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6 questions for icelandic pop star Bjork

Marc Brown, Rocky Mountain News

Published May 12, 2007 at midnight

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1). I love the song Declare Independence. Were the lyrics in direct response to any current issues?

"I was excited by mixing perfectly in the middle together an extremely private lyric, from a friend to a friend, but also a political lyric, written with Greenland and Faroe Islands in mind. As you probably know, Iceland was a colony of Denmark for 600 years and got independence 60 years ago. But Greenland and Faroe Islands are still under the Danes. They were considering giving them independence but then they just found oil so it doesn't look like it's going to happen."

2). How does a song like the operatic Pneumonia come into being?

"That song was totally improvised on the spot and the words came at the same time. First go. I played that on a piano and it got transcribed to French horn. I then sung with the horns (in one take, too) a week later."

3). What made you work with different producers on this album?

"Boredom. It is probably my biggest drive. I should probably repeat things that go well, but it is impossible for me. Also I am an extremely curious person."

4). A lot of people, myself included, think this is your most accessible album. What do you think?

"They all feel equal to me. I feel all emotions are just as important, both extrovert stuff and introvert. It would be great to be able to eventually cover as much of the emotional scale as possible. To have one song for each mood."

5). You played Red Rocks with the Sugarcubes and finally solo a few years ago. How did you like it?

"I enjoy a lot the nature there. It is my favorite ever to merge with nature like that! It definitely feels different to other gigs. I'm looking forward to coming, especially with Joanna Newsom (the opening act) playing. She's amazing!"

6). Are you constantly looking for collaborators for future projects? Do you have in mind what you want, then find musicians to fulfill the vision? Or do you get inspiration for a project from hearing another musician?

"It happens rather naturally, I don't plan that far ahead. Like one month or so. Maybe not with tours, but when I am making albums it has to have a really spontaneous feeling to work for me. Sometimes I first think of a musical idea and then find the right person and sometimes I hear a musician and want to merge with her/him. And all the other times it is through all sort of other ways that people end up on my records. It is not the same in any two cases."

Mark Brown is the pop music critic. or 303-954-2674