Nordic Daughter is more than just a musical project it is an experience in variety, acceptance, love and logic. The musical concepts behind the music build a sense of intimacy with the audience that can only be described as genuine and authentic. The vocal stylings of Melissa Lycan are unique yet classic and the songs she delivers are heart felt and blended.
Melissa Lycan was privately instructed in piano for 6 years from the age of 7 when she began to compose her own songs and focused heavily on academics. Though she never stopped writing. She had three vocal instructors including Lance Bendiksen of Bendiksen Productions and has compiled thousands of songs/poems over the last 20 years. In addition to her Bachelor of Music Business at Full Sail University, she holds a Masters’s Degree in Business Intelligence.
As a public figure, how do you think being hailed as a role model impacts others and what pressure does it put on you?
Being a role model means I have the ability to portray the values I feel are the most important to the public eye. The pressure for me is not to be perfect but to remember that being my authentic self is as important as doing my best. It invites others to approach me and connect on a more honest level than just being in the limelight, which I believe is what everyone is really looking for in life AUTHENTICITY!
What is the one characteristic that your closest person totally digs about you, and the one that drives them insane?
Well I asked him and Jason loves how passionate I am, I put my whole heart into the things I choose to do. Conversely, I am high anxiety at times and that really can grate on his nerves because I get impatient and want things done when I say so!
Can you tell us about a time when you almost gave up, how you felt about that, and what you did instead of giving up?
There was a moment during COVID when I almost hung up the cape! Our drummer had quit the band yet again. We had two shows canceled back to back and I got sick with COVID. I was getting rejection after rejection letters from festivals that rolled their talent forward yet another year. My heart sank into my chest as I cried feeling defeated and broken. It triggered my PTSD and I fell into feelings of worthlessness. Instead of walking away, I gave myself the day to break down and then posted the next day to my network. I received excellent advice from everyone, empowering me to keep going and helping me see the light at the end of the tunnel. I began writing a song that day and after a few weeks, I had offered the booking position to our violin player Sarah Jylkka and took the rejection out of my scope of work. Now we have been booked on larger festivals, written the rest of the album and are recording this fall and I don’t get the rejections anymore.
What is your biggest weakness? What helped you to identify it? What helps you to get over it?
My biggest weakness is also my biggest strength. I take on too much because I am driven and ambitious. I can always handle it but I rarely get downtime and my self care suffers as a result. I don’t always set myself up for success by over extending but I am driven and get the job done. My husband recognizes it in me and I have learned to set healthy boundaries for myself over the years but I can still succumb.
How did you find your definition of success? What is it?
Everyone’s idea of success is different but I think happiness is the ultimate goal for us all. I used to think success was the house and car and life. I mean, I have a Masters and a Full Stack Dev Certificate, I have released two albums, traveled a bit, I have two grown children who are happy and healthy and I have the house and a good car. Inner Peace is what Success looks like. being at peace with yourself and your decisions.
Knowing you have truly tried your best, earned your place and found a way to take full accountability for your life and any harm or usury against others. Without peace, we simply have not succeeded in our human purpose.
How did the idea for your business come about?
I managed artists before I became an artist. I simple was tired of my career being defined by other peoples life choices. Jason and I had been writing songs together for years, I would write lyrics to his riffs and record him when he was just plucking strings. Which is why some of our timings are unique. We started working with a drummer that Jason had worked with years ago and had a lead on a young violin player Mia Asano to add some more depth to the songs. Then the second album took off and so did Mia for Berklee College of Music where she just graduated. She actually suggested we go more Viking with our style and added some beautiful arrangements to the tracks. Nordic Daughter became a business through sheer willpower and musical drive over the last 6 years and has evolved into a beautiful effigy to our humanity.
Where did you get your entrepreneurial spirit from?
I definitely received my entrepreneurship from my Mother, Deb Siverson. She has always been driven to break glass ceilings. I am so proud of the woman she taught me to be. She is in Organizational Development so I had taken almost every possible personality and skills test before the age of 25. She travels the world educating teams on how to work together more efficiently. My father gave me my creative side and passion for music. He is key to the direction I am going.
What’s your way of hunting talents and building effective working teams to achieve great results?
Teams come from people feeling vested in the band. I came from band management and what I saw had me building the team in a different way than most original bands are built. Jason and I own the band and we hire players. We covered everything financially and trained multiple players so we can ensure the music can go on despite everyone’s busy lives. We have had to ensure parts were written/composed and that each player can perform them. We like to hang out together so when we go out of town we will get an Airbnb for everyone to share. I really love making music with
Which fictional character do you wish was real?
Grogu – aka Baby Yoda of course.
Would you rather be the one in a movie who gets the hero/heroine or the baddie with all the good lines?
Dang, I’m the one showing the baddie he’s really the good guy! We all can change ; )
What makes you nostalgic?
Bean and Cheese Gorditas from an authentic Mexican restaurant remind me of growing up on the reservation. We were part of the coop that brought government cheese and refried beans and Oil Slick peanut butter, all the staples of the poor. My mom made us what they called bean bags. Rolled out Bisquick stuffed with beans and cheese, folded and baked in the oven till golden. They were heavenly golden pockets of deliciousness. Whenever I am looking for comfort food this is a go to.
If you could ask your future self one question, what would it be?
Will there be another Civil War?
Which are cooler? Dinosaurs or Dragons?
Dinosaurs because they are actually real! How cool is that! I loved dinosaurs as a kid and studied them. I might be able to name most of them still.
If you could learn any language fluently what would it be?
Spanish, Mandarin and Norwegian. I know some Spanish but haven’t spoken it daily in years. I know a song in Norwegian and China is going to take over the world someday so I plan on knowing the language but I hear it is very difficult.
Are you a valuable asset on a Pub Quiz team?
MVP Baby! I know about as much as my other brilliant friends. I don’t think I’ve ever been on a losing team in fact.
If you were captain of a ship, what would you call it?
Authenticity