“Exploding Mind”

Interview with the Norwegian bassist Terje Nyhus

By Sergio Vilar


A forced question: Why did call Arabs In Aspic to its group?
The band name is inspired by King Crimson’s “Larks’ tongues in Aspic”. And it doesn’t mean anything special. We just want to make it clear that we not are just another band who sings about politics, war and love. We just play music we like.

For those that ignore the past of the band, you could make a small summary of your career?
The band was started in mid 90s. then the group members was Eskil Nyhus (drums), I (Terje, bass) Jostein Smeby (guitar) and Tommy Ingebrigtsen (guitar). In the beginning the band played mostly Black Sabbath-covers, but they soon started to make their own music. At this time Arabs In Aspic was known as a really good Sabbath-cover band. After recording the first EP “Progeira”, they found out that they needed Hammond-organ in the sound. It was at this time I Magnar Krutvik, started in the band. this happened in the autumn 2003. After having several sold-out concerts in Trondheim, Norway, the band started working on their first full length album. It was recorded in Børse music studio (owned by Jostein and Tommy). It was released 22.10.2004. It was named “Far Out In Aradabia”. The album has got good feedback from several Norwegian web-sides and magazines.

Which were your motivations to become musicians? what music type did you listen then in that?
Our motivations is to make the best music ever. We want to make people avare of that some of the best music ever made was made in late 60s and the beginning of 70s, and that either Elvis or Michael Jackson is the king of rock. We mainly listen to music for the late 60s and beginning of 70s prog-rock and "blues-rock" like King Crimson, Genesis, Gong, Yes, Jethro Tull, Mountain, Spooky Tooth and so on.

That other groups or did soloists of that time influence in your music?
We are truly influenced by these kind of band.

If you had to define which is the musical proposal of Arabs In Aspic, how would you make it?
Arabs In Aspic plays heavy rock like Black Sabbath and Mountain, and prog like Genesis and Jethro Tull. It’s hard to put a name on it, so let’s call it Børse-music.

What do you want to express through her?
We want to tell stories about strange things in our music.

Would I like us to speak about “Far Out In Aradabia” and of the recent “Progeria” EP. Could you  give me a brief impression of each one of those works?
“Progeria” : it is really dynamic. the songs have long easy-parts who build up to big takeoffs. the sound is very clean but massive. the songs are inspired by “The Lord Of The Rings”, and the Progeria Syndrom.

“Far Out In Aradabia” : has much dirtier sound. the songs contains more improvisations. The last song on the album “The Butterpriest-Jam” was recorded live in our studio, and is, as the title says, a jam. the sound is quite different from “Progeria”, but you can still hear the Børse-music and the "Arabs-sound" that we are well known for.

Which is the compossitive method that habitually use?
Sometimes some one in the band comes with a near complete song, or we work all together, or even sometimes to or three together. we don’t have an typical method of making our music. But every one in the band are effecting the music in several ways.

How are you inspired to compose the songs? I refer to the music and the lyrics...
The lyrics are just weird ideas. maybe with some elements from real-life baked in with these weird ideas.

Is this your only group or is some of you participated in other parallel works?
This is my only band. but I work with music in other ways too. I make some jingles and stuff like that to some radio-shows in Norway. The other guys in the band plays in some none-serious bands, except Eskil plays in a other good band Third Kind.

Changing topic. What current, North American or European bands, do you find interesting?
I have just bought The Mars Volta’s new album “Frances The Mute”. I think its ok, but I have to study it some more before I can say anything about it.

I know the other guys in the band are in to stoner-rock like Queens of the Stone Age. I like em to and I personally thing Muse have some good elements in their music, like the massive sound.

What are you listening at the moment? Which are your favorite artists?
My personal all time favorite band is Nirvana. It was the first band I really liked, and it was they who made my really interested in playing and listening to music.

Which your immediate projects are?
Right now are we working on new material, we have already made several real  good songs, and we are thinking of going on a tour this summer.

OK Terje. Thank you for your time.
Thanks to you Sergio!
 

www.arabsinaspic.com

 
Nucleus interview: 12/03/05