interviewpage
Veni Domine - interview March 2006 |
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Victory: Hello Torbjörn, how are you? Torbjörn: Hey, I´m fine thanks Victory: A new album is coming up and for fans of Veni Domine it must feel like paradise,receiving two Veni Domine albums in "just" two years? Torbjörn: Well, that might be correct...I hope so anyways. We´re extremly pleased to be able to shorten the delivery time. Victory: Yeah, it feels kind of strange having a new album this fast. But truthfully your last album, IIII:Album of labour, could have been released a lot earlier, or am I wrong? Torbjörn: You´re right, the last cd was a dissaster in many ways, so just beeing able to release it was a victory for us. At some points in time along that way I never thought it would be released and the band had come to an end, I mean we´re talking 7 years of dissasters, not just the fact that the cd was late when it was recorded, but all the other turns along that route, well it´s in the past now. Victory: We thank to Lord for that! You seem to dislike staying in a specific sound-area for two albums, so what can the listener expect from the new one? Torbjörn: I think the one thing you always can expect is the heaviness and for us to be a bit slower than the average band, other than that I like to find new ways of expression, 23:59 we mix in some loops , the production is more up to date, as were all our productions when they we´re made.....but not when they were released...The listener can expect to find traces of God in there as well as traces of our shortcomings as individuals. Victory: I know you won't like this question; but of those albums you have released so far, which sounds most like 23:59? Torbjörn: Well, I´m not sure really, I would like to think 23:59 is a mix of the best of the previous albums. *laughs* Victory: That sounds very cliche', are you sure you're being honest now?! Torbjörn: That´s what I´m all about, clichés. *laughs* But there´s a lot to that answer, because I think we have the focus of the songs from FBF, The heaviness of Material, some prog elemts of SW, all in better focus than on IIII, so...sorry, that´s the best answer I can give! Soundwise we´re closer to home than ever. Victory: Well, after listening to your new album I think I can agree. Also I want to give a nod to the production, which is crystal clear. Are you responsible for that? Torbjörn: Yeah thanks man, I´m responsible. It´s a trip to hell and back a few times each recording and this was no exception. You know I could play the rockstar role and say that things went smooth and I´m the best producer ever, but that´s not the truth I´m constantly learning and doing all the things in the producing chain is plain stupid, but I had no choice so I´m pretty pleased to hear you like it. Victory: How long time does it take to produce a giant like this? Torbjörn: I counted 18 months with the songwriting, 11-12 months of production, then I don´t do this fulltime, I have a fulltime job ( 8 hrs/day) family with 3 kids so it´s not an ideal situation for producing a record, but my family is generous about it and they give me alot of freedom. Victory: That sounds great, man. With all these things happening in your life, how do you priority the following things: Family, Your work, your music? Torbjörn: Well, family first. Of course sometimes other things have prio but not without an agreement with the family, Work and then music. But the thing is to have a flexible environement where you can bend and stretch a bit. Victory: Talking again about your new album, the lyrics once again leaves much to the listener to ponder about. Is it a descision you've made not to have "in your face" lyrics, and instead having intelligent and almost poetic lyrics? Torbjörn: Well I never went for the "in your face" lyrics as I like it a bit more poetice if you like. To me I always tend to like it when I can make my own mind up about things, not having people telling me the truth and shoving down their ideas down my throat. And I guess it shows in my of living as well. By that I don´t mean it´s wrong doing the inyour face stuff, but I don´t care for it. I like the to interpet and try to see things from more angles than the obvious. Victory: Cool, I actually enjoy that kind of lyrics more and more myself. But at times it's good to listen to some spirit-uplifting ones as well. Like Jerusalem or Petra. Talking about that, do you think it is important as christian to be careful about what you are listening to? Like listening to secular metal? Torbjörn: Well ofcourse, I´m a big fan of Jerusalem and such bands and they are needed my point was not to dizz thoose kind of bands, just trying to explain my way of reason and thinking about myself in the writing process. I belive you need the whole spectra of lyrics and bands. And most important as a song/lyricwriter you have to be yourself. God created us unique and thoose qualities are needed. About secular bands; yes I think we have to be careful what we put into our system, whether it´s movies, TV, Music...who you hang with etc. You are coloured by those you meet and some can handle it some can´t. You have to use your/ Gods wisdom to sort out the things that are good and bad for you. And it´s up to you, you are responsible for you life. You can´t blame anyone else, of course there are such cases as well. Victory: How about any tours to support your new album? Torbjörn: We will have to see about that, we have a few gigs going but no tours so far. Victory: Of all concerts you've played, do you have a personal favourite? Torbjörn: Yeah, most of them actually, I remember playing the Steiger 14 in Amsterdam, it was attacked the day before with molotow coctails so it was burned out, we got a fax as we were in Utrecht but we decided to play anyways...it smelled like....well...you get the picture....we had have all doors open to get fresh air in so the police came during soundcheck but it was ok...black walls and ceiling.*laughs* That was a strange gig! Also Greenbelt first year was fun, Whitecross was headlining there. All Bobfests, Skylten in Linköping, and with Mortification in Stockholm was fun as well! Victory: That sounds interesting...hehe. Any other interesting projects you have been working with recently? Torbjörn: You know I´m blessed with my own studio so right now we´re recording Mercury Fnags second cd, I´ve been putting guitars on a track with Australian band Templar, a song with Ez Gomér on vocals and bass. Also I have another couple of songs that I´m putting guitars on, but too early to mention anything about that. New band HERO has a few solos from me and I will do them live together with my brother Thomas W. Also writing new stuff for alot of diffrent projects so I´m busy as ever...I´ve been blessed with many allies in the business, but still looking for more allies! *laughs* Victory: Cool, so we can look forward to many Torbjörn-influenced records this year! We're soon reaching the end of this but an interesting thing to know wold be if you have felt that God has been using Veni Domine in any particular way? Have you heard from any persons telling you that because of Veni Domine, they have got closer to God? Torbjörn: Well you never know...hopefully some will end up on good side. About the things God has done, we get mails and testimonies from time to time and some are heartbreaking....One have to humble oneself before God in those moments as His power is so much more than we can imagine. Not only helpi´ng people to a better way of life but actually saving lives. My role in this is so small, I just try to put myself in path of God and He will do the rest.It´s good to know that all the obstacles were climbed for a reason. Victory: Amen. Finally, if a reader has doubt in his heart and don't know what to do, what advice can you give him? Torbjörn: Diffrent situations needs diffrent solutions, that´s why going to church is of high value, so much people with so much experience. But generally the fist step I do is always level with God no matter what. God actually works you know, I belive that Mankinds most normal and basic position is to be close to God. So much easier to deal with God than most people seem to think. Victory: So if a person wants to know God, what should he do? Torbjörn: You know just say His name, you don´t have talk out loud, God knows your thoughts even before you think them. If you call upon God He will answer, God is always near you even if you don´t call upon Him, but he will never force Himself on you! Victory: Thanks a ton for your time Torbjörn. God bless you and your band! Torbjörn: My pleasure, Torbjörn |