INTERVIEW: IN CONVERSATION WITH SYLVAINE
Interview by Cecilia Pattison-Levi
Norwegian musician Sylvaine (aka Kathrine Shepard) is about to tour Australia for the first time. She will be joining with Faroese musician Eivør and her visit here will mark her first set of solo performances within Australia and New Zealand. It is exciting for music fans to be able to hear Sylvaine live at the Princess Theatre as she performs her ethereal blend of music that defies genre. Sylvaine’s music covers shoegaze, post-rock, folk and metal. And with this tour, and new music on the horizon, she is excited about this new chapter in her musical career.
Sylvaine is an extremely accomplished and talented musician and artist. She discussed her coming album, her latest remarkable musical work EP ‘Eg Er Framand’ that is released through Season of Mist and she revealed how she has continued the evolution in her sound which began in 2014 with the release of her debut album ‘Silent Chamber, Noisy Heart’. She ranged over subjects from Norwegian winters, travel to Australia, Australian flora and fauna, teaching singing and yoga.
“COVID-19 was a bad time,” explained Sylvaine. “But I learned different things. I taught singing. I trained as a yoga teacher and that has been great for my health. But I also made the album ‘Nova’ and I have been able to take a detour and explore folk music in the making of ‘Eg Er Framand’. It took me back to basics. I used traditional folk music and changed it into my own versions. I would sit at my parents’ kitchen and record. It took just two vocal takes and the organ to make ‘Tussmørke’. Then, we went to a church and recorded the other songs. It was like going back to the start and it was a wonderful learning experience and the sound was expansive”.
When listening to ‘Eg Er Framand’ the language barrier does not matter. The melodies are interwoven with medieval soundscapes that are hypnotic and full of melancholy and ominous tones and take the listener on a journey. This juxtaposition in Sylvaine’s music makes it powerful and gripping as it blends beauty and unease.
“I do not like to focus too much on darkness, for there is always light even in the darkest situations, and darkness and light shapes who we are,” stated Sylvaine. “I love songwriting. I often wonder where it comes from. I loved the detour into folk. But now I need to focus on what comes next. With the new album I am working on now, I want it to be as solo and as personal as possible”.
“My album ‘Nova’ is now a few years old, I am proud of it. It came out of me. But it’s now a benchmark for me to get over,” said Sylvaine. “I need to think about the new album now. What’s next!? I just need to set the mood and get in the right headspace. I sometimes need to fight to write songs. It is a joy to be a musician. I just love building a song – the guitar riff, the vocals, basslines, synths and then adding the drums. I probably need to get an expert for that part – I can drum but an expert will be best and I am talking to a few. Making music is magical and I want my new album to be authentic and follow my heart and soul and let the new music out of the box”.
In addition to making her fifth album, she’s going to be touring.
“Well, my business, Akiko Yoga, is currently on hiatus,” exclaimed Sylvaine. “I can’t believe it. I am coming to play my music in New Zealand and Australia. It is a dream come true. I am so lucky to be on tour with Eivør and her band. They are such lovely and genuine people – they are so talented. We had an amazing time in the US in 2025. And, now in a few weeks we will be in New Zealand and Australia. I am such a huge Steve Irwin fan and I love the very different Australian animals. I can’t wait to see some of them”.
Sylvaine has been writing and performing music for 12 years now.
“I was never confident in my music when I first started in 2014 – my first album was a completely DIY project – and now all this time later I am touring around the world,” she explained. “It is amazing to tour. But I love to write songs. It is getting a balance. I want my music and art to evolve as I grow. I want these new experiences to lead to a new point in life and music. My life experiences have changed my sound and the genres I want to explore. I have lots of future projects in my mind. I like the detours that emerge in life, the changes, and the new doors that open with change”.
Sylvaine’s life as Kathrine Shepard has been about embracing change. She moved from California to Oslo, Norway as a very young child. Those two forces profoundly influence her music and life. She admitted, “Norway is so beautiful. But the Norwegian weather is hostile at times and can certainly amplify feelings of the darkness in winter but then it brings the lushness of spring: the country plays a central role in my creative process and music. But my new focus this year, is to enjoy being home for a while and stop worrying about things and try something new. I am already excited about what comes next”.
What comes next is Sylvaine’s performances around Australia and New Zealand. If you love music with depth, authenticity and beauty – let the “emotional bunny” that is Sylvaine edify and delight your musical senses.
Eivør and Sylvaine – Australian Tour 2026 dates and tickets are available on Ticketmaster:
Wednesday 18 March – The Gov, Adelaide
Friday 20 March – Northcote Theatre, Melbourne
Saturday 21 March – Metro Theatre, Sydney
Sunday 22 March – Princess Theatre, Brisbane
Wednesday 25 March – Astor Theatre, Perth
