Formula As 2001-08 By Steffen Ruth Sent to BEP by Totoescu toto@XNET.RO "'I am as unpredictable as much as nature is'" For the little siren coming from the wild and romantic Iceland, nature is the supreme model. Faithful descendent of god Pan, she lives as intensively and freely as he does. She passed by as an eccentric creature and more, some people think she should go and see a psychiatrist. Despite all this, Bjork Gudmundsdottir knows well what she wants. For the main role in Lars Von Trier's movie "Dancer in the Dark", she received the "Palme D'Or" prize at Cannes. But her world is different. The true issue is music, on which she has been concentrating successfully for over a decade. The proof: her last album entitled "Vespertine", which already sold 3 milllion copies [??!]. Q: You have been in Berlin for some days now and you are staying at a super-luxurious hotel. What about the image of the modest girl who would rather live among nomads? A: I generally prefer simple things. But sometimes luxurious places as very beautiful, just la Christmas night is. Maybe it's a small reward from my record company to which I thank. But I am very glad when my grandam is knitting me a pullover. Q: Two years ago, your friend, Matthew Barney and you bought a house in Manhattan. What is that fascinates you about New York? A: There, I have to get dressed and go out to places I would have never went to and meet people I wouldn't have met. Sometimes I go to decadent cocktails or run through Harlem. I find all this things attractive. I am an awfully curious person. But half of the time I spend in Reykjavik. All the new songs were composed there. Q: "Vespertine" is a very "quiet" and beautiful album. A: That's exactly what I wanted. My house in Iceland is completely white and when outside is cold and starts to snow, I have some friends coming over. I make them a hot chocolate and we all sit in front of the fireplace. These are the images that come through my mind when I listen to my album. Q: Why do you live more in Iceland? Do you need this contrast with America? A: Yes, but is alos because of my son, Sindri. He's 15 and he's going to school there. I spent all winter in Iceland. I find deserving a season is very romantic, to enjoy spring in wintertime. It is stupid to spend your winter at Rion, on ocean's shore. It's a foolishness towards seasons. Q: How much does nature count to you? A: Enormously! Man's lije is made only of nature. I am a very active person, I do different things or I fall in love and become frequently unpredictable. This means nature. It cannot be controlled. She does whatever she wants. And because we are all parts of her, we much match her. Q: Is the unpredictableness of nature good or bad? A: Good, of course. Nature is my religion. It is a thousand times stronger than I am and I have to obey her. Obeying people is a diffenrent thing. I refuse it. And less I wish for others to obey me. Relations between people, no matter if it's about love, friendship or work, they have to be based on equality. Q: Have you ever been in such close realtion to nature? A: Yes, if you live in Island and you do not respect nature, you vanish. In my childhood I was walking over the mountains for hours. I was running, singing. The song "Aurora", from my last album, talks about how I run over a glacier, I fall on my knees and I stuff a snwball into my mouth. It's just like Christians do when they have the holy eucharist. I eucharisted myself with snow and she melts in me slowly. Through snow, I became one with nature. Q: Is there anything in nature that frightens you? A: No. I am much scared of humans. Nature can't be bad. The explosion of a vulcano comes naturaly. You have to learn to survive next to it. I would very much like to die in the nature, to become a tiny part of her. To open up for me and take me inside. Extremely romatic. I seen funny, am I not? Q: One of the most beautiful song from your latest album is called "Pagan Poetry", and the most frequently used words are "I Love You". What are you really wanting to transmit? A: It's about love; it is so good to fall in love but you also have to be scared of this feeling, of the fact that you give yourself to the the love of another. Happiness encourages you to get in love, to drown but you are scared, still, of a possible suffering. It's good to give but as much as you don't lose. The answer in love looks like a balance. Q: The songs from "Vespertine" seen extremly introvert. Is it a love album? A: Not really. I am a woman of extremes. I like very much talking to others about intellingent things but more I like to be alone, only with me. The realtion I settled is absolutely special. From all the people I know, it is me whom I know better. Sometimes I fall out with myself, but I always succeeded to accept myself and make peace. Q: After the experience lived during the filming of "Dancer in the Dark", the return tu music recomforted you? A: Yes, Music is very healthy because it's an eliberation of emotions. Working on a movie is like going to school. Everybody has to be there at shap hours and at a certain place and do the same thing, no matter if he is interested or not. Movie is not at all creative. All the time I was playing I felt myself just like the fish on land. Q: Was the new album like a therapy after the stressing part of the movie? A: I do not believe in therapy. Psychoterapy is just a simulation of the real life. The best therapists are your true friends. They are honest, open and you don't have to pay them for their thoughts. Q: To whom is "Vespertine" dedicated? A: To people forced to live under pressure and stress. The album is nice and friendly. Looks like a shawl put over the shoulders, feels like a caress, like a kiss. Is an excellent album to renforce yourself. Q: Your son is 15 now. Does he have models, like many adolescents? A: Sindri listens to horrible things : Speed-metal. I sometimes listen to this with him although if it were for me I wouldn't waste my time with such a record. I am a very tolerant mother. Afterall, is good he is not listening to Britney Spears.