CAMILLA LUNA

Ever since her earliest forays onto the techno stage, Camilla Luna has woven her path with the likes of mischievous maestros such as Arildo, Trulz & Robin, and other revered Northern European old-school luminaries. She has long been cherished for her audacious spirit, and her willingness to extend beyond the ordinary, to share that elusive extra inch. Camilla’s presence has perpetually emanated a chic undercurrent of underground flamboyance, capturing the essence of legendary venues like Skansen, Sikamikanico, Jazid, and Killyrego—places that once epitomised the zenith of Europe’s underground techno scene, in an era preceding Berlin’s dominance.

In Camilla Luna, one finds the resolute spirit capable of embracing the enigmatic allure of the red pill, stepping forth to embody a true wonderland. It was with great anticipation that Downtown 500 Magazine sought to uncover the secret to her enduring rarity.

“I have always followed my heart,” Camilla confided, her voice carrying the weight of unwavering conviction.

She delved deeper, her words painting a vivid portrait of her artistic journey:

“I am accustomed to navigating the profound diversity of genres. My fervent hope is that the sound of Camilla Luna is perpetually evolving.”

Her latest opus, the Open Up Project, is a testament to her distinct musical cadence. Through the release of this EP, she channels her original Aurora vocal experiments, a manifestation of her innovative spirit. This year’s soundscape, lauded as the EP of Saturn Rain, deftly intertwines a hallucinatory mix of soul, synth, and avant-house beauty, a seamless blend she attributes to her skilful negotiation of artistic compromise.

Stay industrious, Camilla. Our deepest gratitude for sharing your journey with us; we eagerly await the next chapter of your remarkable odyssey!

Oslo, Norway – June 22, 2024 – Emerging from a dynamic blend of cultures and experiences, Camilla Luna, a singer-songwriter of Norwegian and Uruguayan descent, opens up about her journey in the latest issue of DT 500 MAG. Her music, deeply rooted in authenticity and emotional honesty, reflects a life of learning, growing, and embracing both strengths and vulnerabilities.

DT 500 MAG Interview Highlights:

A Philosophy of Authenticity
Camilla Luna, known for her soulful voice and versatile musical style, believes in the goodness of people and strives to cultivate it through her music. “I try to be honest and genuine; thus, I meet something sincere and authentic in others,” she shares. Her philosophy is simple yet profound: embracing mistakes and learning from them.

A Blend of Cultures and Influences
Camilla’s upbringing in Oslo’s Grünerløkka neighbourhood, combined with her Norwegian and Uruguayan heritage, shapes her unique perspective. She reminisces about her politically active parents who instilled in her a sense of justice and empathy from a young age. A trip to Uruguay in 2009 allowed her to connect deeply with her roots, balancing her Norwegian practicality with her Latin passion.

A Journey Through Music
Camilla’s musical journey is as diverse as her heritage. From sneaking into parties as a teenager to performing across genres like techno, reggae, and soul, she continues to evolve. “Good music is good music, regardless of its genre,” she says, emphasizing her commitment to authenticity over conforming to expectations.

Overcoming Stage Fright
Despite a severe case of stage fright, Camilla’s passion for music drove her to overcome her fears. “If this is what I want to do – it is all about mastering it,” she states. Her dedication to music is evident in her performances, where she focuses on delivering genuine experiences to her audience.

 

DT 500 MAG: – Camilla, let’s talk about your ID?

CAMILLA: – It comes from something kind. I try to be honest and genuine; thus, I meet something sincere and authentic in others. (Is it to be with a kind community of people?)

” I believe in the good of people, and I am trying to cultivate it through my music.”

DT 500 MAG: –  is it your philosophy?

CAMILLA: – My philosophy is quite simple. I build my results by making mistakes. I live ALL INN. Mistaking a lot. And learning a lot. I am an active woman with a masculine side; I believe we all have the yin and the yang. If I had to name my inner man, he would be Manolo, and he’s a bit edgy.

