Band Interview: Shaam Larein

Games, Brrraaains & A Head-Banging Life bring you an interview with Swedish goth-tinged doom and avant-garde metal band, Shaam Larein. They will release their new album ‘Sticka En Kniv I Världen’ (lit. stick a knife into the world), on the 9th of December via Svart Records. You can read our review here.

1. Hello Shaam Larein! How is everything in the camp as we make our way to the release of the new album, Sticka En Kniv I Varlden?

Hi there! All is good actually, despite trying to manage life at the same time haha, things tend to get a bit more intense. But me and my bandmates are extremely excited for the release.

2. Take us back to the early days of its creation. Specifically, your vision. Did you have a clear and defined idea of what you wanted to do with this record?

It was tough times back in 2020, things got little too much and I was very exhausted mentally and psychically, but I remember how I dove into the writing, I had a big urge in me, I felt I needed to manifest somehow so I allowed myself to leave my comfort zone and just lose it with the mind. But in time the picture got clearer and I understood that I was writing the next album for Larein.

3. What kind of hurdles came your way on route that forced change for the better or worse?

I would say pausing the release of the album was the ”obstacle” that came on the way. The album was already recorded and mastered by summer 2021 but I decided to change the record label in the middle of the ”release plan” due to different circumstances, so my patience was tested there! I,5 year felt too much haha. But in the end it was worth it. With that said I am very happy to be part of the Svart records family and I am sending much love to my previous label ICEA.

4. What were some of the more challenging aspects of creating this record?

To me personally it was when I had to record the vocals. We tried to record most of the instruments live, but as I was singing to the songs I couldn’t just not give it all, It’s important to me that they feel it 100% even if my vocals weren’t being recorded, and I kind of lost it a bit haha. Thankfully I had some days to rest, but my voice wasn’t fully recovered so I had to plan what songs I had to sing first and what parts that maybe needed the raspy voice etc. For a while I was a bit afraid that I fucked it up, but it turned out super lovely at the end.

I would also add that the whole process of creating the album was changeling to me, every song had its specific journey and all of them were deeply connected to my mind. I would say that in general I had a good flow when I started writing, but I stumbled upon difficulties and I had to take some steps back and breathe.

5. What did it take to overcome them?

I had to step out of my depth and away from my comfort zone, put myself in unsafe places to actually be able to open up my mind and experience. It’s a joyful journey and very important. I can’t imagine myself standing at the same spot all the time, especially the comfort ones.

6. Likewise, what were some positives that you have been able to take from the creation period? Perhaps moments where you learned something about yourself?

When I write I am growing within myself as well, I always learn something about myself and the journey that I took while writing Sticka en kniv i världen was a big push for me. I tested my limits and truly expressed my emotions through the songwriting, but that is what we artists do when you have that big urge. And it was very satisfying to hear my mind out there becoming melodies. As the album was done I truly understood how the need was big to let everything out.

7. The experimentation within the album is on another level. Yet, this is a refined record and you can hear how much Shaam Larein has developed already. Were you conscious of expanding on the experimental aspects of the music or did you try to reign it in?

I never put any limits when I create, When I write I let it all out, I dig deeper and then you’ll come to the point where you’ll see all of it in front of you and then it needs to be kind of controlled. Control is important. But the difference between Sticka en kniv i världen and Sculpture is that I truly started writing the songs with mostly guitar first unlike Sculpture which was mostly song melodies at the start of the process. So I remember how much I could play around when I found my way around the guitar sound and it was truly satisfying to hear all these melodies and I got that push to actually put a big focus on the experimental part and not just always the vocals.

8. Do you put limits on your imagination so as to not go too far down an experimental path or did you enjoy a kind of ‘all or nothing’ approach when it came to this album?

No, no limits as I mentioned earlier. But I can talk about the control, which I think is important even if I kind of have this approach to actually lose it all in the mind when I create. But I need to have them both. I need to open up my imagination as much as possible when I dive into the writing process, I need to explore and feel all kinds of energies. But the chaos needs to be controlled otherwise it loses its power to me.

9. Did the impressive response to ‘Sculpture’ in 2020 come as a surprise?

We really got some extra lovely responses for Sculpture and I am still very happy about it of course. But I didn’t feel surprised because I wasn’t expecting anything. I mean, of course all the lovey response and all the talk about the album means a lot, but my point is that I guess because I never have in mind that I’m gonna fulfill listeners expectations when I am writing, the response that we get makes me just take it all in and kindly appreciate it.

10. Is there some frustration that you weren’t able to fully capitalise on what that record could do because of the worldwide issues that existed upon release?

Everything has its time! I do believe in that. It did feel like a punch in the face though, I am not gonna lie. Especially since it was a debut album as well. But Sculpture isn’t dead while I am already seeking for more, never getting enough.

11. Would this follow-up exist as it is, if the last few years of ‘down-time’ hadn’t happened?

Yes I do believe so, I know that my writing wasn’t depending on a pandemic to happen, but I had more time to put when it hit.

12. For you, what is one of the most exciting things about creating music within Shaam Larein at the moment?

Getting to know myself through Larein, allowing myself to express my mind through melodies is something that I truly appreciate that I am able to do. It’s an exciting experience and I have to respect it with giving even more.

13. For you, what is it about Shaam Larein’s music that is resonating with so many people?

I don’t really know how many people there are, maybe because I don’t ask so much either haha. But if you say so many then that makes me happy. But I don’t know.. that’s a question for you maybe? I guess I am connecting with people through Larein in a way they understand? Are we different, you think?

14. Is the desire to get out and tour as much as possible, the main focus of 2023?

We will definitely enjoy the release of the album by trying to do some shows and maybe a tour. We have some festivals already booked for 2023 and it will be extremely lovely to play the record live.

Links

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