INTERVIEW: Tina Dico
- Posted on February 7, 2008 1:06 PM
- 3 comments
Interview by Katie Spain
"If there was an award for the sweetest face in music, Tina Dico would take home the trophy".
Something tells me this isn't a title Tina would welcome... she's got enough music awards to reflect on. What is most interesting is the woman behind the porcelain doll face.
Tina Dico. What can we tell you about this Danish stunner? Well, in her homeland she's somewhat of a celebrity. Here in London, she can play a small venue such as The Slaughtered Lamb and blow the audience away like she's the best thing since sliced Danish Malt.
It is downstairs at this funky little venue that we settle down for chat with Miss Dico. She is intense, overwhelmingly cute and straight talking. There's more to this lady than a heart-melting voice and intense lyrics. It seems that life in the music-lane can be a lonely one. We've offered our extended gig-going hand of friendship, you my dears should do the same. The number of soulful female vocalists surfing their way towards our ears is overwhelming right now - this is one that won't get washed back out with the flotsam.
Do you ever come out of an interview and think 'I wish the interviewer has asked me that?'
That’s a tough question! No, not really. I find that most interviews ask nice, good and interesting questions. In Germany this week, somebody had called me Pop philosopher. People ask some really heavy, interesting questions about my lyrics and my thoughts on life.
Let’s go back a bit. Can you tell me how you first got into music? Were you one of those little girls that wanted to sing at every opportunity?
No, I was quite shy actually with music. I guess I listened to a lot of music because of my dad. We would sit there and listen to loads of different records like Classical, Russian Opera. I was interested in music. We had a piano too and I started writing little songs. There was definitely something there that moved me but I was really shy with it. I started writing songs properly and playing the guitar since I was about ten. That would be my diary and meditation throughout my teenage years. No-one ever saw it though. I performed sometimes to my family but that would be Tracy Chapman songs and other covers.
Do you get nervous before you go on stage?
I used to but now I am used to it. I still get nervous if it is the first time that I have to do certain sets especially if I haven’t been through hat track listings. There is always the odd track that I haven’t played in a while and I always ask for requests to keep myself on my toes. It used to be quite bad though actually. I used to get stage fright and panic when I was on stage and want to run out. I used to think that in ten seconds, I am actually going to run off. Sometimes when you walk on to a stage, it is like you are walking into an open field but sometimes when you walk on stage it is like you are walking in to a tiny cell.
I read on your Blog that for Christmas, you got some special deodorant, in a boot. Is that the way you do it in Denmark; a boot by the fire place?
Yes, on the evening of the 23rd, we put our boots out by the fire place and miraculously, there will be something there in the morning. This year, I got some special deodorant but then I lost it. It was a terrible day.
Did you make any New Year resolutions?
I always have the longest list on New Year resolutions but this year I didn’t actually. My life is actually quite OK. I always have like; get good at chess and other odd things. When you are touring a lot, you live in a small little world where you don’t know what is happening. I don’t want to let that happen this time. I want to read a lot and stay tuned.
Tell me about Aarhus - the town that you are from. I get the impression that it is a place where everyone knows everyone.
There are 400,000 people. It is a University City. There are a lot of people coming through but I suppose in the creative world, we all know each other. It is a really nice place. When you come from London I think in comparison, Denmark is quite sleepy. If you go out on a Sunday, the streets will be empty. It is a lovely place; it is very close to nature which is something that I miss when I am touring.
Did you find that when you left Denmark, it was hard meeting people and staying in touch with friends?
It was hard meeting people but not hard staying in touch with people; I do get to go back a lot. It is not the easiest place to get a network. The other songwriters that my publisher would set me up with were all grown men. I didn’t know any girls or any one young like me. I just moved here to be a songwriter and get some edge. I certainly got that but it was very lonely and quite horrible really. But still, I love London, it works for me and I am still here.
Is there a certain part of London that you really like?
I live by Ladbroke Grove and Portobello market and I really like it there. It is civilised but still happening. I used to live by Brick Lane which was also good.
You choose all the best places!
Yeah, I was lucky. I didn’t know anything about London but ended up in good places.
