Rolf Lovland tells Dennis Chua that he has found his calling in enchanting, instrumental music
POPULAR Irish-Norwegian instrumental music duo Secret Garden will make its maiden performance in Kuala Lumpur in November.
It comprises Irish violinist Fionnuala Sherry and Norwegian composer-pianist Rolf Lovland.
The duo has sold over three million albums and is best known for winning Eurovision Song Contest for Norway in 1995, with the composition Nocturne. It was the only time that an instrumental piece won the contest, although a few Norwegian lyrics written by Petter Skavlan were included to ensure that the entry adhered to contest rules.
However, a decade earlier, Lovland co-wrote the song La Det Swinge (Let It Swing) which secured Norway its first Eurovision Song Contest victory in 1985.
The Eurovision win led to the release of its first album, Songs From A Secret Garden, in 1996.
It sold a million copies, went platinum in Norway and gold in Ireland and New Zealand. It also spent two years in the Billboard New Age charts from 1996.
American singer-actress Barbra Streisand adapted the song Heartstrings from this album as I’ve Dreamed Of You into her own album, A Love Like Ours.
The album White Stones followed in 1997 and also made the Top 10 on the Billboard New Age charts.
Dawn Of A New Century, with lyrics by Skavlan in 1999, Dreamcatcher in 2001 and Once In A Red Moon in 2002 also reached Top 10 on Billboard.
The duo’s most famous song, You Raise Me Up, first performed by Brian Kennedy, has been recorded by more than 100 other artistes including Josh Groban, Russell Watson and Westlife.
Secret Garden released The Dreamcatcher: Best Of Secret Garden album for its tour of Australia and New Zealand in 2004. It reached the top of the Australian new age charts and the Aria Top 50 album charts.
Adagio was used in Wong Kar Wai’s 2004 film, 2046.
Secret Garden’s other albums are Earthsongs (2005), Inside I’m Singing (2007), Winter Poem (2011) and Just The Two Of Us (2013).
In 2010, Sherry, 52, released her solo debut, Songs From Before. She began playing the violin at 8 and graduated with honours from the College of Music of Trinity College, Dublin at 15. Her professional career started with a 10-year stint as a member of the RTE Concert Orchestra.
She has collaborated with The Chieftains, Sinead O’Connor, Van Morrison, Chris De Burgh, Bono and Wet Wet Wet. She has also recorded several Hollywood film scores with the Irish Film Orchestra, including A Room With A View and The Mask.
Lovland, 59, began composing at 9 and grew up studying at the Kristiansand Music Conservatory, later receiving his masters degree from the Norwegian Institute of Music in Oslo.
In 2006, he composed the music for The Mermaid Chair, a television movie. The father-of-three was a foreign exchange student in Shawnee, Oklahoma, in the US while in high school.
Lovland promises an “enchanting evening of captivating music” at the upcoming show. Lovland tells us more:
Are you both looking forward to visiting Kuala Lumpur?
Yes, we are. We’ve heard a lot about KL being a vibrant Asian city and we can’t wait to entertain our fans, many of whom love great music, be it instrumental or vocal.
How many songs will be performed in your concert?
It’ll be a 90-minute showcase that’s intimate, and we’ll have about 20 songs. There’ll be two very talented singers from Norway who will accompany us — Catherine Iverson and Estem Grotheim.
Are you working on a new album?
Not yet. But we’ll do so early next year. Next year will be a very busy time for us as it’s our 20th anniversary as a musical duo.
Besides touring as a duo, do you have any other solo projects in the pipeline?
Not yet. At the moment we are 100 per cent promoting our latest album which was out last year. We will be very busy touring the European Union, the US and Australia. We have just toured Japan, China, Taiwan and Singapore.
Have you always wanted to be a musician?
Yes, my family loves music. For me, music is a universal language which stirs the soul. The type of music I love most reflects themes of harmony and the human spirit.
Where did both of you meet?
In Dublin, where Sherry was performing in an orchestra. We enjoyed similar music and became fast friends.
What makes you attracted to this music genre ?
It’s full of heart and soul. I love developing my own musical identity which I’m comfortable with. I began with popular music, but after a while, I found my calling in enchanting, instrumental music.
Who are your biggest musical influences?
I love traditional Irish musicians and Norwegian ones, too. Nevertheless, I also love vocalists with powerful and soulful voices, like some of them who covered You Raise Me Up.
You Raise Me Up is less known as your song. Who do you think covered it the best and why?
Each version has its strengths, but if I were to name my favourites, they would have to be Josh Groban and Westlife. They truly made it their own, powerful ballads with distinctive sounds.
Do you have plans to work on musical scores for Hollywood movies next?
I’d love to someday, but not yet. For now, I’d prefer to focus on television themes in my home country.
Secret Garden’s The Greatest Hits Tour will take place at at KL Convention Centre, Kuala Lumpur on Nov 8. Tickets are RM198-RM568. Call 03-9222 8811.