Anders Trentemøller is the bridge between dark and light, melodic and dissonant, organic and industrial. He is an artist who weaves together intricate progression and classical chords with an atmospheric ambiance to form sonic tapestries. This attention to technique paired with raw creativity defines his sound and sets him apart from the rest. He activates the beauty in dance music and enlivens a soft yet ferocious edge to each piece of music he produces. He is a rare artist and one that is writing history in the electronic bible. Zola and I were lucky enough to share 15 minutes with him last Friday (hovered over a speaker phone in the Boston Commons), where we chatted about Trentemøller Live, Hope Sandoval and sushi…
Lostinsound: First off, where are you from?
Anders Trentemøller: I’m from Copenhagen in Denmark. I’m actually from the countryside south of Denmark but I’ve been living here in Copenhagen for the past 20 years.
LIS: What time did you wake up this morning?
AT: This morning I woke up quite early. I was in Paris and I had an early flight back to Copenhagen. I went to bed around 4 and woke up at 8 so I didn’t haven’t much sleep.
LIS: Did you play instruments growing up?
AT: For as long as I can remember I was listening to music and I think I started playing piano when I was 4 or 5 years old.
I never went to music school or had any teachers; I learned it myself. It was something I was always patient about.
LIS: You started out presenting your work as a solo artist. Now you are touring with a live band. How did you evolve into Trentemøller Live?
AT: It came very naturally because my latest album, Into the Great Wide Yonder, there’s a lot of instruments which I played on the album myself. But to play that album live, I obviously couldn’t do it all myself so it was a quite natural development to put this band and tour together. It’s very different than being a DJ; it’s much more fun.
LIS: One of the stand out tracks off that album is “Even Though You’re With Another Girl”; when you feature vocalists in a track, do you write the lyrics?
AT: For that song, I did not write the lyrics, it was Josephine Philip, the vocalist. When I work with a vocalist, they write their own lyrics. Of course we talk about them but I think it’s more honest if the person who is singing writes them.
It sounds more pure in a way
Normally I don’t go so much into the lyrics because I think it’s up to the vocalist to be proud of their words.
…Eventhough you’re with another girl from Trentemøller on Vimeo.
LIS: How do you think the electronic music scene has evolved since you’ve been apart of it?
AT: For me it has turned into mixing electronic with other music styles. It’s become interesting to see how I can incorporate my own sounds into the electronic music world and also create music that doesn’t sound that electronic but of course it is. I like when electronic music has a vintage, warm and organic sound while being futuristic.
LIS: What’s your favorite piece of gear?
AT: A compressor because it really gives punch and warmth to my sounds. I especially like it for when I record live drums and vocals.
LIS: Who would you most like to collaborate with?
AT: I’m a very big fan of Hope Sandoval; she has the most beautiful voice and I would love to work with her. I have written to her a few times but I haven’t gotten any feedback. Some people are saying that she is very shy and does not often work with other artists, but she appeared on the latest Massive Attack album, Heglioland, for the song “Paradise Circus”.
LIS: What’s on your iPod right now?
AT: Right now I’m listening to a guy called Wild Nothing. He reminds me of this indie sound from Britain in the early 90’s. I’m also listening to a girl band called DUM DUM GIRLS and another called Vivian Girls. The latest Ravonettes album is really cool too. There’s a lot on my iPod (laughs).
LIS: You’ve had experience playing in some of the hottest clubs in Ibiza and some underground, intimate spaces. What’s your personal preference for playing?
AT: It’s fun to play those large stages but I prefer to be in the intimate setting where I can look people in the eyes and feel direct contact with the crowd. You can feel the vibe very strongly.
LIS: When you played in Boston at Royale last year, you had rope curtains that would rise and fall during your set…
AT: It adds more drama. I wanted something that was visual but interactive. Most of my music is instrumental so it’s very important to have this visual aspect to add to the constant experience.
LIS: What’s your favorite food?
AT: I really love food, maybe too much. I think sushi is one of my favorites. Salmon sushi.
Trentemøller – BBC Radio 1 Essential Mix
There is no mystery as to why the BBC Essential Mix above was voted number one Essential Mix in 2006. In this hour long sensation, Trentemøller seduces you with smoky French vocalists and then ignites your rebellion with Jim Morrison‘s rousing “Break on Through”. I think this dichotomy is a perfect representation of Trentemøller as an artist: such beautiful rebellion.
–SmokiJo and Zola
Trentemøller – Vamp (vinyl edit)
Trentemøller – Moan(Trentemøller Remix)
Modeselektor – White Flash Feat. Thom Yorke(Trentemøller Remix)
Trentemøller – Kink
Trentemøller – Prana
Get his new album November 8th: Reworked/Remixed
Do not miss Trentemøller and his live band as he embarks on a US and Canada tour:
10.12.11 Royale, Boston with Xylos
10.13.11 Theater of the Living Arts, Philadelphia with Xylos
10.14.11 Webster Hall, NYC with Wolfgang Garter and Xylos
10.15.11 Metropolis, Montreal with Xylos
10.16.11 Phoenix Concert Theatre, Toronto with Xylos
10.18.11 Metro, Chicago with Xylos
10.19.11 Liberty Hall, Lawrence, KS with Xylos
10.21.11 Denver, Ogden Theatre with Xylos
10.25.11 Marquee Theatre, Tempe, AZ with Xylos
10.26.11 Belly Up Tavern, Solana Beach, CA with Xylos
10.27.11 The Music Box, Hollywood with Xylos
10.29.11 The Fillmore, San Francisco with Xylos
10.31.11 Roseland Theater, Portland, OR with Xylos
11.01.11 Showbox at the Market, Seattle with Xylos
11.02.11 Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver with Xylos
