Home Is Where The Music Is

The House of Songs Ozarks -- a new collaboration between Northwest Arkansas creatives and international songwriters and musicians -- continues the steady pursuit of its mission of building cross-cultural relationships through artist residencies with the arrival of Faroese folk musician Stanley Samuelsen this week. Alumnus of the premier program in Texas, Austin House of Songs, Samuelsen recently returned to the house in Austin and is now making his way to Arkansas for the first time.

"Of course I agreed [to come back] because I enjoyed it very much last time," Samuelsen shares. Since his first visit in 2010, Samuelsen has even welcomed an artist he met during the experience to his home on the Faroe Islands in the North Atlantic Sea. "I'm looking forward to meeting some local people and [getting] some inspiration and maybe write some songs together. That's the aim of my visit."

Samuelsen is the third international artist to be hosted at the Ozark house since its opening during the Roots Festival in August. The blending of the Ozarks' rich history of folk and Americana music and instruments with Samuelsen's finger-picking guitar style and background in traditional American music set the stage for a dynamic and stimulating collaboration.

"American country music has been a part of my life since I was a small boy because the fishermen from the Faroe Islands brought [it back with them]. It's a part of the Faroese musical tradition, this country music from over here," Samuelsen shares.

"And maybe the people that listen can hear some influence from your own music because it influenced me a lot, even though I don't particularly go after that. I think it's in my blood, in a way," he goes on. "So I feel like it's a natural thing for me to come here and visit, and meet other musicians, and collaborate and perform together and to be inspired."

-- Jocelyn Murphy

jmurphy@nwadg.com

NAN What's Up on 11/19/2017