DIGITAL ISSUE 02: Sassy 009 Is More Than a Dreamer
Sassy009 graces the second edition of 1202 MAGAZINE’s digital cover series.
Photography by Mikaela Kautzy
For Sassy 009, creating her new album, Dreamer+, was an arduous yet beautiful journey. The all-consuming process left Sunniva Lindgård with a whirlwind of emotions, concluding with a feeling of a weight lifted off her shoulders once she completed the album. Serving as the singer, songwriter, and producer, Lindgård often found herself between a rock and a hard place, balancing her emotions of creative solitude, grief, and decision-making.
At the end of the road, she always landed on her feet. While the album has come to an end, Sassy 009 still hasn’t found all the answers that led her to create the album in the first place, which, in itself, is a beautiful concept about making art. Sometimes, not having all of the answers is the answer.
Dreamer+, which features BEA1991, Yunè Pinku, and Blood Orange, is a concept-driven project that brings a fairytale to life. The album walks us through Sassy 009’s universe of various experiences and emotions, which serve as shapeshifting characters throughout each song. She has expanded her experimentation with sounds of hyperpop, 90s beatronica, hydraulic bass, and glitchy sounds.
Sassy 009 sat down with 1202 MAGAZINE for our second digital issue to discuss how Dreamer+ came to life, the evolution from being a band to a solo artist, how the making of the album made her feel, and what’s next for the Norwegian artist.
Photography by Mikaela Kautzy
Can you tell me the story of how Sassy 009 formed as a trio, and how it evolved into your own artistry?
I used to post songs on SoundCloud as Sassy 009 from 2014 until I got a live show request a few years later, when I brought along two friends to play with me on stage. After that gig, the project expanded into a trio, and we released the Do You Mind EP in 2018. Shortly after, Sassy 009 went back to the roots, meaning I kept on going as a solo artist.
How would you describe the types of music you make?
Aggressive, existential pop music.
You recently released “Tell Me” with Blood Orange. How did that collaboration come to be, and what has the feedback been like so far?
I had worked on ‘Tell Me’ for a while, still feeling confused over why it never seemed to land with me. Basically, I took a chance after daydreaming of Dev's voice in there and sent it off to him. To have him on that song just made so much sense to me, and he didn't exactly prove me wrong. His voice in there really set me free from overthinking and led me to reconnect with the song.
Photography by Mikaela Kautzy
What can listeners expect to hear on Dreamer+?
It’s honestly impossible for me to describe it objectively—I’ve lived inside this record for years. I just hope it resonates with people in a way that feels meaningful to them. And possibly inspire people to pay closer attention to their dreams.
What was the creative process behind the project?
It started with an idea I had for a fictional story, which I started ‘scoring’ as I worked on the writing, which is a whole new method for me. But it somehow worked out. I made most of the record in my studio in Oslo—a room in an old school building in the heart of the city centre. I would go back and forth between the third and fifth floors, using the songs on my hard drive to record drums with my good friend and collaborator, Elias Tafjord, in his studio. His raw signature and musical sensitivity are, to me, qualities that truly define the direction of the record.
Photography by Mikaela Kautzy
What emotions, hardships, and achievements did you experience while you were creating this album?
It felt like a confusing and intense time. I didn’t consciously know where I was going; I just kept on working towards (what I hoped would be) a feeling of discovering the record rather than creating it. And I was addicted to the moments when the music seemed to speak back to me, but that also distorted my sense of when to leave it as is. Looking back on it now, I can see how I was confusing myself by not including more people in the process along the way. I would much rather open that creative space than gatekeep it next time around.
What are your goals, and what can fans expect once Dreamer+ is released?
I’m going to let the release of this record be the mark of letting go rather than holding on, and fans can expect me to be on stage with a bass in my hands for the very first time.
