Ea Othilde channels emotions into indie-rock masterpiece “I Forgot You”
At the youthful age of 21, Ea Othilde has managed to create an impressive collection of music that many artists spend years trying to achieve. With two studio albums under her belt, she has also received two Norwegian Grammy nominations, solidifying her presence in the music industry. Othilde first delved into songwriting at just 12 years old and has since honed a signature sound characterized by ethereal vocals, poignant lyricism, and gritty instrumentation. Reflecting on her influences, she mentions, “I have a core group of artists who have meant a lot to me. Elliott Smith has been very formative to the way I write. I have also been inspired by PJ Harvey’s artistic identity and how she has portrayed herself as an artist and musician.”
In her latest track, Ea Othilde explores the aftermath of a failed relationship, delving into the complexities of being misrepresented in someone else’s narrative. The song weaves together atmospheric guitar tones with a dreamy haze and bare-bones instrumentation, capturing a blend of vulnerability and tenacity. Othilde confides, “I write very personal music, and this song is about something very concrete. It is a strange side to releasing music, that suddenly all the emotions are out of your head and in everyone’s hands. I feel very vulnerable.”
This evocative piece, titled “I Forgot You,” is part of Othilde’s forthcoming EP, You’ll Leave the City, scheduled for release on June 12th through Koke Plate. The EP came to life during a creative retreat in Florence last summer, where Othilde collaborated with producers Hans Olav Settem and Marit Othilie Thorvik to craft the project in a mere two weeks. The EP’s sound was heavily influenced by the circumstances surrounding its creation, as Othilde explains, “The circumstances surrounding the recording were very formative for the sound, both on the song and on the whole EP. I was very inspired by bar italia, as they have a very stripped-down sound with crunchy vocals. But at the same time, we recorded the entire EP in two weeks in a different studio than we usually work in, so we had much less time and fewer instruments.”
Throughout the EP, traces of Oslo’s tight-knit music community can be detected. Othilde, a native of Oslo, acknowledges the impact of growing up in the city on her work. “I’ve lived in Oslo all my life. Everyone on the project has been from Oslo, so I feel like I live in a bit of an Oslo bubble,” she says. Following the EP’s launch, Ea Othilde is gearing up for a lineup of summer festivals, including a slot at Øyafestivalen in her hometown, where she will bring her latest project to a broader audience.