Airbag’s new album was an anticipated release for me and honestly I’m very content to see them reaching their first and hardest goal so far. They guys have entered the Premier League of atmospheric prog rock music and now they’re ready to go for more. “The Greatest Show on Earth” is indeed one of the finest prog rock releases for 2013! Grande Rock had a chat with the band’s guitarist Bjørn Riis, about the album, the band, the new technologies and various other things. Read below for more…
Hi Bjørn! Your new album, “The Greatest Show on Earth”, is the band’s most mature & complete album to date. Hence we named it the Best Album of November! Congrats!
B: Thank you!
Do you feel that Airbag have finally found the “sound” that expresses them the most with this album?
B: We’re very proud of this album and I think we managed to create the songs and the sound that we always wanted.
What were those things that you wanted to change or keep from your previous works when you started working on “The Greatest Show on Earth”?
B: There wasn’t anything in particular that we wanted to change but I think we’ve matured both as writers and musicians and it seems that we’re getting better at expressing the sound and music.
What is “The Greatest Show on Earth”? What does the album title declare?
B: “The Greatest Show on Earth” is about you and me and the everyday life of everyone in our societies. We’re raised as individuals and taught to obey certain rules to fit in. Rather than caring and trying to understand the real facts of life, we’re lulled into this comforting state believing we’re the stars of the universe... (i.n.: Very thought-provoking approach indeed!)
Could “Surveillance (Part 1)” have been placed above Surveillance (Part 2-3), on number 5 in the track list, or is there a certain reason why you open the album with this track?
B: I guess it could but we thought it was a nice opener and it gave the album a certain musical thread throughout.
Please give us a hint about each one of the songs...
B: “Surveillance (Pt.1)”: Intro...
“Redemption”: Our metal alibi…
“Silence Grows”: The first song written for the album…
“Call Me Back”: My favourite track of the album…
“The Greatest Show on Earth”: Our sing-along anthem…
“Surveillance (Pt.s 2-3)”: 16 minutes of Airbag…
How would you define “The Greatest Show on Earth”, and which color do you think can be attributed to its musical essence?
B: Hmmm... dark blue?
Did you along with Vegard Sleipnes take care of the album’s production? Did you approach the sound you had in mind in the first place?
B: Vegard mixed and produced our previous album, “All Rights Removed”, and we really enjoyed working together so it was very natural for us to involve him this time as well. He’s been a big help with the production and also chipped in on the arrangements. Still though, it’s mainly Asle who’s producing the album and giving it the “sound”. He’s doing all the pre-mixes and also most of the programming, which is a huge part of this album.
“The Greatest Show on Earth” is an album that needs several listens and time generally so as to get into it. In our time, when everything is being done fast and hasty, aren’t you afraid that some may not be able to “travel” through your music?
B: If we had to take that in consideration then we might as well stop playing. I also think it’s the case of quite the opposite. While music is becoming something most people listen to once or twice through cheap earplugs, our fans are still collectors and music lovers in the old sense. The experience of sitting down and enjoying complex productions and beautiful album covers is very much alive.
Are there any thoughts of releasing a video any time soon?
B: No plans. (i.n.: That’s too bad!)
You haven’t announced any live shows so far. Do you have any news regarding that fact?
B: Working on it.
I believe that the third work is very important for any band that’s trying to expand its fan base. Do you think that with “The Greatest Show on Earth”, Airbag can achieve such a thing?
B: Hopefully although we don’t really pay it much attention.
I’ve written: “...It’s impossible not to get lost inside this dusky, moody & dreamy “world” which has impeccably & in detail been crafted by Airbag...”. What’s your say?
B: Spot on…
Apart from Pink Floyd, Anathema & Porcupine Tree, which are those bands that have influenced the band since the beginning?
B: There are many. We all have different influences and bands that we like and I think that diversity is what makes the Airbag sound. I’m very much into film music, chill and metal. We’re listening to pop, jazz, blues... everything. But it’s also about getting inspired by certain moods, situations and experiences. Taking a hike in the woods or along the shore can evoke lots of different feelings that eventually will lead to a new song.
How do you see all this 70s prog rock & heavy rock/hard rock revival in our time? Can it lead to something good eventually?
B: I think it already has. Prog and classic rock was all but dead in the 80s and early 90s but it’s very much alive today. The old bands have gotten their revival but the scene is very much driven by new bands that have evolved the prog genre into something bigger and perhaps harder to define. Prog today is just as much about metal, jazz and electronica as the classic elements and there are new bands poping up all over the place with new sounds and music.
B: Thank you!
Do you feel that Airbag have finally found the “sound” that expresses them the most with this album?
B: We’re very proud of this album and I think we managed to create the songs and the sound that we always wanted.
