An Interview with Anders Trentemoller

An Interview with Anders Trentemoller

21 June, 2010
by: Robertswaine86

Rob Swaine talks to the Danish electronica giant, Anders Trentemoller, about the new album, the upcoming tour and his unique approach to production.

Trentemoller is very special indeed. Since the release of his debut album, 'The Last Resort' in 2006, he's fast become recognised as one of the most important names in electronica. Since then he's dabbled in film soundtracking, toured extensively and turned out some truly fantastic remixes. Now he's back with his outstanding new album 'Into The Great Wide Yonder', and is preparing to tour with his new seven-piece band. 

He kindly took some time out of his hectic schedule to indulge us in a chat:

When did you finish the album and how long did it take to make?

The whole process of doing the album took about a year. I first started work on it about one and a half years ago so the album was actually finished five or six months ago.

What have you been doing for the last six months then?

I've just done a few remixes and have recently started to think about how to transfer tracks from the album to the live stage. It's one thing to sit in the studio and another to play it live. I played nearly every instrument on this album by myself but it's always different when you're with musicians who bring their own input, feedback and ideas. We start rehearsing next week and I'm really looking forward to it because quite often the music takes on a whole different direction.

You've set up a new label 'In My Room'. Is that going to become a home for your own releases or are you going to be releasing stuff by other artists too?

Right now I'm actually producing this Danish indie girl duo called 'Darkness Falls' and we are planning to hopefully release an album on the label next year. The plan for doing my own label was to have some kind of platform from which I can release other upcoming artists but also my own mix CDs and future projects. I released my new album off it because I wanted it to come out on a label that was not so DJ-minded. My first album came out on Poker Flat which was much more of a house and techno label.

After the enormous success of 'The Last Resort', did you feel any pressure to live up to the hype that surrounded the first album?

Actually to be honest, not while I was in the writing process. If I had thought too much about that I would have simply panicked. For me it's really hard to make music if I think about who the target audience are or what the record label would want. After I finished the album, some of my friends teased me by saying stuff like “how's it going with the difficult second album?” as it's a well known fact that it can often be quite difficult to make a good follow-up album.

I understand that you made the entire album at home in Copenhagen. Does living in Copenhagen have an influence on your sound?

I think that I could have made this album anywhere in the world. The most important thing for me is the loneliness of the music making process. I make most of my music at night and that gives it a special melancholic vibe. Also there's the fact that there's no one to disturb you, there's no telephone ringing. It makes for the perfect music-making conditions.

During the creative process what is more important to you: the overall sound of the tracks or their melodies and structure?

This time it was actually more important to have strong melodies and chord progressions but the sound goes hand in hand with the songwriting for me. As I write the songs I also produce them. Some artists may do demos of their songs, then later go back and re-record most of the parts. It works better for me if I do it during the writing process. That is much easier if you work with a computer like I do.

Which is your favourite song off the new album?

I think it is actually the first song off the album. The track is called 'The Mash and the Furry'. The track outlines the vibe and direction the album. It still has an electronic drum feel to it but also includes guitars as well as dark, almost evil synths, then suddenly in creeps some beautiful string parts. It is one of the tracks that best describes the album and that's why I chose it as the opening track.

In an ideal world, who would you get to remix one of your songs, if you could chose anyone from throughout musical history?

Woah big question! I think it would be great to hear Portishead remix one of my tracks. Portishead are one of the most interesting electronic acts around and I really love their new album. They always make music with no compromises and I think our sounds could work well together, so if they have the time...

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Robertswaine86