Knút (full name; Knút Háberg Eysturstein) sings, plays instruments & writes songs. He is a native of the Faroe Islands and is currently living in Copenhagen, Denmark.
2009 sees the release of Knút's latest album The Desert Holds a Flower. The recordings began in May 2008 when Knút gathered 3 of his trusted friends, colleagues and bandmates at Lundgaard Studios, Denmark. Based on songs and ideas by Knút, the band has found a sound of its own, though heavily indepted to the 70's and all things psychedelic. In spirit, that is. Knút's own description of the music is 'psychedelic gospel pop with a 70's shoegaze rock 'n' roll vibe'. A mouthful, yes, but join in on the ride and great rewards will follow. What once was friction is to become ignition. Going way back, fast forward.
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Booking & contact:
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View Knut's EPK
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Interview with Knút
- written by Faroese journalist Arni Zachariassen
FAITH, DOUBT, LIFE, DEATH – AND WOMEN
Arni Zachariassen
04.08.09
Inspiration is a strange thing. The word itself seems to allude to something that comes from without, or above, and any artist can tell you stories about times when that's exactly how it felt. Like something just took over and before they knew it they had written a song, painted a painting, or what. Almost like their art created itself.
A story like this stands at the centre of Knút's new album, "The Desert Holds A Flower". The album was recorded in ten days at Lundgaard Studios in Denmark. In the middle of the recording process, after completing a hard day of work, the musicians - Knút himself, Bogi á Lakjuni, Jens L. Thomsen and Høgni Lisberg - sat and ate dinner. Out of the blue Knút comes up with the idea of going into the studio again and recording a new version of the old blues classic, "In My Time of Dying."
- We went in to the room and started to jam. We had planned nothing in advance. Just played. We stood there playing for more than an hour without coming up with anything interesting.
But there suddenly came inspiration.
- We played the song one last time and it seemed to go a little bit better. But it wasn't until we went into the control room and listened back to the recording that we heard just how good it was. We all stood there, goose bumps and all, completely floored.
This spontaneous recording, in no way changed, is the first song of "The Desert Holds A Flower". An epic, almost atonal blues crescendo that sticks one of Knút's own poems, "There Is A Garden", unto the end of the old lamentation of the slaves, "In My Time Of Dying".
- Jesus, gonna make up my dyin' bed. Meet me, Jesus, meet me. Meet me in the middle of the air. If my wings should fail me, Lord. Please meet me with another pair.
It seems a bit strange to begin an album with a long, almost ecstatic meditation on death. But such contradictions thrive in Knút's music.
God And Women
- Bono once said that all U2 songs are either about God or about women, or sometimes both.
That's how Knút characterises the lyrics on the new album. Not that he's anything other than monogamous, but he admits that this time, compared to the past, there are more women than God.
- It's personal to write songs. If the song doesn't begin deep inside somewhere it's not worth much. But it's not merely personal. If it was there would be no albums and no live performances.
- Songs start personally, but then they assume their own life. They get that life partially from those who receive the song, those who listen. My part is just half of the story. The challenge is to make the private universal.
This process is not easy. Sometimes the private doesn't like being public. Knút can tell you that.
- On my previous album, "Havsglóð", there was a song about my mother, who died in 1997. Maybe I was being naive, but I didn't expect the amount of publicity the song got. It was mentioned in almost every single review. It was uncomfortable.
But not only.
- I did speak to people who thanked me for the song. They had lost loved ones too and felt consoled by the song. That was good to hear. In light of that the other stuff isn't so bad.
Knút Is A Band
For Knút the journey from private to public isn't only in the lyrics, but also in the music. Whereas his previous album, "Havsglóð", was put together in a more studio-like, layered way, where every track was stacked on top of the one before it, one by one, Knút decided to produce the new album in another, more live and organic way.
- The sound of the first album was very clean, while the new one is more dirty and raw. I wanted to try it as more of a band, rather than an extended solo performer. Bands just sound more exciting to me at the moment.
Knút had written songs over several years, ever since the first album was released in 2004, and he arranged them together with the before-mentioned, dinner-eating musicians. The recording process was, as the story above illustrates, loose, spontaneous and relaxed.
- I have to admit that I like playing with people better. Of course when you can't sleep you sit and noodle on the guitar and come up with songs. But it's with people that things become really interesting.
Another difference between old and new albums is more guitars and fewer keyboards. I ask Knút whether this has anything to do with his rather prominent role in the last couple of years as a DJ.
- Yeah, to a certain degree. When you DJ every week and have to keep yourself completely updated on electronic music, you end up wanting to do something different. Not that I don't like electronic music anymore. Or that I don't want to do something electronic in the future. But right now I really, really wanted to play guitar and rock.
And rock he shall.
- I can't wait to play gigs and tour with the new material. I look forward to make noise in the old fashioned way - with a guitar in my hands, together with my friends.
Discography
Havsglóð CD (Tutl Records, nov. 2004)
The Desert Holds A Flower CD (Tutl Records, july 2009)
The Desert Holds A Flower 180 gr double vinyl LP (Tutl Records, july 2009)
CLICK HERE TO ORDER THE ALBUM
Here's a bit of filming from the overdub studio (Sandavágur, january 2009). Knút working on "Sitting By The Sea" while Bogi works the camera:
A bit of filming from the mixing studio (Lundgaard, june 2009). Jens at work:
some review snippets about Havsglóð:
"...I have to admit to being completely charmed by this collection. There's an ethereal quality to a lot of the music that calls to mind rain and sea and looking off into far distances, and yet there is also a definite sense of being solidly planted on the earth, as well".
-Robert M. Tilendis, Rambles.net
"...The whole CD is a pleasure to get wrapped up in. I like the warm harmonies and rich band sound but it also has some edgier, electric moments that add variety".
-Barbara Truex, Greenmanreview.com
"..."I Hesi Nátt" is by far my favorite Faroese song released in 2004. Maybe even one of my top-five favorite songs of the year from any artists from anywhere in the world"
-Hans Jákup Eiðisgarð, Past and Present Music (5 out of 6)
""...both an airy singer/songwriter release with airplay potential and a display in no compromise breathtaking post-shoegaze [...] not only does the fact that the album covers so many ideas really put forth different aspects of Eystursteins talent - it also creates, amidst the schizofrenia, a refreshing change on a record, which could have been another round of static tristesse. Because of this - and the fact that one gets nine strong songs which carry the heart on their sleeve - you should get to know this really interesting faroese songwriter".
-Steffen B. Pedersen, Geiger.dk
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