| She was a part of Norway�s biggest pop-duo before reaching puberty. Then silence suddenly followed, and the rumours about quarrels with Marion, celebrity boyfriends and broken pop-star dreams started flying. Until now. Marit Larsen is back with a solo album and answers to all our questions. � Marit Larsen�s life the last couple of years has been surrounded by mystique. While Marion was launched as the sexy pop-star and held a high profile in the media, Marit kept a low profile. Secret concerts and diary notes have been the only thing the world has seen of her since M2M disbanded in 2002. Such circumstances create rumours: Marit, the one that was always seen as the artistic of the two, had become super-weird. She had been dumped by both Marion and the record company and sat at home strumming an acoustic guitar. Now, it�s clear that it�s only one of the three allegations that is true. � - Marion and I did not want to work together anymore, so it was no problem. We�re not enemies, even though we don�t see each other anymore. I spent the time after M2M figuring out what I wanted to do musically. Trying and failing. And to do all the things I could not do before.� � Like what? � - Finally, I could regain my breath. It was the first time that I was allowed to make a complete stop. I have spent a lot of time with friends, completed high-school and worked out a lot. I have to run each day. I have so much energy that I just have to let out. � What were the reactions when you returned home from the USA? - People felt very sorry for me. They stopped me on the street to cheer me up. It became draining after a while. I did not experience talking behind my back from friends and such stuff.� � But something that definitely got people talking was the rumour that that Marit secretly dated the older brother of the band Hanson. � - Yes. I dated Isaac, she laughs. And after that, I never want to be with a celebrity again! � Why do you say that? - It�s a very special situation when two known persons are together. We were together for a year, and a lot of that time was spent focusing on us being celebrities. That we had to hide from the press and all that stuff. No, I don�t recommend it! � And I thought that it probably would be easier to be with a musician, someone that shares your interests? � -I did not say that I did not want to be with musicians. As long as they are not celebrities as well! � Marit puts on a cunning smile. She�s in the middle of her press-round of the debut album release, and the newspapers already speculate about whether her songs are about Marion or not. Many words have been written about �Don�t save me� and if this song really is about the break-up with Marion. Marit shakes her head, resigned. � - The song is about a love relationship, to dare to say that enough is enough. � In one recent review you were criticized for being too sexy on the cover. The journalist wrote that you, having as much talent as you have, did not have to do that. � - I was shocked when I read that! I mean, I don�t show any skin in that picture at all! The only thing I do is to look down, and I may have some pink rouge on my cheek. And thereby, I have become a Lolita! That was surprising, she laughs. � -It�s also rather funny how I always have been given the role as the talented one, and then I am not allowed to look nice and wear a dress. You must be allowed to be both talented and nice looking, even though you are a girl. � - But I have stopped reading newspapers. Now I have other people reading them first, and then I peek afterwards. Anyways, it�s impossible to get an objective understanding about what is written about yourself, she philosophises. � How would you describe your album? � -Playful, honest and varied. This is the first time that I�m completely satisfied with something. This is one hundred percent me. � How many percent of M2M was yours? -Fifty percent max. At the time it felt very much like me, but in hindsight I see that there were a lot of other people that made decisions. There were a lot of influence from producer and record label. But our second album was great. In that one there were a lot of us. � To be handed a pop-star career at the age of 16 is something very few get to experience. From the time they released their first "childrens album" at 12, only a short time passed until they landed a �grown-up�contract with even more �grown-up� expectations. Suddenly Marit and Marion travelled the world promoting their songs. One day they were in Asia talking to magazines, the day after they returned to home base in USA for a TV-appearance. Marions father followed the girls as their private teacher the first year, before Marit�s mom took over. For Marit it felt safe to have one of her parents around in the hectic ordinary day life, but it was also a mixed pleasure. � - I shared a hotel room with my mom for two years. In the middle of puberty! I think it�s safe to say that that was truly a special experience. � Not much wild partying and boys during that time, I assume? � - No. It was more like �Marit, now you have three hours of free time before the show. You can use that time to work on your Norwegian language home-work!� � In spite of success in Asia, TV performances on �Dawsons Creek� and tours with Hanson, M2M did not live up to the label Atlantic�s expectations, and in the middle of a tour with Jewel they were cut loose from their contract. The dream of pop-stardom was over, at least temporarily, and for a normal 16 year old this must have been a tough blow. But Marit vehemently denies that it was that way. � - We felt that we had been working as hard as we could, and that decision was out of our hands. We could not be blamed when the record label did not dare to put their faith in�us. I figured that music was something that I wanted to do anyways. Somehow. It was not like the dream fell apart. � That was a very mature way of thinking for a 16 year old? Marit shrugs her shoulders and smiles. - It�s just the way that I�ve been brought up. And, besides, when I was 16 I had already been working for several years, earning money, making decisions and been in charge of my own career. M2M made me grow up much faster than my childhood friends. � Was it hard meeting your friends again for the first time after the break-up? - Both yes and no. It was strange seeing how much we had grown apart. During those years all my friends had argued or fooled around with each other, and the gang had been split up. Instead of meeting the old gang of friends I had to meet ten individuals. I lost some, but some I have taken care of, and I still keep in touch with them. � How concerned are you about your image? -I guess you can say that I have learnt from mistakes. I no longer pay attention to stylists or record labels. I let my mood decide. Today I put a nice dress on because I felt like doing it, not because someone told me to. � Would you consider front page shots in very little clothing to sell your music? � -Hmm. I would not pose naked�. � But wearing a bikini? � - No, not that either. I think it sends the wrong signals. I want the clothes I wear to mirror the music I make, and then I can�t look too much like a babe. |
| Article thanks to Sydney, Halvard and www.in-side.no |