Interview: About “The Eyes of a Stranger”
Source: The Black Cat, May 3rd 2005
Writer: Peter (Nat.Inc)
BC:
I learned about this Copenhagen-based synth pop (or electro rock as they call it) trio 3-4 years ago after they released their debut album “The World Is Creative”, and especially after the brilliant single “Let Me Get What I Want” – which I have spinned quite a few times at The Black Cat. However, the band at that time seemed very focused on playing at mainstream venues and appearing in more commercial medias – not to mention the massive airplay on Danish National Radio (P3).
Unfortunately, they quickly received the tag “bad Depeche Mode-clones” by people with no really knowledge of the synth scene. I think it was a shame, since their music could easily have received quite some attention on the international synth scene, especially in Germany and Sweden! However, with the new album “The Eyes Of A Stranger” things are bound to be different. First of all, the album is a lot better than the debut, and especially the Depeche Mode influences are not that strong anymore. Of course there are references, but honestly – what does it matter when Depeche Mode haven’t made a good album in several years, and Dave Gahan’s solo-career is more or less worthless (at least in my opinion!)? Nevertheless, “The Eyes Of A Stranger” is a very strong album that I think have a lot of potential in the synth/electronic scene. And with the band being more than ready to conquer the international synth pop scene, the only thing left is to cross our fingers and wish them luck with their excellent electronic, atmospheric and melancholic pop songs!
Nat Inc. / Peter (BC) had a chat with Mikael (vocals)!
BC:
First of all – congratulations with your new album! I think it’s a big improvement from “The World Is Creative”. The debut album was very good, but it strikes me how better the songs on the new album are – they sound much more mature, structured – and also the production is way better! How do you look upon “The Eyes Of A Stranger” compared to “The World Is Creative”?
Mikael:
First of all, thank you! We decided after “The World Is Creative”, that we would be more electronic on the new album, and put more time into the programming. And the songs are stronger and darker – and it suits us perfect.
BC:
Also your vocals have developed a lot since the last album. Have you taken lessons, practiced a lot or… dropped the cigarettes, he he?
Mikael:
I haven’t really done anything, ha! The first album were songs from the past 6 years, so I think it was the intense work on the new songs that made the vocals stronger. And the new Morrissey album helped a lot along the way too… ha ha ha!
BC:
What are your own favourite tracks on the new album?
Mikael:
At the moment I’m very much into “Secrets Die”, “I Sometimes Wish” and “Never Again”.
BC:
You haven’t received a lot of attention in the synth-scene before, maybe because you have focused on playing at more “regular” venues and promoting yourself in the mainstream press and radio. It seems like this will change after the new album… at least you have made deals with Memento Materia in Sweden and Infacted in Germany ? And now you will play at the Black Cat/Metropolis event at Stubnitz with In Strict Confidence! Is it a goal of the band to be more promoted and get more attention in the synth scene with the new album?
Mikael:
We will focus all our energy on the synth market from now on! Of course it was fun to play at the Roskilde Festival and bigger venues, but our main listeners is really another group of people, and in the mainstream press it was annoying to be called “Depeche Clones” a lot. I think the REAL synth people can hear the difference, and no one will ever be as good as DM so enough said! And yes it’s true that we are outside Denmark now, we have made deals with Memento Materia in Sweden and A Different Drum in the US, the Infacted deal for Germany etc. is not completed yet, but I think it will be later this month, so it’s great for us.
BC:
What are your own inspirations – musically and lyrically?
Mikael:
In my early days I listened to Nena, but after a while I hit the New Romantics wave and became a huge Duran Duran fan. Later my cousin played “Stripped” with Depeche Mode, I think in ‘86 and I had to give my heart to that and started playing keyboard in different bands. But in ‘94 I was introduced to Morrissey’s “Vauxhall And I” and I thought it would be more interesting to sing and become frontman instead of standing behind the keyboard, so it all started there. I met the other 2 guys from the band in ‘95 where they tested me. I didn’t actually do very well, so it’s kind of lucky that I’m here today, he!
BC:
How do you actually create the music of Portland? How are the working process? Who is making the music and who is being the drunk rockstar(s)?
Mikael:
Peter (programming/percussion) is the only one without kids, so you have to ask him about the drunk rock n’ roll star, ha ha! We work individually with the new songs and then present them to each other. If they have made a good melody I will do the vocals, and they will make the music for my songs who generally just are piano and me. We usually let the producer do the creative stuff for the arrangements and mixing.
BC:
I have to ask: Aren’t you tired of people calling you a cheap Depeche Mode-clone? Even I am already tired of hearing it about you now, so you must be extremely annoyed…?
Mikael:
Sometimes, but there aren’t any band I’d rather would compare us to, so I’ll survive!
BC:
Are you following the international synth pop scene? Which bands do you like? I hear there are some plans of Portland remixing some other artists and vice versa?
Mikael:
I have just started listening to that scene, so it hasn’t been much, but I like Colony 5, Lights of Euphoria and Mesh.
BC:
If you should describe your music to a deaf person, by doing a painting – what would the painting look like and which colours would you use?
Mikael:
Eh!! I think I would let Chriss from Dreadful Dollface paint it for me…LOL! (og hermed udlodder Black Cat en flaske god rødvin til Chriss/Natten, hvis han kan male Portlands musik for os! – red.)
BC:
What can we expect from Portland the next couple of years? Some festival jobs? Do you plan on taking this band big time, or do you want to keep it more as a relaxed “enjoyment” thing?
Mikael:
No, we are not going to relax. We started our own company “Portable Records” this year, so it’s more than just fun. Tax to be paid etc. etc. But it’s worth it, though. We don’t have any festival jobs this year because we don’t think it’s our market anymore, but we will be back with 5-6 more shows in DK from august, and a small tour in Sweden as well.
BC:
Last, but not least I would like to have some small comments about each track of the new album “The Eyes Of A Stranger”, like lyrical theme or if you have a special story about the particular track!
Mikael:
“Secrets Die”: – Brilliant programming, and the sounds are top tuned on this track. The lyric is about how far out you can get to make people join your gang.
“Stalking And Free”: – Great song and melody…strange lyric about just being afraid.
“I Sometimes Wish”: – Hmm…I wanted the one I couldn’t have! My wife is going to read this, so I have to say that the lyric is written a long time ago, he!
“Everyone Loves Me”: – I thought I was Morrissey for a while. *smiles*
“Drowning The Girl”: – My best lyric ever, about being bullied back in school and years later lying in your bed thinking what you would like to have done back then.
“You’re Leaving”: – Saw a Ricky Lake show with a lot of fat girls just complaining…Fuck off.
“You Are Nobody”: – About a former friend.
“Never Again”: – This song is about abused women who think it’s all their fault even after lying in the coffin.
“Clouds On My Shoulder”: Nice beat a feeling in this song. Nothing special about the lyric.
“Petkiller”: Ask Peter!
