Other music lovers may disagree but, for me, the one thing at the heart of all great songwriting is honesty.
Whether you’re writing an emotional ballad about a past relationship, or a sprawling pop-opera about fictional characters in a fictional world, all songwriting is at least a little bit autobiographical. It can’t help but be. creating something as intimate and emotional as music requires giving a little piece of yourself, and that tiny nugget of truth is what gives the song its heart.
One artist that seems to agree with me on this is Henriette Linja. Though her music ranges from frothy and whimsical to brooding and melancholy, the one thing that ties her whole discography together is that element of truth. Sometimes that truth is pulled directly from her own life, sometimes from the lives of characters in books and movies, but the emotions that those experiences provide are 100% authentic, and that shines through in her music.
Having appeared on her country’s iteration of The Voice, the Norwegian singer-songwriter is no stranger to the power that vocals and lyrics can have all by themselves. That might be why they take centre stage in her own work, complemented by sparse piano and guitar arrangements that allow the feelings expressed through her voice to come to the fore.
“In The Middle Of The Night” is an achingly beautiful look at a super relatable situation. It perfectly captures the feeling of lying awake at night pondering a past relationship, tossing and turning in bed and unable to stop remembering. The lilting melody is almost like a lullaby, soothing whoever is listening and reminding them that this is something everyone goes through.
The fragile vocals and echoing instrumentation make the whole song feel intimate, evoking the feeling you often get late at night – that you are the only person awake in the world. It’s somber but not totally desolate. There’s a spark of hope, too, as if by embracing the sadness of losing love, you can somehow appreciate its beauty.
This is not a cliche break-up song designed to make you cry your eyes out into a pint of ice-cream; it’s an honest look at how weird it is to be sad about something and unable to move on, but at the same time be unable to express that sadness by crying.
The artful way that the few elements are combined makes it a joy to listen to whether you’ve recently been through a break-up or not. So, do yourself a favour and go listen to it now. I guarantee you’ll find yourself in some kind of nostalgic reverie or another, and you’ll probably come out the other side with a new appreciation for the beauty of life’s tangled losses that you might not have been able to see otherwise.
How did you get into music and songwriting?
Henriette: I wrote my very first song in English when I was sixteen. It was my sister’s confirmation and I wanted to do something special for her, so I rewrote the lyrics of “Demons” by Imagine Dragons and performed it for her and our family. But it wasn’t until about six months later that I started writing songs like “Horrible Child” with my own melodies.
Why did you decide to write your own songs?
When I first started writing songs I did it to express my thoughts and feelings in a different way, and in many ways that is still my inspiration today. Now I also try to take inspiration from other people’s lives, or books and movies, but my main goal always remains the same; to convey feelings in a way that impacts the listener.
Did your style come to you right away?
To be honest I don’t think I have found my style. I would call myself a “young” songwriter and I feel as though I am always evolving and always finding new ways to say something, or different ways to create melodies and rhythms. I’ve just begun exploring having more instruments in my songs, so I think there is still some work to do before I can say that I’ve found my style.
Have you been influenced by any artists in particular?
Sleeping At Last has been my biggest inspiration. I have always loved the simple, yet beautiful, songs and lyrics he creates. As of recently though I have taken inspiration from the more uptempo Ruelle and Sigrid. I love how unique their voices and styles of music are.
What about an all-time favourite song?
I have so many favourites, I have a playlist of more than 130 of my favourite songs! But if I must pick one, as of right now, I think my favourite song is “Hurricane” by Fleurie. It’s a song I found last autumn, but it still sits at the top of my current playlist – I am one of those people that listens to a song until they get sick of it – because it can still give me chills and bring tears to my eyes.
What makes that song, or any song, good?
The most important thing I listen for in a song is that it makes me feel something! Whether it brings tears to my eyes, or makes me want to sing at the top of my lungs and dance doesn’t matter, but the more it makes me feel, the better the song is.
How can other songwriters ensure their work makes people feel things?
What I have found works for me is to not push it. My inspiration comes at the most random of times, so my biggest tip is to always have some way to write down your ideas when they hit! I know some can only be creative on paper, but I personally write all my songs in the notes app on my phone, which comes in handy when an idea comes out of nowhere.
Do all your song come more spontaneously, or from making dedicated time to write?
Most of the time ideas or concepts often appear spontaneously. I have tried to sit down with the intention to write and had absolutely no idea where to begin, so I figured that wasn’t my way of writing. Most of the time my ideas come when I am playing and singing just for the fun and relaxation it gives me.
What is your songwriting process like?
