William Ogmundson Interview on Nagamag.com

Nagamag:
What are the genres that describe better your music style?

William Ogmundson:
I draw from so many styles...classical music has always been my primary influence, but I've worked quite a bit in musical theater, and also play ragtime, stride piano and early jazz. I take all of my influences and try to channel them into the neoclassical/solo piano genre.

Nagamag:
Few words about your musical background and career?

William Ogmundson:
It was only a couple years ago that I started taking my career as a recording artist seriously. Before that, I was a working musician for about 20 years. I did accompanying, played piano and organ in churches, taught lessons, performed locally, and composed primarily for the theater. I never made it "big" but got to perform in some pretty neat places along the way, including Notre Dame and the Vatican. I was nominated for an EMMY for a children's TV show I composed for, and one of the musicals I composed for was published by Dramatic Publishing.

Nagamag:
Do you remember your first connection of love to music that was the right impact to be a music artist now?

William Ogmundson:
My first experience was picking out an Icelandic folksong "A Sprengisandi" on the piano. I couldn't have been more than 3 or 4 years old at the time, but I had that sudden revelation that wow, I could really do this-I could make music. I could be one of those people.

Nagamag:
What is the strangest song you've every written?

William Ogmundson:
I had written a pretty little solo piano ballad, but couldn't think of a good title, so I shared it on facebook and asked people to help me come up with one. I got many predictable responses like "Lover's Last Kiss" or "Passion in the Rain", but none of them did anything for me. Then one wise guy suggested calling it "Squirrel's Last Crossing" and immediately the wheels started spinning! I sat down and wrote a new song to go with the title, and it's been a hit with audiences ever since.

Nagamag:
Most artists have a favorite song from a different music genre than the one they are producing music for... Which is yours?

William Ogmundson:
Eminem "Lose Yourself"

Nagamag:
Of Course Nagamag would love to listen also which track from a similar artist you admire?

William Ogmundson:
Greg Maroney "Breathe"