Ursprung entrances listeners with medieval instrumentation and galdaric chants, hauntingly hypnotic original melodies evoke primal emotions, as steady rhythms of big drums uplift an array of surreal voices, ranging from the soothing to the animalistic, holding listeners in a trance that transcends time, summoning the spirit of the ancient past.
We are happy that you found the time for this written interview, we are all looking forward to hear more about your music journey
Would you like to tell us a little about yourself?
My name is Andreas Axelsson, I am 30 years old, and I live kind of remotely and close to nature in the countryside of Sweden, Värmland. I enjoy spending time by lakes and wandering the local forests, preferably with my camera as my company.
What does “Ursprung” mean and does the name mean something special for you?
Ursprung is Swedish and translates to “Origin/Source”… When I chose the name I didn’t think much of it, I just went with my intuition to do so. Long story short; it wasn’t until last year the name really came to reveal its meaning to me, as I decided to put Ursprung on ice some years ago, and start up two new projects, one being Nattramn, in which I aimed to perform songs live.
And I did one show with Nattramn. But in the end, I felt like I had to get back to Ursprung, partly because of the ever so tiring mix-up with a certain vocalist, and some black metal band with a name alike, none which I play any part in. And partly because a festival I recently had contact with, also got me mixed up with these other musicians and almost cost me the spot to perform there… I decided not to attend either way, but I did not want this to be a recurring problem in the future. And there I decided to take the last two albums I wrote for Nattramn, and release it back under the banner of Ursprung.There and then I realized how ironic it is that I came back to my “Origin”. And I am glad I did. I think the meaning of Ursprung is deeply philosophical, in the sense of following your own intuition… At least for now.
How long have you been producing music?
If I recall right, I believe I started to record my very first songs sometime 2014/2015? Nothing that I came to release. I wrote and released my very first ambient melodies for Ursprung sometime 2016 and released Skugglekar the same year. I would probably say that these were the first proper recordings that I actually kept and released. So next year will be the 10th anniversary for Ursprung. Time flies…
And how did it start for you with producing your music?
Playing music and actually producing music came at different stages in my life. As long as I can remember I have always wanted to play music, and I did try some instruments like drums and guitar as a child, but I wouldn’t really latch on to it and practice everything the way I do today. Producing came around the age of 18-20 for me… When I wrote music back then, I did not want to record covers and be repetitive. I immediately wrote my own music, while of course practicing existing parts of songs that I enjoyed… I believe there are great things to be written and recorded at all stages of learning.
Have you always produced this kind of music, or have you been on a journey?
No, I have not. I began practicing death metal vocals in my teenage years, where I would make several attempts at forming an actual band. It is very hard to find like-minded people in such a small place, where I live. After going through a bunch of people trying to form a band, I eventually started to write solo black metal songs when I would play and record everything on my own. I did that for a year or two before releasing at least two albums, one solo and one alongside an ex-Lifelover member on vocals. I think in the midst of writing these two albums, I developed an interest in dark ambient music and combined it with nordic mythology. And that’s when Ursprung came to be my passion in 2016. Over the first two years of Ursprung, I also played hardcore punk with some good friends. Something I still wish I could do with a band.
Have you ever been in a band?
Yes, many bands, ranging from different constellations of death/black metal/metalcore/hardcore punk/dark Nordic folk. I’ve come to find its very hard to find stable trustworthy people you can actually be in a band with. Most people I’ve played with did not want to be in a band to do more than rehearse and party.
I know you have made collabs, would you like to share with whom?
I have collaborated with a lot of people over the years, but to keep it short I’m only gonna mention the amazing people within the dark Nordic folk genre; Sigurboði G (Vevaki) Will H (Vevaki) Aethelwyne (Munknörr) Jemina K (Noiduin) Björn H (Bjorth) Jim B (Blue Eyes) Barrek H (Skalti) Anatoly U.P (Nytt Land) Daniel H (Aftenstorm) My apologies if I have forgotten about someone… There is yet another name to come.
Would you like to do more collabs?
Both yes and no. I am trying to be more selective of the people who I decide to work with. Although it is very fun to work with others on these terms, I aim to perform live, and having too many guest vocalists might bring down the (already few) number of songs I will be able to play live one day. Therefore I try to limit myself to my own voice at the moment.
Do you have a favorite track yourself or maybe a band?
It all depends on the mood I’m in, as I listen to a lot of different music… But if I were to limit myself to the dark Nordic folk scene, I would say Forndom is my all-time favourite. He has brought something brand new to the table. And I am a big fan of minimalism… Less is more.
