The talented and lovely Noush Skaugen has a new album out, entitled Lost and Found. Lucky for us, she took a moment to answer some of our burning questions, while plugging her new album.
 
DB: You have a new disc out—how did that process go? Was it easy to write enough songs to fill a new record?

NS: Writing for the new album LOST AND FOUND was actually a pretty easy process, because it was a collection of my whole life. Each song is a chapter, so I had a lot of inspiration to draw from. I had written the songs over a period of 2 years, and then picked the best ones and the ones that made sense to the story: 'finding yourself lost in this world, and the process of trying to find yourself'.
 
DB: So, it was a more personal record... Did it take a long time to produce it? Was there any difficulty with the production or was it as easy at writing it?

NS: The whole record took about 6 months to produce. It started with a trip to Nashville from LA in the summer of 2007, meeting with various producers, then when I find the right one, Ilya Toshinsky, we started tracking in September. We had 3 live sessions with the whole band and I tracked vocals at the same time, like they did in the old days - I actually got inspired to do this when I watched 'The Doors' movie and saw how the singer would be in the booth but still able to see the whole band and capture that magic of the moment and the energy from the other musicians. Session one and three where at The Castle in Franklin TN, and session 2 was at Blackbird Studios, Nashville.

DB: Cool; so you're a Morrison fan eh? How are you and the label marketing the album? What role has the internet played in making people aware of your music? Has it gotten any spins on radio stations?

NS:  I am releasing this record off my own label, Storytown Entertainment. In this day and age, we musicians need to grab control of the reins and charge forward on our own; I did not want to wait for a major label to become involved, but release this record and put everything I have behind it. Marketing has therefore become creative and grassroots, without the big budgets. The internet has played a huge role in this, enabling me to reach people all across the world with my music. At the same time it has allowed anyone with a guitar and home computer to record an album & sell it on the internet. So I believe that the playing field has been leveled, and although exposure is easier, there are so many bands out there now, that it is hard to find the really good ones. Bands are finding themselves on their computers all day long when really we should be playing shows, rehearsing, being on the road, and writing songs - focusing on the creative side. So the internet has had its positive and negative effects.

My music has already been played on Internet (Podcasts) Satellite, Triple A and College Radio. As we speak The new album is going to Triple A & Satellite radio for play.

DB: What would you describe the sound of your album as? Is this your own personal sound? How did you decide to move in this direction?

NS: The album has a rock n roll sound to it. I believe it definitely has my own personal sound. I decided to do a rock album because I wanted to bring real music back to the people. I think we have had enough of the powers that be telling us what we should like, regurgitating the same sound over and over again with a new artist every month. My sound is a British female Rock n Roll.

DB: That's interesting that you say that; I would have said, more pop with a bit of a singer / songwriter edge to it. Who has  influenced your music? Which artists would you site as inspirations?

NS: Artists that have influenced me are diverse, but they all write great lyrics, have passion and raw emotion, such as Tracy Chapman, Joni Mitchell, Jimi Hendrix, The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, The Doors, Foo Fighters, Tori Amos, The Police, Fleetwood Mac, Ben Harper, Sheryl Crow and many other bands.

DB: That's quite a wide variety of artists. Do you have any plans to tour to support the album? Which cities will you be playing if so?

NS: Yes over the Summer I will be playing dates around Southern California, then there will be a Tour in The Fall on the West Coast, and the plan is to have a National Tour after that. The cities on the West Coast Tour are as of right now: San Diego CA, Phoenix AZ, Las Vegas NV, St George UT, SLC UT, Boise ID, Bend OR, Eugene OR, Redding CA, Stockton CA, Monterey CA.

DB: Sounds awesome! I used to live in Monterey. Where would you like to go with your music? Are there any sounds you’d like to try out?

NS: I would love to have my album re-mixed by Crystal Method or BT, an electronica version. I have released singles in the Dance realm before. Growing up in the UK we had garage, techno, 2-step and all that around us.

DB: Yeah, you definitely find some sounds that we don't generally find here, stateside. Who are you currently listening to? What would I find in your i-Pod?

NS: Depends on my mood but, On my ipod you would find; Sigur Ros, Coldplay, Kool Shen, Olivia Ruiz, Sloan, Lifehouse, Foo Fighters, Coldwar Kids.....

DB: Again, varied taste, very nice! Obviously, you want people to pick up your disc and you’re wanting people to pay to hear you play, are you keen on people sharing copies of your music or does that bother you? Some people are angered by people listening without paying and others simply do it for the music? What’s your take?

NS: Artists, such as myself, are extremely professional when it comes to recording our music. On my own, I have spent a similar budget on this record that a major label would, therefore for me to survive and keep making music it would be great to see money come back to me. However, I am also aware that as an artist that is up and coming, I want people to share my music for the exposure, I just hope it pays off with fans coming to my live shows and buying my merchandise. So yes, if people want to share the album with their friends, by all means do so. I just hope that will translate into a fan that would support me in other ways so I can keep doing what I do.

DB: That seems fair to me. Do you have any good stories of being on tour? Has anything weird or interesting happened during a performance?

NS: The old saying is 'what happens on the road, stays on the road'! so some stuff I cannot divulge:) well there was this one time at band camp.....

DB: *laughs* Yeah, well, if you happen to remember any stories, that you DO want to share...

NS: You'll be the first to know... *smiles*

DB: Who would you like to work with in the industry? Are there any artists or producers that you’d like to pair up with?

NS: To work with - The all mighty Rick Rubin, Clive Davis, Brennan O'Brian, Dr Dre, always wanted to do a track with Method Man and The Rolling Stones.

DB: Which country are you from originally? I know you’re currently living in the UK-did you grow up there? Where have you traveled? How have things differed from place to place?

NS: I am actually currently living stateside, but was born in Stockholm, Sweden. I grew up in the UK and spent some time in France. Things are definitely different here than in Europe; the food kinda sucks here (apart from shakes & cheeseburgers) but the UK doesn't have much room to talk. England isn't exactly known for its cuisine... at least I don't have to pay to use the bathroom here. *smiles*

DB: What genre would you classify your general sound as? Who would you compare your sound with?

NS: I consider myself to be straight up rock n roll, but I'm sure the rest of the world will find a genre to put me into...

DB: Any last comments? Wanna plug the album?

NS: *laughs* Always! LOST AND FOUND is Now Available - Only from my website www.noushskaugen.com
A percentage of the proceeds are going to Breast Cancer Cancer Research in the hopes we do find a cure. The name of my campaign is LYB or  'Love Your Boobs'.