Alexander Rybak, Interview, M1 "Ma délelőtt", 27.05.2016.Budapest

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I: You will also perform in the 2nd season of "Virtuózok".

What can we look forward to?

A: This time I will play only classical.

I have played two concerts here
in Budapest, and those were a mix.

But this time there will be only classical music.

I realise that you have an amazing symphony orchestra, and I will play
with them and a great pianist, Apor. Is that his name?

I: Yes.
A: Okay, so I'm going to play with him. He is also very good.

As I know, he participated in
the first season of the show ...

A: I am very happy to play
with him and the orchestra.

This time we will play only classical.

I: You started to play violin and piano at 5 years old.
Why did you finally stay with the violin?

A: Oh, you know, I come from the former Soviet Union,
and in these countries the children are not able to choose themselves.

If they are talented on an
instrument, they have to play it.

The parents know what
is best for their children.

I am glad that my father and mother forced me ...
but "forcing" is not the right word,

because it sounds as if they
had held a gun to my head.

But it was not like that of course, they just helped
me to focus and guided me on the right track.

They just reminded me every day before I sat down to
play Lego that I have to practise. And that's good.

Especially when we had the
development of a certain technique to aim for.

I never planned anything, because I always
knew in advance they had a plan for me.

For a child that is very nice to know, and you don't
have to stress about what is coming tomorrow,

and if they always know what
they must do to build their talent.

It is very good if you have prudent parents
who have a plan for their children.

Of course, I sometimes cried and asked why I have to do
this all time and that I don’t want to play the violin anymore.

But they knew that these
are just the emotions of a child,

and the next day I'll forget making
excuses, I want to play violin.

In order to become a good violinist you have to
practise every day, even if you do not want to.

The parents know it, but the children don’t.

I: How many hours a day did you have to practise?

I say 3-4 everyday, but I'm exaggerating.
I’m sure it was less.

All successful artists exaggerate
when they talk about their childhood.

They like to say how hard
life was and they had no friends.

Or they just had friends to whom they can say;
- now you can see what I have already achieved.

But you must not believe this,
the artists always exaggerate.

As I said, I had a normal childhood. My parents pushed me
to practise regularly, but actually I had a very normal childhood.

I: Did you totally quit playing
the piano at the beginning?

A: No. I did half of each. 50% piano and 50% violin.

But after two years, by the way, at 7 years,
I played with the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra.

I: Weren’t you very nervous?

A: I do not remember ... I think, not.
Children are never nervous.

And later my parents thought I had more
talent for the violin than for the piano.

I: Do you still have your first violin?

A: No, I never collect things. The Museum of the ESC
wanted my clothes which I wore in the final.

But I did not have them by then. I am lucky,
if I have the pants that I wore yesterday.

I never keep anything, and I don’t want to
hold on to things, but always look forward.

I: You won the ESC won in 2009. What did you
feel when representing Norway in Moscow?

A: That was just the most important thing for me to represent
my country and to show what kind of music we play there.

And that this music can be done with
a classical violin in a pop song too.

I wanted to show to the world
how to combine different things.

Because before that only the traditional
music was played in Norway on radio and TV

Always the same boring music,
always in the same outfits and costumes.

I wanted to show something new.
I really didn't think of winning or coming last.

I really wanted to show the
Norwegian spirit on such a big stage.

Then it turned out that I was the
public favourite, and they mostly win.

So I was not really surprised when
I was announced as the winner.

After all, the greatest moment
was when I was on stage.

I: In front of the huge audience ...
A: Yes.

A: But as a musician, as a classical musician the very biggest
moment for me, was to sit in my kitchen and work with the song.

I: .... the composing itself ...
A: Yes.

A: To be able to work without following what
directors or choreographers are telling me.

I just wrote the melodies and the story of my first girlfriend
without beeing told what and how I should do this or that.

I was alone and believed in myself.
That was the biggest moment.

I: What other things inspire you?

A: Friendship and love, of course

But more the friendship, I think,
because it is more universal.

You can't always find love,
but always wish for friendship.

Maybe my best song is about dragons,

the music of the film "How to Train
Your Dragon" produced by DreamWorks.

It is a large-scale movie that actually
meant more for me than the ESC.

Because somebody has to win
ESC every year, or get an Oscar every year.

But sending a song to the DreamWorks in Los Angeles
3 months before the premier of the movie,

and they said; sorry everything is contracted
and the song cannot be used in the movie.

I said yes, I understand of course.
But I still gave it a try.

A week later they called me and
said that they want my song after all.

I: Wow, that's amazing.

A: Yes ... I was amazed that it happened to me.

But I liked the song from the beginning, and believed in it
and that a miracle can happen, despite of the small chance.

It inspires me to do other crazy things,

like spending my money on making music videos.

I spend lots of thousands of Euros on videos.

I know I won't get any money back,
but it's a part of my work, too.

YouTube is very popular now,
and I'm sure it will be going well for years.

And when YouTube is gone, I will still have the
videos and can show them to my grandchildren.

I want to make the best videos I can.

They are like symphonies; I always try to work together
with the best producers and directors.

You know, some people are
using their money to buy cars,

but I’m spending my money on going
to Disney World and doing my music.

I'm not very rich compared to other ESC stars,
because I spend so much on my work.

There’s just the balance that I need.

And also the children's book that I have been writing.

I have been writing a children's book,
and It is a very big success in Norway.

It is a compact work; it's a book with three
CDs with songs that follow the story.

And it is also an audio book.

I have 4-5 of the most famous actors
in Norway who do the voices.

It was a huge project. I spent about 20 thousand
Euros on the demo, before I even had the publisher.

I: But this is risky.

A: It's risky, but I have a
privilege to have that economy.

I know that I inspire some of my fans,
who of course have less money than me,

but they can see by my example, that grandmother's pocket money
can be saved and spent on showing their talent instead of on parties.

And see that this makes much more sense.

I wish you all the best in your career,
and thanks for the interview.

Thank you too.