(see 'Pictures of Stina' thread)In the new Q magazine ( May 2008 #262), there is a vertically framed half - page feature written by Martina Topley - Bird about Stina Nordenstam.
The feature can be found on page 99, in the 'Women In Music' special section.
Here's what Martina has to say:
Stina Nordenstam
Sweden's best - kept secret.
by Martina Topley-Bird.
"Stina Nordenstam is someone who's pretty much allergic to doing any sort of self-promation so I thought I'd do some for her. The first time I heard her was on MTV. I was at home in North London, and [Nordenstam's 1994 single] Little Star came on. It was one of those moments where you just freeze - I was utterly captivated by her voice.Her vocals are sweet and innocent and vulnerable, but the content of her songs is often quite sinister-I think Little Star is about a suicide. I found that juxtaposition quite profoundly affecting.
This was before the days of the internet, so I didn't really know anything about her beyond her music. I was recording Maxinquaye with Tricky at the time and we'd listen to her albums a lot when we weren't working. The intimacy of the recording was really inspiring. She uses this close - mic voice, so it feels like she's exposing something secret, as if you're listening to someonewho's hiding in a cupboard. It's quiet, but it's intense. My favourite album of hers is still her first one, [1992's] Memories Of A Color, because the instrumentation really flatters her voice and her songs. It hangs together really well and feels almost magical.
I've never met Stina Nordenstam, although she was briefly on the sam elabel as me. From what I've heard, she's super, super shy. I don't know I'd approach her even if I got the chance. Her music is who she is, so I don't think there's anything I would need to ask. I'd be frightened that there'd be some sort of perasonal trauma behind it and I wouldn't want to pry - it seems that private, I suppose."
The feature is illustrated with a rare 95mm x 125mm colour photograph of Stina circa 1992.
Unfortunately, I don't have a working scanner so I can't post the actual article up here.
