For our third interview, we move from musicians (after
Astrid Wiezell, aka Northern Spies, and Vasco Batista, aka
Big Summer) to the man who started
EardrumsPop.Yes, a personal music hero.
These Go to 11!
Knut, EardrumsPop
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| Knut, indiepop superhero |
How many times
EardrumsPop has been featured in
this blog? Did you know I run a formal petition & campaign to make the label win the Nobel Prize for their contribution to mankind's well-being & good-taste? Any indiepop lover with ears knows that each time this label announces a
new EPop release great music is awaiting us. Do you want to know who started the netlabel & still runs it today along Stefan, Tim and Silja? Coming from Norway, our own Batman, making justice for indiepop on the blogosphere, is Knut B. Lindbjør, and here are his answers.
1. First record that you bought (be honest)
The first record I bought was actually a cassette tape, and I got
it when I bought my first cassette player. The tape has indeed been a
very influential one for my taste in music. It was a compilation of new
wave bands, and included several songs and bands I have much love for
even today. My first vinyl record was probably something by Elvis or
Beatles or Kiss. I can't remember it as well as that first cassette
tape. My taste in music was as varied then as it is today! In 10 years
time, will you be asking people about their first mp3 or the first song
they streamed on Spotify? :-)
2. First and last concert you have attended (be honest too!)
I think my first concert was an outdoor one with A-Ha in my hometown
of Tromsø, Norway. Me and my friends played in synthpop-bands at the
time, and I think all of us only had our eyes on the synth gear of Magne
Furuholmen throughout the concert. I remember we were impressed that he
seemed to play everything live, and not much seemed to be on
sequencers. The last concert was last week, actually. It was an acoustic
concert with the Norwegian singer/songwriter Richard Holmsen in
Drammen, Norway. A wonderful night! He's good.
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| Explanation needed Knut! |
3. Guilty pleasure (song/band you shouldn’t like but you do, yes, it’s the embarrassing question)
Not embarrassing at all! I have lots of guilty pleasures, and I am
proud of them all. My daughter introduces me to all these boybands and
hits of today, and I actually like One Direction. They do have some
really catchy songs! I am also a part-time hiphop fan, especially when I
am out walking. And Elvis is still cool. And Duran Duran and Bananarama
and Bronski Beat. I could go on and on and on!
4. Most precious music item you own (collector mode on)
I am not a collector at all, but I think I must say the compilation
"Shadow Factory" by Sarah Records, or the early Creation Records
compilations "Doing it for the Kids" and "Doing God's Work". The reason
is mainly because they had a huge influence on me at the time, and have
shaped me musically.
5. Favorite lyrics (not yours)
I would have to say Kraftwerk's "Pocket Calculator" or any of Cocteau Twins' lyrics. :-)
6. Musician/s you would like to meet (should be alive, for obvious reasons, but you can choose a dead one too)
There are not many musicians that I find so interesting that I would like to meet them in person, but I think
Kristin Hersh sounds like an interesting person, and maybe I would like to meet Martin Gore as well - but only if he would show me around his studio and let me watch when he makes music.
7. Favorite artwork album (not yours)
It's not easy to pick one. Impossible, I would say, but let's try. It
will be "ONE OF my favourite artworks", not "THE favourite artwork". One
of the artworks I have dreamt myself into the most, is probably Yo La
Tengo's "And then Nothing Turned Itself Inside-Out". It's beautiful. I
usually fall for illustration-kind of cover art, but this one is very
special to me. From more modern bands, I really like the artworks on The
Leisure Society's releases. The art on Golden Fable's releases are also
outstanding.
8. Books or movies? Depending on your answer recommend us one (trick: you can choose both)
Books. Rob Sheffield - "Love Is a Mixtape".
9. Song (of yours) you are most proud of
I think it has to be the "
Between Two Waves" compilation. It became much
bigger - and much better - than we dared to hope for. It also means a
lot to me, because it was the start of the label as a team-based
project, and I started working with people who mean a lot to me today, -
Stefan, Tim, Leena and later Silja.
10. What’s does it mean indie for you? (yes, the “serious question”)
I hate serious questions! The word indie does not mean
much to me, and I think I mainly use it as a name for a very wide genre.
A long time ago, it meant "independent from the major labels", but
today, - I don't know. I don't like the mentality that often goes hand
in hand with the word indie. "We're indie, and we're so much better than
the major-label-shit-bands". I care about good music, not where it has
been released. We at
EardrumsPop are probably very indie, if you use the word as
"independent", but mostly because we can do whatever we want. That has
kind of become an internal slogan for us. It's a creative freedom that
we really appreciate. We have no deals with anyone, we are not limited
by money and we don't have to please anyone other than ourselves. We
hope we make a lot of our listeners happy, though!
11. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
I am myopic. I can't see that long.
Zillion thanks Knut!
Tripping the Light Fantastic. We begin our trip in Hamburg, Germany with this seven-piece group whose origins technically dates back to 2001, although the existing version of the group didn't form until 2008. With a S/T mini-album in 2009 and three 7" singles between 2010 and 2013 (the latest pair out on Dufflecoat and Cloudberry Records), their debut full LP, ...Is Tripping the Light Fantastic, just came out now on Jigsaw Records. An indiepop kaleidoscope, vital, joyous, full of arresting melodies and playful vocals. Orange Juice? Check. The Pastels? Check. Twee? Check. Fun? Check, check, check, check, check... 
Astral Pattern. We move to London to meet this trio formed early last year, after the split of their previous band S.C.U.M., and following a crucial trip to Dusseldorf to see Kraftwerk, their favourite band live. With only one release to date, the EP "Light Poems", out since July via 37 Adventures label it might be to early to analyse the influence's extent of the seminal German band. But judging by their five tunes, a subtle, lush, elegant and evocative blend of ethereal dreampop with motorik structures, what we can guarantee is that here's a promising combo to follow from now on. 
Violet Hours. Three weeks ago I introduced you the exciting post-punk band Desperate Journalist, which have me completely haunted. But the addiction is going to get even worse because I just found Jo Bevan, their amazing singer and leader, has another project going on. A quintet (initially a trio) formed on February last year & poised to make "pop that's going to be remembered". Indeed, judging by the three songs available to date. Timeless, epic pop daunting between baroque ballads and indiepop 80s classics, with Bevan's voice crooning among the delicate melodies. Oh my, what a music crush! Can't wait for more! 
