Here's Naomi Pilgrim's EP and an Interview with the Rising Swedish-Barbadian Singer

If you’re still sore and missing Lauryn Hill circa 98, meet newcomer Naomi Pilgrim. The half-Barbadian and half-Swedish singer brings her own silkily soulful version of R&B blended electropop to the table. Pilgrim began singing at 14, growing up surrounded by music, in part because her father was in a reggae band. Since then she's learned from her home country's best—working as a backing vocalist for Sweden's Lykke Li and Agnes Carlsson.

Below we're premiering her debut EP in full, with Pilgrim's pipes instantly drawing listeners in, oozing heartbreak and nostalgia. While previously premiered tracks “No Gun” and “Money” showcase a twinkling, futuristic R&B bent, new track “Rainmakers” is warmly reminiscent of Lykke Li and Say Lou Lou (unsurprising as it was co-written with Jan Kask who co-wrote Say Lou Lou’s “Maybe You” and “Julian”).

We talked with Pilgrim on cultural influences, dance moves, and drugs.

Noisey: So how did “Rainmakers” come about?
Naomi Pilgrim: “Rainmakers” makes my heart sing. I get a very nice vibe from it. It’s a different world from the other songs. It’s lovely and is a song about either heartbreak or childhood. It depends on the day.

What was it like singing for other artists like Lykke Li?
Yeah, it was a lesson, indeed. It was a true experience.

What did you learn from her? Who else have you performed with?
I sang with Newtimers, a British new soul group, and with other Swedish artists like Agnes Carlsson. You might have heard of Agnes, she had a huge hit called “Release Me” a few years ago.

You’re half-Swedish and half-Barbadian, how do you draw influences from both cultures into your music?
I’ve been thinking about that question a lot, but I haven’t really come to any conclusions. It’s just a part of me—my Barbadian side and my Swedish side. It’s not something I can touch. It just happens.

Are there particular songs where you see one influence over the other?
I don’t know. When I was growing up, my father was in a reggae band and my mom always played Sister Nancy and Jimmy Cliff at home. Of course I have the Swedish culture and music in my veins as well, but I guess you will see it more in my movement. It’s not something there for the sake of it. If it’s there, it’s just there. If it’s in my music, it’s there because of my influences.

By movements, you mean your dance moves?
My dance movements. I can’t do it like the Barbadians, but I do have a little hip movement going on. Don’t we all?

Definitely! Can you tell me about the story behind your EP?
My A&R set me up with this guy Fredrik Okazaki. We went into the studio and recorded something. Then we started introducing songs to one another that we had written. We started recording and then we did “Money.” We realized that we had to continue to work together. Then, I think we did “Rainmakers.” At that point, I realized Fredrik was a genius.

Do the songs have particular stories behind them?
It’s not a red line. You can’t see a red line lyrically. Definitely the way they’re produced and the way they sound. There’s not a particular story told in that way. Every song has its own vibe and says something different from the others. “No Gun” is about life and positive thinking. “Rainmakers” might be about childhood or about heartbreak of course. “Money” is a song about loving money. So, they’re all very, very different songs.

One of your lyrics on “No Gun” was about a bad experience on speed, and sticking to smoking weed. Did you have a bad experience where you had to stop doing drugs?
Oh no. I won’t say I haven’t tried anything, but I can’t say I had a bad experience.

I guess from the lyrics it kind of felt like it went there. So, what’s the craziest thing that’s happened to you while being in the music industry…or doing drugs? Or both?
Like whack? I don’t do drugs that often. [Once at] a big gala here in Sweden for a gay magazine for QX, I was singing background vocals for Agnes and I was wearing new heels. There were about 1000 people in the audience or so. I fell on the stage during the performance. In that type of moment, there were all eyes on me: that type of scenario.

Do you still have those heels?
No. I only wore them once. Never again.

Good call. So you have a very soulful voice, who drives your singing and songwriting?
Well, of course, Sade. I grew up listening to her. Lauryn Hill: I played The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill all the time growing up. Jill Scott. I listen to a lot of Otis Redding. I can never answer these questions. There are so many.

Have you ever sung Lauryn Hill at karaoke?
Once. I think I did “Doo Wop (That Thing).”

That’s my karaoke song too.
I do the singing part well, but the rapping part, I can’t.

Are you excited to play the by:Larm festival in Oslo?
Yeah it’s going to be awesome. I’m going to do Sonar Festival. It’s coming to Sweden for the first time. That will be my first festival. I don’t know how to say it in English.

Who would you most like to perform with?
To me, it’s a dream come true to play with the guys who play with me. Fredrik who is also my producer, he’s the drummer as well. He’s an excellent drummer and he drums for Robyn and Say Lou Lou. I think I have the people I want to play with in my band.

Pilgrim is currently working on her debut album. You can listen to her EP on Spotify too.

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