians would get a break…

JBN.S: – What’s the next musical frontier for you?

SS: – I’d love to sing an opera sometime..!!!!!

JBN.S: – Are there any similarities between jazz and world music, including folk music?

SS: – I guess … Small markets and few dedicated followers … But with great artistic value …!

JBN.S: – Who do you find yourself listening to these days?

SS: – Maria Callas …!

JBN.S: – Let’s take a trip with a time machine, so where and why would you really wanna go?

SS: – Renaissance Florenze …!!!!

JBN.S: – I have been asking you so far, now may I have a question from yourself…

SS: – What do you do, everyday, to make life lovingly for your loved ones …?

JBN.S: – Thank you for answers. I am working …

Interview by Simon Sargsyan