Voices #1
◦ “voices” is the place where we ask, artists reply and you read.
here we got:
rsn | N
answering some questions. We have already observed his drone / ambient / dark ambient / noise work here.
[1. IDEA]
■ The A. O.: The track from “shift #2” that we prefer is “shift #2.2“. Can you tell us how it came to light?
► rsn | N: “shift #2” is a collaboration album with the ambient/drone guitarist N. I worked with him a lot with my band [ B O L T ]. We met for a session together in our studio and started developing ideas without any pre-planning. It soon became clear that we wanted to work with just a semitone shift to create different atmospheres. This resulted in 5 songs, 3 of which ended up on “shift #1” and 2 on “shift #2”.
[2. CREATION]
■ The A. O.: How do you usually approach composition? Do you start with a concept, a sound, a state of mind or what else? How do you generally proceed from the initial seed to the complete work?
► rsn | N: It varies a lot – both solo and in collaborations. Sometimes I make thoughts and notes in the run-up to a recording session or discuss ideas and possibilities with a collaboration partner beforehand. But often the idea comes shortly before recording and then develops while playing. The music is very atmospheric and I find that this atmosphere develops best when you get into the flow and just let everything come to you
[3. FEEDBACK]
■ The A. O.: What do you hope listeners feel or experience when engaging with your music?
► rsn | N: I always want to create immersion with my art – the music and the photographs. Terms like “soundscapes” and “soundjourney” are a bit hackneyed, but they still describe quite well what ambient and drone are all about. It’s important that it doesn’t sound too deliberate and contrived, I think – but there are other opinions and tastes, which is totally fine.
[4. IDENTITY]
■ The A. O.: In a world saturated with digital music content, how do you try to keep your sound distinct and personally meaningful?
► rsn | N: This is difficult to answer and separate. The oversaturation of content – and that doesn’t just refer to music – requires much more attention and selection by the listener. At the same time, it offers input and ideas. I don’t try to do anything special, I just try to write the music. The music just happens – without any esotericism or anything like that. I start with a note or a riff and the rest develops. My art gets meaning from the fact that people listen to it or look at it, attend concerts and exhibitions and give me feedback.
[5. INFLUENCES]
■ The A. O.: Name three albums that you consider relevant to your musical path and why.
► rsn | N: I’ve been listening to and making music for about 30 years now and, of course, both the taste and the sound of my bands and projects have changed. So if I do the math from the beginning and think about what influenced and moved me as a whole – at that time or now – then it would be: Sigur Rós “( ) ”, Godspeed You! Black Emperor “Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven” and N “Goor”. But there are countless bands from other genres missing that have also influenced me: The Notwist “Neon Golden”, Omega Massif “Ghost Town”, Daughters “Hell Songs”, Mineral “The Power Of Failing”, Mayhem “De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas” and quite a few others…
[6. REGARDS]
■ The A. O.: Leave us with a quote you love.
► rsn | N: “Death to fascism, freedom to the people!” (Stjepan Filipovic)