Norwegian dance music producer Hans-Peter Lindstrøm, known simply as Lindstrøm, is a bit of a peculiar part of the electronic music community, with his cosmic sound drawing inspiration from the most unlikely of places. The string of albums, EPs, and 12”s he has released over the past decade have proved him to be a vital member of the Nordic electronic music community./
Lindstrøm, photograph: LinStensrud
While numerous gigs throughout Europe and his relentless passion for making music keeps him comfortably in that part of the world, our one small seed Detroit contributor Kelly Frazier was able to catch Lindstrøm right off stage at a rare North American appearance at this past May’s annual Movement Electronic Music Festival in Detroit to speak to him about his motivations behind his unique style of music.
What types of stuff do you get inspiration from?
Sometimes it’s just fooling around in the studio, playing with instruments. Or it’s just listening to music, all kinds of music, like a lot of music from the ’70s and ’80s.
What type of stuff do you like from the ’70s and ’80s?
I like a lot of it because there is something about the sound of it and how they were producing everything. Everything from popular rock to country, it doesn’t really matter the style of the music, as long as it is from the ’70s and ’80s. Some of the stuff is really dry. I just like the way they were using instruments like synthesizers and keyboards, and at some point it sounded really interesting. I guess that kind of music using synthesizers, for those who were originally introduced to it, probably sounds like alien music. It was a really radical change in the use of instruments.
Lindstrøm: "Six Cups Of Rebel" Album Art
What is your process of making music? Do you just play around and use the good stuff?
Yeah, I usually do that. I guess I have my own way of doing it. It’s about fooling around and finding something that can be useful for a song or a remix or whatever, and then I just keep on working on it.
I read a quote online that you said your album Six Cups Of Rebel is your Metal Machine Music.
I’ve been feeling that it’s too weird for those people that have been following my music and my sound over the years. It was something radical and different than what I’ve been doing.
I kind of imagined how Lou Reed was getting reactions from doing something completely different.
I don’t think my album is that weird, but it is different than what I’ve been doing before. I know a lot of people were alienated by listening to it because it is something they were not expecting. That was part of the intention when I did it really.
You have been putting out records on your own for nearly 10 years now. Looking back, how you feel about that time in your life?
A few years ago, somebody came up to me and said to me ‘Hey! You’re a veteran! You’ve been around since forever!’ I was like ‘Oh really?!’ I don’t really feel like I’ve been doing it for that long. I guess ten years is a long time. I’m really happy that I’m still being able to put out music and keep doing what I like to do. I don’t take that for granted.
Lindstrøm, photograph: LinStensrud
How do you like coming to the United States?
I really like playing here. I often find the audience really comes to listen to my music.
A lot of parties in Europe, especially the clubs, people are just there to party. They don’t often know who is playing.
Usually, in the US, I get a lot of good feedback from the crowd.
What kind of a kid were you growing up?
I think I was curious. I really like working on technology and stuff like that. I really liked pulling things apart and examining how they worked. I was really passionate about music already when I was a kid. After doing homework, I couldn’t wait to go up to my room and listen to music. I think when I was about ten I got my first synthesizer and started playing in bands. I was really curious and wanted to know everything about the mysterious world of music.
What kind of bands were you playing in when you first started?
I started in a soft heavy-metal band.
Lindstrøm live at Le Poisson Rouge, image: hificartel.com
Check out Kelly’s exclusive with techno legend Jeff Mills in the new issue of one small seed – “The Bigger Picture” Issue – out in stores now!
interview by: Kelly Frazier
images: Lin Stensrud , HiFiCartel.com
