ACE ROSEWALL TALKS STAY FRIENDS

Interviewed by Culture Coast Talks editor Daniel John. Interview transcripts might have been edited for length and clarity.

Of all the Nordic countries, Denmark seems closest to London’s flourishing music scene. What led you to make the move, what brought you to London?

It might sound a bit grandiose but I knew from a very young age that my dream was to become an international artist and I was very aware of the fact that most Danish artists that started in Denmark never made it out of the country despite their music having an international sound. So, I felt that the right thing to do was to make the move pretty much right after I graduated school. I had no contacts in the city so I just started making my way around open mics and venues with my guitar, playing wherever and whenever I could.

Whether closer to home or for any vikings visiting London, are there any upcoming shows lined up for you this forthcoming season?

I’m actually playing at a newly opened Danish restaurant in London called KöD on May 14. Summer will be spent finishing up some songs, so I’m ready to release a lot of new music in the Autumn and then again on September 6 I'm playing the Bright Nights showcase, also in London.

At what point does your story with music start?

I have always loved music and have had a diverse music taste but if I try to pinpoint it to one specific point in my life, honestly, it would probably be when I was around ten or twelve watching 'Camp Rock' on Disney Channel. I wanted to be able to play songs like the Jonas Brothers did, and to this day ‘Gotta Find You’ is still my favourite song.

Exploring love through your songwriting seems to be a constant theme for you, even when it means portraying its challenges as on ‘Stay Friends'?

I think break-ups aren’t always sad once you get a perspective of things, during my last years in school, I was in a relationship that got very toxic, and when I look back now, I realize that I should’ve ended things way earlier, but I did not. I was inspired by my reflections of this relationship and how I felt relieved and happier after we ended things. ‘Stay Friends’ is a song reflecting on a break-up. It’s a sort of personal letter to an ex-girlfriend that I should’ve ended things with, but I didn’t have the strength to, and all of a sudden, we found ourselves in a long-distance relationship, which didn’t really make things easier. Eventually, it was bound to come to an end, and afterwards, when I was being honest with myself, I started to understand that sometimes it's better to be apart. We were never meant to be, I see that now, and that’s why ‘Stay Friends’ has such a happy-go-lucky feel to it.

This was one of the first songs you wrote after the move to London?

Yes, I wrote it within the first few months after making the move!

Does a song usually live with you a bit before you decide on sharing?

It depends. Sometimes I like to let the song rest a bit as it is an emotional process to be truly honest with yourself. I also believe you need the right producer to perfect the song, and with ‘Stay Friends’, I did not actually think I was gonna release it until my two producers heard it years later. I think I’ve always used songwriting as a sort of therapy for myself. Whenever I’ve been struggling emotionally, writing a song has been my way of dealing with my feelings. That’s another reason why a lot of my music is about love. It’s the greatest feeling.

Even in songs about heartfelt break-ups, you keep the energy upbeat, there are even a pan flute in this one. Some of those good vibes come from you of course, but what kind of energy do your producers, Martin and Silas, bring to your music?

My vocals and the picked acoustic guitar were how I originally imagined the song when I wrote it. Without Martin and Silas, ‘Stay Friends’ would’ve never become the song that it is. Martin comes from a background of EDM and club music, so he was inspired to add the calypso vibes and pan flute, and Silas is an amazing guitarist who’s played in indie rock bands, so he added the licks and the almost country-like electric guitar to it, and then it just felt right.

Whether inviting new romance or moving away from it, I think this is a song many will take to heart. There has been talks about you having a new EP on the way, is that what one can anticipate coming out next?

I had a two-year hiatus before I started releasing music again last year. This time around I want to put good, thorough pop music inspired by the different subgenres that have shaped me as an artist and a songwriter. Yes, the plan was initially to release an EP but I think we'll postpone that until 2024. I'm just having too much fun releasing these singles, the next one coming out is probably my favourite one yet! An absolute banger featuring a few different artists from around the world. It will be with you in September.