DILBA TALKS BORING

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

What does 'Boring' capture?

'Boring' is an indiepop track that captures the inner conflict between wanting someone and knowing you should stay away. The verses reflect temptation, while the chorus sharply contrasts with staccato hooks and a rhythmic drive that pulls you away. Blending influences from RnB and indie pop, it creates a captivating contrast, between attraction and rejection.

The song was co-written with and produced by Frida Leontine Backman. Who also collaborated with you on last year’s two singles, what makes your creative partnership work this great?

Frida and I have this dynamic that makes our collaboration feel both natural and inspiring. She often starts with a production idea while I focus on lyrics and melodies, and from there, we build the song together. Since we’re close friends and have such a strong sense of trust in our process we work without any filters, we challenge each other, test new ideas, and always manage to find something unique in every track. It makes the process both creative and playful, and I think that energy really comes through in the music.

How long have music been part of your life?

Music has been a natural part of my life for as long as I can remember, I’ve been singing since I learned to talk. As a kid, I would hold concerts in my bedroom, and by the age of nine I performed a solo song on stage for the first time. That’s when I began taking singing lessons and participating in choir concerts, which not only developed my voice but also my ear for harmonies and songwriting overall. At fourteen I started accompanying myself on piano and guitar, which gave me even more freedom to explore and grow creatively.

What inspired you to write your first song?

My whole life, I had been humming my own melodies and improvising songs without ever actually doing anything with them, I never wrote them down. But when I was fifteen, I decided to sit down and write a proper song. I remember it was called 'Colorblind', and even though it might not have been my strongest work, and feels kind of sweet looking back now, it laid the foundation for everything I create today.

Even though life’s more “boring” moments have found their way into your writing, the music itself is anything but, full of contrasts and energy. How have you drawn from different influences in shaping your pop sound. Whether subtly or more directly?

I listen to a wide range of music, there’s really nothing I dislike, and that diversity definitely shows up in my songwriting. Frida and I share a similar taste in music and tend to stay within indiepop. But we love adding a slightly gritty edge while keeping the vocals front and center. One of our biggest strengths, our unique selling point you could say, is definitely our harmonies. We put a lot of focus on vocal production and spend a lot of time fine-tuning them to create a sound that feels unique, emotional, and distinctively ours.

These days, it takes more than lifelong passion to break through as an artist. From putting up posters on windy days to keeping up with trends and social media, how do you feel about everything surrounding the music?

I agree, it takes more than just passion to succeed as an artist today. It’s about finding balance between the music and everything around it, from trends and social media to shaping your identity as an artist. For me it’s important that my creativity remains at the center but I also want to share parts of myself so my listeners can get a real sense of who I am. I want them to feel a personal connection with me, both through the music and the energy and tone I share outside of it. Being authentic is really important to me. I want my listeners not only to hear my songs but also to get a genuine sense of the person behind the music. I aim to create a relationship that feels both personal and open, without losing my own voice in the process.

What else might be coming up, can we hope for more music from you soon?

I’m super excited to release more music this year! My focus right now is on singles, and I already have three tracks ready that I know will be coming out soon, the next single is actually scheduled for May, so it’s going to be an intense and exciting period. Stay tuned!