ARCANA (Eng.)
– Hi, thanks for your time. What’s currently going on with ARCANA?
Ia: At the moment we are relaxing and trying to enjoy the summer. Peter is making music all the time, sometimes Arcana and sometimes other projects. Mattias just became a father to a baby girl and we are so happy for him. Annmari is about to release her first solo project Angelic Foe and I am made the cover for that album as well as her promo photos. Sergio and Núria are working on their other projects.
– Your latest effort, “As Bright as a Thousand Suns”, was released some weeks ago. How has its feedback been?
Ia: We have had a lot of feedback, mostly positive ones actually, but also some bad. The bad ones have to do with that they feel nothing is happening, there is nothing new under the sun, and that it is not the old. Talking about not making anything new, it is kind of funny. People claim that they want Dark Age of Reason again… but that is definitely not new, so there is a contradiction there;) The positive reviews have been that it is new fresh music and that the production is better than ever. It is nice to see that they hear the instruments, the atmosphere. No matter what, reviews are nice. But what is important is the view of the fans.
– Starting digging a bit into this new opus I would like you to tell us what does the album’s title reflect and if it does represent in any way the content on this record.
Ia: The brightness of a thousand suns is our daughter Vendela. Peter suffers from deep depressions, and Vendela is his lifeline, his light in the dark. For many years, people thought that the lyrics were dark because of the music. But the lyrics and music reflects the inner self of Peter. The album in whole has to do with grief and sadness, but not all. We are three individuals that write lyrics in Arcana, and all our lyrics are very different from each other. And that is easy to see when reading them.
– Atmospheres have always been a really important element on your music. Where do you draw inspiration from to create such different ambience?
Ia: Emotions in the every day life, mostly, but of course music has influences from everywhere. You would lie if you say that all music is only from within your self. But the inspiration has to do with creativity, emotions, surroundings and views. And since we all contribute with lyrics, we have different styles. There is actually quite easy to see when Peter is writing the lyrics, or when Annmari or I write them.
– In fact the album starts and ends with two instrumental tracks, “Somnolence” and “Vinter”, which I think helps enhance the overall atmosphere on the CD. So, is there any concrete reason why did you decide to start and end “As Bright as a Thousand Suns” like this?
Ia: Somnolence was from the beginning attached to As the End Draws Near, but we wanted to have those songs early. And they fitted best as a start. Vinter is so different from the other songs. With the influences of Satie and the thought of snow and winter, this song is a good end to the album.
– This new record has a really important role from synths, as well as operatic voices and several ethnic influences. Is this how you envisioned the album since the beginning?
Ia: Since Peter is making music all the time, the thought of what an album will be isn’t there until we are closing in. It is an on going process. This time Peter chose 13 songs that we listened to, and we picked the songs we all thought would fit well. Inceptus was the only song that was made during the late mixing. And that is one of the songs that people write mostly about. A vision of an album is what you get when you have enough songs to put an album together. Peter is not making songs out of a thought of an album, it has to do with what ever happens in his life, there and then.
– Due to this I would like to know how uses to be like the songwriting process for ARCANA. Do you know how you want each album to sound like or is just something spontaneous?
Ia: Peter makes the music, alone. He records sounds, percussion and mixes thing. Mattias of course put his mark on the percussion, but all songs has both Peter and Mattias rhythms. Once a song is done, he then choses to either sing on it himself or gives it to Annmari and/or me. Annmari and I have a great time when recording, and we do that alone as well. It is rarely we all join in together. But when the album is almost done, we sit all together and talk about what should be added or removed. And then we also record all choirs together. Núria and Sergio did their recording much earlier when they visited us in Sweden. And they have also sent their contributions so that Peter later on could mix it in the music.
– In fact all songs on “As Bright as a Thousand Suns” flow really naturally, giving an overall organic vibe. Was this something you strived for?
Ia: As I said, the songs are part of an on going process. And of course we need to have songs that go well together. Some songs we had to remove, because they didn’t fit in. Like Precious Stone and A Cage: two good songs but not as a part of the full length. Then we had them on the single Emerald.
– Due to this I would like to know what your music is for you (a feelings channel, an art form, etc.)
Ia: For me I must say that the music evokes many feelings and through my lyrics I transfer some feelings into the music onto the listener. But since I am not making any music myself, I feel like one of the listeners, and I create my own pictures. Peter told me when he wrote Vinter, that he had the thought of falling snow. Then he noticed that Annmari wrote that is snowed outside her office window. Peter ran out from the studio, but no snow. Then he recorded the song, and when leaving for home the snow had started to fall. Destiny? Or is it just a coincidence? Who knows, but it is a nice anecdote.
– I think you have always created pictures with your music and well-cared instrumentation. Is this an important trademark of the ARCANA’s musical personality?
Ia: I think you have to look into your inner self and the images you create when listening. Every single individual have different images when listening, and every individual feel different emotions…. It is not up to us as artists to decide those images; it is the ones who listen. But the visuals around the music, the artwork and layouts are important to the music. Not only do we want to release music that is Arcana, but the physical cd must also have the vibe of Arcana. I have a vision of the artwork when I know an album is in progress. I then show Peter my suggestions, and so far he has loved every single one of them.
– Throughout the years you’ve managed to develop your very own sound but, what were some of the most influential bands for you during the early days?
Ia: It is nothing hidden behind the fact that Dead can Dance has been a great influence. But also bands like Depeche Mode, Swans, Scott Walker, Popol Vuh, Lee Hazelwood and many more have been fantastic influences. I must say that I find it a bit boring to always see the name of Arcana being compared to DcD. I understand that people might still want that, but I think Peter has developed a sound that is his own, and not the sound of DcD. If you compare the latest album of Arcana and the latest of DcD, you can really not hear any resemblances. Two good albums, but not a like.
– This being said, how could you describe your new record in 3 words?
Ia: Emotional, solemn and serious
– And finally, what are your near-future plans?
Ia: We are not performing for a long time. Peter is working on music all the time and otherwise he spends a lot of time with our daughter Vendela, Mattias need some time off to be a father for his daughter, I have a new job and need to attend it properly, Annmari is very occupied with work and her new solo project and Núria and Sergio have their Der Blaue Reiter and new project Heura to see to. We will perform one gig in Stockholm in January, and perhaps a few more gigs shortly after that. Look for moreinformation on our website www.erebusodora.net/arcana or on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Arcana-A-Peter-Bj%C3%A4rg%C3%B6-project-Official/184871171542874 . Peter and I will though be in Barcelona on the 20th of October for a gig with Sophia and Peter Bjärgö solo project.
– That’s all, thank you once more for answering our questions. If you want to add some final words; feel free to do it.
Thank you so much for listening to our music and for supporting what we do. I am sorry for the late answer to this interview, and we have no good excuse for it. We hope to be in Spain soon, because Spain is one of the few countries we haven’t been too. We wish you a lovely autumn and we hope you will continue to listen to us. You are the reason we exist.