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
That is so hard to say. I don’t know where to begin. There have been so many amazing experiences. It has been a tough journey though. Awards are great but they don’t really mean that much although getting Best Songwriter obviously makes me feel good. Also, actually creating something; when I finished this new album, 'Count To Ten', there were so many times when I thought it would break me and I thought I would quit or that it wasn’t going to turn out the way I wanted. It is so difficult when you have that idea no your head about how you want a song to turn out. It is so hard to make it happen when you get in the studio. When I had finished the record and it turned out exactly how I wanted it to, that felt like wow, I have passed the test.
Is there a particular tune that you enjoy playing live?
Yeah, it varies when I am with the band or when I am on my own. The rocky stuff is fun to play with the band. When I am on my own, it is really nice to play the quiet tunes like 'Cruel ToThe Sensitive Kind'. A song like 'Count To Ten' is fun to play but my hand always cramps half way through.
'Cruel To The Sensitive Kind' is one of my particular favourites. Is it one that you find the female crowd members like as it goes through the battles on a woman’s mind and the way that a man often doesn’t realize it is going on.
I think so yes. The men still don’t get it. It is not their fault though! We are different in relationships; I think women ask too much, we ask for things that they haven’t got to give. Maybe a few do. I think it is something that in most relationships is an issue. Maybe us girls need to not take it so personally.
You are touring all over the place. Are you in a special Tina Dico van?
This year I am touring in Denmark, UK, Germany and America. When I am in America, it is just get up, go to an airport and fly out to a city. It is all taxis and planes. In the UK, it is cars and hotels. There is no camper bus thing though! Most of the time, it is just me and the tour manager.
It sounds glamorous but it is probably not.
It is not glamorous, I can assure you. In Denmark, it is pretty glamorous now though. To be honest, I feel more at home with it not being glamorous.
I expect you get recognized everywhere in Denmark now, how is that?
Yeah, it is weird. It is definitely not easy. It is something that I constantly work on dealing with. For me, music is just one side of me and coincidentally, it is the darker, heavier side to me. People tend to think that I am a dark, heavy, sad person. They expect me to be sad but I am not. I put all theses things in to my music.
I want to surprise my friends with a Danish dish, what do you recommend that I cook?
Well, it’s all cabbage with little meat balls and onions. I think if you want to impress yourself, go for something else instead of Danish food!
What is your favourite tipple?
I am a beer girl, it is easy to control.
If you ever get a day off, what do you do?
If I am in Denmark, I hurry about and see all the people that I can. If I am here, I would spend the day completely on my own and go to the cinema or maybe even the gym and sit in the spa for a bit. I would do something quite healthy because the rest of my life is rather unhealthy.
I read that you had dreadlocks, do you miss them?
No. I only had them for about three months. They were so smelly.
What is the most memorable gig that you have been to - as an audience member?
Well, I am not a big fan of big shows. I like to be first row and sat down almost where I can touch the singer. I would say the most memorable live experiences that I have had have been at a pun in Dublin with random musicians playing their Folk songs.
Tina Dico's album 'Count To Ten' is released on February 8th 2008.
She plays a series of gigs in the UK throughout March - including the Union Chapel. Don't miss your chance to experience her live.
Related links:
Tina Dico tickets and listings.
Tina Dico Slaughtered Lamb review.Tina Dico's MySpace.
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Comments (3)
Igor
Totally agree!!! I've seen her before 3 times, and looking forward to see her playing next week on Berlin as well.
I did a fan site and it went Live yesterday, maybe some of you want to check it out :-) It's http://morethandiva.com
Bye!
Posted on April 6, 2008 10:02 PM
Lisa
Thought you might be interested in one of my favorite artists, AM. He is going on tour with Tina Dico and just did a duet with her of the Beatle's "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" off his album, Side By Side. He’s next to impossible to Google?? Blame it on his name... Ha. Check him out at www.amsounds.com or www.myspace.com/amsounds.
Posted on April 14, 2008 9:05 PM
Nora
I saw AM on tour with Tina...he is amazing and I absolutely love their duet of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps". I have been a huge fan of Tina for awhile now and AM has officially been added to all of my playlists. I found a lot of his music on iTunes. Love Tina and AM...hoping they do something together again soon!
Posted on July 5, 2008 2:42 AM
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