Meet Maren & Charlotte Wallevik Hansen

We recently connected with Maren & Charlotte Wallevik Hansen and have shared our conversation below.

Maren & Charlotte , we are so appreciative of you taking the time to open up about the extremely important, albeit personal, topic of mental health. Can you talk to us about your journey and how you were able to overcome the challenges related to mental issues? For readers, please note this is not medical advice, we are not doctors, you should always consult professionals for advice and that this is merely one person sharing their story and experience.

We are two sisters who battle mental health issues, and have had some really heavy years with undiagnosed issues that affected everything in our lives – especially mid and post pandemic.

Specifically, Maren has something called PMDD and wants to share information about this as many places as possible – as it is such an undiagnosed and underrepresented issue. PMDD stands for Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder. It causes intense emotional (and other) pain due to the menstrual cycle (here specifically the “lutheal phase”) – and it can affect all aspects of life.
We have felt so defeated in our search for answers – and now that we have it, we hope it can be common knowledge for girls and women everywhere!

The way we have persisted despite the challenges related to mental health issues: songwriting.
Writing about our experiences… in the doctor’s office, in waiting rooms, anywhere. The main feeling was “waiting for her life to begin again”. Songwriting has the power to let you be the narrator of your own story. We discovered that a lot of meetings made us feel like Maren’s issue wasn’t important. But writing about how it all felt gives space for the experience we had to be heard, which is a form of healing – at least for us <3.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

We are the twin sister duo Oakland Rain, raised in both Norway and the US.
Our band name: Oakland Rain (inspired by living both close to an oak tree forest as well as the Bay Area).

We recently released part 1 of our English double debut album “Twin Flames” (“Twin Flames Part I: The Evergreen”). Part II (“Twin Flames Part II: Heavenly Blue”) is on its way. We write folk/country and alternative/pop music in a mixture. With our double debut album we have divided the sound into woodsy elements (part 1) based in the folk/country & americana genre, and more fleeting elements (part 2) based on the alternative/indie & pop genre.

In this double debut “era” we are focusing on the human inner conflict between fear and freedom, as well as realism and escapism. The first part covers realism, bravery and fear. We have written about mental health, about sisterhood, about grief, and lots of others things. In the next part we will cover escapism, courage and freedom. We need hope and fantasy now more than ever.

During “The Evergreen” release we have had the absolute privilege to tour with folk icon Judy Collins three times in the US – and more exciting things are coming! We are SO thankful!!!

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

We believe that for us these three things stand out:
1. Sisterhood and community. When making art you need support.
2. Gut feelings rarely fail!
3. Being independent artists, we have learned to usually think “we do it ourselves”, and to be self-sufficient across the board (where we can). No one is as excited about your ideas as you are – and that is okay! You are the one who needs to believe in it the most <3 If you are convinced, you will convince :)

Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?

Our parents showed us how much they believed in us and our musical abilities, and therefore gave us advices on how to be self-sufficient and not rely on anyone to “make it happen”. They have given us the feeling of empowerment through this, and we are so thankful!

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Cover photo: Tobias Hole Aasgaarden / Artwork: Jane Long
Photo with instruments: Kathrine Wallevik Hansen
Photo flower crowns: Ingvild Lyngnes
Photo couch: Frida Neverdal

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