Niels Rahder On the Making Of “The Times Are Now”
What was the creative process like for this particular song?
The process for this song was quite organic. It started with a simple guitar riff that I was playing around with one afternoon. When an idea comes to me I record a rough version on my phone. Then when I get the impulse to work on making a song, I listen to the recording and work with that. For writing lyrics I often start with a feeling or a concept I want to explore. From there, I’ll play around with melodies and chords, letting the music guide the lyrics and sometimes vice versa. It’s an intuitive process in which I try to stay open.
For me, the lyrics somehow tap well into British punk rock (culture), which by the time I made and recorded this song had a period of listening quite a lot to.
It’s amazing to witness how an idea can gradually evolve from just a raw simple recording and melody into a full song.
Were there any memorable or standout moments during the recording sessions for this song?
It seems that sometimes good ideas and inspiration come from unexpected places and that it can be good to try and be aware of impulses that can feel like an urge to go in a certain direction.
One moment that stands out is when tracking the vocals. In the ruction edit of the song there is some yelling and conflict (Ruction) going on, and what can be interpreted as a gunshot is actually a kick on a chair.
What impact do you hope "The Times Are Now" will have on your audience?
My hope is that listeners feel a sense of empowerment and motivation to take action, in their personal lives and communities, when they hear this song. Somehow it and the title of it seem to place a focus on the moment we’re living in.
I hope for the song to resonate on different levels—some might find it a rallying cry, while others could see it as a reflective piece that encourages them to think about their role in the world. Ultimately, I hope it sparks conversations and inspires people to embrace change and take positive steps forward.
We’re living in a time where there’s a lot of division, and I hope that the song can encourage people to support each other and act for what they believe in. Life is short.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you got started in music?
My parents listened to music and had an Elvis Presley collection that I would listen to. I picked up my first guitar when I was about 15, and then began listening more to classic rock music. I took some lessons initially, and also learned by ear and experimenting, which gradually turned into writing my own. During high school I performed local gigs as a drummer in a grunge band, and the response was encouraging.
I faced my share of challenges in life and also each obstacle and experience taught me valuable lessons it seems like. I heard this from others as well, that how demanding and tough a time has been, after a while you can start to appreciate the lessons learned from it. Tapping into real emotions and drawing from personal experience can likely bring authenticity to music and elevate it.
Where do you find inspiration for your songs or musical ideas?
Inspiration can strike from so many places it seems. A powerful story or a striking image can ignite a spark and an urge to make a piece of expression. I am also a painter and I often find that emotions conveyed in pictures and colors somehow want to have a sound, an expression and another dimension to it.
Musicians' ability to capture complex emotions in simple yet profound ways inspires me. Listening to music and learning about it makes me want to keep experimenting with sound and structure. It seems to me that music can be a very personal experience, and I hope that listeners can relate their own experiences, challenges and aspirations to this song. I am also conscious and aware that the period of human life is so small compared to the age of the earth and the universe; One day we are here, and the next we are not. This seems to make me quite humble and respectful regarding art and life in general.