London, UK. (Top40 Charts/ SONY BMG MUSIC Entertainment) - With Indie Pop said to be on the rise in the UK music's scene, there could not be a more opportune time for Ida Maria. Mixing a dash of a Gallagher's gob, a sprinkling of Winehouse's recklessness, a splash of Bjork's pixie like chic with a large serving of Chrissie Hynde's musical sensibility, a sizeable slice of her hero Iggy Pop's live performance style, and not to mention a bucket load of infectious material,
Ida Maria has all the ingredients necessary to make it Big.
23 year old Ida Maria was born in a idyllic setting big on culture and nature and small on size. Nestled in the mountainous range on the northern coast of Norway, Nesna has a reputation for having one of the most educated and creative communities in the country, while its population amounts to less than 2000 (half of whom are students at the renowned University College there).
The inspirational and cultural backdrop that Nesna provided Ida Maria in her formative years played a large part in shaping her as an artist. Her parents, big on education and black music, were the first to set an example. They balanced their teaching work at the local school with record collecting and performing: her father plays bass in a ska band, while her mother sings at local weddings and funerals etc... As Ida grew older, she gravitated towards others who shaped her learning curve. The local librarian come artist, for example, who taught her how to paint landscapes in between turning her on to Dostoevsky. Or, the local doctor, who introduced her to rock n' roll by lending her his record collection of Janis Joplin, Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix (amongst others), and taking her to see her first concert outside of Nesna.
Ida Maria has now signed a record deal. Her collection of recorded songs to date is packed with catchy tunes that sound like they'd be at home on the 70s New York garage scene and bold, brazen lyrics that pack a sloganeering punch reminiscent of UK punk music.
"I'm not a poetic songwriter, I like to spell things out in black and white big letters... I write Rollercoaster songs. Songs about everything (people and places, God, partying and love, from the inside to the outside). Songs that have got diversity between the highest enjoying of life and the lowest points... I'm a very impulsive person. I'm so impulsive I have trouble controlling myself...."
