Mørk Byrde is your guide through the ethereal landscapes of ambient, dark fantasy music, inspired by the depths of Viking lore and the vast expanses of Nordic mythology. Realm of haunting melodies and ancient tales… more in the interview…
I am happy that you found the time for this written interview, I think we all are looking forward to hear more about you and your
music.
1. I am sure most people know your music, would you like to tell us a little about yourself?
My name is Tomasz. Originally, I am from Poland, but I have been living in the UK since 2006.
I was born in the 70s and grew up listening to music from the 80s and 90s. I’m a husband and a father of a 15 year old smart-ass boy. Apart from composing and producing music which you know me of, I have been running a family business since 2010.
2.”Mørk Byrde” why did you choose that name?
“Mørk Byrde” means “Dark Burden” (translated from Danish). “Dark Burden” was my first YT channel where I started to upload my own music compositions.
3.Does it have a special meaning for you?
No, it doesn’t.
4. You have other channels, would you like to talk about these music projects?
The mentioned “Dark Burden” is the channel where I upload my own copyright free music. The music there is free to use for anyone who needs a background music for video projects. It is the channel where my more serious music production adventure has started, so you can see how much progress I have made since. It contains mainly ambient themes with dark, sad and horror vibes. Due to lack of time, I’m not uploading music to this channel as frequently as I used to, but I’m still adding something there from time to time.
Not a long time ago I opened the “Vault 318” channel where I make music with dystopian vibes. As mentioned above, I don’t have much time recently, hence I don’t make music for this channel as often as I would like to.
5. How long have you been playing and producing music?
On a more professional level I started producing music in October 2021 when I opened “Dark Burden” channel. It was then where I used DAW software for the very first time. DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) is a professional music production software which most, small and large, music producers use to create music. There are a few DAW programs on the market from a few different software developers. In my case it is FL Studio.
My music journey began many years before, though. When I was in my 20’s, I used a software called “Music Maker” (I’m not 100% sure if this was the correct name of this software), where I composed a few tracks. The program itself allowed you to compose songs from already premade loops which were included in the software, so it wasn’t a music production made completely from scratch like it is in DAW. I liked it, but it didn’t allow you to add your own input, your soul to the music.
In 2007 I started to learn to play the guitar. I have learned from guitar tabs (guitar tab is a simplified music sheet for guitar players). From the very start I have tried to learn my favourite riffs from my favourite songs and bands. It is not the easiest way to start to learn as some of the riffs were difficult for the beginners, but I have loved it anyway. It was fun. Soon I realised that it is not enough, and I have started to ‘mess up’ with guitars and tried to compose my own riffs.
6. How did it start for you with playing music?
As mentioned in my previous answer, on a more serious level, my music production started in 2021.
7. What music inspired you at that time?
At the time I was fascinated by the soundtrack from “The Walking Dead” TV drama series composed by Bear McCreary. Apart from many horror tracks in the series which I am not very keen on, the soundtrack includes many beautiful ambient and piano music pieces like “The Mercy of The Living”. Truly mesmerising piece of music, it instantly transports you to a different dimension.
Also, Gustavo Santaolalla had a big impact on me. His soundtracks from “The Last Of Us” video game and “Narcos Mexico” TV series are astonishing pieces of art. Gustavo’s approach is minimalism and it is really interesting what he can do with his charango guitar and only a little bit of ambiance in the background.
8. Did you play music before you started on the Viking music that we know you from?
Yes, I did as mention above.
9. Do you make other kinds of music, other than what we know you for?
Yes, I do. Apart from Viking themed music, I am familiar with metal, ambient, horror, etc.
10. Have you ever played in any bands?
No
11. How many instruments do you play and which ones?
I play electric guitar and a little bit of tagelharpa. Also, I use a midi keyboard controller to compose every music track, I don’t know if that counts, but there are a lot of music tracks on “Vault 318” channel which I recorded by just playing the keyboard.
12. Any plans about learning to play a new instrument?
At the moment I don’t have any plans to play a new instrument.
