Szjerdene Interview

Singer-songwriter, Szjerdene, has a vocal range that you won’t forget in a hurry. With new songs and her second EP on the way, we couldn’t wait to find out more about this captivating songstress and her music.
Hi Szjerdene! So, you’re in Amsterdam at the moment?
Yeah I live in Amsterdam, I have done for the last three years, but I’m originally from London.
What led you to move from London to Amsterdam?
I just wanted to move out from my family house, spread my wings and discover what else was out there. I’d actually just done a gig maybe a year before I moved out, and it was my first time visiting Amsterdam, and I really loved it and I knew I was definitely going to move here. Then, when I got a chance to move to Amsterdam, it’s such a creative community – there are dancers, actors, graphic
designers – and they have this housing scheme where you don’t pay as high a rent in order to support your craft. In return of having low rent you have to contribute to the community, whether that’s putting on events or networking.
Has it inspired you musically?
Not so much directly, but as a person I’ve become more able to channel my creativity. London is still the place that drives me and inspires me the most, and just travel in general is what fuels a lot of my songwriting because I get to meet lots of people. But Amsterdam specifically has changed my perspective and insight and I’ve been able to step out of the London bubble and look at it from a different angle and see where I fit. It’s more beneficial as a person for me to be here.
It obviously hasn’t hindered your craft because you recently released ‘Are You Here’ and ‘Find Me’. There’s such emotion laid bare with your songwriting; what’s the story behind the music?
I wrote ‘Find Me’ this year with Quays; we were connected through my management. ‘Are You Here’ was written with Glen Nichols, who also produced a version of a song of mine called ‘Blue Lullaby’, which was on my first EP, ‘Patchwork’. Both songs are pretty self-reflective, based on experiences I’ve been through, but also what I think a lot of people can relate to. So, ‘Are You Here’ is about when a relationship breaks down and you’re wondering if that person that you’re thinking of could just turn up at any moment. ‘Find Me’ is more about being past that point, but now you have to mend things within yourself.

Will the next song follow the same story?
Basically, the whole project will lead up to my new EP, ‘Paragon’. The next song will follow on in the story and theme of trying to solve the issue and move on with your life.
Are you looking to make an album in the future?
Right now, I’m just trying to take things slow, write songs and make it cohesive. I want to create an album, but I really felt like I wanted to get this chunk of material to the public. It’s all about my evolution as a musician, and as each song comes out I’m realising the direction that I could possibly go in. I want to secure my sound and have a bit more of a personality with my music and that takes time. My aim is to release an album but there’s no definite plan right now.