Music Q&A: I See Rivers

What informs your music and songwriting?
We have a few artists that we all listen to a lot, such as Sufjan Stevens, Fleet Foxes and Feist. But we also feel very inspired by the nature in our home country, Norway. A few months ago we decided to move to Pembrokeshire, Wales and we feel very lucky to wake up right by the beach every day. This is also of course convenient for songwriting as inspiration is everywhere.

How have you evolved as a band over the years?
When we started writing together we had just become friends. The band evolved as we got to know each other more and more. We actually booked a tour in Norway only weeks after forming the band. We had only written two songs at that time. That made us really focus on songwriting and putting together a live set, and we had an amazing time on that tour. We always work best and evolve most as a band when we have a deadline!

What are you up to at the moment artistically?
We’re in the middle of a long tour at the moment. We’ve just finished the first leg of the tour supporting the beautiful Cosmo Sheldrake on his European tour and we’re now heading to Norway for our second leg touring with our lovely friend Fredrik William Olsen for a whole month. We’re also releasing our EP Play it Cool this summer. It’s all very exciting.

What’s on your rider?
We don’t ask for much: some water, a few beers and some lovely vegetarian food.

Tell us your most embarrassing or surreal experience.
We went on an outskirts tour in Norway a few years ago where we played in really small towns and villages all over the country. One of our most surreal experiences playing live happened when we played at this tiny island up north in Norway called Seiland. There’s only 40 people living on this island, but almost 100 people showed up for our gig.

What song do you wish you’d written?
Eline: I wish I had written Colors of the Wind from Pocahontas!

What’s your worst lyric?
We formed the band just months after we moved to Liverpool, and we’re quite happy that some of the songs we wrote those first months never saw the light of day.