Fuimadane is a Neo Folk, Dark Ambient, Oriental Music & Folktronica inspired project from Denmark. We had the opportunity to sit down with the talented Fuimadane, diving into his creative journey, inspirations, and the artistry that drives his unique sound…
We had the incredible opportunity to sit down with the talented Fuimidane, diving into his creative journey, inspirations, and the artistry that drives his unique sound.
First, I will let you tell us a little about yourself?
Hii guys, and thank you for the opportunity of this interview, I’m very honored. My name is Jon Skarin, I’m 40 years” young” and live in Denmark, on an Island called Amager. I live with my fiancé Sandra and our two kids, Bjørn (10) and Røskva (8).
I was diagnosed with schizophrenia when I was already 20 years old, so as you can imagine, my teenage years prior to the diagnosis and medicine were quite challenging. I learned early on that Music helped to keep me sane and going. As it goes with most people suffering mental illnesses, I have some good days and some bad days, and I try my best to dedicate my good days entirely to being as good a dad as I can be, and hopefully a somewhat passable fiancé.
Being a stay-at-home-dad, and while Sandra is at work and the kids are in school, I try to use what remains of my better days to produce music, because I’ve always believed that music is the best medicine for the soul and heart.
Your name FUIMADANE how did you come up with that and any special reason for the name?
Well, the name FUIMADANE is a unique abbreviation, spelling out “FU I’M A DANE!” or “F#ck you, I’m a Dane”. See, there is some Russian blood from my mother’s side running through my veins, and because of that I’ve had to deal a majority of my childhood and teenage years with people saying that I wasn’t a full-fledged Dane. When I started the project, I wanted to call the project something that was rebellious in its own right, something that screamed “F#ck them and what believe I am or am supposed to be”. Who gave them the right to do that anyway?
So, I came up with Fuimadane.
How long have you been producing music?
In the early 2000’s I got introduced to a program called EJAY, through which I was able to learn that I could produce my own music digitally. EJAY was a tool with premade loops, which would be assembled on a timeline to create a unique track. I spent hours with it, having an absolute blast. However, I soon realized that I was missing ways to add my own melodies to the music. I eventually managed to get my hands on more professional software called Reason 2.5, in which I was able to build my own melodies. And that was the beginning of my musical career.
Any breaks?
I’ve taken several breaks since I started Fuimadane as a project, primarily due to my mental health often working against me. That’s when the bad days come around and I need to focus on recovering. Music helps me keep those bad days at bay, and when I’m stuck in those bad days, I still think of new things I want to try.
That gives me some small boosts of motivation and keep me going. Sometimes I also just simply listen to the music I’ve created during my better days. It is a large part of my mental recovery, like therapy. But it’s still breaks I need to take.
How did it start for you with producing music?
It started with tons of ideas or genres I wanted to combine and blends I wanted to try, but never had the opportunity to. When I grew up, I’ve only ever been able to create melodies on my mother’s piano. And then the door opened for me when I learned that I was able to produce music by myself in digital form and found ways to blend those ideas together in a software. Gotta loves those times of discovery.
Did you produce music before you started on the Viking related music?
Yes, prior to Fuimadane, I’ve been doing a lot of electronic music. My journey started by producing trance and EDM. My career as a trance producer was short lived and went by mostly unnoticed, however, but I learned quite a lot about making music doing it. Some of the things I learned, like the arrangement and composition of a track, are things I still draw upon quite often when I produce as Fuimadane. I have a fondness for mixing electronic music with folk music and other genres. Which is the foundation that both Fuimadane and my side project Brumbassen are built on.
Have you ever played in any bands?
I was a drummer at my elementary school band once. We performed for an audience of parents at most, but not much else. It was a fun time of my life, but also quite challenging because that was the time when some of my mental illnesses began.
Do you play any instruments and which ones?
I’ve been playing the piano from a young age and am currently learning to create melodies on the tagel harpa, which a fan of my Fuimadane Project (his name is Ravingspy aka. Markus) handcrafted and gifted to me. But about 95% of my work is created digitally.
Do you work with other musicians? Whom have you done collabs with?
On occasion I’ve collaborated with other musicians. A recurring collab is with my friend Kessir Riliniki, who also is a major part of Fuimadane now, whose vocals have been featured on a couple of tracks and they help me produce the music, listening to the music prior to release and also creates the cover art for almost all tracks and albums. I’ve collaborated with Bakahira on some psytrance tracks, with Tragoe on a Greek/Nordic feature, with Corey Judd on some Neo Folk tracks. And some other musicians I’ve collaborated with in the past are Bjarla, Vingnir, Herknungr and Bjorth.
And sometimes, when I find no one else to feature or collaborate with, I will just be featuring myself as Jon Skarin, remix Fuimadane tracks as Brumbassen, Dj Klapstol & Smaasten. All focusing on different genre or styles.
Do you have a favorite track yourself/ maybe a band/musician that mean more to you than others?
