HEDDAH TALKS I CHOOSE ME
"I know I’m not alone in what I feel"
Daniel John
Songs have this way of arriving at different crossroads. Sometimes in hindsight. Sometimes in anticipation. Sometimes when still in the middle of it. In what moment did ‘I choose me’ come to you?
I tend to write the music I need myself. For a long time in my life, I’ve had to learn how to put myself first. That hasn’t been easy, because I care deeply about the people around me. I often let that care come at my own expense. 'I choose me' came to me at Bore beach, at a moment when I finally felt a little peace. I was watching the waves and the sunset, and I remember thinking that it almost looked like a movie. The waves were dancing crashing, yet still moving in rhythm. There was chaos, but also flow. It made me reflect on my own life. “How can I move through it with that same kind of flow?" That’s when it hit me, the most important thing is choosing myself. In every situation, the only person I am guaranteed to live with for my entire life is me. That is the only certainty we have, so I have to learn to be my own best friend. That’s how 'I choose me' was born.
Does that speak for your general process or what does songwriting usually look like for you?
My songs usually come from something I have felt deeply. Or something I have gone through in my own life. I rarely write just to write it has to come from something real. I almost always start with the lyrics. Then I reach out to a producer and explain what’s on my heart, what I want to say, what the emotional tone or vibe should feel like. From there, we build the instrumental and the melody together. After that, I usually go back and fine tune the lyrics so they truly fit the mood and the flow of the song. Music is like an open diary for me, there is a lot I choose to release into the world through my songs and there’s also a lot I choose to keep private. My music is extremely personal. I share it because I know I’m not alone in what I feel. None of us are. If even one person can recognize themselves in something that I’ve written and feel less alone, or maybe see something from a slightly different perspective then it’s worth it.
What was it like working together with Sigve Lien to bring the song’s vision into being?
I’ve been working with Sigve since 2022, and over time we’ve developed a strong creative understanding. We communicate well, both musically and conceptually, which makes the process very efficient and inspiring, he’s very skilled at understanding what I want to achieve with a song, and I truly value the professional respect he shows me as an artist especially as a woman in the music industry. He takes my ideas seriously and is willing to explore them before making decisions. That kind of collaboration creates trust. Working with him is productive and creatively rewarding. He’s patient, attentive, and a highly talented producer. Our collaboration has grown stronger over time, and that has helped shape my sound.
Do you think about what others might take away from your music, or is it about expressing yourself and your perspective first?
I started releasing music because I had something I wanted to say to the world. It has never been just about making songs, it has been about communicating something meaningful. With 'Woman', I wanted people to really listen to the lyrics and reflect on themselves. I want people to feel more confident. We live in a world where everything is supposed to look perfect, but I genuinely believe that imperfection is where the real beauty lies. With 'Battlefield', I felt anger. There was so much pressure to choose a side in the war in Gaza. But I didn’t want to choose a political side, I wanted to choose the innocent people. The wounded. The civilians just trying to live their lives. I stand with humanity. I stand with love. 'Take Me Back' also came from frustration. There are so many beautiful people who are counting calories, numbing themselves, or struggling silently. I wanted to highlight that reality, maybe help someone see the world more clearly. Sometimes I wish I could go back to being a child, before I fully understood how heavy the world can feel. And then there’s 'I choose me'. That song carries a more hopeful message. I want people to understand that choosing yourself is not selfish, it is necessary. Like the safety rule on an airplane, you put on your own oxygen mask before helping someone else. You have to take care of yourself in order to truly help others. If you are drowning you might not even see the people around you who are drowning too.
How early on did music first show up in your life?
I've been a music child for as long as I can remember. I went to baby music classes, and like most kids, I tried different sports, football, handball, but the only place I truly felt like I belonged was in music school. Music has been a part of my life since I was two years old. My family says that whenever music started playing, I would immediately begin dancing. It has always been my safe space and my way of expressing what I feel. I wrote my first song when I was around eight years old. I’ve always written poems, lyrics, and melodies. I just didn’t share them publicly until 2022. I always wanted to release music, but for a long time, I didn’t know how to do it. And honestly, it was scary. To share something so personal with the world requires the right mindset. You have to be ready to be seen.
Committing to a passion is no small decision, there’s much bravery in that. Was it a confident jump at it or was it a dream that felt hard to reach, like what did it really take to choose yourself as an artist?
When I was about to release my first song I was extremely scared. I didn’t really know what I was doing, and I didn’t understand the music industry at all. All I knew was that I had always carried this dream inside me. I couldn’t let that dream pass without trying. I think the younger version of me, the seven or eight year old me, would have been disappointed if I never gave it a chance. It was never easy. I was insecure. I questioned everything, even what name I should release music under. I was rarely fully satisfied with anything. Thankfully, I had a producer who gently pushed me forward. He helped me take that final step and actually release my first song. Looking back, I’m incredibly grateful both that he encouraged me, and that I chose to be brave in that moment. Focusing this much on music comes with sacrifices. It means that many other things have to come second. But that’s a choice I’ve made. And I’m still choosing it.
How are your feelings around a release, like right now?
Before a release, I’m usually a little stressed. I’m about to share something that feels like a page from my diary with the world. I think a lot about what listeners will take away from it. I genuinely want to be a light in someone’s life to spread positivity and create a kind of safe space through my music. I always wonder if I’ve said things the right way, if people will interpret the song the way I hope they will. And there is so much practical work leading up to a release. Planning, pitching, deciding where to send the music. You always have to think ahead. After the release, I often feel a bit empty. I’ve been tense and I’ve been working toward this one moment for weeks, and suddenly it’s just out there. The buildup is over. At the same time, release day itself feels like a birthday. I love that day. It’s exciting to see how people respond, to read messages, and to experience how the song finds its own life. These singles built up to my debut EP, 'Echoes of myself', so there has not been much time to slow down. Normally, after releasing a single, you can take a breath and absorb the feedback and the love. For me, it takes time to process everything. When you finally pause, that’s when it truly hits you what you have actually done, that is when everything feels crazy and surreal, in a good way.
