Vargen On the Making OF ‘Vargen’
Can you share any interesting or unique stories or perspectives in 'Vargen?'
One of my favorite guitarists is Jojje Wadenius, who’s an icon in Sweden. I was thrilled when he said yes to join us on the blues-jazzy “Them Cats.” I asked him to “sound like a cat,” and I think his wah-wah really made a great feline impersonation, haha.
Were there any challenges or breakthrough moments during the songwriting process for 'Vargen?'
There’s a diversity of genres and themes on the album. Some of the songs were written just before the sessions started and a few had been lying around for years. “Tar & Feathers” had a musical theme and a chord progression that was a challenge to find the right arrangement. At first, I wanted to do it in an old 60’s pop-style, like The Beatles’ early singles or The Searchers’ “Needles And Pins.” The guiding vocals for the verses were ripped-off from the latter for a long time and eventually the theme of “a face that you long for” set the theme for both the lyric and a more “sophisticated” approach. The producer Fredrik Larnemo had worked out a wonderful string arrangement but it was a bit “too much” to blend with the mellow vocal. And we didn’t have a good opening, just to jump right into the piano theme felt somehow rushed. So, I remember a breakthrough came when I asked Fredrik to put the strings as an intro. And they fit just perfectly there. It’s like you’re about to attend a wedding or you’re soon about to experience something wonderful you know will change your life for the better.
What is your favorite song from 'Vargen' and why?
I love all of them, really. But if I have to pick one, it has to be “A Midnight Dreary.” It’s a kind of mystic piece, live it feels like I still explore it, or perhaps it explores me. I think it will stick around in the setlist for quite a while.
Can you share a bit about your musical background and the journey that led you to where you are today?
Guitarist turned to songwriter turned to actor turned to singer-songwriter.
What role do you feel emotions play in your music, and how do you channel them into your performances?
They’re crucial to remain true.