Singled Out: Maggie Bjorklund's Intertwined (Feat Mark Lanegan)

"Intertwined" is a duet on my album Coming Home between Mark Lanegan and myself. How on earth did I get to sing a duet with him? I mean, mostly I play my pedal steel guitar, compose music, and don't go about singing duets with amazing artists like Mark. But it just so happened that I wrote the song back home in Denmark in the nick of winter. It was freezing cold outside and there was snow all over. It was one of those winters where you feel like the earth has stopped spinning and it just hangs there motionless in the vast universe. Where you should either hibernate or spread your wings and fly south.

Looking out on the cold white landscape made me long for the spring and warmth and the magic of the light Scandinavian evenings. Lets face it, it was a classic romantic dream for what is not here right now, but what you hope is to come. That inspired the music for the song.

When my collaboration with Mark Lanegan took form, I was in no doubt that I wanted him to sing this song. His soulful dark voice was just what I needed to give the song a deep color as a foundation.

Christy McWilson from the Pickets, wrote the lyrics. She must be a true dreamer like me, because she lent the song its beautiful airy poetry.

We recorded all the basics in Tucson, Arizona with the fabulous John Convertino and Joey Burns from Calexico on drums and bass. It was a hot clear day in spring and the southern warmth just crept into the song as we played it.

Later when in Los Angeles recording Mark's vocals, he insisted that we should make it into a duet between him and me. How could I say no to an offer like that? He was spot on, that was the last detail that made the song complete. Thanks, Mark!