From Poland cinematic dark folk inspired by nature and mystic pagan rituals.
We are happy that you found the time for this written interview, we are all looking forward to hearing more about your music journey
Would you like to tell us a about Skogsalver and what kind of music you play?
Skogsalver is a cinematic dark folk project, that combines folk music with epic trailer music and the energy of heavier music genres. In Skogsalver songs, you can hear unusual instruments, such as deer antlers, tree branches and a real bow. I released one album called “Svarens Tid”. It has 9 songs and tells the story based on the Norse mythology, from the creation of the world to Ragnarok.
Where do you come from?
I’m from Poland, as are the other musicians who worked on “Svarens Tid”. What’s interesting, our lyrics are in Swedish and Jakub, who sings on the album, speaks Swedish fluently.
When did it start?
The most important years for me and the Skogsalver project were 2018-2020. The music sketches that I never planned to show to anyone started to take shape. I decided to make my dream of releasing an album come true. I started working with great musicians, who I had already played with before and I decided to do it my own way
How long have you been playing?
I had been playing bass in bands since around 2013. Even though we spent a lot of time on music and we had some smaller and bigger successes, we never released a physical CD. I saw that my ideas weren’t always close to the ideas of the other musicians, so I started creating music for myself.
“Skogsalver” what does that mean? And does it have a special meaning for you?
Skogsalver means “Forest Elves”. It is also often written as a bind rune. I think the name fits the music very well.
What music inspired you?
Metal music was, of course, what inspired me to play guitar. First there were posters and concerts, then guitars, bands and finally my own concerts. The more I got into music world, the more new sounds I discovered. I started thinking about how I could create music in my own way. I don’t pretend that Wardruna was not an inspiration when I was creating “Svarens Tid”, because most bands that make Nordic folk are inspired by Wardruna. I was also inspired by Hans Zimmer and Two Steps From Hell.
Have you played anything else? And have you played in any bands?
As I said before, I played in several bands with much heavier genres. Melody was always the most important thing for me, so I mostly played genres such as symphonic metal, folk metal and melodic metal.
What instruments do you play?
My main instrument is bass guitar. I also had some experience with other instruments but weren’t always a good choice for me. I use advanced sound libraries today and they give me many possibilities during making music.
Have you as a band done any collabs with others?
I can say that Skogsalver is one big collaboration. It is my project, but I worked with people who brought their own energy and ideas to it.
Would you do any collabs.?
I’d love to collaborate with other musicians, maybe from different parts of the world and on a different subject than Norse mythology. I have many ideas that I’d like to make real.
Where do you typically get your inspiration to compose/ produce music?
My inspiration is not very predictable, and it can come at unexpected moments. I most often find it in everyday life and while travelling.
Do you compose/produce everything yourself?
I think that you can’t be an expert at everything, so I usually leave mixing and mastering to the right person. The same goes for graphics and photography. I create the music, the main ideas and give the project its colours.
Are you a believer of the Nordic/old ways or finding the history interesting?
I believe in energy and nature. Norse beliefs are important to me, but I can also find things that are close to my heart in many other cultures.
Any new releases of tracks or albums soon?
The “Svarens Tid” chapter is finished. The album is available on all streaming services, and the physical CD is also available to buy. For now, I have new music sketches waiting for the right moment. I cannot say when, or even if, I will continue with them. I am happy with what already exists.
What do you do in your free time? Do you have other interests as sport, gaming or crafting maybe?At the moment, I’m dealing with everyday life and travelling a lot. I also have a YouTube channel Jeszcze Dalej Travel. It gives me a place for my creative energy, so I also have a lot of inspiration for making music 🙂
We would like to thank you for answering our questions about your band, and glad we could do this written interview, sure many are interested in getting to know you better….
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