“Success in any type of art is not worth anything if it doesn’t come from doing something that is truly you. If you’re not a fan of what you are making, it doesn’t matter if you have a whole world out there that does; it will not give you any real gratification,” explains Swedish producer Fahlberg when we ask him about his biggest lessons so far.
Having already released on some of the biggest labels such as Dynamic, Stil Vor Talent, Abracadabra, MoBlack, he is now celebrating his debut with the release of his new EP, Rhythms for Sale, on Watergate Records. With three very different styles in the tracks, he manages to showcase a wide range as an artist and surprises the listener especially in the third track, “I’m So Groovy,” with the incorporation of trumpet sounds that perfectly harmonize with the driving rhythm and cinematic soundscapes. The focus track, Rhythms for Sale, brings together infectious grooves and layered production.
We are definitely playing the track on repeat and love discovering more about the personal journey and inspiration behind each artist. And so we learned more about Alexander´s upcoming track “Messing Around,” which will be released on the newly launched Swedish label Sven Records, the current development of the Nordic electronic music scene, how he balances the hectic tour life, and which place is still on his bucket list.
All images by Press courtesy
Rhythms for Sale—your new three-track EP will be released on October 4th. What is the meaning behind the title? And what theme or inspiration is behind the EP?
It’s a metaphor I made for someone who is trying to make a living out of making electronic music (selling rhythms). I got a picture in my head of a guy having a market place with all the necessary tools for making music. The artwork for the EP is the idea is how I pictured it.
The inspiration or the idea for the EP was that I wanted to make a release consisting of tracks that were all a bit different in styles to show a wider side of myself as an artist. There’s so much music released at the moment where everyone is trying to sound the same so I guess this came as a response to that.
I’m just listening to the third track, I’m So Groovy—it’s such a cool track, the melody literally sweeps you away. I hope I’m hearing it right: was part of it recorded with a trumpet? Such a beautiful part. When you make a track like this, do you work a lot with a concept beforehand, or does the song come together through experimentation?
Thank you! I got a demo sent by a producer called Mick Jerome titled I’m So Groovy that sounded way different but had the trumpet you mention and the vocal sample used in it. When I listened to it, I liked the elements used but heard a very different version in my head, where the track had deeper chords and an almost cinematic feeling to it. I told him my ideas for the track, and he asked if I wanted to change the track into how I’d pictured it and make it a collab, and I thought, why not. So he sent me the stems, and I developed the track into the version that has now been released. In this case, it was a concept I got from hearing an idea someone else had already made, but all tracks are different. Sometimes it’s just experimenting with sounds in the studio, and you hear something cool that, a few hours later, turns into a full track.
“When we dare to create something different and bring something new sounding to the scene we tend to come up with some pretty good sounding stuff.”
What’s the story behind your other upcoming track Messing Around? How long did it take until you felt the track was finished?
Me and Layer J, a very talented producer from my hometown Stockholm, had been doing some sessions together and sending ideas back and forth for a while and trying to make a collaboration track happen. I think we started this track idea around 2 years ago but I was never really happy with the final result because I felt something was missing, and I kind of forgot about the track for a while. Then, earlier this year, I got a message from the guys that are starting Sven Records who had heard the track and were wondering if they could release it on their new label, if they were able to clear the sample that wasn’t cleared at the time. That made us open up the project again and give it another go on finalizing it and this time we were able to make the improvements needed for the track to reach its full potential. At the same time Sven Records was able to clear the sample so it was a perfect timing. And now I love it!
In October, Messing Around will be released on the newly launched label, Sven Records, where you’re the first artist to release. The label focuses on the exceptional talent coming from the Nordic electronic music scene. How would you summarize the vibe of Nordic electronic artists, and what makes it unique? And how did you connect to the label in the first place?
Not sure I can speak for the whole Nordic scene but for Sweden and Stockholm where both I and Sven Records are based I feel that we’re seeing some sort of revival of the electronic music scene happening right now where there’s a lot of great new talent and established artists from here coming out with new great and exciting music music again.
After all the success that the many more commercial Swedish EDM DJs had around 10 years ago, I think the rest of the less commercial part of the scene here went more underground as a reaction and became more conservative in everything. As a result, things maybe got less exciting because no one wanted to push anything new and take any risks.
But now I feel that we’re back to having a more experimental approach to our music again. It’s in that creative state that I think this scene here is at its best. When we dare to create something different and bring something new sounding to the scene we tend to come up with some pretty good sounding stuff. So Sweden is definitely worth keeping an extra eye on in the upcoming years.
“That success in any type of art is not worth anything if it doesn’t come from doing something that is truly you.”
How did you get into music and DJing/producing? Was there a specific moment or person that sparked your passion?
After finishing high school in Sweden I went to college in the US. The studying in itself might not been something worth talking about but I started to hang out with some DJs at the many the collage parties I attended, which created an interest in me for wanting to start playing myself. So when I went back to Sweden I almost directly started to DJ and I also picked up producing at the same time. Everything regarding my music has always happened very organically.
You’re constantly on tour, playing gigs in different places and locations. It sounds exciting but also exhausting. Do you often hit your limits? How do you handle pressure when it builds up?
It’s easy to want to do everything, but I try to stay honest with myself and my body on how much I can push before hitting my limits and so far I’ve managed to keep things working.
The key is, at least for me, to take great care of yourself on the days when you’re not out doing shows. Working out, eating healthy and sleeping well is all something that I make sure to not compromise on. This balances up the hectic tour life where it’s sometimes hard to control things like food and sleep.
What have been the biggest lessons in your career so far? Have any mistakes turned out to be your best teachers?
That success in any type of art is not worth anything if it doesn’t come from doing something that is truly you. If you’re not a fan of what your are making it doesn’t matter if you have a whole world out there that does, it will not give you any real gratification. It maybe can do if you’re an entertainer that are doing it for the attention seeking, but not if you’re an artist.
How do you find inspiration when you’re feeling creatively drained or uninspired?
I’ve never really experienced a lack of inspiration or creativity to be honest. I think that creating is such an existential part of who I am that I feel like there is something that is just there. That doesn’t mean that everything I do becomes something good, far from it. But I try to not evaluate the result of what I’m making until after it’s done. I think that’s something that helps me to avoid writing blocks.
“I try to not evaluate the result of what I’m making until after it’s done.”
Which places and clubs are still on your bucket list?
Watergate has been on that list for a long time but with the sad news about its closing it will be hard one to do. But I’m happy to have released on the label with this EP. Besides that I’ve always been fascinated about doing something in Madison Square Garden in New York, but that’s more of a long term ambition. Let’s see what the future holds.
Besides music, what truly makes you happy?
Being alive, in good health, surrounded by great and inspiring people while working with my biggest passion in life is all I need.
Follow Fahlberg for more:
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Rhythms for Sale – available here: lnk.to/RHYTHMSFORSALE