13. Did you have any kind of music education, or did you learn by yourself
I am fully self-taught.
14. Do you sing?
I sing in the shower, in the car and in public when I want to embarrass my teenage son.
15. I know you made a collab with another musician, would you like to tell us a little
about that?
Yes, I did a collaboration with Jane from “Farewelleon”. She was kind enough to use her
beautiful voice on our track.
16. Would you do more collabs.?
Sure, why not.
17. Do you have a favourite band or musician that means more to you than others?
I could talk about this topic for hours. There are so many artists that I love but if I would be able to choose only one, it would probably be “Slayer” – one of the best heavy drums in heavy metal, awesome guitar riffs and transitions in their songs are out of this world. The one I also need to mention is “Def Leppard”. It is the band which introduced me to heavy metal, the genre which is my favourite to this day. But as I said I have many favourite musicians from many different music genres.
18. Where do you typically get your inspiration to compose/ produce music?
Inspirations come from everywhere, I guess. From the music you have heard over the years, everyday life, the mood you are currently in, history, movies. Basically, everything you see and hear has an impact. Sometimes I just hear a melody in my head, sometimes a melody plays in my dream when I’m asleep. Interestingly, I usually have a hard time reproducing the melody I’ve dreamt, but there is one song that I managed to remember after waking up and transfer it to a music track. That’s how the “Idunn” song was born.
19. Is there a time of the day or a place that is better for creativity and new ideas?
No, for me there’s not. However, I have discovered that composing music comes easiest to me when I have a ‘clear’ head. When I have too many problems or too many things on my mind, composing music becomes very difficult for me.
20. Are you a believer of the Nordic/old ways or finding the history interesting?
The only thing I believe in is Karma, what you give is what you get. I do like history very much. The history of the Nordic countries is fascinating and has its own special atmosphere.
21. Do you find it challenging times in the music industry with YT and other streaming
places? (Other musicians are saying that, I am asking all)
No, I don’t. In fact, I believe that as music producers/composers we have a much easier job now then it was in the past, when there were no internet and streaming platforms. Today you can compose, record instruments and release your music without leaving your bedroom. Imagine how much effort musicians had to put in in the last century to make their music available to a wider audience. There was only radio, television and releases on vinyl records, cassette tapes and later on CDs where people could listen to music. Sure, there’s a lot more content on the market for people to find, but the whole process of producing and releasing music is a lot easier. For me, today’s technological advances in the music industry are a blessing because I can do what I love without leaving my home.
22. Do you have any advice for others on what to do?
Just never give up and do what you love to do. Today might be bad but tomorrow is a new day with new opportunities and ideas.
23. What is working best for you?
I don’t quite understand the question. I love to make music and when I have time for it, I’m happy.
24. Can it be hard to find time for the music and the balance between music/family life and
other things in life? (many feel they have too little time to make their music)
Yes, of course it is hard, especially when music is not your income source. For me, music is just a hobby that is hard to find time for. Being self-employed is essentially a 24/7 job where you are constantly worried about whether you will earn enough to cover your bills and other expenses. And I always worry that I don’t spend enough time with my family and friends.
25. I know you just released a track, any plans on an album soon?
I would love to release a new album (my dream is a doom metal album as well as another Viking inspired album), but I have very little spare time recently, so I don’t make plans for the future. If it comes, it comes.
26. Do you have other interests like sport, crafting, painting or carving?
I’m a fan of F1 racing and F1 history and I like to watch good TV series or documentaries. I used to love drawing with charcoal and pencils, but a few years ago I lost interest in it. Recently, in my spare time, I am all into music.
I would like to thank you for answering my questions about your music,
and glad we could do this interview.
Spotify open.spotify.com/artist/0FqLEhHIekPCOo0M0DYffu?si=7rN-ZrbCTAeI73Jg39ER7Q
Apple music.apple.com/us/artist/mørk-byrde/1673595585?
Merch Shop morkbyrde-shop.fourthwall.com
Bandcamp morkbyrde.bandcamp.com
Deezer deezer.page.link/uocXeAqx8PgnA65t8
