What prompted you to leave Northaunt in 2004 and concentrate on your own work?
It was Hærleif that asked me to leave the band cause I didn`t offer much in the end. I was not very inspired at that time.

The funny thing is that me, Hærleif (Northaunt), Erlend and Erik (Avsky)  have a side-project together now. So in a way we are playing together again now, for the first time since then. We don`t have a name yet, but we have found a unique sound. Some labels have already showed some interest in the project.   


Just out of curiosity: Is the project's name a direct reference to any of your own fears?
No hehe. It is just a name that fit the atmosphere of the music; especially it was like that in the start.


What made you turn towards the guitar in your search for a „more melodic, complex and melancholic“ sound?
On the first record, “House of memories”, I didn`t use much guitar because I only had a shitty guitar that I didn`t like the sound on. I borrowed an acustic guitar from my father, but that was not very often. So when I got a new guitar it was very naturally for me to use that instrument. I always played guitar, I don`t know how to play any other instruments.


“Anomie“ was essentially finished in 2006, but was only released in late 2007. How come?
The debut cd “house of memories” that was released by NOTHingness records was delayed almost a year. That`s the main reason why Anomie was delayed (Except that, I think NOTH…did a good job with promoting the cd, so thumbs up for them). I also changed label from NOTHingness records to Reverse Alignment a few months after the release of h.o.m.


How did you hook up with Reverse Alignment?
Kristian of Reverse Alignment contacted me, and was very interested in the project. NOTHingness was supposed to release Anomie, but Kristian offered me a better deal. I also sent him the third cd that he liked a lot, and which he will release later this year.


.„Anomie“ has a very scenic character, with most of the pieces relatively short. Were you looking for an approach, which would mean that each track would make sense on its own, yet keep the flow of the album undisturbed?
Difficult question. When I listen to music I prefer that the artist has a special mood on each track, withouit losing the red thread. So that way of making music comes very natural to me. Anyway, I don`t plan every detail when it comes to music making, sometimes I surprise myself.


You already finished your third CD. In which way will it mark another change in your style?
It`s more floating and it is not so much repeating the same during a track. .I’m very proud of it: I guess Reverse alignment will release it late this year.


Did you listen to „Horizons“, Northaunt's album after you left? If so, what are your thoughts on it?
Off course !! I like it very much, and it is definitely as good as “Barren land” in my opinion. Hærleif is a very talented guy, and I heard some new stuff that he made that was really mindblowing…

By Tobias Fischer

Discography:
House of Memories (Nothingness Records) 2007
Anomie (Reverse Alignment) 2007

Homepage:
Taphephobia