Mørland & Debrah Scarlett: “We considered recording a new version with a large orchestra but we couldn’t afford it” (Norway 2015 – Exclusive Interview)

ESC+Plus has exclusively talked to the duet Mørland & Debrah Scarlett. They will represent Norway at Eurovision after winning MGP 2015.

 

 

Hello! First of all thank you so much for giving us this interview as Norwegian representatives at Eurovision 2015 and congratulations on having won “Melodi Grand Prix”!

ESC+Plus: How did you feel when the host of MGP announced you were the winners getting the right to represent your country in Vienna? What does representing Norway at Eurovision mean for you?

M: It felt great, although it took a little while for us to realise as it was so loud in the arena! Representing Norway is a great honor.

DS: It felt very surreal when they told us that we’d won. Also because Erlend Bratlands and us were pretty close in points. The moment we were walking up to the stage again to sing for the third time was an unforgettable moment filled with joy and adrenalin. We are so proud to represent Norway, and we want to do our very best. We’re looking so much forwards to sing in Vienna.

E+: You looked really happy during the winners’ reprise, what were you thinking about during that performance? Did you ever imagine such an awesome ending?

M: No, winning was never even in our thoughts – we were just pleased with getting the opportunity to perform on that night, in front of such a large audience. And yes, we were happy – we’d just won!

DS: Yes, it was very surprising. Our goal was to get to the “gold-final”.. So it just got very intense, standing there as two unknown Norwegian artists and then suddenly know that so many people voted for and believed in our song.

E+: How did you experience performing with a live orchestra? We listened to new arrangements; will you include them in your final version?

M: We were considering it, but the string recording from the night had too much vocal bleed on the string mics and there’s just no way we could afford to re-record such a large orchestra. I’ve produced the track myself and we’ve also done all promo etc. without any label or management.

E+: Why did you decide to take part at the Norwegian MGP? Mørland, why did you choose Debrah as the perfect singer to perform “A monster like me” in a duet?

DS: I didn’t exactly plan to take part in anything. It was Mørland that contacted me, while I was on tour in Switzerland with a project called The Rumours. He sent me the song, that I immediately felt strongly about. I felt it had a very honest and vulnerable lyric that people could identify with. It is a song that grows on a person. So it was first after I listened to the song and had talked with Mørland over Skype I decided that I will take part. I am pretty glad I did, haha.

M: It was a pure coincidence as I just came over an ad saying about the entry date approaching. I just thought I’d send a song out of curiosity and see what happened. I chose Debrah because she has a great character in her voice that suits the song mood very well.

E+: Debrah, what did you think the first time Mørland played for you “A monster like me”? What impelled you to accept his proposal?

DS: Well Mørland wasn’t able to play the song for me directly, since he was in Norway and I in Switzerland at that time. He sent it in an email, after we talked over the phone. I must say that I have always been a little skeptical to music TV shows or Eurovision, not because I don’t like the concept, but because it somehow had become more an arena for artists that made a big show. It felt a bit like it’d become a circus and not like the songwriting competition it used to be. When I listened to “A Monster Like Me”, I really liked it from the first listen. We’ll go into this competition as two artists with one honest intention, “to focus on the music”.

E+: Can you tell us about your song “A monster like me” and the story behind the lyrics? How was the composition procedure?

M: The song is about facing up to your inner demons – a dark secret that has been haunting you. You don’t feel good enough for the person you are with because of what you have done, and don’t feel worthy of their love.

I wrote the song very quickly and after I got the strings in place it didn’t take long for me to produce it either – they really defined the mood of the production.

E+: How are you going to prepare your Eurovision performance? Have you thought about the staging you would like to show us in Vienna? How about the costumes?

M: We have had one meeting about it so far so nothing is set in stone, but we have some ideas of what it could look like. But, you’re gonna have to wait and see! It’s gonna be great and we’ll do all we can to put the song in the best possible light and not confuse the theme.

DS: We’ll have to stay true to our concept and try to make the performance timeless. I think it will look very classy.

E+: You released an official preview video before the Norwegian competition. How was the shooting of the clip? Any funny anecdote you can share with us?