” In my teens, I mostly had male friends, although I see the value of having friends of both sexes. I have met some beautiful women with whom I share a sisterhood.”

DT 500 MAG: – Tell us more?

CAMILLA: – It is important to be permitted to be yourself. Not to be gender-based but to enjoy people for who they are and what they are. I look beyond people’s pastor work IDs.

” You put up a facade, but you must dare to be open to expose yourself. You must have felt all aspects of life’s feelings to be creative. From harm can come something good, too.”

 DT 500 MAG: – What’s your origin?

CAMILLA: – My dad is from Uruguay, and my mom is Norwegian. I grew up in Grünerløkka- before it became trendy with a toilet on the stairs and a shower in the kitchen. It was a blue-collar neighbourhood.

DT 500 MAG: – Yeah, you are a G-Løkka queen!

CAMILLA: – I am very fond of Oslo, although I sometimes get tired of it. I have many good memories from when I was a little girl. With “ Ride or Die” parents, they were politically active with a core focus on justice, teaching me to take responsibility for who I am and my actions. Being a fellow human being.

” I was allowed to see the reality. I want to not live in a bubble, and I have been participating in demos since I was little. So my days were spent getting the other children in the hood to donate their toys to save the poor children in the world.”

CAMILLA: – We were allowed to have carnivals in our neighbourhood; we were very social both in the area and at home. It was an open house that did not exclude anybody. My parents have supported who I am, and so have my two brothers, who are two good-looking men.  Being social makes me enjoy being exposed to a large group of people.

DT 500 MAG:– Camila, you are half Latin American. I know you took a trip to Uruguay, where your father is from, in 2009. It sounds like an entirely powerful experience…

Camilla: – I understood more about why I am as I am. I made a tour there to learn more about my origin and to meet family members I’d never met who had so much love for me. It was big! The Norwegian part of me is more calculated and reasonable, but the Latin is more about passion. I am lucky and proud of both parts!

DT 500 MAG: – Any personal story?

CAMILLA: – My parents were active and engaged in politics. I was allowed to notice the injustice without overexposing to it. They let me develop empathy. It is essential to think things over and discuss them. But getting older is one of the best things that has happened to me. I realise now, in retrospect, what it means. It may be a major mid-life crisis, but I thrive well with it now. The ’20s are cold, but hell no, if I´d do it twice. It just gets better from here. The 40s, bring it on! Ha-ha.

” I feel much better about myself by resonating with me forward. I do not bother to reflect on other people’s identities. Now, I am looking more in the mirror. But you must go through every kind of conclusion to get to that result. Get more in contact with yourself and look into your roots.”

DT 500 MAG: – You have a lot of vocal variation. Let’s find Camilla Luna’s sound.

CAMILLA: – Good music is good music, regardless of its genre. I hope. The sound of Camilla Luna is continuously evolving. I hope people recognise me by my voice, not by sound. I work a lot with BHLB, and he let me develop, and we created together.

“To tap into who I am jamming with, wherever they are. To create a context in the chaos. I want to play in all genres, create a sound, etc. I don’t want to end up in a secure zone. To dare to break out, that is when you create something!”

 DT 500 MAG: – Who is your listener?

 CAMILLA: – People who like rare music. Music that oversees the genres, as well as other limitations. I have no overview, but I hope it is anyone, and my listener is anyone who loves music and has the time to listen. 

“I appreciate everyone who sits down to spend time on it. The fact that someone can relate to what I do is priceless. Even though I’m going to do it anyway, ha-ha!”

DT 500 MAG: – How did you become a singer?

 CAMILLA: – When I was younger, I was an exhibitionist, and I loved to sing and perform… as I got older, I got a severe case of stage fright, and I had to work on getting rid of it for a long time. There was a lot of music at my family home. I grew up with Joni Mitchell, Pink Floyd, Latin music, jazz, etc… My mother played piano and guitar, and my dad taught me how to dance. 

