Featuring Tess Fries from Dual Density Interview by Ruud Dreessen aka ebm-industrial.nl 16-03-2010 06:11
01- For the first question will be - Thanks Tess Fries that you have found time to give answers to these questions,How are you doing?
Hiya! I'm doing just fine thank you!
02-Hello Tess Fries what noise do you make in Dual Density?
I'm the vocalist in Dual Density but I also write the lyrics and songmelodies.
03-How's the start of 2010 been for you thus far?
2010 has been great, and we're continuing making songs as usual but are more focusing on the releaseparty of our new album at the moment.
04-do you know the netherland?
Netherland? Uuum...haha, yes, of course. :)
05-For a lot of people, this is probably going to be their first full introduction to Dual Density so how about you tell us a little bit about how you guys know each other and how the band came together?
We were established as a group back in 2008 and have made music ever since. Jonas and Pontus are cousins so they're very close, myself I came across their old music project "Vision Factory" through the net and came up with a music proposal. Then Jonas suggested a direction into the synth music scene and after Soul Ecstasy was made we started working together as a band
06- Do you follow the electronic music Pop / Electro / Electronica, do you have any other favourite bands?
Of course, me, Jonas and Pontus listen a lot to electronic music, it's what we love and what we do. It's hard to name a favourite band, but personally I could easily say that music that inspires me the most is catchy, melodic pop songs. The best feeling I can get from a song when working with it is a feeling of "floating" or "running" in the music. The favourite feeling is "running in the rain", then it's a pure pleasure living into the music and put your dreams and thoughts into it.
07-How is your relationship with other electronic bands?
The more days that goes by the more friends and acquaintances I encounter. I have good relationships to many of the Swedish Synth bands of today and there's more to come. I'm really happy getting to know these people when it's actually equalminded people that you look up to.
08- Can you give us a brief run-through of Dual Density story so far?
We started up as a band in 2008 producing songs with contact mainly through the net. Three or four songs were produced, I think, before we actually met. Since then we've been very active producing new songs and are now active with our very first Album "Soul Ecstasy", which also is the name of our first song ever recorded.
09- How did you start to make music and what is Gothic for you?
I started making music when I was about fifteen. I met this guy who made music and introduced me into the synth music scene.
OK, 1,5 year later I finally understood he was, well, not quite "healthy". I regret nothing though. If I did, I wouldn't be who I am today. I've always been writing poems and thoughts of life and so on, but that's when I started making songmelodies and lyrics more seriously. I also bought my very first synthesizer by then..
When it comes to gothic music I'd say I experience it as dark mysterious, philosophic and sensual inspired music. I was goth once hehe, it was my way to express and claim myself at the moment.
10-What did you guys do for a living before Dual Density?
Jonas was working with computer games, I think, and had an earlier music co-operation together with Pontus, making music in a project called "Vision Factory", which was music I came about to work with yeeears ago when I did not even know about Jonas and Pontus. That project later split up though due to a third party inconvenience. It was at this moment back then when I was working on their music from Vision Factory as well as other musicians work as I for the very first time learned and traned how to make melodies, or more like it, believe in them. Or believe in myself.
11- When did you form Dual Density? What inspired you to make music together?
We were formed in 2008 and were inspired making music together due to the equal passion for electronic music.
12- What are your top ten favorite Pop / Electro / Electronica Club Songs of all time? Who are you influenced by? What would you consider your favorite cd's?
Hmmmm....I'm inspired by so many songs actually. I would say "what" rather than "who" I'm influenced by and that would be Techno/Euro/Synth/Pop/Club/Electronic music. Favourite cd's, well...to name one I really liked when I was a kid it would be the song "Bad Touch" with Bloodhound Gang. I simply loved the lead melody and attitude throughout the whole song. I recall myself putting up the volume as soon as I heard it on the Radio and listening SO hard to catch the name.
13- What are the future plans for Dual Density?