What were those things that you wanted to change or keep from your previous works when you started working on “The Greatest Show on Earth”?
B: There wasn’t anything in particular that we wanted to change but I think we’ve matured both as writers and musicians and it seems that we’re getting better at expressing the sound and music.
What is “The Greatest Show on Earth”? What does the album title declare?
B: “The Greatest Show on Earth” is about you and me and the everyday life of everyone in our societies. We’re raised as individuals and taught to obey certain rules to fit in. Rather than caring and trying to understand the real facts of life, we’re lulled into this comforting state believing we’re the stars of the universe... (i.n.: Very thought-provoking approach indeed!)
Could “Surveillance (Part 1)” have been placed above Surveillance (Part 2-3), on number 5 in the track list, or is there a certain reason why you open the album with this track?
B: I guess it could but we thought it was a nice opener and it gave the album a certain musical thread throughout.
Please give us a hint about each one of the songs...
B: “Surveillance (Pt.1)”: Intro...
“Redemption”: Our metal alibi…
“Silence Grows”: The first song written for the album…
“Call Me Back”: My favourite track of the album…
“The Greatest Show on Earth”: Our sing-along anthem…
“Surveillance (Pt.s 2-3)”: 16 minutes of Airbag…
How would you define “The Greatest Show on Earth”, and which color do you think can be attributed to its musical essence?
B: Hmmm... dark blue?
Did you along with Vegard Sleipnes take care of the album’s production? Did you approach the sound you had in mind in the first place?
B: Vegard mixed and produced our previous album, “All Rights Removed”, and we really enjoyed working together so it was very natural for us to involve him this time as well. He’s been a big help with the production and also chipped in on the arrangements. Still though, it’s mainly Asle who’s producing the album and giving it the “sound”. He’s doing all the pre-mixes and also most of the programming, which is a huge part of this album.
“The Greatest Show on Earth” is an album that needs several listens and time generally so as to get into it. In our time, when everything is being done fast and hasty, aren’t you afraid that some may not be able to “travel” through your music?
B: If we had to take that in consideration then we might as well stop playing. I also think it’s the case of quite the opposite. While music is becoming something most people listen to once or twice through cheap earplugs, our fans are still collectors and music lovers in the old sense. The experience of sitting down and enjoying complex productions and beautiful album covers is very much alive.
Are there any thoughts of releasing a video any time soon?
B: No plans. (i.n.: That’s too bad!)
You haven’t announced any live shows so far. Do you have any news regarding that fact?
B: Working on it.
I believe that the third work is very important for any band that’s trying to expand its fan base. Do you think that with “The Greatest Show on Earth”, Airbag can achieve such a thing?
B: Hopefully although we don’t really pay it much attention.
I’ve written: “...It’s impossible not to get lost inside this dusky, moody & dreamy “world” which has impeccably & in detail been crafted by Airbag...”. What’s your say?
B: Spot on…
Apart from Pink Floyd, Anathema & Porcupine Tree, which are those bands that have influenced the band since the beginning?
B: There are many. We all have different influences and bands that we like and I think that diversity is what makes the Airbag sound. I’m very much into film music, chill and metal. We’re listening to pop, jazz, blues... everything. But it’s also about getting inspired by certain moods, situations and experiences. Taking a hike in the woods or along the shore can evoke lots of different feelings that eventually will lead to a new song.
How do you see all this 70s prog rock & heavy rock/hard rock revival in our time? Can it lead to something good eventually?
B: I think it already has. Prog and classic rock was all but dead in the 80s and early 90s but it’s very much alive today. The old bands have gotten their revival but the scene is very much driven by new bands that have evolved the prog genre into something bigger and perhaps harder to define. Prog today is just as much about metal, jazz and electronica as the classic elements and there are new bands poping up all over the place with new sounds and music.
Do you believe that Youtbe, iTunes, Spotify etc. can help metal music reach new fans or bands are losing money and time due to the free-downloading thing as well? Is there something that must be done and if so, what is it? Will the music quality of an album be second rate someday?
B: I think it’s very important for any band, but especially new bands, to embrace all Social Medias. It’s a very effective way of spreading music and news and it’s free. From day one we’ve done most of our marketing through social medias and it’s amazing to see how well it works. Perhaps we’re lucky but I also think it’s about creating a community and letting the fans take part in the process within a band.
It’s incredibly hard to make a living from music and perhaps it’s already too late and impossible for most of us but at least for us, that’s not our drive. We’ll continue to write and play based on the joy of it and not the money. If you want to make a living, I think you need to lower the standards, work incredibly hard and be prepared to experience a lot of failures. The music industry has changed but then again, bands are in a whole different position today and in control of their own work and how they want to work, which one should acknowledge as a positive thing and an inspiration to carry on.
