ERIK JARL: Noise as fun bands seems to have vanished, and that's a good thing

Which collaborations were/are the most interesting and important to You?

I think the Envenomist collaboration is the most important for me. I had in mind that I should contact David since I heard the LP he relesed on Segerhuva (Chariots, 2007 - radikaliai.lt), but it took some years until I contcated him and asked him if he was interested to do a collaboration. I think the theme, artwork and sound works well together.

I'm also very found ot the Skin Area / Jarl collaboration, since it sounds like Skin Area and Jarl and not like IRM and that was the meaning with it, that it should sound like a mix of Skin area and Jarl. The MB (Maurizio Bianchi - radikaliai.lt) remix I did was an honour since I been a fan of MB for a long time and SFAG (2010 - radikaliai.lt) is my favorite release with him.

Design by Karolina Urbaniak, released by Polish label Zoharum

What are the main ideas are behind Your music?

It's hard to describe but I use to describe Jarls music as turbulent, withdrawn, neurotic electronics thats focus on isolation.

Could You name Your favorite Your compositions / albums?

I think my favorite Jarl release is the 2cd Turbulence Colour.

I worked with that album for a really long time and each track sounds different comperad to eachother, almost like a compilation album.

What about the new album,  Amygdala Colours - Hemisphere Rotation, released in March, 2016 by Reverse Aligment?

The new album is about amygdala, located in the brain, it could be descibed as a journey through the brain with different sounds that come and go.

Design by Karolina Urbaniak, released by Swedish label Reverse Alignment

What is and what is not a Sound Art?

I'm not sure, but if you put an effort to create sound, then it becomes art.

Anyone can do random sounds on a synthesizer, anyone can learn a computer program, but to do it so that it would work needs skills.

Design by Karolina Urbaniak, released by Lithuanian label Moontrix

What do You think about relations between "the old art" and computer art? Are they compatible?

If you mean making sound with or without computer I'm a fan of the analog sound.

It takes more skill to do music without the help of a computer program. But if you use the computer right it can work.

If you mean artwork I prefer the old art, anyone can do artwork with a computer, but it has no soul compared to handmade art.

Artwork: Karolina Urbaniak, released by Swedish label Reverse Alignment

What do You think about thousands of neofolk/industrial/ambient/tribal/electroacoustic/avantguarde etc. bands/projects? Is it a kind of trend, o just a tendency forwards better music?

There seems to be an explosion of releases from band and project nowadays. Not sure if it is a trend or not.

But, the HNW (harsh noise wall) and noise as fun bands seems to have vanished, and that's a good thing.

What do You know about Lithuania? What Lithuanian and foreign musicians do You value most?

Not so much. I played in Vilnius in 2007 with IRM and Jarl, and it was nice. We were there a couple of days and saw some part of the city. Well I know some of your history, you became independent from Soviet Union when the Iron Curtain fell in 1990. I think you also became independent in 1918 for a short while and then became occupied in 1940.

I heard som bands from Lithuania like Oro! Oro! and Svaixt, and I like them. I also know other bands by name but i haven't listened to them.

Would You play (or maybe You did) with a rock, industrial or punk rock band?

I played in several punk and metal band between 1992-1996 but none of them were any good. I lost interest in that kind of music when I discovered power electronics and ambient music.

What inspires You most?

Psychology, the human brain but I also have a huge interest in movies and criminal history, maybe those two things are reflected in my music somehow.

What are You working on right now?

Nothing, but I just finished a new album which will be released in June 2017.

Tack så mycket, Erik (Sw. Thank You very much).

Useful links:

https://www.facebook.com/Jarl.main

https://soundcloud.com/jarl-sweden-europa