Cool, compelling and mysterious, Magnea is a riveting entry into the new-wave, alternative pop scene. After honing her craft in Iceland, German native Liina Magnea prepares to wow Berlin at the next edition of Basement Bash.
indieBerlin: Tell us a little bit about your musical background
Magnea: I’m born and raised in Berlin and started making music with my computer when we moved from Zehlendorf to Neukölln. After the move I had no friends to go party with so I spent my time making songs. I wanted to produce like Kanye West and make songs that would make me cry. Both attempts failed but I’m still trying my best and guess have my own style now.
Picture a rogue wave behind a construction site and a woman happily dancing and shaking with hands up in the air .
indieBerlin: How did you come up with the name Magnea?
Magnea: It’s my actual name. It’s the female version of Magnus and means the Great (female)
indieBerlin: How does the songwriting process work for you / in your band?
Magnea: Its mostly in extremely emotional moments like in times when I’m in pain or feeling sexy I get the best flow for lyrics and melodies. Then I need some time to sober up, go back to dramaturgy and structure a working song out of the emotional material.
indieBerlin: If you had to describe your music to a deaf person, what would you say?
Magnea: Picture a rogue wave behind a construction site and a woman happily dancing and shaking with hands up in the air .
indieBerlin: If your music was a movie, which genre would it be in?
Magnea: A cornier, faster paced and feminist version of a Aki Kaurismäki and Ingmar Bergman drama
indieBerlin: Where do you get your inspiration from?
Magnea: Its always changing but right now it’s heartbreaking choir songs, old Finnish pop songs, 90’s movie soundtracks and the mixtapes Spotify recommends me .
indieberlin: What was the last concert you went to?
Magnea: It was actually a concert with a choir singing Christmas songs in church.
Everything made so much sense.
indieBerlin: How do you think the audience in Berlin is different to the audience in Iceland?
Magnea: I guess, its what everybody says about Berlin, somehow the audience here wants more catharsis. Or maybe thats just what music is meant to be leading you to. Like Techno with hard bass makes more sense for that trip than Pop with melodies. In Iceland, musical experiences are often cuter, can appear more innocent and dare more vulnerability.
indieBerlin: With whom would you never share the stage with?
Magnea: My therapist and creepy old men.
indieBerlin: In ten years you look back to today and think:
Magnea: Everything made so much sense.