“I’ve always used music to cope with my emotions, so becoming a singer was organic progress.”

DT 500 MAG: Camilla, your repertoire is very playful. You fit techno, reggae, and soul, and it is fantastic with your versatile voice. How do you deal with it?

CAMILLA: – I used to sneak into parties when I was too young for it. I’d listen to a lot of techno, house, hip-hop, etc… 

” Since I was a little girl. It’s fun to work with different styles. And I am keeping on! Working with electronic music is very different from working with the soul. In the soul, there is more text, a longer story, with electronic, it is more about keeping it short and sweet.”

DT 500 MAG: – Do you have your favourite genre?

CAMILLA: – Each genre has its charm. Anyway, I do not care so much about the genres; it’s all about how I feel now. From heavy hip-hop beats to the singer-songwriter. What I’m feeling can be said in many ways. I think different things. Sometimes it can be confusing. I feel a beat or a producer. Try to make it worthwhile with a vocal. It’s collaboration in an emotional landscape. It is about providing space for every sound and an exciting journey. I can almost become manic. But for example, playing live is something different…

DT 500 MAG: Camilla, are there any awkward situations?

CAMILLA: – I had the stage fright from Hell, but I’ve got over it. If this is what I want to do – it is all about mastering it. If I have a vision, I go for it! Although It was heavy shit standing on a scene for the first time, it was an experience I learned a lot from! Anyway, it could only get better. I try to enjoy myself. I try not to drink when I perform. I am totally focused, and I dare myself to be exposed. I can not present a package that is not me.

“That’s when you can fail, but everything is a process. As long as you have fun with the people who have come to listen to you – it is a success!”

DT 500 MAG: – What would you say about your vocal career?

CAMILLA: – I wanted to become a backup singer when I was younger, but I became a vocalist. It happened by being able to work freely.

” BHLB heard me singing in the shower over 10 years ago, which was the start of my journey….”

DT 500 MAG: – Did you ever want to be a pop star?

CAMILLA: – I never wanted to be a pop star, but I always was engaged with music. I actually wanted to become a lawyer. My father is a social worker and has lots of books at home. I enjoy puzzles. Finding out how the law should work for a better society. And to help people to achieve what they are entitled to.

“Knowledge is power, and I find it fascinating… It’s never too late to study; the process is part of the learning curve. Learning something new is fun; you can never have too much knowledge!”

“My goal is to be the Queen of the Underground. “

DT 500 MAG: – You are Camilla.

CAMILLA: – The brutal reality is that it’s often about something other than music but creating a product. Is the money you get by being a star worth people overriding your natural talent? For me, people must listen to music! I want people to hear more than they should see, and there must be a delicate balance.

DT500MAG: Camilla, did you come with the” Open Up” EP?

 CAMILLA: – I had no expectations, but the feedback has been overwhelming! It’s been a humbling and fun experience… when I was working with the “Open Up” EP,

“The main idea was to try to be open to the process, to expose myself, and to feel more than I think. I didn’t work based on a specific idea but tried to create harmony from chaos.”

DT500 MAG: – Camilla, what is the deeper meaning behind your “Open Up” EP? What emotions or themes are you attempting to explore or express through this project?

CAMILLA: – “Open Up” is about daring to be humble and vulnerable. And honest. 

“It is about daring to expose feelings and letting people see that you’re not perfect. Few people dare to meet on a sincere level, masks off. Life can hurt you if you do not deal with your problems properly; negative energy can persist. We must dare to let people enter.”

DT500 MAG: -Camilla, with a decade of music-making under your belt, you’ve collaborated with prominent names like Bazis, Trulz and Robin, Arildo, and more. Could you share with us some memorable experiences or insights gained from working with such esteemed artists?