It varies a lot, but I often find that I write the song in the order it is sung, beginning with a verse, then the chorus, and then the next verse and so on. Sometimes the melody is created before the lyrics, though the creation of the two often overlap.
So, how do you create a melody?
Sometimes I come up with a chord progression that sounds good and create a melody for the lyrics with that. Other times I have created a melody in my head and find the chords for that, though I usually just do something that sounds good to my ears. Sometimes I create a melody when I write the lyrics, leave the song for a while, and have often forgotten the original melody when I come back to it! Then I have to come up with something different, which is how one set of lyrics can have several melodies.
How do you come up with lyrics?
I find I write more easily when I stick to a similar structure throughout the verses of a song. I also find that my lyrics sound best when I use rhymes, it creates a sense of finality for one part before I move on to another.
Do you start with a main idea of what the song is, or does it come to you along the way?
More often than not my lyrics start from a general idea or feeling and then I ad lib it from there, I often find using rhymezone helps me find fitting rhymes.
Which is more important to you, lyrics or sound?
Above all I would say that lyrics are the most important, though I do have a huge love for piano and instrumentals. For me, the sound alone rarely makes me feel as much as a single lyric can.
How do you write about your own experiences with still being relatable?
Sometimes I try to convey a general feeling, and sometimes I create stories inspired by my personal experiences. My songs are usually inspired by experiences and feelings, but sometimes they’re not based on something I have done myself, they’re based on something I have felt while reading. Balancing both general feelings and my own personal experience is what makes my lyrics relatable.
Which approach comes more easily to you?
I find it easier to write songs based off of my own experiences. I have tried several times to write songs with happier and broader themes, but without having my own relation to it I can’t find the words. That’s why I usually end up writing about things that happen in my own life and mind.
What do you want your music to inspire in listeners?
As I’m sure you’ve already gathered, I love the more naked and fragile songs, when I write myself I aspire to inspire those smaller and more fragile feelings. My own thoughts are more often than not a jumbled mess, so in my songs I do my best to convey them one at the time, so that others can find something relatable in them.
How involved are you with production?
I do everything myself, the writing, the recording, the mixing, the mastering and the publishing! Seeing as I am constantly learning, I tend to use the skills I have at the time to create my best work. I usually pave the way as I walk, and don’t think too long or hard about something. If it sounds good then it sounds good, it tends to be as simple as that!
How did “In The Middle Of The Night” come about?
For the song I found the guitar picks first, though I initially did it on a ukulele and later found the equivalent on guitar. With the simple picks on ukulele I wrote the lyrics. When I revisited the song to record it, I found some chords that fit, along with other instruments, before I added a main piano melody that fit the vocals.
What’s the meaning behind the “in the middle” motif?
When I picture the song in my head, I see someone who’s been laying in bed tossing and turning for hours with thoughts churning in their head. The motif of “in the middle” refers to a situation where your thoughts are keeping you awake and how frustrated that can make you.
Is that the main theme of this song?
I would describe the main theme of this song as frustration and heartache.
Is the song inspired by any heartache in particular?
When I wrote this song in December 2016, I was thinking back on a relationship I had had that summer. Even though the relationship was a very short one, it stuck, and it still sticks with me today. On that December day, the heartache resurfaced, but I felt as though I hadn’t felt enough heartache. I thought I would cry my eyes out, but I didn’t, I just held all my feelings in and it ended in sleepless nights. Nights like that is what the song truly is about for me.
How do you think the sound reflects the theme?
When I created the sound of the song, I wanted to make it sound eerie and fragile, to reflect the endlessness of a sleepless night. I also wanted it to sound frustrated and broken, to reflect the feeling of the lyrics, while at the same time capturing some of the darkness of the middle of the night.
When did you know the song was finished?
I knew the lyrics of the song were finished when it was a decent length and I ran out of inspiration to continue. I decided the production of the song was finished because I didn’t want to, and didn’t have the time to, add any more things. There is a saying that songs are never done, you just decide when you’re finished with them!
Who did you write In “The Middle Of The Night” for?
I think I write my songs mostly for myself, but I do think the themes are relatable. What I also find very interesting about songwriting is how the writer can have a different interpretation of the song than the listener, because no one has experienced the exact same things. I always love to hear what my songs mean to others!
Is there anything you want listeners to take away from the song in particular?
With this song I would like people to take in all the worries they are struggling to fight against, breathe in and listen, and when the song is over just let them all go! I have found this works so well for me on nights like the one my song is about.
What comes next for you?
I have tried, and succeeded so far, to release a new song once a month this year, so you can expect a new song in June, July, August and so on. I have also just started working on an EP that I’m planning on releasing later this year.
