DRUMS IN THE DEEP

Johan Björklund

Embracing and finding inspiration in my youth and background to explore methods and paths for creating art. In this project I have explored and investigated my background growing up in Hedekas, a small rural village in Sweden. I wanted to see both socially and geographically how it could relate to and inspire my artistic work and practice. This resulted in three exstensive series of works that exemplifies this. An important overall aspect of this project is how I connect and releate the titles of my works to specific locations, people and events that have inspired them.

DARKTHRONE FOREST

The Forest as a safe haven or a really dangerous place and everything in between. The importance of the forest for us as individuals and for the entire world.

How does this sound? Come and hear for yourself when we enter the Darkthrone Forest. At your own risk we welcome you.

In the winter of 2019 I took a walk in Slottskogen, Gothenburg. When passing Azaleadalen I noticed all the naked trees, looking kind of vicious, mean and harsh. Just like the logo of legendary Norwegian Black Metal-band Darkthrone.

That image stuck in my head and I realised the Forest has always been an important place for me.

As a young boy playing, building, hunting, cutting down trees and planting new ones. And after moving to Gothenburg 1997 I´ve always had the Forest more or less close to where I have lived.

Nowadays it is Rudalen in my neighbourhood in Gothenburg that represents my Darkthrone Forest.

METHOD USED TO CREATE DARKTHRONE FOREST

The piece is a 30 min long improvisation sprung out of the story telled above.

The basic theme is an prerecorded backtrack with different manipulated sounds of guitars, synths and field recordnings which becomes the material to react on for the musicians.

The different versions all consists of three musicians in different constellations and instrumentations.

I look upon the instrumentation as an improvisation as well, using musicians that are willing to explore rather than keeping it to a pre-decided format.

This gives unpredictable possibilities to how the music will sound and feel.

Here follows three different takes on this music.

"DARKTHRONE FOREST"

Gothenburg Edition - Studio recording.

Johan Björklund - drums, feedback guitars, electronics

Armand van Wijck - harmonica, percussion

Maria Palmqvist - voice, percussion

Recorded in Studio Glasfågeln, Lilla Edet, Sweden 29 October 2021 by Gustav Davidsson

Mixed by Gustav Davidsson and assisted by Johan Björklund February 2022.
Mastered by Gustav Davidsson March 2022.

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"DARKTHRONE FOREST"

Oslo Edition - Live

Johan Björklund - drums, electronics

Adrian Barstad Andresen - trumpet, percussion

Matthias Sigurdsson - clarinet, electronics

Filmed and recorded at Kulturhuset, Oslo, Norway 15 November 2021.

Film edit by Matthias Sigurdson.

"DARKTHRONE FOREST"

Gothenburg Edition - Live

Johan Björklund - drums, electronics

Armand van Wijck - harmonica, percussion

Maria Palmqvist - voice, percussion

Filmed and recorded at Academy of Music and Drama, Gothenburg, Sweden 18 May 2021.

Film edit and sound mix by Johan Björklund, Studio Eternal Darkness, Gothenburg, Sweden.

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