Present yourself to the readers
What’s the story for your new album RETURN ?
It is a long story indeed, but to try to cut it a bit shorter, Return is the first album with new songs that DSC have released since 2003, so it has certainly been a while since we put something out there. We started the process with this album back in 2011, when I and VigilAnte sat down in a basement and began sorting out our musical ideas for the future. Although we hadn’t worked together with the Cowboys material for quite some time, his return to the lineup was somewhat of a milestone for DSC that I believe had a lot of effect on how things have come to play out. It lay the foundation for the Return album in the shape it has become. In the middle of all this we also had Vagrant Bob who gave a lot of visual and aestethic direction and was almost like a director that showed the path ahead. Atreyo then returned in 2012 and brought back that minimalistic spirit that we had sort of left back in 1997 after finishing the Disclosure album. He likes to keep things simple and that is certainly a key element on the Return album as well and also something that has had an impact on the overall arc of the DSC up to this time. To spice things up we were joined by our new member, gunslinger Jonah, who brought along a lot of new ideas and colours to the sound. We went back to the roots so to say, embracing the methods of working from the early days. We had a lot of different things that were going on musical wise in that time period, but we came back to find the DSC-sound that we all sort of knew and loved and we built it from there. Another part of the creative process was to let some steam out and that became the Chronicles re-recordings that featured older songs but made in a way that I wish we had the resources to do back in the days. Then we had some other ideas too, but we felt that we now had the chance to focus on one particular road and explore what was there to find, music wise. We then kept building on that which became the songs and sound for the Return album. Once we started going down that road we just had to go along with the ride. It was a pretty clear choice to make and it felt kind of easy to write and create new material that fit the base structure that we had to start from. From there on it took shape and we kept coming back to a place where it all started, yet at the same time we were building something totally new and different from what we had ever done before. Hence, the Return from, or maybe the return of, Dark Side Cowboys.
Who composes ?...How does it work in the band ?
There isn’t really an easy answer to this one since there is not one method that is used regularly. The writing of the songs are usually done in many different ways, for example sometimes it starts with an individual having a musical idea that is presented to the others, other times it is the result of a jam session, and so on. There is a lot more than just composing to it, it is creating the soundscape, arranging the instruments, the recording and mixing, producing process and a lot more that as a whole defines and creates the sound. We are all involved in different ways.
Who writes the texts ?..What are they talking about ?..How does inspiration come ?
Usually I (Nik) am the one who write the lyrics to most DSC-songs, but not all! I usually write them though, in a way that is indirect, using a lot of metaphores and such. I like to think that our audience are intelligent people who don’t like to be preached to, rather like to think for themselves, to evaluate, reflect. Then the lyrics will mean different things to different people. Sometimes I can find at least two or three different possible meanings to a song just from my point of view, so I guess there could be thousands of ways they can be interpreted by our listeners and I would say that each and every one of them are entitled to their experience. The lyrics are always woven into the soundscapes so that the lyrics don’t stand for themselves, but are working together with the music, creating an overall atmosphere and experience. Still of course there are certain topics that I try to adress, certain stories that are to be told. Depending on which song and which album/time of creation it varies a lot. The Return album sure has it’s framework so to say. The lyrics are very personal on this album and they are centered around a place and time, but they are also at the same time telling a story about the Dark Side Cowboys. Also, on top of that, each song has a theme and some kind of message to it, that sort of blends into the other two perspectives mentioned, and more, so I guess that one could enjoy the songs without prior knowledge about us, but at the same time hardcore fans can dig deep and find a lot of easter eggs too. Many of our listeners seem to identify with the songs and I guess that is also a good thing, even though sometimes I have come across that some people think that I have written about them specifically when I have not, and sometimes the opposite, that they have no clue that they have actually inspired some lyrics, and I like it like that, a bit of mystery. But if I look back at it there has also been albums where I have written lyrics to portray characters, almost like a musical. There has also been albums where I have adressed for example belief as a concept, rather than a certain religion or belief itself, which could possibly be a common misconception for a song like “New Religion”, but that song refers to the alternative and subculture scene a lot more than it refers to any religious beliefs. Maybe now, some 15 years later, I can disclose that, haha.
In studio, what was the ambiance for this album ?...etc. ?
The recordings were made during a five year period, so I guess there is not any one ambiance or studio atmosphere surrounding it if that is what you mean? When we work we try to focus a lot, try to cut ourselves off from the outside world and really just be there and then, working with the soundscape. In past days we had limited studio time and it could get quite stressful since every minute ticks a lot of money.... Nowadays we have the privilege to work in several studios and home-studios with our material and therefore we can take the time we need to make it the way we want it. Still, to have the right mode, to be focused, to have the energy and inspiration is important. Usually it is there by default but if I have a bad day in the studio I prefer to just quit and pick it up another day if possible, then it would most likely turn out to be a better result.
How does it work for the design of the CD ? and why this title ?
We have done the artwork ourselves, all of it. The pictures and the concept art and videos are all centered on the county of Jamtland and northern Sweden, where we have our base and where most of us are residing. The concept art really reflect the music and the lyrics and they are a part of each other, a part of the overall experience and idea. I could speak about a lot of the details but I prefer not to, at least not yet. There are also a lot of stuff for the DSC-fans to find embedded in the artwork... The title Return might have many meanings. It may refer to the band itself and it could possibly refer to the music or to the production choices, or to the fact that it has been a while since we last released an album. It could be a place, or time. It could be more. But one thing that it is not, is a reference to a comeback or reunion. That is not the case.
What are your personal musical tastes and your influences ?
This is something that I usually don’t like to talk about in the context of the band, since there are so many different things people can read into that when it comes to how it connects to the work of the band. I usually say that I enjoy a lot of different music, good music, but I do love music that challenges the listener in some way, music that stand out a bit from the mainstream. But well, one personal favourite that I can name would be David Bowie. Then we have the influences for DSC, which I would say that there are no typical such. All the members have a personal taste and music favourites, where we all differ from each other so I guess the DSC are influenced by a lot of stuff, all and nothing at the same time. When we come together we have a lot of different sources of inspiration and possibly influences but we all know and work towards forming and performing the DSC-sound, which is something I cannot put down in words, rather a feeling, we just know when we are on the right path. We have no aim to try to sound like any other act in particular. We are inspired by the way good artists work, by good productions and good songs, structures, atmospheres, rather than a typical sound, tune or so. I believe there is a thin line between being influenced and being inspired. I prefer being inspired. There is no denying that in being human and creating music, there is hardly no way of not being influenced in one way or another, but it is one thing to just go with what comes along in ones mind and one other to try to set your mind to sound like a certain artist or sound. That is more of a cover band thing to do probably.