To simply develope and grow as individual musicians and as a band overall. And of course, to always reach for the heights in whatever ambition or profession you choose.
14- Tell me about conzoom Records? Are you a member of any music organizations?
conzoom Records is a great label from Germany and the label manager Ingo Möller is a driven person with a great passion for music. Corinna is a skilled art work designer who has worked with many artists before and has great preferences. She is the one who is going to design the Album Cover for Dual Density's coming Album. As far as I'm aware we're not part of any music organisations, no.
15-What are you currently listening to on your MP3 player?
Electronic music, synth music from the 80's and of course modern synth music also.
16- By the way do you like my questions? tell me what you think about it! ;-)
Actually there's many good questions, some makes you think a little harder but what's the fun to it if it wasn't a little challenge, right? ;)
17- What is the main idea, the message you want to leave to people who listens to you? What is your motto?
As a songwriter, when I'm writing the lyrics, I want to share people extreme hard-to-understand-feelings in a comforting and accepting way. I want to give a touch of the visions and emotions I get inside, all the pictures and dimensions passing my imagination when I listen to music I love. It usually feels like drawing a picture from your head into words, writing down your visions and putting some colour to it (the song melody) and there you have it. A song/art work. I basically want for the people that listen to our songs to recognize themselves and feel understanding. I want people to see themselves for who they really are and be okay with that. Actually more than okay. People are more alike than we think. We can all burp now and then but that doesn't mean that we're not perfect just the way we are anyway. I may say and state this fact but even I should hear it too. ;)
18- What’s the name of your band? where did the name come from? or what's the story behind the band name?
Dual Density. (D.D.) Jonas and I had just been starting creating songs and were just about to come up with a suiting band name when we begun to discuss all from planet names to borderline medicines hehe..Finally after taking a short break I understood that this could actually terminate the beginning of something great if we could not even agree with something as simple as a name! So I said "OK, take it! Just take it! Just pick one, I don't care, you choose!" From having suggested "Magic Motion" Jonas quickly changed to Dual Density and POFF that become our band name. Symbolising that we, of course, bring Dual Density with our music. ;)
19-If people don't know what you and your music is about, how would you describe Dual Density?
Dual Density is modern electronic music with catchy pop melodies made from synthesizers. We have a somewhat mystic, sensational approach giving out some kind of mysticism in combination with philosophical thoughts, feelings and regrets within the lyrics
20- where did the concept come from? and whats planned now that your album is finished? or anything else you're working on? Tell us a few words about the concept of this?
The concept? The concept that has made us "Dual Density" is simply based on the fact of our different personalities and interests. That's how this music has been created. After the Album is released we will continue working on our next Album. The concept of how our next Album musically will develope is still a bit cloudy since our own future in whatever that will inspire us is too. What gives me inspiration is what happens in life. You never know what kind of event that will come around and make your head spin. It's all a bunch of unwritten pages, really. But luckily we LOVE to scribble!
21- Some quick fire questions: guitar or synthesizer?
Synthesizers! ;)
22-band or solo
We're a band with the freedom and possibility of solo projects by the side of Dual Density.
23-How is the current promotional tour going for supporting this album?
As far as I know it's going great. We've co-operated with many excellent music composers and made many remixes, and we're also contributing in the new PC game "Disco Tycoon" with four songs of the new Album. It's really exciting.
24- What do you think of a modern Gothic and about Pop / Electro / Electronica scene?
I think that the music scene may not be as big as for example the gothic scene as for the Hip Hop scene at the moment, but that there definitely are many confirmed listeners, fans and followers out there! Although Hiphop is the music that's in focus right now I also believe in the electronic/pop market. May it never die out, which I highly doubt it will. I'd say it will advance since we're going in a technical direction of society today. Pop and electronic music includes such a big music market, therefore there's so much to it and so much you can do musically that I believe simply will advance and transform just as anything else ever has in the music industry.
