In the Summer of 2021, BIMM Berlin welcomed a selection of its students to the House of Music to record the ‘BIMM Berlin Album 20/21’. Eight projects, hand-picked by industry panels to showcase the best music emerging from the college, each recorded one song over the course of two weeks.
With the legendary Pete Smith (Stevie Wonder, Sting, Sheryl Crowe) on board as producer and giving extensive feedback and input, the students enjoyed access to a wealth of industry experience. With genres ranging from ‘jazz metal’ to electro-pop, the songs make an eclectic and awe-inspiring body of work.
We caught up with each of the eight acts featured on the record to find out more about the meaning behind their track. Here Líneik tells us about ‘Leading Me Blindly’
How would you describe your music?
My music is very melodic I’d say, I love harmonies and a nice solid beat so that’s what I try to include in my songs. I like to see people having a good time and dancing, but I also want to evoke some emotion in people, so I try to combine the two every now and then. Although, I like many different genres so I’m trying not to stick too hard to only one. I think this is sometimes seen as a little ‘taboo’ when you’re trying to live off of being an artist, but I enjoy different styles and want to see how versatile I am with my writing. So far though, it’s been pretty poppy with R&B, neo-soul, dance influence.
What made you want to become a musician?
I’ve always known I wanted to sing and create music, it’s never been a question, however, I was very scared of admitting it for a long time. I tried many different things for quite a while but always met a wall mentally, so I finally decided to just get on with my dreams and focus on music. And it’s been the most beneficial decision of my life, everything has aligned and become clearer since I came to BIMM.
Who or what inspires you as an artist?
I’m very inspired by Amber Mark, Jessie Ware and Yebba so that might give some insight into the vibe. I had a very diverse musical upbringing if you would, meaning that my mother played me any and every style she liked, which was anything from Zero7 to Donna Summer to ABBA to choir music. I actually sang in the Hamrahlid choir back home for over 10 years (and sometimes still do), and that has definitely shaped my musical being.
What’s the meaning behind the song you recorded for the BIMM Berlin Album?
My song for the BIMM album is about emotional abuse in a relationship and how easily it can sneak up on you. Quite a heavy topic, but so very common that I think many will find the lyrics relatable.
How did the song come about and how did you write/produce the song?
I wrote this song last winter and actually sang a version of it at the End Of Year showcase in December ‘20. I had a melody in my head and initially just recorded it on my phone. I later made a very rough melody demo in GarageBand and eventually had my lyrical topic set. The time passed since my experience was long enough for me to feel comfortable writing about it.
Can you describe your songwriting process?
My songwriting process is very minimal. I don’t really play an instrument so I usually get an idea of a melody in my head and then I record it with my phone. Simple as that. I always know right away what the chords and extras should sound like so I add that into the end of the phone recording. The lyrics come quite naturally once I have a pretty stable idea of the first verse and chorus.
What projects are you currently working on?
I’m currently working on finishing my songs for an EP I plan to release in 2022. I’m slowly enhancing my production skills by experimenting with all kinds of ideas in GarageBand, which is of course a very basic DAW but more than efficient for my first-base demo’s. Usually, I have at least one collaboration project with fellow students as well, currently, there are two that I’m looking forward to working on.
What are your future plans as an artist?
My future plans as an artist are to create and perform and capture people’s ears. The goal is to be a full-time musician. I’m looking forward to building my repertoire and sharing it with whoever wants to listen.
Líneik’s track ‘Leading Me Blindly’ is featured on the BIMM Album from Berlin. You can read more about the album and the other artists + tracks featured here.
