Norwegian Star Resa Saffa Park Explores Newfound 'Spaces' [Q&A]
For those fans of the very excellent Norwegian Netflix series Ragnarok, the medium-spanning talents of Resa Saffa Park, who plays Saxa, are immediately apparent; but however you know her, you will be even more impressed by familiarizing yourself with her most recent musical effort Spaces. Wanting to know more about this hyper talented creative architect, who seems to exude artistry regardless of creative endeavor, we reach out and try to get the inside scoop.
Ones To Watch: Who is Resa Saffa Park? As a multidisciplinary artist, what does music mean for your expression?
Resa Saffa Park: I am a singer, songwriter, performer, and actress and even though I use my birth name for most acting, I still use a lot of my acting skills in my musical project as well, but in a different way. I like to say that the art made from my music is more "me introverted" whilst the projects in acting are more "me extroverted," but they always intertwine too.
What is Spaces all about?
The EP is a collection of thoughts and feelings I’ve had related to distance, space, gaps, and loss. How we as individuals associate and link to one another and how we navigate in different rooms, boxes: spaces.
With a performing arts background, how did you settle on your sound? What influenced you?
I am inspired and influenced by a lot of things, I grew up with musical theatre so that has inspired me a lot, I played Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz and I loved singing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." I still have a love for Judy Garland and the old classics. I’ve also played in Annie, Grease, Peter Pan as well as dancing classical ballet at The Royal Academy of Dance for nine years so I think that form of discipline both in musical theatre and ballet has had an impact on me. Nirvana was a huge influence in my teens, as well as Miley Cyrus. I love the playfulness in Miley and the sensitivities and vulnerability in Nirvana, in a form of music so seemingly not sensitive. And then in my late teens, I fell in love with jazz, especially vocal jazz where my favorites are Billie Holiday and Chet Baker. I find that Kurt Cobain, Billie Holiday, and Chet Baker all held something in common, a sort of softness with a sharp edge I find absolutely intriguing.
Who helped you craft this EP? How has your prior work influenced this project?
This EP is created by me and one of my best friends Lasse Nymann (NYLAN) who have produced the songs. We met at The Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts in Liverpool and have been close friends and worked together in music since. In my debut EP from 2020, I collaborated with multiple different producers without having a concrete stand on exact sound which I feel might have made my vision of my sound a bit blurry, whereas now Lasse and I have focused a lot on reaching the exact sound of Resa Saffa Park.
Any dream collaborators or artists you'd love to work with?
I’d love to work with producer/songwriters like Gianluca Buccellati, Jordan Rakei, would die for a collab with artists like The KTNA, Joy Crookes, Sopico, and Tamino.
Can we expect more of this style in the future, potentially on an upcoming album?
Yes, I feel confident in this style, and it resonates true to me.
What's inspiring you right now outside of music?
As we are still in a pandemic environment I’m struggling with inspiration a bit, but I find inspiration in loneliness actually. A lot of it too.
Who are your Ones To Watch?
My current Ones To Watch are Joy Crookes, The KTNA, Lola Young and Alva Ravn.
Resa Saffa Park's Spaces is available everywhere you can stream it.
