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Orenda Fink continues to explore her spiritual side and the human psyche. Connecting deeply with consciousness, mind and soul, the singer/songwriter’s third solo album Blue Dream drops August 19th. GroundSounds had the opportunity to delve into the insightful mind of Orenda for an exclusive interview—check it out below.
We are all eagerly anticipating your upcoming album Blue Dream, can you tell us about bringing this to fruition? What can fans expect?
Thank you! I started writing Blue Dream about a year after my dog, Wilson, died. I had had him for sixteen years and, as my friends and family can attest, we were pretty damned co-dependent, so it was extremely hard on me to lose him. But it was hard on me in ways I couldn’t have expected. Compounding that special kind of grief from losing a pet came a full blown existential crisis. I realized I had no spiritual (or otherwise) framework to deal with death. When Wilson died I felt simply nothing from him anymore. One day he existed and then the next he didn’t. The implications of this were too much for my fragile psyche to bear, and I fell into a deep depression- begging questions of the universe that night after night were left unanswered. Finally, at the request of a well meaning friend, I agreed to see a psychotherapist who specialized in grief counseling and Jungian dream analysis. The funny thing is that the dreams started the day I booked the appointment, almost as if my subconscious was ready and waiting to start working. And when the gates opened, the flood poured in. Every night for six months after that, through my dreams, I would free fall into a world of riddles, symbols and oracles that spoke to me of mostly: death. Wilson was in many of these dreams, manifesting himself in different skins- some heartbreakingly sweet and some terrifying and sickening. But I saw him as a dream messenger who had to take the shape that best suited the message. Those six months feel like a dream to me now- a lot of it I spent in a daze- holding onto the dream throughout the day, waiting for the revelation- as some of them even began coming true. So now, I think differently. I do believe that there is life after death. I still don’t know what it all means, and I don’t think that we can ever fully know that. But I think that our subconscious is the key to collecting the clues- and through dreams you can access that world effortlessly if you want to. So, it was during all of this that I started writing Blue Dream. It’s not a concept record, but there is no doubt that these experiences influenced every song on the record in one way or another. I feel like fans can expect a record that is more personal than my other work. It is dark, but ultimately redeeming- a reflection of my own journey.
What made you decide on the title Blue Dream?
The title reflects the time period in which I wrote the record. I also hear it’s a powerful strain of medical marijuana…
Can you tell us about the writing and creative process for your track “You Can Be Loved?”
This song was written for a dear friend who was going through a tumultuous time in her personal life while I was writing for the record. I had the skeleton of the song written, but I didn’t know what it was about until she reached out to me. When I went back to write lyrics I knew immediately the song was for her.
Can you tell us about your dreams and the importance of dreaming?
I think culturally we have lost sight of the importance of dreaming. Dreams are not arbitrary. They are a direct link to your deep subconscious mind which is really driving the ship- your conscious mind just thinks it is. According to Jung, our subconscious mind communicates to us through dreams, pulling wisdom not just through our own personal life experiences, but everyone’s from the beginning of time through the collective unconscious.
One thing that my therapist always has to remind me is that every dream is important, no matter how silly or insignificant they may seem. My dreams are generally pretty dark and highly symbolic, so it is easy for me to dismiss the lighter ones, but I am trying to be better about that. I find a I have a direct relationship with my dreams, when I am open to listening and putting in the work, they will be there for me with answers to any question.
What do you enjoy most about performing live?
When I’m hitting the right notes!
You are currently located in Omaha, what brought you here and what do you enjoy most about Nebraska?
My husband, Todd Fink (The Faint) was born and raised in Omaha, so he brought me here. The people are definitely the attraction for me. There is an amazing and supportive music and arts scene. I’m always thankful for those.
What is your favorite quote?
And if I die- God forbid- I would like to go to heaven to ask somebody in charge up there, “Hey, what was the good news and what was the bad news?”
-Kurt Vonnegut
What was the inspiration for your track “Ace of Cups?”
The year after Wilson died, as you can imagine, I was not an easy person to live with. I guess the song is about how hard it is when you are down. You tend to push away the people you need most and isolate. The line “When you are happy, you are loved” was written in the darkest time, so to me, it has a little bit of sadness to it- of hope and hopelessness at the same time.
What people and books have inspired you most?
I’m a huge fan of Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Kurt Vonnegut. The list of people that inspire me would be too long. Pretty much everyone I surround myself with, friends and family, are inspiring to me.
After the album is released, what is next for you? Is there a tour in the works?
Yes! We are looking at hopefully a September tour.
http://myspace.com/orendafink
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http://orendafink.com
