| |
|
|
|
|
.......................................................................................................... |
|
|
| |
SVARTSINN |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
Stark:
Hello Jan Roger. Firstly I'd like you to introduce yourself. How
old are you? Where do you live? Do you have any "normal" job? |
|
|
| |
Jan Roger:
"Hey
Przemek, well my name is Jan Roger Pettersen. I am 32 years old
and I'm from Trondheim in Norway, the 3rd biggest city in our
country. I do have a job, I work as a logistics manager/dispatcher
in a firm dealing with GPS and navigation for the Maritime market.
A bit boring really, most jobs are I guess -but work is a
necessary evil..." |
|
|
| |
Could you tell few words about the beginnings of your musical
journey with SVARTSINN? Did you have any musical projects before
it? |
|
|
| |
"Started
to work on the music back in 1998/99 after a crash course lesson
from my good friend Haerleif of NORTHAUNT, I felt I needed some
kind of outlet for some personal issues that weighed heavy down on
me. I didn't have any musical training and played no instrument at
all, and had no other creative talents. I heard some strange music
here and there that I liked, but didn't know if it was available
in albums or if it had a genre. Haerleif and one other friend of
mine filled me with info and I thought this was it for me,
starting off in the easiest way and then naturally evolving with
time. Svartsinn is therefore my first musical achievement, but
might not be the last." |
|
|
| |
What's the meaning of the name of your project? |
|
|
| |
"Svartsinn,
directly translated from Norwegian is Black Mind. A very dark
state of mind to be more specific." |
|
|
| |
As we all know, Norway is famous for many black metal bands. Have
you ever been involved in any of them? Do you know any "prominent"
musicians from that scene? |
|
|
| |
"Not
personally I would say, I know of them and have talked to many of
them on several occasions. I am a member of an underground black
metal band called "Vandod", making the atmospheric stuff. Used to
play bass when we started up in 2003, but didn't feel like I had a
good grip on it so I stepped down." |
|
|
| |
 |
|
|
| |
Why did you choose dark ambient to express your feelings? |
|
|
| |
"For
me it is the genre that is most capable of expressing any
atmospheres and deep emotions with the best diversity a genre can
offer. To give you an example, in my hometown now there are
several dark ambient artists (NORTHAUNT, AVSKY, TAPHEPHOBIA, METUS
MORTUUS, HYPOTHERMIA and SVARTSINN) and we all sound extremely
different from each other even though we know each other and some
are even family related. I totally knew this was my thing from the
first moment I heard dark ambient, the sound and atmosphere is
perfect for what I'm trying to express. Another reason is that is
it quite possible to create decent atmospheres even without being
skilled at playing instruments!" |
|
|
| |
In your opinion, where the dark ambient phenomenon lies? Why there
are people who find so many emotions or moods here, while the
majority doesn't see anything interesting in this genre - only
boring drones without rhythm, without vocals? |
|
|
| |
"I
also wondered about that, since this music can range from being
close to aggressive, beautiful or depressive or even more bright
too at times. It has the potential to reach a bigger audience
although I consider it to be a small scene and underground - I
also prefer it this way to be honest. To answer your question more
precisely though, I am actually not sure why only certain people
find this music interesting, I guess mainstream people listen to
mainstream music, and odd ones has a bigger variety in their taste." |
|
|
| |
Could you compare first SVARTSINN album "Devouring Consciousness"
with "Traces of Nothingness". Tell me few words about your
evolution as a musician. |
|
|
| |
"The
big difference lies in self-competence and my own abilities with
the software and sound manipulation, also how to choose better raw
material. Also I experiment more with tools, keyboards and self
made "instruments". The debut album has an awful sound, but I
still love the moods I managed to stir up in it. "Traces..." shows
that I have done some improvements in several areas without going
astray from the path..." |
|
|
| |
 |
|
|
| |
Do you try to bring some message by your music? |
|
|
| |
"Hmm,
hard question. All 3 albums are extremely personal and work as an
outlet for me, a way to get some issues out of my system. Since
there are no lyrics in my music I try to explain its meaning via
album/song titles, a short text or quotes. I never lay out
anything very clearly for people to understand, I think it should
be interpreted by the listener and what he or she get out of it is
up to them. To be honest, I make the music entirely for my own use
with no intention of reaching others at all. I just happen to be
very fortunate that others seem to like what I do." |
|
|
| |
Could you also compare two great labels you cooperated with -
Eibon and Cyclic Law? Which of their catalogues you like more? |
|
|
| |
"Eibon
is without doubt a great label and the home of many amazing
artists, but with a less clear concept than Cyclic Law, Eibon's
back catalogue shows more variation and includes many more genres
than Cyclic Law. CL has a more narrow path with focus on fewer
genres (genres that are very related to each other) and for me
that is a good way to go. So far I don't think CL has released 1
bad album, I like them all. On Eibon I like a great deal, but
there are some genres there I don't care much about. I'm still in
contact with Mauro though, and he does a great job!" |
|
|
| |
You've taken part in few compilations ("Last Bleak Days", "A Final
Testimony", Beksinski tribute etc.). Which of them presents the
greatest musical value for you? |
|
|
| |
"Ohh,