Do you believe in the old ways yourself?
Well, the short answer would be yes and no, It has its limitations on both ends… To mention a few reflections; After working a lot with the elder futhark runes on my previous Nattramn albums (which are now gone), I’ve come to find I realize their meaning in my daily life through certain symbolism, almost half subliminally. Sometimes a shape, item/sound, etc. trigger these thought patterns and realizations. And I worked quite a bit with animism and cycles on my album Gravmarken, which also connects to the ancestors, which seeps through these old ways you’re referring to. It is a very broad question to dissect into few words, which I probably shouldn’t try to do all that much… Understanding beliefs can be a very hard thing to do. I think the more you venture into these things, the more sense they will personally make. Depending on who you are, I think it will either turn out to make you feel spiritually fantastic, pointless or turn into a living horror story.
Where do you find your inspiration?
People, their deeds they did or didn’t do. Things that have happened to them or what I have been through myself… I think a lot of my lyrical themes before playing in this genre, and my current lyrical work, is “simply” a response of deep reflection of my place in this world. Sometimes a single word/sound/photography can act as a key to unlocking a whole song, or a music video.. It often boils down to what I am working on at the moment.
Do you feel it is easy to find inspiration?
Not at all. This is probably where I’ve been stuck at for the past year now… I’ve been searching for something new, and obviously in the wrong places. But slowly, I am beginning to find parts of what I wish to bring unto the world now. I recently discussed the idea of making an album through Swedish black magic with The Nordic Sound Channel @ YouTube, where each song would be a black magic spell… An idea I will most likely revisit further down the road.
Do you have any music education, or have you learned yourself?
No, I have never taken any lessons in anything regarding music, it has all been trial and error. I have learned everything on my own, out of necessity. And I don’t think I would have started out doing it any other way, even if I had the chance.
What instruments do you play on?
Many of them… Drums, kantele, different types of lyres/tagelharpas and horns, mouth harps,
cello/violin, nyckelharpa/moraharpa. Lurs, different flutes/Jorvik pan flute, some made of sheep’s bones… I think the first instrument I actually got for this genre was a cheap mouth harp. But it all snowballed from there… Today I have accumulated quite the collection of instruments. I started building instruments myself, from time to time. The first lyre I made was a Sutton Hoo type of lyre, which I still have and use today, almost 10 years later. I also started building vallhorn/blowing horns, from cow/goat horns. I even acquired huge water buffalo horns which I decided to try make an instrument out of… Turned out just fine. But I think the most interesting instrument I own is a replica of a sotharpa, built by Anders Norudde from the band Hedningarna. He has studied the instrument at the museum it’s been kept at…
The so called sotharpa/öjeharpa was found in Öje, by a folklorist more than 150 years ago. At that time, there was no similar instrument in Sweden, and the find later ended up in several different cultural history and music museums. You can hear its voice on the song “Där Dödens Vindar Vina” from the Gravmarken album. It is probably my favorite instrument to this day…
Can it be hard to find time for music when work and life in general comes in?
Yes, definitely. It’s not every day I come home from my line of work and feel charged and focused to sit down and immerse in musical endeavors.
Do you have any other interest like sport, crafting or carving – maybe gaming?
I enjoy being out fishing with my friends, or out photographing. Skateboarding has always been with me as well.. Building instruments when I get the feeling for it.
Any new releases soon?
I wouldn’t say soon, but yes, there is an album in the making. I can’t really say much about it yet.
Do you have a track or album of your own that you like more than others and why?
I’d say Gravmarken is my favorite creation so far. It is probably my most thought through release so far, touching the subject of animism and “ancestral worship”. Where I’ve left behind a lot of the earlier lyrics from the Edda. It is my own lyrical work, and I feel a deeper connection to it in that way. I think it means the most to me because it took me on a deeper journey in the lore and philosophy… In the end, it turned out to be a very logical, yet spiritual way of seeing human nature.
What are your musical plans for the future?
I aim to start playing live shows, on the terms I decide myself. No disturbances from record labels. For this, my current album in the works, will be written to be possible to be performed in its entirety. I am not saying I am embarking on a worldwide journey for this, but I will perform where I deem it fitting. A lot of people has asked for physical releases, and I have understood the assignment hehe…
Thank you deeply for this interview, I am very grateful to be part of it.
We would like to thank you for answering our questions about your music, and glad we could do this written interview, sure many are happy to get to know you better….
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