M: If you mean the music video for the song, that was a great experience. We’d managed to pull a lot of favours and my cousin actually directed it. Funny anecdote? The turkey was smeared in chocolate sauce to make it look more appetizing on camera. I don’t think the actors will be having turkey any time soon!

DS: Haha, well it wasn’t the most usual dinner party either for Mørland or for me. Or maybe it was?… We had a lot of fun at the set. But it was very weird to sync sing along the soundtrack without showing the emotions we have in our faces, when we really sing. The concept was to show a cold emotionless expression, while the rest of the actors/actresses are getting crazy and are throwing food in the air. Not always easy, since Mørland and I usually giggle a lot.

E+: Tell us what can Eurovision contribute to your musical career? What are your expectations?

M: Well already people in Norway at least know our names – that’s a good start. I think it all depends on the material we release after Eurovision. We’re both working on our solo material which we are very excited about releasing – so keep an eye out in the months after the competition.

E+: Do you have any plans to travel abroad and promote your song in other participating countries as the Amsterdam’s Eurovision in Concert?

M: Yes, we are taking part in that Amsterdam concert, and have also been invited to another big event that we can’t yet tell you about.

E+: Can you tell us about your musical career? What are the most important achievements you have reached until the date?

M: With my UK band Absent Elk I released the album ‘Caught In The Headlights’. We toured around the UK and played some great venues including The O2 in London and MEN arena in Manchester supporting The Script, Girls Aloud and Keane. Our single Emily and Sun & Water were played on national british radio and we had our band name slagged off by Jonathan Ross (an absolute highlight..). Hopefully Graham Norton will find something funny to say about us in Vienna – we love him.

DS: I started to perform as a local singer-songwriter and as a solo artist where I lived in Basel in Switzerland during my youth. In 2013 I was a part of The Voice of Norway, where I made it to the semi finals. It was a great opportunity to show myself and reach a bigger audience in Norway. I met wonderful musicians and got a network in the TV music world. I moved to Norway to work on my self-composed music. After The Voice I was asked to join an interesting project called “The Rumours”. This project involved 13 artists from completely other genres (also with the artist Anna Rossinelli, which represented Switzerland at ESC in 2011), finding one style on one stage. 1 album and a tour around Switzerland between October-november 2014 was the result. Mørland contacted me while I was on tour, so the rest until now you know..

E+: Do you usually watch Eurovision? What are your favourite songs in the history of the competition?

M: I’ve watched Eurovision maybe 2 or 3 times, so I’m not a regular followers as such. But I do love the concept of so many countries coming together sharing one night of music. Sometimes the music is not the main focus, and other times it gets overshadowed by a flamboyant and overpowering production, but I think if you look hard enough, there’s something for everyone. Those who hate it, love to hate it.

DS: To watch Eurovision hasn’t been a tradition for me. But I remember when I’ve watched it with my friends or with my family it has always been a great night. Eurovision is a night full of surprises. It’s crazy how huge this competition is, and I think people won’t realize it until they have been a part of it or been there watching. As Mørland said, eighter you love it or hate it, but you still watch it. And that’s hilarious and cool.

E+: Can you send a message for our readers?

M: Hey guys! Hope you enjoy this years party in Vienna, and that you leave some silence in between the champagne bottle popping to really take in the music. If you haven’t checked out our song for Norway ‘A Monster Like Me’ please do and let us know what you think. We’d love to hear from you!

DS: We also wanna thank everyone for so many great messages and comments. It has been awesome to see how you make the effort to tell us how you’ve been feeling about this song, and even made covers. We’re looking forwards to singing it once more in Vienna. Thank you, vielen Dank et merci beaucoup.

You find us here:

www.facebook.com/morlandmusic
www.facebook.com/debrahscarlett

Instagram/Twitter:
@kjetilmorland
@debrahscarlett

Thank you very much, good luck and see you in Vienna!

Mørland & Debrah Scarlett will perform the song “A Monster Like me”, composed by Mørland, in the Second Semi-Final set on May 21.

 

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