これまで、本当にいろいろな音楽に影響を受けてきた。最初は初期の、Warp Recordsのデモシーン音楽の影響。それから、エレクトロニック・モダン・クラシックにのめり込んでいった。Murcofとか、Marsen Julesとかね。その他の大きな影響といえば、たとえばチェリストのDavid Darlingと、彼のアルバム『Dark Wood』だね。Future Sound of London、Volcano the Bear、そしてSlowdiveなんかにもかなり影響を受けた。これら全てが、ノルウェーの森林、シュールレアリスム、反復音楽、無調音楽なんかのタッチとミックスされてるんだ。
横田進、大友良英、World's End Girlfriend、minamo、ボアダムス。横田進は、僕が一番レコードを持ってるアーティストの一人で、『Sakura』、『Grinning Cat』、『The Boy and the Tree』、『Laputa』といったアルバムには、初期に影響されたね。すべてが、僕がいつも戻っていくクラシック・アルバムだ。
My name is Erik Knive Skodvin, I come from Norway though currently living in Berlin. I'm also known as Svarte Greiner, half of Deaf Center and head of the Miasmah label.
What inspires you to create music?
Nightly cityscapes, films, nature, strange people, coincidences, time stopping moments, lights and shadow, abandoned places, decay and of course the most typical of all, love and loss.
Do you think that you were influenced by any kind of music?
I've been influenced by a lot of different music through the years now. Starting with early demoscene music mixed with Warp records influences. Moving more into electronic modern classical music such as Murcof, Marsen Jules.
Other big influences are f.ex cellist David Darling and his album "Dark Wood". Future Sound of London, Volcano the Bear and Slowdive is also big influences. All this mixed with a touch of Norwegian forest, surrealism, repetition and atonality.
How did you become interested in sound construction?
Through coincidences, meeting the right people and immersing myself in computers from an early stage on.
Your brand new album "Flame" will be released soon! What do you have the concept when you start to make this?
When recording under my own name i try to play with a broader set of influences and moods. "Flame" touches on americana, blues, jazz and psychedelia mixing it with classical music and analogue electronics in a soundtracky way. It's a continuance of the sound of Flare but focused more in a percussive direction.
Your solo albums were released from Sonic Pieces. How is the label?
It's a super nice label with great aesthetics and people. I work closely with them as Miasmah is sharing office with Sonic Pieces.
You have some projects as Svarte Greiner, Deaf Center, B/B/S/. How is each of the units?
Svarte Greiner = Darker experimentations with sound, atmospheres, movements and atonality. My main project.
Deaf Center = Project together with Otto A Totland. Piano, guitar & electronics.
B/B/S/ = improvisational trio together with Aidan Baker of Nadja (guitar) and Andrea Belfi (percussion/electronics)
How is the music scene in Norway for you?
I can't say for sure as I haven’t lived in Norway for 5 years now, but from what I see/hear from here it seems to be thriving quite well, especially within forms containing free jazz, metal and indie.
You will come to Japan soon! I can't wait! How do you feel the Japan Tour?
Extremely excited about it. It's been a dream for a long time, so i can't wait. Especially for the food!
Do you have some japanese favorite artists?
Susumu Yokota, Otomo Yoshihide, Minamo, World's End Girlfriend, Boredoms. Though probably Susumu Yokota is the one I have most records from and was an early influence on me with albums like "Sakura", "Grinning Cat", "The Boy and the Tree" and "Laputa". All classic albums I keep going back to.
Please let me know near future plan.
- release "Flame" my follow up to "Flare" on sonic pieces
- new Deaf Center mini live album on sonic pieces
- several new exciting releases on my label Miasmah
- some touring plans here and there
- working on sound design for various art projects
- drink good beer, relax and take better care of myself
Please give a message to japanese fans!
Big hugs to you all!
INTERVIEW in April 2014
TRANSLATED by Naoko Yamada
TEXT by Masato Hoshino
ERIK K SKODVIN