25- What's your favourite track of yours?
Of my own? That would be Mistress SleepQueen.
26-What and who gets you excited about music today?
Everything I experience. Precisely everything! Something that a person says or do or something that a person don't say or don't do. It could be something I read, something I think or simply something that I'm going through. What makes me excited is what kind of emotions that are hidden in the music I hear and what it creates in me. The inspiration comes entirely from what I feel inside when I hear something, and what I then strongly wishes to express, and that's a lot. How I feel with my music writing could be compared to watching a movie which you are supposed to write a recension to later on. With so many impressions it's hard to pick only one thing to talk about. And for just picking one, there are thousands of words and thousands of ways expressing exactly that. That's the way music works for me. So much to write about and so little words in only one text. It's aaall about emotions. The stronger, the deeper, and the more intense the better.
27-Our usual question - what is music for you?
Something that inspires people and creates an emotion that brings beauty, satisfaction and comfort in some way. It's very personal and individual and differs from person to person and could depend entirely on what feeling you have but the magic is in how great influence and effect it has upon you no matter your current mood.
28- What was your best live experience so far?
The happiest day of my life as well as our best live performance this far was our latest on KB, Sweden. Nothing can compare to when you're standing on stage, feeling the beat, the rhythm, the neon lights traveling around your body, and the pulse and excitement all in all when you're doing what you love the most. If anything, only waking up next to the one you love more than life itself could compare to that feeling, and that's STRONG!
29- Please list the name, age, school, and respective instrument of each band member
Tess Fries - Vocal, lyrics and melodies. 18 years old, studying music on the Cybergymnasium in Malmö.
Jonas Asp - Music composer and synthesizer. 36 years old, active within work.
Pontus Olsson - Music composer and synthesizer. 38 years old, active within work.
30-What are your views on the current state of this Pop / Electro / Electronica scene in Zweden.in terms of creativity and audiences? And the scene in other countries?
I think it's too small here in Sweden than the interest itself for the music industry. I definitely think that more alternative clubs should open up and give the people the music they deserve. I think the music scene for Electronic music is wider in other countries. Such as in Germany for example, and that's great!
31- you have very nice numbers` tell me about lyrical compositions what you can tell about the done work? How does your music creation process work? How do you create a song?
Jonas and Pontus send me a mp3 on their instrumental music composing and I continue making 1. melody, 2. lyrics, 3. choirs (very often together with the recording producer). Then I go into the studio and record it with Niklas Ringström who is the main producer behind the vocals and our tracks as well as part of composing the songs. He is for sure a true perfectionist and a great producer and therefore we're sure very happy to work with him.
32-What genre of music do you consider your work to be? Who are your major influences?
That would be modern electronic music but also melodic synthpop music. Dual Density's major influences is music from the 80's, Italo Disco, Euro and Pop.
.
33-Since the music industry is more open now to purely electronic music has this made things easier for you?
I'm not quite sure I've noticed anything actually so I don't know.
34-So what are their main influences as a band at the moment?
Our main influences? That would be to approach and develope a more modern electronic synthpop sound. Some kind of combination between what's old and new. The new 2010 sound ya know! ;)
35-What is currently inspiring your material as an artist? tell me all about the Pop / Electro / Electronica scene of Zweden?
What gives me inspiration is the experiences I encounter. Difficulties and sorrows as well as experiences of happiness. Everyting that creates a strong emotion and something worth writing down sharing. Music that inspires me at the moment is pop in general. Electronic pop music.
Hmm...telling you something about the electronic music scene in Sweden. MY impression is that it's not that wide even though there are lots of confirmed listeners. There still are many synth/goth/fetish/cyber people out there that simply love every occasion to dress up on, such as on festivals, clubs and concerts. I'd love more opportunities for us "alternative people" to meet equalminded and do that.
36-Do you think that people from the music press didn't expect you to grow up musically?