CAMILLA: – Arildo is my No.1 supporter. He backs me both as Camilla and as Camilla Luna. Trulz and Robin are my old-school crew of friends, too. They’ve taught me a lot. I have great respect for them both as musicians and as people. We had a song that was released last year, which was quite large. Published by Eskimo, whom I am a super fan of. To work with them is incredible. We share a rare trust between us. We dare to be personal with each other, and it works. I hope we always will be working together. Rune Lindbeck was a producer for the first album. I’ve always been lucky to be given a lot of freedom.

DT500 MAG: – Black & white of you?

CAMILLA: – Most of all, I am very patient in trying to be worthy of justice. The least is a double-edged sword. A lot, sometimes it can be annoying. It is important to remember to take care of yourselves, not only take care of everyone else. Plus, time is precious, and I am plodding.

“My Latin American clock is strong. I can be self-destructive. But I am working to be more friendly with myself. That’s life….”

DT500 MAG: – Man vs. Woman?

CAMILLA: – I’m not too concerned that a man should hold the door open for me, but we must act like human beings. I do not believe in gender roles but meet each other human level. There are no stereotypes, but taking care of each other is the main strength of both sexes.

“We have the same strength but express ourselves differently.”

DT500 MAG: – we are talking love…yes, what about that love?

CAMILLA: – There is an expectation that love is something you should have, but you are lucky if you experience it. If you want to live with someone for the rest of your life, you must be damn tolerant, and it must function for two. 

“There are too many unrealistic expectations based on things like -“my friend says….”

DT500 MAG: – Let’s talk about contemporary themes, particularly the gender theme…

CAMILLA: – Much can be done by dropping the expected gender roles. You must take each other for who you are and bring out the best in each other. When you disagree, you have to stand by that as well.

DT 500 MAG: – Dreams vs Right-Now-In-The-Moment?

CAMILLA: – I’m working on the “right now.” To catch reality when it actually happens. I have dreams, too, visions, but I’m grounded in realism. I try to find a balance. About music – my idea is to continue to develop myself. Reach new goals. However, I need to learn what that purpose is sometimes. I just continue to work on my music. To prepare me. Otherwise, it becomes boring. One must be uncomfortable to push yourself.

“I have never made it easy. My dream has become the «right now at the moment» as I work on my album.”

DT 500 MAG: – Where can listeners tune in to experience your music, and what exciting projects are you currently working on?

CAMILLA: – you can listen to the EP on YouTube and some tracks on Soundcloud. You can buy the vinyl at “Filter” in Oslo, SubwaxBcn  Discos Paradiso in Barcelona, Beatport, Juno, Red Eye Records, or through Discogs. The Album will be released next year. I’m also working on some exciting collaborations. Through  Soundcloud, I’ve met different producers.

DT 500 MAG: – Rapture!

CAMILLA: – I’m enjoying the process of putting together the Album. I also have an inspiring collaboration, but all I can say is that it’s in the electronic genre. I perform most in Barcelona these days. My next performance is at Switch Club in Barcelona in December. But I will definitely find the time for the Scandinavian audience!

The “Open Up” EP
Her latest EP, “Open Up,” reflects her journey of vulnerability and openness. “It’s about daring to be humble and vulnerable. And honest,” she explains. The overwhelmingly positive feedback has been a humbling experience for Camilla, reinforcing her commitment to creating music that resonates on a deep, emotional level.

Looking Ahead
Camilla Luna is not just a vocalist but a collaborator and innovator. She enjoys working with various producers and exploring different musical landscapes. Her upcoming album, set for release next year, promises to showcase her evolving sound and artistic growth. Fans can find her music on YouTube, Soundcloud, and various record stores, with live performances primarily in Barcelona and upcoming gigs in Scandinavia.

INTERVIEW BY © Arthur Sopin n Andreas Rod 

PHOTO BY DAG KNUDSEN, ANDREAS ROD, PEDER KLINGWALL