Q&A SUSANNA
When not crafting songs about surreal paintings, the Norwegian art rocker loves to browse through poetry books. She explains why she’s decided to focus on the work of Charles Baudelaire on her latest album.
Words: Jo Kendall Portrait: Martin Rustad Johansen
In early 2019, Norwegian artist Susanna Wallumrød brought Hieronymus Bosch’s masterpiece Garden Of Earthly Delights to sonic life. A quiet riot that featured experimental chamber ensemble the Brotherhood Of Our Lady, it was based on his fantastical religious triptych, depicting temptation, indulgence and Hell. For new record Baudelaire & Piano, Susanna reframes the controversial French poet in 10 tracks; this time just herself, the keyboard and a feminist look at Les Fleurs Du Mal.
In the weirdest of times, how have you been coping?
Initially, things felt a bit scary. I’m in Oslo, which was the epicentre of the virus [in Norway], but I’d been in Berlin and went home, straight into quarantine. It was exhausting at the start, checking the news all day. But later, I actually got the chance to stress down, read more, listen more and exist on other terms than I’d known for a really long time. That has been a great opportunity; I wish it wasn’t a pandemic that caused it.