Time for our weird questions!!! How did you come up with the name Airbag back in the day?
B: I think it was our vocalist, Asle, who suggested that in one of his Radiohead periods.
Do you believe that all those incidents in the Norwegian black metal scene in the early 90s have caused some kind of problems or helped the scene become more known all over the world?
B: Although the incidents themselves were mostly negative, they definitely put Norway on the musical map, and that has of course had a long term, and mostly, positive effect. We’re still having buss loads over here with people wanting to see the sights and Norwegian black metal has paved the way for many Norwegian bands in many genres, including prog.
Put together the best prog rock band (drums, vocals, bass, guitars, keys)
B: Am I allowed to say Airbag? (i.n.: Whatever you want dude!)
Which are the top 3 prog rock releases which have influenced the whole genre?
B: Oh... that’s a tough one. I can only speak for myself, and what’s inspired me to start making music... Pink Floyd – “Animals”, Porcupine Tree – “Stupid Dream” and Black Sabbath – “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath” (say what you will, but there’s a lot of prog on that album)…
Which is the record you wish you had written and why?
B: The next Airbag album... it’s gonna be a tough one.
Were you obliged to give just one album to extraterrestrials that would represent the whole human music evolution, which album would it be and from which band/artist?
B: I think it must be something like Bach or Mozart. Although not a huge classical fan myself I believe what those composers did reflects the genius of the creative mind more than anything else.
Which is your weirdest fear?
B: Interviews! (i.n.: I didn’t see that coming!)
Which will be the best soundtrack to play the day we are forced to evacuate planet earth?
B: “The Greatest Show on Earth”... it would be a really great show!
Imagine that your girlfriend/wife/life partner is selling your whole album-collection just to buy an expensive ring for herself. How would you react?
B: As long as she doesn’t sell my guitars, I’m fine...
All the best with your work Bjørn! Thx for the music... The last words of this interview belong to you... Take care!...
B: Thanks a lot for the interview and thanks to all our friends in Greece for their support!
B: I think it’s very important for any band, but especially new bands, to embrace all Social Medias. It’s a very effective way of spreading music and news and it’s free. From day one we’ve done most of our marketing through social medias and it’s amazing to see how well it works. Perhaps we’re lucky but I also think it’s about creating a community and letting the fans take part in the process within a band.
It’s incredibly hard to make a living from music and perhaps it’s already too late and impossible for most of us but at least for us, that’s not our drive. We’ll continue to write and play based on the joy of it and not the money. If you want to make a living, I think you need to lower the standards, work incredibly hard and be prepared to experience a lot of failures. The music industry has changed but then again, bands are in a whole different position today and in control of their own work and how they want to work, which one should acknowledge as a positive thing and an inspiration to carry on.
Time for our weird questions!!! How did you come up with the name Airbag back in the day?
B: I think it was our vocalist, Asle, who suggested that in one of his Radiohead periods.
Do you believe that all those incidents in the Norwegian black metal scene in the early 90s have caused some kind of problems or helped the scene become more known all over the world?
B: Although the incidents themselves were mostly negative, they definitely put Norway on the musical map, and that has of course had a long term, and mostly, positive effect. We’re still having buss loads over here with people wanting to see the sights and Norwegian black metal has paved the way for many Norwegian bands in many genres, including prog.
Put together the best prog rock band (drums, vocals, bass, guitars, keys)
B: Am I allowed to say Airbag? (i.n.: Whatever you want dude!)
Which are the top 3 prog rock releases which have influenced the whole genre?
B: Oh... that’s a tough one. I can only speak for myself, and what’s inspired me to start making music... Pink Floyd – “Animals”, Porcupine Tree – “Stupid Dream” and Black Sabbath – “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath” (say what you will, but there’s a lot of prog on that album)…
Which is the record you wish you had written and why?
B: The next Airbag album... it’s gonna be a tough one.
Were you obliged to give just one album to extraterrestrials that would represent the whole human music evolution, which album would it be and from which band/artist?
B: I think it must be something like Bach or Mozart. Although not a huge classical fan myself I believe what those composers did reflects the genius of the creative mind more than anything else.
Which is your weirdest fear?
B: Interviews! (i.n.: I didn’t see that coming!)
Which will be the best soundtrack to play the day we are forced to evacuate planet earth?
B: “The Greatest Show on Earth”... it would be a really great show!
Imagine that your girlfriend/wife/life partner is selling your whole album-collection just to buy an expensive ring for herself. How would you react?
B: As long as she doesn’t sell my guitars, I’m fine...
All the best with your work Bjørn! Thx for the music... The last words of this interview belong to you... Take care!...
B: Thanks a lot for the interview and thanks to all our friends in Greece for their support!