Retro-Pop Singer Linn Cervell On Upcoming EP And Meaning Behind New Single “Feel So Much”

This pop artist just released a new single!

Sweden-based artist Linn Cervell is bringing us back to our Tumblr days and we are so glad. After her 2020 EP ‘Blue Moon’, Linn is back with her newest single “Feel So Much”.

We had the absolute honor of talking with Linn about early inspirations, songwriting, and more!

When did you first realize that you wanted to pursue a career in music? 

L: “I don’t think there was a single kid who didn’t want to be like Avril Lavigne or Hannah Montana when they were little, hahha. Maybe I never completely grew out of that dream, but nowadays it’s a bit more realistic. 

I’ve written songs for nearly 10 years, but they’ve mostly been for myself, in a self-therapeutic way. I think I’ve realized having someone else relate to your lyrics is one of the best feelings in the world. So I might as well try to reach out and find those people.”

Tell us about your amazing new single “Feel so much”.

L: “Feel so much is the first song of my upcoming EP. It’s a retropop song about what being a teenager felt like for me. I wrote it just after I had comfort-binged the Twilight series again, for the first time since high school. It gave me such a weird, bittersweet feeling of wanting to be a teenager again, even though it in many ways was horrible.

Being a teenager meant so many ups and downs, but everything also just felt so much more, you know? Now that I’m a bit older it feels like I’ve sometimes lost that dramatic, cinematic way of seeing things. You used to literally be able to take a photo of a trash can, throw on a filter, post it on Tumblr and call it “art”. Even though that aspect of it was quite funny- it was also beautiful in a way. And that’s what the song is about.”

What is your songwriting process usually like?

L: “I try to capture those moments where I feel strongly about something, and create a topic around that. Then I try to find a line that captures the essence of that topic, and a melody that feels natural for that line. I think that’s the trickiest part. Usually the rest of the song comes quite naturally.

I think previously I’ve followed a very direct flow of creativity, as soon as I got an idea for a melody or a topic for the lyrics I would write whatever came to mind. I saw it as a “window” where I had to use all of my creativity right then and there, and what I’d written when that window was shut would be the result. I rarely went back and changed songs after they were finished.

I still use that technique but nowadays I think I go back and change things more often. I think that was something that scared me a bit more before, because you can be so incredibly hard on yourself if you start looking for flaws. But I think I’ve learned to be kind to myself while simultaneously pushing myself a bit more to do little better.“

How would you describe your sound?

L: “Pop with a lot of focus on lyrics. A bit of an older style of pop, more like the way songs were structured in the early 2000s? And some funk, soul and country influences here and there :)”

How would you describe the music scene in Sweden?

L: “There are so many talented new artists. Unfortunately I haven’t been to as many shows as I would like, but there are so many independent artists out there that I think deserve to be superstars honestly.

Pop and hiphop are really big in Sweden right now, but there’s also an incredible RnB scene… there’s something for everyone basically. Many pop artists travel the world to come write songs with songwriters from Stockholm too, so it really is a “pop capital” in a way.”

If you could collaborate on a song with any artist, who would it be and why?

L: “Just thinking of it makes me excited. There are so many, but I think my top three right now would be Ellie Dixon, Theo Katzman or Sammy Rae. ( can’t pick one sorry). Their lyrics are so, so clever. When you listen to their songs, it’s like “oh of course that’s how it goes”, but not in a boring or predictable way, more like “oh, this is just a natural, classic, I can hear that already”. I love songs that can bring up quite heavy topics but in a lighthearted way, which all of them have great examples of. A collaboration with any of them would be a dream come true but I’d probably be too shy to say a word to them anyway, hahha.”

What advice can you give to young singers who are nervous about releasing their music?

L: “I think regretting not ever releasing music, if that’s what you want to do, would be so much worse than the risk of regretting releasing something. If you love your music, that’s a good sign that it probably makes you happy, and what makes you happy makes those around you happy. Don’t overthink it too much.t I’m still learning to say that to myself, but the more I remind myself of it the more I start to believe it. 

Another way to think about it is that there’s almost an infinite amount of songs being uploaded to streaming platforms every single day. For an artist, releasing your work is very personal and yes you are putting yourself out there, but the truth is no one cares about you more than you do. That might sound discouraging, but I find it helpful. Just do what makes you feel good, everyone’s focused on their own lives anyway. And you deserve to do what makes you happy!”

When not writing your next single, what are some things that you love to do?

L: “Spending quality time with friends and family means everything to me. oncerts, dance classes… Something I love to do but don’t do that often is dress up for masquerades and wear costumes for parties or conventions. If I had an infinite amount of money I would have a costume for every Star Wars character there is.”

You are releasing an EP soon. Can you give us any hints of what it will be like?

L: “The EP dives into different reflections on things I’ve needed out of my system. It’s been a way for me to process different anxiety related topics, but I’ve really tried to see the humor in it all. I’m hoping that people can relate to that feeling, and be helped by it.”

Where can we follow your amazing journey?

L: “Follow my instagram @linnosaurie :)”

Stream “Feel So Much” now!

Je’Kayla Crawford– Founder and Director– Je’Kayla has been a journalist for years and decided to start a publication of her own, New Scene. When not helping her team and working on the monthly issues, you can find her watching a movie on Netflix or baking using a viral Tasty recipe.