Kveld Music is a project dedicated to rekindling ancient European tales and myths and embracing aspects such as Paganism, Animism and their philosophy… We had the pleasure to make a written interview…
Written by: 68Livingdoll
We are happy that you found the time for this written interview,
we are looking forward to hear more about your music.
Your name “Kveld” means “evening” on Norwegian, why did you choose that, and does it have a special meaning for you?
When I created my first YouTube channel, which was around 13 years ago, I named it Kveld for a reason I actually can’t exactly remember to be honest. Probably because I liked the atmosphere outside after sunset, which I do to this day.
How long have you been playing and producing music? And how did it start for you with playing music?
I started playing drums as a middle-schooler and I did so passionately for a very long time.
At around 18 I got myself some microphones and started doing drum covers, that way I had my first experience with recording and mixing. From drums only I progressed into full covers until I thought “Hey, why not make my own songs?” and at 19 I started recording my own songs.
What music did you play before you started on the Viking related music?
I played mostly black metal and some post rock until Wardruna introduced me into pagan folk, which actually was a more coincidence because I bought one of their CDs which I found on sale. I hadn’t heard of them before but from that moment my song writing took a 180-degree turn. I still enjoy other genres too, but in these days, I feel an importance or even duty to re-discover and create pagan music.
Have you ever played in any bands?
Yes, I recorded drums for a black metal band as a studio drummer. I was never into playing live, however.
Do you play any instruments and which ones?
Drums as mentioned, but I stopped playing a few years ago. Else I play lyre and tagelharpa which I built myself, but not on a frequent basis.
Did you have any kind of music education, or did you learn by yourself?
I have no music education what so ever, everything I do is self-learned.
Do you collaborate with other musicians and if would you like to tell a little about that and maybe with whom you have done collabs with?
I did two collaborations with Bjorth, one of which is currently in the making and soon to be released. I think we did a great job and I’m looking forward to do some more collabs in the future. There is also one collaboration with Skalti in the making which I’m very eager to work on.
Would you do more collabs?
Yes, definitely. It’s always fun to combine new ideas and looking for new horizons.
Do you have a favorite track yourself maybe a band or musician that means more to you than others?
There are many great bands that have a lot of meaning to me, however the one band, or more precisely the one song that got me into creating music is “Land of the dead” by Summoning.
It’s probably one of my all-time favorites and the most influential song.
Do you make other kind of music now than what we know you for?
Yes, I am working on an EBM/industrial project. A first single will be released during the next months.
Where do you typically get your inspiration to compose/ produce music?
I wish I could say “I draw inspiration from nature” but for me it’s the total opposite. Nature is the place where I definitely don’t want to think about music but enjoy the silence. Most ideas I have are spontaneous and not influenced by my surroundings. Also, I often make up a scenario in my head,like a fictional story or film, and try to create a fitting song for it, just like a soundtrack.
Are you a believer of the Nordic/old ways?
I would call myself an Animist who draws inspiration from different aspects of pagan cultures. But yes, the Germanic heritage is what I feel most connected with. I have big interest in its history, and I believe in the end it doesn’t really matter which pagan belief system you choose for yourself since all of them are intertwined and have the same archetypes but with different names.
I lived in Japan for quite a while and even though it seems like a different world, the root of their native belief is the same as ours, which is nature.
Other I have interviewed is talking about it is challenging times in the music industry with YT and other streaming places, do you think that too?
Surely it is, but we must not forget that with all of its downsides there is still the one big positive which is the bare existence of those platforms, which allows us to get our music out there. Without it probably not a single independent musician would be able to gain an audience. But still, it’s a two-edged sword. The way the industry works is bad and so many things are based on coincidences and algorithms, let alone the royalties per stream are low. And the fact that I was able to gain some attention was pure luck. It’s not great but I still should be thankful for what I have achieved.
Do you have any advice for others what to do? What is working best for you?
The only thing I can say is do what you love and do it well. This is what I am putting all my energy in. The rest of it is coincidence and luck as unfortunate as it sounds. There are artists whose songs blow up overnight, and there are also artists who make great music too but haven’t had that luck yet.
Can it be hard to find time for the music and the balance between music/family life and other things in life?
One thing every musician should take care of is not to overwork and force yourself to be more productive, because in the end it will feel like a job. I found myself multiple times in the moment where I thought that it’s not fun anymore. Sure, you want your work to be as perfect as it can be, but if you’re not enjoying what you do, it has little meaning. I can’t really talk about balancing producing and family life because my current circumstances allow me to fully concentrate on music, which on the other hand again highlights the importance of what I said above. Giving yourself time to recharge the creativity battery is crucial.
Any new releases soon?
New album in October! One thing I can already say: It’s a big one.
I would like to thank you for answering our questions about your music, and glad we could do this interview and I am sure many are happy to get to know you a little better….
Thank you too for this opportunity!
You are most Welcome
