A R T I F E X

“A Great Instrumental Experience From Sweden”


Interview with the guitarist Kristofer Dahl and the drummer Gustav Almlöf

By Sergio Vilar

Which are the origins of Artifex? How this integrated the band?
Kristofer : Origins of Artifex: Three people with unusual musical visions getting together, to perform non-commercial music from the heart..

Gustav : Another great thing about Artifex, is the spontaneity, and I guess that gives character to every song.

If you had to describe to somebody that has never listened your musical proposal, that they would like to stand out in her? 
Kristofer : Artifex is about creating dynamics and musical landscapes. We want to go from complex rhythms to free improvised and jammed sections. Music is so much more than just creating a two-minute static song with verse and chorus, Artifex wants to integrate unpredictability and atonal passages to break the song’s pattern, so that the chorus ends up being strengthened.

Gustav : I would describe Artifex as an instrumental fusion/rock band.
It’s the best label for this kind of music. The number one truth is that we create music that has it origins from a variety of styles. The “Art” in “Artifex” simply stand for our (at least my) love to create this kind of art-music, to be artistic, supposed to just being “musical”.

Was the style of the band always the same one or did it change with the time?
Kristofer : Since the band is quite “young” we haven’t had to time to change direction… Still we have done some jazz standards and jazz fusion originals, just for the fun of it (nothing recorded).

Gustav : The most fundamental idea was to create instrumental fusion, and I think we have managed to stay in that direction since we started up.

What does Artifex represent for you?
Kristofer : Since we all go 100% for the music, the band means a lot for us. Artifex ensures us our lives are going in the right direction!

Gustav : Artifex represent a band with clear ideals. We play this kind of music, because we love fusion ourselves. The unexpected... the improvisation… and blend of styles really makes it demanding for a listener. It’s also very difficult music to execute. The conclusion = challenging music.

I would like that we speak of “Artifex”, the disc that you have just published…
Kristofer : Artifex first release is a product of such intense work. Me and Gustav would meet and rehearse all day. We would write such strange things, that a single passage could require one day of rehearsal. You can image Magnus reaction when he joined the band months later, he had a hard time. ;) When we look back at the album know we can’t tell how we did it...

Gustav : I totally agree with Kristofer. “Artifex” is our debut CD. I guess we had a bunch of songs and were really anxious to get them recorded.

Could you give me a brief description of each song?
Kristofer : OK. Each song :

1. “Green Robot”: The first song we wrote, probably the most difficult one to play. Especially the intro of the song didn’t come easy.. The fast “chorus” is inspired from Tony Macalpine “Autumn leaves”.

2. “Let’s Rumble”: A circus tune! The walking base really made the song come alive. Maybe the strongest tune of the album.

3. “The reliable blue line”: This one is a little more trash metal, although it yields some softer and “bluer” passages.

4. “Jack Falco”: A touch of Latin? It is always inspiring to end and begin a song with a completely different sound and feel.

5. “Bad joke”: The different sections in this one are put together in an insane way, no logic here! You won’t be able to stomp your foot to this one!

6. “Blazing saddles”: I had been working on some bluegrass/country licks and wanted to put them together in a song. It’s also nice with a little pause from all the distorted guitars in the middle of album. Don’t listen to this one if you scared of cowboys!

7. “The Fuse”: When Gustav starts experimenting he shows no mercy. Understanding these rhythms as a guitarist was nothing but HELL!! Me and Magnus had to work quite hard to get through this one.

8. “Xiphias”: To digest this one: Visit a Greek restaurant and eat some swordfish (= Xiphias ).

10. “The Meditating Bear”: The sections in this one build up to Magnus’s beautiful, jazzy bass solo. It was his first take in the studio, we were all stunned.

11. “Clear the front”: It is sometimes important to do things which nobody else will appreciate: Clear the front!

12. “Disarmed”: I wrote both the music & lyrics for this tune. If you listen clearly you will understand that weapons sucks. =) The singer David Åhlund had to nail the lyrics in 3-4 hours, and he had never heard the song before. He did a great job, even though it could have been better if we had more time. (Gustav)

Like the songs arise, of where the inspiration comes?
Kristofer : I usually get inspiration from little melodies that pop up in my head, and the only way to get rid of them is to do a song! I suspect Gustav gets his rhythms from his nightmares? ;)

Gustav : Yeah right! (laughs). I can’t really answer that question. It’s…magic. I just prefer to play and stumble upon new ideas all of the time. When it comes to making an album I guess, for my part, inspiration comes from a variety of styles. I listen to everything between rock, metal, jazz and classical music. If you plan to do a CD and are serious about what you do, then there is no problem to get inspiration, simply because you "have" to. 

What process have you continued to take out it for sale once finished?
Kristofer : Right now we just want as many people as possible to hear Artifex, that’s why we are giving the album away for free at our website (www.artifexmusic.tk). It seems the word is spreading on the internet…

Gustav : We have contacted a big number of record companies all over the world, but still no one has really dared to release our music (though they say it sounds good). We do offer the CD for free on our site.

How this the scene of the progressive rock nowadays in Sweden? Are there many people that listen this music style?
Kristofer : Definitely not!!! We are the only ones in Sweden... almost. Getting gigs in Sweden is a difficult task.

Gustav : In Sweden this genre is very, very small. I dare to say that, because it’s the truth. We have jazz bands, but nothing like Planet X, Steve Vai, etc. If you ask me I would say that the biggest Swedish name in the area of progressive fusion, like the one Artifex plays, is Lale Larson.

Which are your musical objectives of now in more?
Kristofer : We are currently working on material for a second Artifex album. We also have some loose plans on recording some Artifex meets Rammstein material with vocals…

Gustav : We have plans to make a new Artifex CD. The material will be constructed in a more logical sense, and will have a smaller set of themes. I guess we just want to get more listeners, and add the things that we didn’t add to the first CD. We gurantee it will be something out of the ordinary!

Thank you for the time dedicated in responding our questions. Something more than you mean like to finish?
Kristofer : Last but not least: Thanks to everyone who still cares about progressive/fusion music, you are the reason we keep it up!!

Gustav : Yeah! And thank you all for your interest in Artifex, and cheers to you Sergio for putting this interview together.

www.artifexmusic.tk  

Nucleus interview: 15/10/05