At the moment I listen a lot to Hindarfjäll, particularly the track “Sunnas Strålar”, which I believe is one of the most powerful, well produced – well arranged tracks I’ve ever heard. Also “HAN” by Nordein is a Favorite of min.
Do you make other kind of music at the moment than what we know you for?
I’m a sucker for electronic music, specifically trance/dance – EDM & Techno music. My journey as a music producer began with Smaasten. Later on, I’ve produced as Jon Skarin, Dj Klapstol, Brumbassen, Brun Toiletpapirblomst, Fader Sol Moder Jord, Ærlik Pæl and, of course, Fuimadane.
Where do you typically get your inspiration to produce music?
From my family, by talking with you family and friends. And of course, my inner turmoil’s
Are you working on some new music at the moment that you would like to share a little with us, what we can expect to hear.
Fuimadane is currently on a break, but I’ve already got loads of new ideas for future Fuimadane projects. However, my current focus is Brumbassen (which means Bumblebee), where I do some Bootlegs and practicing arrangements of popular Danish tracks.
Are you a believer of the Nordic/old ways?
Yes, I am. I find the history as well as the mythological aspect very interesting, and I’m absolutely in love with the aspect inspiring the music landscape right now. I truly believe that we live in a “golden age” of this genre, where so many different bands/groups create music inspired by Norse mythology, paganism and the old ways. There is barely a day that goes by without at least one new track in that genre, it’s absolutely amazing. For Odin!
I feel when I hear your music that you are taking us on a journey and telling us a story, is that how it is for you as well?
Thank you so much, it was and most of all, very much a goal of mine to be able to “talk” to the listener through my music, to convey ideas, stories, journeys, scenarios emotions and turmoil through each track. And if some of my tracks have that exact effect then I have truly reached my goal!
I know you have 2 livestreams, one with Fuimadane music and one with Brumbassen music on YouTube, when I hear your music, it is very happy and with a positive vibe, we want to dance. Is that something you want it to be or is music like that for you most of the time?
Most Fuimadane tracks are made in minor scales, which I believe it suites the Fuimadane music the best. I sometimes try to create tracks that are more uplifting and positive using major scales. I start off with some notes that I find interesting in the moment, which often reflect my mood while I’m producing the track, and it can evolve either way. But I won’t deny that one of my dreams in life is to be standing among a crowd of people, with my music blasting from speakers all around us and see people dancing to my music. It’s certainly a big dream of mine.
Can it be hard to find time for the music and the balance between music/family life and other things in life?
It can be quite challenging, yes. I try my best to produce at very specific times, when the kids are sleeping or at school and Sandra is at work, so i can dedicate time to my family life when they are at home. That is also a reason I’m sometimes slow in answering people on social media platforms.
I am one of the many that follows you on IG, FB, YT, Bandcamp and Spotify, and I know you are on many other platforms than that, it must take a lot of time to upload all the time, do you think that the music industry has change much in the period you have made music?
Thank you, it always makes me most happy to know that people are following Fuimadane on many different platforms. Especially since I tend to share very family-oriented content on IG and FB, which doesn’t always relate directly back to my music. It sure takes a lot of time and energy to keep up with the music production, uploading videos, social media updates, writing out the info of each track or album, respond to messages, have covers designed (by Kessir) – keeping it all up to date. But for most of my YouTube videos I now use my phone to create the videos, which makes things a lot easier. The music industry has changed a lot, and you no longer need to under contract with a major record label to get noticed. Now everyone is able to share their music and creations through Spotify, YouTube, Bandcamp, iTunes etc. It’s very accessible, even to people with lesser means, especially people who are only just starting out expressing themselves through their music. Reaching the crowd is now something anyone can do, but it takes a lot of work to create a presence across all social media platforms and the places where people listen to their music. Fuimadane is very much a project that people either love or hate, and the reaction can differ from track to track. But the people who find my music and like it seems to keep coming back for more, which I’m very happy about.
Do you have any advice for other what to do or not?
It’s a bit pretentious and probably something that people are tired of hearing, but it holds true to this day and there is a reason people say it so many times: Whatever you do, DON’T GIVE UP! Keep on believing and trusting in yourself. And don’t listen to what the negative voices tell you. Instead tell them F#ck you, I AM a musician! (Fuimamusician? Haha!)
What is working best for you?
Drinking some beers to warm up – and then, just start producing. But if you start losing focus or get distracted a lot and the weather is nice outside, go for a walk outside, visit a forest. Indulge your senses. Smell, hear, feel, watch mother earth in action. Take it all in, let it inspire you. To me, that is the best kick starter to get the creative juices flowing.
I would like to thank you for answering our questions about your music, and glad we could do this little interview and I am sure many are happy to get to know you a little better….
It was an honor to have had this interview with you, and hopefully your readers will have learned a little something about me and my life. Thank you Dorthe for making this possible.
You are most welcome, Jon
