So last week I played live with my friend and collaborator Gustaf Ljunggren for the first time, following four years of studio based collaboration- both remote and in person.

It was a life affirming, trust building (self and other) coffee swilling, carnival of a week. I’ve come away feeling revitalised creatively (though the travelling has left me knackered physically!) and it’s got me thinking wider about the nature of collaboration. 

We played three shows, each with its own story. We played both his songs and mine – sharing the night.  Fluidity was notable – with Gustaf a ‘part’ is a malleable thing, bending and twisting into shape around the corners of the present moment, the energy and atmosphere in the room. As a human and a musician, he is aware, his door ajar, listening in.

It felt like a good balance – my lyrical music and his instrumental. My protests, rants, outpourings, and stories flowed into the reflective, open space his music creates.

An hour and a half of live music flew by. We began and then it was the encore, warm wishes and living poetry from the connection with the audience.

Playing alongside Gustaf I felt free, I was able to relax and enjoy the moment. Something unlocked inside me, it all felt liberating and reminded me of why I’m doing all this, why I chose this path in life which is not always easy to follow.

And it got me thinking about the very nature of collaboration…

When considering a collaboration there are two things on my checklist.
1. They are different to me.
2. Some element of) their previous work has moved me emotionally. Those two things are the pillars of my entry point into our new, shared world.

It’s a world we build jointly together, slowly placing our different coloured bricks on top and next to one another. It’s a place where one of us plants a seed and the other waters that spot daily. Sometimes flowers spring into bloom and one of us might capture the blossom in the perfect snapshot we can share.

We will cohabit and coexist in this new universe of our own creation. 

Everyone has their unique characteristics, traits and attributes that make our work interesting. I feel a good collaboration allows space for this individual expression.

Every time I’ve done it it’s been different. Each song an island, each collaboration unique.

Are we friends or are we musical partners? Friends with benefits?!

A musical creative collaboration is a unique kind of bond. It’s probably the best thing about being a musician, sharing the experience. Tracey Emin says each piece she makes tells a story about her life, her feelings thoughts and memories. My songs are like that, and in co writing, co producing, co playing you’re perhaps getting as close to sharing that experience as one can. I. Sharing with Gustaf I felt so well held, seen and appreciated. His musical skill and experience is such that I knew I could take any turn I wanted to on our spontaneous journey together throughout each show. 

It was really special to perform his music. I was honoured to accompany him on some songs from his solo catalog – Palace Prelude/ Leading Somewhere, Pirates, Efter Dig and others – such beautiful pieces of music. Listen to Floreana HERE on Spotify.

Our life experiences entwine and interweave as our melodies and chord progressions do. Reminded me we are never truly alone, none of us. He knows what I’m going through living apart, in a different country from my son. He’s been there and come out the other side and now we sing and play from that other side, gliding, cascading free and open. Together but not holding hands, aligned but not touching, in harmony from time to time when accents are required. So much shared unspoken, so many miles travelled in pursuit of a common goal. Now I stand at the roadside, the drop off point at Heathrow and wave him off as travels on to another gig ! meeting others and adding further links to the never ending musical collaboration chain.

photo: Paul Ward