(From left): Billie G, Roger, Michelle, Nina and Arturo.
Interview: Sam DeFreze
Photo: Eva Levin
MIA: Where does the name Ex Norwegian come from, and who came up with the name?
ROGER: I discovered the name. I spent a week with my ears open to phrases for a possible band name, and Ex Norwegian came along, courtesy of the British comedy show, Monty Python’s Flying Circus.
MIA: How do you feel about the indie music scene in Miami right now and about other bands trying to do what you are doing?
NINA: No one is really trying to do what we are trying to do musically and as a band. We’re just not sitting around waiting for anything to happen, we do it ourselves.
ART: There’s some cool stuff out there, but it’s hard to find and it’s not advertised enough.
ROGER: There’s some cool stuff going on, sure, but there is too much, too. The audience is not big enough for the amount of shows and events going on. I hear stories of Miami’s glorious indie scene in the early 90s. I want to believe that this is possible again.
MIA: Is this Ex Norwegian’s first album together, and what are your plans for the future? (You can input individual answers if you like).
ART: Touring and recording a lot hopefully. I wanna play the next Woodstock. But Langerado would do!
NINA: Yes, it’s our first album. Our plans are to play more shows, bigger shows, and expand our geographical horizons. The music won’t stop.
ROGER: First Ex Norwegian album, yes. This album was recorded while the band was coming together, so guitarist Billie G came in on the later sessions, and singer Michelle Grand is on much of the album, though she isn’t a full time member of the band. The plan is simple: world domination! - And maybe to release another album by the end of the year!
BILLIE G: So far, so good!
MIA: How are the lyrics to the songs written, and who primarily writes them?
NINA: Roger is the primary writer of this album. It was originally his project, stemming from a solo thing. He is a song writing machine also so it’s hard to hold him back from creating, but we are all hopping on the bandwagon.
ROGER: It’s mainly my stuff for now, although I hope eventually it will be like Queen, where every band member has written a hit song. The lyrics are usually written on the computer. Sometimes they start with a song title or a concept and go from there. The ones I like usually just come to me. When I think about lyrics too much, I usually end up not liking them. A lot of the songs are third-person songs too and I love wordplay. I like to think I’ve got a style there, though I would be the last to know.
MIA: What do you feel separates Ex Norwegian from the countless other indie bands in Miami?
ROGER: To be honest, I wouldn’t do this if I could watch another band play our songs. I would much rather be in the audience than on stage. I think our attitude and approach might be what separates us from a lot of other Miami bands.
MIA: What are some of your favorite venues to play at?
ART: City Limits, Churchill’s.
BILLIE G: Churchill’s, and The First United Methodist Church of Boca Raton.
ROGER: Buck15, City Limits (R.I.P.), Churchill’s sometimes.
MIA: What do you all think about Miami, and do any of you hope to leave?
NINA: It’s my home. I’ll leave again and probably come back eventually.
MIA: Where and how can we get a copy of your album?
ROGER: It just got released nationally, so it’s available anywhere music is sold and online of course, from iTunes, Napster, etc. as well as at our shows.
To find out more about the band, visit: http://www.exnorwegian.com/
Update! Hear Ex Norwegian on the Real World Washington D.C. on MTV!
Photo: Eva Levin
MIA: Where does the name Ex Norwegian come from, and who came up with the name?
ROGER: I discovered the name. I spent a week with my ears open to phrases for a possible band name, and Ex Norwegian came along, courtesy of the British comedy show, Monty Python’s Flying Circus.
MIA: How do you feel about the indie music scene in Miami right now and about other bands trying to do what you are doing?
NINA: No one is really trying to do what we are trying to do musically and as a band. We’re just not sitting around waiting for anything to happen, we do it ourselves.
ART: There’s some cool stuff out there, but it’s hard to find and it’s not advertised enough.
ROGER: There’s some cool stuff going on, sure, but there is too much, too. The audience is not big enough for the amount of shows and events going on. I hear stories of Miami’s glorious indie scene in the early 90s. I want to believe that this is possible again.
MIA: Is this Ex Norwegian’s first album together, and what are your plans for the future? (You can input individual answers if you like).
ART: Touring and recording a lot hopefully. I wanna play the next Woodstock. But Langerado would do!
NINA: Yes, it’s our first album. Our plans are to play more shows, bigger shows, and expand our geographical horizons. The music won’t stop.
ROGER: First Ex Norwegian album, yes. This album was recorded while the band was coming together, so guitarist Billie G came in on the later sessions, and singer Michelle Grand is on much of the album, though she isn’t a full time member of the band. The plan is simple: world domination! - And maybe to release another album by the end of the year!
BILLIE G: So far, so good!
MIA: How are the lyrics to the songs written, and who primarily writes them?
NINA: Roger is the primary writer of this album. It was originally his project, stemming from a solo thing. He is a song writing machine also so it’s hard to hold him back from creating, but we are all hopping on the bandwagon.
ROGER: It’s mainly my stuff for now, although I hope eventually it will be like Queen, where every band member has written a hit song. The lyrics are usually written on the computer. Sometimes they start with a song title or a concept and go from there. The ones I like usually just come to me. When I think about lyrics too much, I usually end up not liking them. A lot of the songs are third-person songs too and I love wordplay. I like to think I’ve got a style there, though I would be the last to know.
MIA: What do you feel separates Ex Norwegian from the countless other indie bands in Miami?
ROGER: To be honest, I wouldn’t do this if I could watch another band play our songs. I would much rather be in the audience than on stage. I think our attitude and approach might be what separates us from a lot of other Miami bands.
MIA: What are some of your favorite venues to play at?
ART: City Limits, Churchill’s.
BILLIE G: Churchill’s, and The First United Methodist Church of Boca Raton.
ROGER: Buck15, City Limits (R.I.P.), Churchill’s sometimes.
MIA: What do you all think about Miami, and do any of you hope to leave?
NINA: It’s my home. I’ll leave again and probably come back eventually.
MIA: Where and how can we get a copy of your album?
ROGER: It just got released nationally, so it’s available anywhere music is sold and online of course, from iTunes, Napster, etc. as well as at our shows.
To find out more about the band, visit: http://www.exnorwegian.com/
Update! Hear Ex Norwegian on the Real World Washington D.C. on MTV!
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