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The Conversation

Factual: Life Stories

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Two women from different parts of the world, united by a common passion, experience or expertise, share the stories of their lives.

The Conversation: Songwriters: Nneka Egbuna and Maria Marcus

Songwriters Nneka Egbuna and Maria Marcus

30/03/2015

Songwriters: Nneka Egbuna and Maria Marcus

BBC World Service - The Conversation, Songwriters: Nneka Egbuna and Maria Marcus

Could you write a global hit? From Sweden and Nigeria two musicians explain how they do it

A Swedish pop 'hit-maker' and a Nigerian singer-song writer share their stories of turning pain into music, and being in control as a female artist.

Nneka Egbuna is a Nigerian German songwriter and performer. She grew up in Warri in the Delta region of Nigeria and travels the world performing and writing, but still it is her home country and its problems which move her to make music. She says, "It's pain, mainly pain, that does inspire me".  Nneka writes her songs on her own and plays guitar and drums as well using various computer applications to create loops and beats. Her influences range from Fela Kuti and Bob Marley to Dolly Parton. She talks about the pressure to look conventionally sexy and sound 'fragile' as a female singer and shares what she has learned about controlling who you want to be as an artist. 

Swedish pop music composer Maria Marcus has made her name writing catchy melodies for other artists to perform - responding to briefs given to her by record companies. She is currently creating hit songs for the South Korean group Girls Generation among others, and likens the ability to write in different genres to having a split personality. Maria's inspiration for music tends to come from "some kind of problem in your life that you have a need to express".  She attended a songwriting academy in Sweden which taught her that she works best by collaborating with others in the studio, especially when it comes to song lyrics.

(Photo: (Left) Nneka, credit Patrice Bart-Williams, (Right) Maria, credit Jana Damrōse)

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