Interview: Thomas Denver Jonsson

Conducted by Capt. Obvious


Obvious: Congratulations on the release of The Lake Acts Like An Ocean. Where was the album recorded and how long did the recording process take?

Jonsson: Thanks. I'm very happy about it. I'm satisfied with the result and I'm looking forward to start working on a new album I've been writing. The Lake Acts Like An Ocean has been partly recorded in a cabin in the woods, partly in Berlin and Ithaca, NY but mostly in Carl Edlom's studio in his apartment. It took about a year of recordings and mixing after a year of songwriting to finish it. I like to take my time and the process has also been longer since I've been touring in Europe a lot.

Obvious: I see that South Carolina artist Hollis Brown Thornton designed the album cover. How did that get hooked up?

Jonsson: I contacted Brown after seeing some artwork he'd made for one of my favorite new bands, The Narwhal Invasion. That cover plus his own painting really blew me away. I was very impressed, sent him an e-mail and was thrilled to hear that he wanted to do the art for The Lake. I think the result was fantastic, it reminds me a lot of surroundings around a cabin in the woods that have been in the Jonsson family's ownership for 25 years now. It reminds me of both the nature, the calmness and that eerie feeling at night.

Obvious: Describe the town in Sweden where you live. How do you think your surroundings effect your songwriting?

Jonsson: Actually it does inspire me a lot, even if I can't put my finger to it and I never intend to do any really autobiographical stuff. But living here is close to both beauty and isolation which I think are two key elements of what I'm affected by. The town Grums is something as contradictory as a narrowminded, yet nice little town in the woods. We have a city nearby which is the same, only bigger. People are living in a certain peaceful way. You know, staying in one spot their whole lives and being slightly suspicious of every unknown element but are still not willing to spend energy caring too much about it.

Obvious: For someone who is Swedish there is a definite tinge of Americana apparent in your music. Any particular American songwriters as major influences?

Jonsson: I'm quite obsessed with M. Ward and Roy Orbison. Both have a tremendous way of handling melodies and they have very odd and inconsistent structures in their songs, which for me is a huge compliment.

Obvious: For those of us in the U.S. who might not have been exposed to Scandinavian artists, do you have any recommendations?

Jonsson: José Gonzalez of course. I'm also listening to Björn Kleinhenz and Hans Bally. I must also mention Bobby Baby and Dear Euphoria who guest appear on the new album. Bobby Baby, real name Ellinor Blixt, is also a part of a fantastic Swedish/German band called It's A Musical.

Obvious: If you ever moved away from Sweden, what would you miss most?

Jonsson: Joakim and irony.


Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/thomasdenverjonsson

Listen:
MP3: Thomas Denver Jonsson - The Border
MP3: Thomas Denver Jonsson - One Of My Blessings

Tags: Thomas Denver Jonsson, The Lake Acts Like An Ocean