Sylvaine: Norwegian Metal Artist on Music, Art, and Upcoming 2024 Project

Sylvaine, stage name of American-Norwegian composer and multi-instrumentalist Kathrine Shepard (born 1991 in San Diego), discusses her artistic philosophy, musical journey, and upcoming projects. Raised in Oslo from age one, she studied musicology and classical voice. Her solo project Sylvaine, launched in 2013, blends post-metal, blackgaze, and post-rock. Her third album 'Atoms Aligned, Coming Undone' (2018) won a Norwegian Grammy for Best Metal Album, making her the first woman to win that category. Her 2022 album 'Nova' explores loss, pain, and rebirth, featuring an imaginary language and orchestral elements. Shepard defines art as emotion, freedom, and communication beyond words, and music as the universal language of emotions. She hesitates to label herself an 'artist' due to elitist connotations but acknowledges her creative need. She cites numerous visual artists as inspirations, including Arthur Rackham, John William Waterhouse, and Gustav Klimt. She is working on a new project set for early 2024, with additional collaborations yet to be announced.