hard one. they all have great value for me. But if I have to
choose I will say the Beksinski Tribute, since it also has some
value because of my interest in the Artist as well." |
|
|
| |
Why have you decided to take part in Beksinski tribute? Do you
know his paintings? Do you like'em? |
|
|
| |
"As
I said above, I had a huge interest in his work, I have my walls
full of small print-outs! I was asked to join since I was part of
a discussion on a mailing list on the internet right after he was
killed. I said yes immediately, it is a great honor for me to pay
tribute to his memory. I am amazed by his work and love his
paintings!" |
|
|
| |
On "Traces of Nothingness" there is a song called "Misanthropic
Odyssey" which reminds me very strongly "Apocalypse Now"
soundtrack (especially the "Voyage" track). Is this an intended
effect, or just my imagination? Do you know that music and that
movie (which in a way also is kind of misanthropic odyssey) |
|
|
| |
"I
know the movie, saw it many years ago, but don't remember the
music much. I might have to check up on that, hehe. No parallels
to the movie or music, just a song about solitude, loneliness and
a dash of misanthropy. :)" |
|
|
| |
 |
|
|
| |
You've just started activity with your sideproject called
WASTELAND TRANSMISSIONS. What was the reason of setting up another
dark ambient project? |
|
|
| |
"I
needed to make something else for a change, something not so
personal. Still, whatever I make it comes out dark. Dark Ambient
is what I know, so I chose to make something that interests me and
space is one of those things." |
|
|
| |
As I see, WASTELAND TRANSMISSIONS will be dealing with sci-fi
matters. I'd like to ask you about your favourites sci-fi authors
and movies (personally I can feel "Event Horizon" connotations). |
|
|
| |
"You
are correct, "Event Horizon" is one of them. Also "Solaris" by
Andrei Tarkovsky, "Pitch Black", "2001: A Space Odyssey", "The
Abyss" and more. I try to conjure up some cold, dark soundscapes
dealing with space and the feeling of being alone is this vast
universe." |
|
|
| |
How do you think are there somewhere in outer space other
intelligent forms of life? |
|
|
| |
"Of
course, as certain and real as the blood in our veins! The truth
is out there, I believe! Don't you? :)" |
|
|
| |
In your opinion, how will Earth look like in about let's say 1000
years? |
|
|
| |
"I
can feel the rage of Mother Earth , one day she will have her
revenge...a huge nature catastrophy will be the end of us. 1000
years? No Earth..." |
|
|
| |
Many dark ambient projects claims that they're inspired by Nature.
How about you? Does all that desolate landscapes, woods and fjords
have any influence on your music? |
|
|
| |
"Yes!
It is the place for re-creation and it is the place I go to get
away from the city's turbulence, people and chaos. It clears my
mind and calms me down, that is inspiring in itself." |
|
|
| |
Maybe it's silly question, but who would you be today if such
thing as dark ambient music never existed? I mean would you try to
express yourself in some other form of art? Literature, painting
perhaps? |
|
|
| |
"I
think I would have tried something eventually, since I felt it for
a long time before being able to express myself. I am hopeless at
drawing and painting, so that out of the question.
Literature...perhaps, but most likely not. Who knows what would
have happened if I didn't have Svartsinn...don't want to look down
that road..." |
|
|
| |
 |
|
|
| |
That seem a little strange to me, but I have an impression that
guys from dark ambient scene are much more friendly and
communicative than people involved in industrial or neofolk scene.
Hou would you explain that dissonance - people who create the
darkest moods are in fact the nicest ones? Or maybe I'm wrong? |
|
|
| |
"Hmmm,
I'm not able to answer that one in a good manner. I haven't really
talked to many from the Neofolk or Industrial scene, those I have
met are outstanding people and also quite nice as well. Perhaps
they need to keep up their appearance and live out their serious
image? I don't know." |
|
|
| |
You seem to be in good relationships with Herleif of NORTHAUNT.
Could you tell me few words about your friendship? How do you like
"Horizons" (for me one of dark ambient highlights of 2006)? |
|
|
| |
"Haerleif
is the one who showed me the path, a mentor so to speak. Although
my music is fairly different from his (as mentioned earlier). He
is one of my best friends and I value that friendship a great deal.
I have always loved his music, not only Northaunt, but also some
of his other projects. (Non Ethos etc.) "Horizons" is a great
album, and as you say a highlight of 2006 for sure!" |
|
|
| |
I know that you're planning a release with remixes of your songs
made by some well known artists. Could you enclose this initiative? |
|
|
| |
"Yes
that's true. It will hopefully be released late summer 2007. Some
are well known, some not. But they all did a good job and they are
all great artists!
It will be a good release, I am happy to have befriended these
guys." |
|
|
| |
What's the other future plans of SVARTSINN? |
|
|
| |
"A
mini-lp release with new material, together with the remix cd is
the only thing planned at the moment. I am working on a song for a
Hypnos Records compilation, but not sure it will be accepted. We
will see. Other than that I am concentrating on Wasteland
Transmissions for a while, hopefully I will have an album ready by
the end of the year." |
|
|
| |
Thank you for your time Jan Roger. I hope I didn't bore you to
death. Last words are yours. |
|
|
| |
"Thanks
for the interest in Svartsinn and for your support! Hope my
answers will not put anyone to sleep!" |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
[ Stark ]
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
[ Photos by Anna
Gorgoń] |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
