THE HAUNTED NORTH really has a sound that matches the band name. Check them out if you like your hardrock dark and mysterious… Anders Ekdahl ©2018 <!–more–>
What pressure is there in releasing an album compared to a demo? Do you
feel that there is a sort of pressure to succeed when you release and album,
that it sorta is for real now?
– There is no difference between an album and a demo with regard to ‘pressure’
and I personally think the era of the demo is gone unless someone is actually
asking you for it. There is probably a lot more stress on the demo because
usually the budget and gear are not up to par with a full studio, but with
better and better home studios on the rise, some demos are achieving polished
status. As to the pressure to succeed, I have come to the point in my career
where I understand the difference between ‘big production music’ and ‘music’
itself. I have taken two 5-year sabbaticals from both because I didn’t
understand the difference. You really need to make that separation because ‘big
production music’ will always be a gamble on the entry level, whereas you can
hold music from cradle to grave. My best advice, never lose the music no matter
how shitty the industry gets and you’ll be okay. Unfortunately It took me a
lifetime to figure that out.
When you release a record of any sort what kind of expectations do you
have on it? Do you set up goals for it?
– I am not one for doing anything in a
small way. I stepped back in because JD (bass) and Jeff (drums) from Black
Label Society got on board with my project. That was a game changer and Sean
(guitarist) was the catalyst for everything. That’s all we did throughout 2017
and the debut ‘Monster’ turned out very well for a groove metal album. The
immediate goal is to create a return that you can sustain yourself with and be
viable to those who love your work. Sounds like a plan, but it’s not easy. A
lot of parts have to be running smooth and you have to trust your team and your
instincts. Surround yourself with good dedicated trusted people and be
tenacious. You are going to need to be. There is so much garbage and cronyism
in this business. I am still to this day shocked by what is being considered
‘great’. Some of it is appalling to those of us who still treat our trade as a
craft
When you release an album and you go out and play live and people know
your songs, how weird is that? That people know what you have written on your
own?
– There is nothing greater that seeing
fans singings the words you wrote. I have taken that for granted in the past,
but never again. It’s everything. Beyond the money and recognition we all fight
for, having the fans know your songs is the power base – the meaning – the
depth. You are reaching them, and in the end, that is everything!
Do you feel that you have to follow in the footsteps of the last album
for a new when it comes to lyrics and art work for everything so that those
that bought the previous record will recognize your sound?
– Yes and no. I think the cover art and the brand really do need to be
consistent. I want my fans to be able to see something they haven’t seen and
then say, “That looks like a THN album.” Even though they haven’t
seen it, they recognize the feel, the symbolism. They know because it is locked
into their subconscious. The music should always strive to get better. It is up
to each band to define what that means. For example, I think
“Monster” is strong for a groove metal album, but now that we have
found our niche, I am looking for perfection and timelessness going into the
second album. You will never lose the groove as that is the genre, but you go
for better in that field each time you set foot in the studio!
Do you feel like you are a part of a greater community because you play
in a band?
– Of course. It really is a small world and while there are tiers to that
world, we are part of the hard rock/heavy metal community. At this point in
time we all need to be helping each other and lifting each other up. That’s
critical today for all of us.
How hard/easy is it to come up with new songs that that still are you
but doesn’t sound like anything you’ve already written?
– I don’t really think about it. It’s more like Sean and I sit down to write
and we keep what works and throw out what doesn’t. In the writing process the
scrutiny is built in. It’s second nature. If our ears our pleased we run with
it. For me, the days of trying to follow any trends are long dead and gone.
What influences/inspires you today? Where do you draw inspiration from?
Is it important to have some sort of message?
– I am an old school power singer and I
love that singing is coming back into today’s heavy rock. As too any message a
band may wish to convey, that is up to them, but I will say whatever message
you decide to run with, make sure it is honest, genuine, and from the heart.
Your fans will pick up on it and so will others who have never heard your
music. Believe what you are putting out or you will be labeled superficial.
That is not necessarily an overt thing. It’s like bad acting – the same applies
to songs. If it isn’t ‘real’, people will pick up on it. They may not even know
why, they just won’t be interested in you. Keep it real
We hear about what state the record industry is in. Then we hear that cd
sales are increasing. As a band that releases records do you notice the state
the industry is in?
– The industry is what it is. Due to the internet and downloadable music, where
could it go but where it is at now? The money heyday is over. As musicians we
are never going to see that again. That is the negative. The positive is that
people are creating again, breaking the rules of ‘commercial value’, and
becoming true artists again. With the machine no longer dictating how you need
to ‘do it’ or ‘create it’, it leaves the field wide open for original thinking
with regard to creating music again. It’s like the 70s, without question the
most innovative time in rock history. It is a top priority for me to re-examine
song structure and make sure I am not following patterns just for the sake of
those patterns. Why? What is the purpose? You made a six-minute song with a ton
of groove and you are thinking it’s too long? Before you make those cuts, ask yourself
why. If you can’t come up with an answer that makes sense to you as the creator
then you’ve got no business cutting it. That is something I love about where we
are at today. The integrity of the song has gained power over the historic
‘radio play’ requirements. Sure, I listen to the Nu-metal music sometimes on
satellite radio, but I can’t listen for long. Too many bands are still adhering
to those rules and they are all starting to sound the same. It doesn’t mean
they are bad or without talent, it just means they may need to break out of the
cookie cutter set up by the label or producer. ‘
What is your opinion on digital verses physical?
– It’s convenient to download, but I remember when I very young, when the album
cover art was almost as important as the music contained within. There is
something of meaningful sentimental value in an actual material product as
opposed to just the music out in a digital cloud somewhere. Liner notes,
lyrics, photos – those cannot be overridden by the download. That is just my
personal opinion. I believe that’s why we are seeing the resurgence of vinyl.
What lies in the future?
– Currently we are planning our 2nd studio album. It feels like we are walking
into a laboratory. We are not coming out until we have created a destroyer.
Each song will stand alone, and each will be undeniably good or that song will
not be recorded. Every note, every groove, every beat, every vocal and lyric
will be scrutinized and torn apart. The goal is to create an album that you
play and after listening to it you open your eyes and realize you’ve destroyed
your entire house!
