Draft:IVA (danish singer-songwriter and producer)


IVA is a danish singer and producer. Her real name i Linnea Dam Bendiks. In 2013 IVA - Linnea Dam Bendiks - released an album in Danish followed by an EP in 2014. That same year, she won Danish POPSTARS - only 19 years old - and thought it would open the door to endless opportunities within the music industry, but unfortunately, it didn’t quite turn out that way. Instead, she ended up in what she recalls as a very dark time in her life. She doesn’t want to forget or hide her past as a POPSTARS winner - it challenged her creativity in a positive way and provided her with insight in the music industry, which has shaped her into the artist IVA, that she is today.

The journey from Linnea from POPSTARS to IVA hasn’t been easy, though. As winner of POPSTARS, a contract followed as well as a flow of very talented collaborators, who made sure to write her some solid pop-songs, but as time progressed, she felt like she was losing herself in the process. She expressed a need to create music reflecting her own emotions, words and melodies, which was not embraced, and eventually it all culminated in a break-up with music for a period of three years.

During this time, Linnea had a difficult time finding herself. So much of her identity as a singer/songwriter was in music, and after three years without the desire or inspiration to write, Linnea finally came to realise that the only way she could actually thrive, was to create music. Slowly, she started making music again - and eventually, in an organic process, IVA emerged - a Linnea reborn, stronger than ever. There are those who write journals to reflect on a given day - IVA writes songs and melodies. This is how she can process thoughts and emotions that emerge - songwriting is IVA’s journal. The songs reflect on the ups- and downs in life and specifically on her break-up with and time off music, which IVA describes as her ultimate heartbreak. The songs exude messages of hope and reflect on Linnea’s own journey - she retrieved faith and hope in creating her own music, that has the power to inspire and move.

“My music is a reflection of myself, my thoughts and hopes for the future. When I had my breakup with music, I was overwhelmed with a sense of relief but also sadness. It was a very dark time in my life. And then I realised that I couldn’t function without it, so I had to make peace with what had happened in order to move on and do what I love. I guess, music will always be the best way for me to be able to express how and what I feel”, IVA explains.

Alongside Ruindkid, she represented Denmark in The Song 10 in Yerevan, Armenia with the song "Gaslight", written by herself and Munsik Jeong.

Social Media Links:

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@iamivamusic

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamivamusic

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamivamusic/

TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@iamivamusic

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/iamivamusic

Profile: https://digidi.net/iamivamusic

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6jqyxXRBC9Fleg4fOlWiEO?si=A5ZnZauKQPquEYpNFwaJ3g

Articles:

https://scandipop.co.uk/song-iva-queendom-misunderstanding/?fbclid=IwAR19ZjZMZN5vakrUT82NB9-DPhw-HsMOIKZFIgrV0qEGJ3RtBXuyzM2xynY 

https://www.smukfest.dk/nyheder/kraftig-forstaerker-pa-vaekstlaget smukfest

https://www.bandsoftomorrow.com/2022/09/iva-queendom-omfavner-evnen-til-at-sige-nej/

https://www.bandsoftomorrow.com/2022/11/iva-queendom-er-faerdig-med-hykleri/

https://www.bandsoftomorrow.com/2022/08/iva-queendom-laegger-stilen-om-paa-foerstesinglen-call-me-queen/

https://www.bandsoftomorrow.com/2021/09/iva-queensom-saetter-fokus-paa-mentalt-helbred-med-singlen-dont-stress-out/

https://gaffa.dk/artikler/2023/juli/live-camp-pa-smukfest-reportage-dag-1/

https://www.smukfest.dk/performers/iva-queendom

https://lovecopenhagen.com/iva-kobenhavnersnuden-250/

https://www.gfrock.dk/spot-2023-rapportage-fredag-5-maj-t-h-edition/

https://spotfestival.dk/10-nye-tilfojelser-til-spot-2023-alt-godt-fra-de-nordiske-breddegrader/

https://play.tv2.dk/programmer/magasiner/serier/go-aften-live/musiker-hylder-hoerehaemmet-mor-253365?playing=true&inittype=continue

https://www.uhoert.dk/2021/iva/

https://bandsoftomorrow.com/2020/10/06/dansk-artist-vandt-popstars-men-lysten-til-at-lave-musik-forsvandt-jeg-foelte-at-jeg-mistede-min-musikalske-identitet/

https://bandsoftomorrow.com/2020/04/03/ivas-i-wish-er-pop-i-verdensklasse/

https://bandsoftomorrow.com/2020/06/05/iva-slipper-i-dag-tilbagelaenet-popsang-der-handler-om-at-man-ikke-altid-kan-stole-paa-sine-egne-tanker/