Personally I don't think that anyone's that much of surprised about how Dual Density have grown lately. As early as in 2008 we had many believing in us. Since the very first line up of Dual Density I've felt a warm welcoming and great interest from the music industry and fans in general. If anyone was to be surprised it would probably be old friends, or well...bullies from the past. But there's more to come, you bullies!
37-what is the key to making music from Dual Density and what inspires you to keep growing as a musician?
The key behind the making of the music to Dual Density has to be that we love what we do and feel a complete attraction and passion to the music. What inspires me to grow as a musician and as an artist is to develope and become better in what I do and what I love and to gather so much experience that I can continuing taking it to the next level.
38-How do you see the future of download / Copyright in area of goth-Pop / Electro / Electronica music ? What are the best ways to develop it in your mind
Well, though I really like marketing and have an interest to it that's a really tricky question. But all in all, I'd guess that easy and/or free access to the music is in all cases of great importance when it comes to marketing a product. People want easy access, and when they have an interest in the music they're ready to buy a cd. This interest could be reached through smart marketing, live videos etc. Hehe I can get back to you when I've read about 10 more books in marketing strategy. ;)
39-what was your childhood like?
I grew up on the country side in a beautiful and safe environment.
A big, white old "Ghost House" (haunted) and a great beautiful garden, that was told to be watched by a man (ghost) who lived there many years ago. Many people who've spent the night in that garden told us they heard noices. Me and my sister also heard noices from the barn at 00.00 in the night. Since my interest for the paranormal started at the age of 8 I found this very interesting living there until I was 15. The only thing that was negative to me in my childhood was the people I was surrounded with at the age of 13-15 when I got bullied by older, younger and equally old people.
40-If there was one thing you want people to know about your band what would that be?
It would be that I hope that someone out there experiences the same joy, happiness and understanding which I'm trying to reach out. I want to give comfort and understanding with my music. When I grew up, listening to the Radio I often thought of how much lack of pure meaning and emotions there was in real commercial air played songs. I thought about how I wanted it to be, what I wanted to hear and how I would do it. I also admired the musicians incredibly and felt extremely fascinated to all the different sounds, created by a synthesizer (which I did not even know by then). So I'd say I simply want people to feel or do something good when they hear our music.
41-Please let us know about your upcoming plans, some new releases you like to confirm here
Dual Density's very first Album "Soul Ecstasy" will be released in June 2010 and will be celebrated with a release party in combination with the signing of conzoom Records. The release party will be a live performance on a club in Malmö, Sweden. Very soon we will be updated with more details on this. For more update and info visit
http://www.myspace.com/DualDensity and stay tuned!
This will be extremely fun and you should all come! ;)
42-It has been a pleasure to interview you on your musical activity,Well,any last words to your ebm-industrial fans?
To achieve the impossible you have to believe it is possible. Never give up on your dreams and never give up on Yourself. You are what you choose to be, no one can choose that for you. BE your dreams!
43-and what is next on Zweden agenda?
Next up is the release of the Album and the release party!
44-How can fans-to-be gain access to your music? Do you have a website with sample songs or a demo CD?
More info about the Album release will be available on conzoom Records website where you easily can sign up for free to gain continuing updates with us.
45-How has your music evolved since you first began playing music together?
The music producing has advanced since the signing with conzoom Records. It has become more commercial and I personally have more things that I need to work on with my voice before I go into the studio.
46-How is the new line-up working out?
Just fine, thank you.
47-And, finally, what does the next twelve months hold for the band?
Taking part in the PC game "Disco Tycoon", working on our second Album, and there was some talk about taking part in some big festival..I'm not sure about what 2010 will bring yet, so I guess we'll just see what happens!
48-Any last words?
Thanx for having me and don't forget to check out our new Album "Soul Ecstasy"! ;)
This page,and all contents,are © 2003 / 2010 permission by ebm-industrial.nl
