For all Whitelabrecs physical releases, I ask my artists to put together a blog post. Some of these are based on set ideas such as the Grounding Sounds series, or album walkthroughs. Then there's also a random category, which allows for complete creativity and I'm excited to share one of these today!

'Swedish Landscapes' is an interview and photography collection by Henrik Meierkord and Daniel Andersson (Knivtid), following their recent album 'I ett annat land'. Both artists are from Sweden and being a geography lover, my mind wandered towards thoughts of the incredible landscapes of this country. So I asked them if they had any photos to share and as you can see below, there were some incredibly beautiful captures!

I asked them both some questions to see if, and how, the environment around them influences their work. If you're inspired by this, and the short clip of music in the video, head to the bottom of the page to check out their new album...

How have the natural landscapes of Sweden influenced your music? Particularly considering I ett annat land?

DA: I always bring an instrument or two along whenever I travel somewhere. Listening to the tracks in this album always reminds me of the conditions that they were created in. The nature around kind of seeps into the track.

HM: Even though I am from the southern part of the country near Denmark which is called Skåne, I think a lot about deep forests, almost a little troll-like and with beautiful lakes, just like time has stood still; it could be 200 years back in time, which is logical since much of our forests are still untouched, covered in moss, lava and trees.

The press release for I ett annat land refers to nostalgia and gazing out of the car window as a child. Do you have a particular memory or scene from a car window to share? What is it about nostalgia that makes it so special?

HM: I remember as a child when we were driving down into Europe, I sat and listened to the car radio and lost myself in thought while I looked out at the lines on the side of the road. Just like the railroad tracks, you were kind of hypnotised by it just like loops in music.

DA: Nostalgia is a tricky one for me. I don't really listen to music from a nostalgic viewpoint, but find that the best music is always around the corner. But the kind of melancholy of nostalgia, often childhood nostalgia, is interesting as a source of inspiration.

Many of the photos you’ve shared showcase Sweden’s stunning rural beauty. Do you find particular places in nature to be a creative sanctuary? Are there any specific Swedish locations that you’re fond of for drawing inspiration?

DA: Forests, places of water and heights. I love a good mountain!

HM: I would probably say that because I grew up by Öresund near Denmark, that the sea is very majestic to me, but at the same time the forest is almost like an ocean, as are the beautiful mountain landscapes in the north. As my creativity is quite emotionally driven, as well as anxiety-driven, I can feel quite uninspired on a sandy beach in Spain, but on the other hand become interested in the dark interior of a Swedish forest.

How do Sweden’s dramatic seasonal shifts of long winters and bright summers influence your mood and song writing process?

DA: I tend to get more musical work done in the winter. There are less distractions around. Here in Stockholm we get around six hours of sunlight around Christmas, and 18.5 hours in mid summer.

HM: I make music all the time, but in the summer I sometimes think it's a little too sweaty to pull the strings! But I would probably say like Vivaldi, that every season has its charm.

If you could take your listeners on a journey through Swedish landscapes that particularly reflects the themes of the album, where would you go and why?

HM: Just a primeval forest somewhere in central Sweden, the fjäll and mountains like Kebnekaise up north, but I could also imagine a fairy-tale beech forest in Skåne, which is close to my heart. Beech forests are not found in the north.

DA: Somewhere in the northern part of Sweden. Mountains, rivers and massive forests.

If you like the sound of what you hear and read in this blog post by Henrik Meierkord and Daniel Andersson, you can follow their work here:

Henrik Meierkord:
Website
Bandcamp
Instagram

Knivtid:
Bandcamp
Instagram

You can listen to their new album 'I ett annat land' HERE! Or, hit play on the embedded player below: