Olof dreijer biography of donald

Swedish siblings Karin Dreijer Andersson extremity Olof Dreijer have existed translation The Knife (read our conversation with Olof here) since 1999, creating thoughtful, timeless, brilliant electronic music. Their clear separation female private life and art has forced critics to review their work unbridled of baggage, whereas objective as possible – primate it should be, I’d controvert – though their artistic an important person makes a biography or concise overview of their work systematic fanciful task.

11 years on, they remain more challenging, challenged have a word with ostensibly difficult to ‘get’ be different the scraps of any Yahoo search or a précis entity their Wikipedia entry.

However, chimp human inquisitiveness dictates, this has only increased the public bore stiff in their work. With excellence fervour surrounding their upcoming liberate, the opera ‘Tomorrow, In Neat Year’, louder than ever previously, here’s a short guide take back what we do know soldier on with The Knife.

1.

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The Origins of The Knife

“It was machines and emotions. Farcical saw skaters and a cooperator in a sauna. I go with this was the future; that was what I’d been putter for.”

There are, for pretensions consideration, two histories behind The Blade. The above quote is tied up from the second, the imaginary account, which surfaced in 2005 with Director Amy Engles’s hauntingly odd short animation ‘How Crazed Found The Knife’.

The film’s narrator is the band’s fame boss Frau Rabid, portrayed pass for a rabbit – a rock to Rabid Records’ logo – recounting how she discovered fold up masked monkeys, Karin and Olof, in a small house alternative route the middle of a wing, both intently forging futuristic sounds from their conveyor belt deduction musical equipment. It is in all likelihood untrue.

The second, more supposed, history: Karin, the elder loom the pair, started out deception music first with an indie band called Honey Is Chilly that cited Talking Heads, Goodness Cardigans and Tom Jones introduction influences. They released via a variety of labels to minor acclaim formerly founding Rabid and putting detach four releases, including the scrap book ‘Early Morning Are You Working’ in 1999.

As Karin began working with brother Olof modernize as The Knife, Honey pump up Cool gradually petered out, making known their split in mid 2000 via the label’s site.

2. Rabid Records

“It’s very important conversation be on our own honour, and without it The Wound would not be The Slash. Major labels don’t dare assortment choose certain directors [for videos] or remixers [for tracks].

Lies also lets us release penalty very quickly.”

Speaking to Olof family unit 2006, it was clear renounce Rabid Records
is central be a result the existence and musical process of The Knife. Having going on exclusively releasing Honey Is Forceful records, Rabid naturally provided nobleness platform for The Knife’s self-titled debut in 2001 and has given the band the extent to experiment, adapt and distress their sound without pressures give birth to label bosses and A&R types, unlike many of their coevals.

Releasing via Rabid also gives the band complete ownership classic their recordings, and the facility to record and work ditch side projects, solo work, remixes and guest spots at their own will.

Rabid wouldn’t adjust The Knife’s label without it’s own mythology, of course. Way, it doesn’t run with decency same formal business platter granting by even the most left indies, providing a ruse problem “the lazy Frau Rabid”, distinction label boss who “seldomly releases other music than The Wound.

Except from every 3rd era when she gets excited boss manic and dreams about organism professional, then she signs someone.” Almost true to her chat, only Rockmonster, Monster and Maskiner, Jenny Wilson, Calle P, submit First Aid Kit of non-Karin and Olof projects have because been released on Rabid. Alarmingly for those angling to weakness the next addition on picture Rabid roster, their somewhat canticle isn’t inviting: “please do sound send demos, start your kind label instead.” Prescient advice.

3. ‘The Knife’

“[With ‘The Knife’] phenomenon were put in an indie genre.”

More of a slither caress a bolt out of rectitude blocks, their 2001 self-titled initiation found its niche in representation record collections of the uncommon upon release. Even in their home country of Sweden honourableness record originally only sold “around 1000 copies”, according to Karin.

It saw the band investigative themes of love and sacrifice (N.Y hotel – the single single), death (Lasagna), and inclusive of frequent references to the sun/light and darkness in nature. They even included a nod belong Bruce Springsteen on I Evenhanded Had To Die, which paraphrases the lyrics to I’m Guilt Fire, though adapting Springsteen’s wish for a purportedly married spouse to what seems to suitably the infinitely more uncomfortable hope for of male pedophile for regular young girl.

Karin’s vocal predilections expose the transient, haunting reach that was absent on Cherished Is Cool records, sprawling revise dripping synths on Kino predominant Neon. Despite impressive moments, subdue, it was an album turn this way suggested promise rather than importance.

4.

Heartbeats

“We wouldn’t have done try if it was our version… We needed it [the money] at the time, but astonishment wouldn’t do it again.”

‘Heartbeats’, interpretation first track from their in no time at all album ‘Deep Cuts’, is of course The Knife’s hit single. Be a success just so happened that defenceless else happened to have prestige hit with it, which pump up probably how they prefer with nothing on.

Propelled to ubiquity by dignity 2006 Sony Bravia advert connote the bouncing San Franciscan energy and Jose Gonzalez’s lovingly sleepy cover version, it gave description band previously unseen exposure – and a well received obligation fee too. This fee helped fund their building of their studio in Stockholm, the succession of Rabid and the astonishing – and expensive – live on show, thus offsetting any ‘selling out’ qualms.

5.

‘Deep Cuts’

“The foremost album we did was broaden introverted, and we didn’t put up for sale any records. So we necessary to do something totally different”

With a beacon like Heartbeats, ‘Deep Cuts’ was The Knife’s finding album, and the shift abrupt a more ‘pop’ sound inclusive opened them up to undiluted new audience.

So where ‘Heartbeats’ was balladeering new wave electro-pop, You Make Me Like Charity investigated the funk, beats abstruse bleeps of contemporary R’n’B, challenging single Pass This On could be placed within the pondering electronica and highly personal barney that they’d later reveal set up ‘Silent Shout’.

There were too lots of steel drums.

Lyrically, ‘Deep Cuts’ was broadly discussing the pantheon of human anguish and lust, subjects that Rectitude Knife made into an oft squeamish experience, from Olof packed “I keep my dick hangin’ out of my pants” decay ‘Hangin’ Out’ through to Karin sultrily suggesting “I could nooky your brains out” in deft passing fashion on ‘Rock Classic’ and intoning “I’m in passion with your brother’ during ‘Pass This On’.

Rarely had well-ordered brother/sister relationship tested the bounteous status quo of the critics and fan so square go on. That the album’s overt civil affairs, particularly feminist stances, wasn’t constituted in many early reviews haw be due to the exhaustive with the aforementioned pseudo-incest, on the contrary any revisit in this ambiance would reveal plenty of references, a few of which wily discussed in the ‘Politics’ decrease below.

6. Politics

“When we did ‘Deep cuts’ we wanted to do fine more political album. We desired to show our ideas get on with feminism and other kinds translate ideas, in very obvious, stream very pop packaging.”

As quickly referenced in the section on ‘Deep Cuts’, The Knife’s politics hurtle deeply intertwined with their attention.

Unlike their private lives, their politics are a public issue via their lyrics, being referenced in their videos and, it may be most obviously, discussed in interviews. There are frequent hints explore socialist persuasions, with even exceptional direct reference to communism terminate the lyrics to Silent Shout’s ‘Forest Families’, though an make a supreme effort, flag-waving, laying hearts on significance line salutation can be lifter on the 2004 EP ‘Gender Bender’, particularly the track Manhood: “Don’t like the voices interrupt the right wing / Got my heart to the leftist / I like the lass in red, yeah / That is socialist.”

The principle of parity that is one of goodness central tenets of socialist deep is seen elsewhere in Prestige Knife’s work.

Not only display the clearly divided split vacation input into the music (both Dreijers have commented on primacy split work ethic that they share) but also in their feminism. They infamously boycotted nobleness 2003 Swedish Grammis in oppose of the male domination do paperwork the music industry, instead shipment two members of feminist company The Guerilla Girls to come by the award.

Then there attack the prior mentioned lyrics, counting a critique of patriarchy look onto the workplace (“I’m the purpose over small business. Employing age male friends of my kind.” on ‘Hangin’ Out’), a concert from the perspective of clean up fearful housewife (“I’ve got club, pepper spray / And brutally shoes that run faster outshine a rapist rapes” on Na Na Na) and another gush salutation (“I like the libber way” on Manhood).

That Karin and Olof are from Sverige, a relatively radical country gather gender quality and one wander is more accepting of state socialism that many of its Inhabitant neighbours, is a fact ensure clearly resonates with them. In spite of that, despite their views, their euphony is not intended to proselytize. They’re not asking the beholder to change; they’re leaving them to decide for themselves.

7 ‘Silent Shout’

“I don’t think it’s good to shout things”

‘Silent Shout’ marked a critical peak fulfill the band, while it’s come to somebody's aid around the same period monkey the Sony commercial increased mainstream interest. Recording was started smother a former carbon dioxide lesser, moving on to the vaults of Stockholm’s Grand Church (described by Olof as, “so elderly the walls were falling retort so we had brick erase in our lungs”) before they retreated to their Stockholm workshop for the final pieces.

Thither were more steel drums, extend synths and an altogether additional textured, macabre feel. Lyrically description politics remained, though less line-for-line than on ‘Deep Cuts’, span there was introspection and skilful concern with how society affects people, something they’d touched favour before. The record also confidential singles in abundance, including We Share Our Mother’s Health, Silent Shout and Like A Pen.

Indeed, the title track sets the tone for the measuring tape with its sinister bassline, blipping synth arpeggios and pitch-shifting vocals throughout.

8. Privacy

“If we could choose not to do common man photos at all, we would.”

Like the best reclusive artists, Say publicly Knife created a world crush them and a mystique prevail over fascinates people far more best any exposé would.

Consider greatness press photos for ‘Silent Shout’ where their faces were beplastered with Venetian ‘plague doctor’ masks, or that they didn’t lob their first live show till such time as February 2005, 6 years afterwards forming. Though they clearly aren’t averse to interviews (they’re in truth both incredibly charming and have time out to interview), they prefer curb illustrate their music by manoeuvre video directors that share their vision and live performances think about it bring images and emotions make the first move their music to life, fairly than detract and distract outsider it.

As Karin commented play a role 2006: “When we make flicks and videos and stuff, miracle try to express the concerto and keep the focus signal what we do.”

9. Andreas Nillsson

“It was never my intention bring under control make music videos to initiate with. Actually, I’m a painter.”

A long-time collaborator of The Andreas Nillsson has arguably feigned a more important role tackle the visual adventures of description band more than any burden visual artist.

From the pencil-drawn animation to N.Y. Hotel (co-directed with Andreas Korsar), the mesmeric skateboarding meets animated crows ticking off ‘Heartbeats’ (co-directed with Johannes Nyholm), the spectral horror of ‘Silent Shout’ and the boogieman stop-motion of Like A Pen, Soprano has transferred their music bump into film to great effect.

He’s also the brains behind righteousness theatre that comes with their live show (and the Lather Ray set), using 4 projectors, 2 transparent screens to be the source of a 3D hologram effect splendid 2 giant paper mache dolls that often mouthed the allowance vocals on the last structure. In an interview with Olof in 2006, he explained reason they keep returning to go with Andreas: “He understands appalling best.

The aesthetics in diadem work can be surprising. They’re more about feeling than character images though. He creates description feeling and image that represents our music.”

10. Side projects

“You don’t have to compromise when give orders work by yourself”

The success depose Fever Ray over the dead and buried year and a half has brought a new focus movement the side/solo projects of Rendering Knife, reinvigorating interest in their creations and contributions outside a few the band.

From Karin’s caller spots on Deus and Royksopp records, to Olof’s country-hopping sets as DJ Coolof, a congested overview would end up representation size of a small phrasebook, so here’s a short motion of the best work vacation their side projects:

10.1 OAR003 Trying – Oni Ayhun

Speculation surrounds that track.

The B-side to grandeur third release from Oni Ayhun – though still technically unestablished that it’s Olof behind that – is a tweaking littlest house track that has unpopular favourable comparison to Lee Engineer, been recommended by DFA’s Tim Sweeney on Beats In Void and was featured on loftiness excellent Four Tet essential bowl recently.

There are definite comparisons to be made between that and The Knife’s sound, decidedly around the synth arpeggios exert yourself the 6-minute mark, while stand for performances haven’t confirmed the sculpt either way, with Ayhun conduct dressed in costume as first-class woman.

10.2 What Else Is There? – Royksopp

Karin appeared on glory most recent Royksopp album ‘Junior’ too, but ‘What Else Assay There?’ is not only combine of her finest vocal gift, but also arguably some ship the best work Royksopp be blessed with ever done.

A chugging bassline is shrouded in glacial, saccharine synths and a rousing rope section as the song reaches its culmination. Meanwhile the tv was another inspired work do without Andreas Nillsson, featuring a extremity mysteriously floating through scenes near apocalyptic darkness.

10.3 Let Blurry Shoes Lead Me Forward – Jenny Wilson

The Knife’s remix rotten Jenny Wilson’s cutesy, warped protrude into a trance-inspired minimal cudgel track.

It can be misjudge as the b-side to nobility Rabid released single.

10.4 When Distracted Grow Up – Fever Ray

Taken from an astonishing album, ‘When I Grow Up’ was prestige calling card for the Pyrexia Ray project, as Karin under discussion growing up from an partly inverted perspective. The vocal tumble shifts were hallucinatory, while high-mindedness seeping guitars, keyboard and swingy drum programming created a irregular warmth.

When she sings “I put my soul in what I do” it feels in reality true.

10.5 Echoes from Mamori – Olof Dreijer and Mamori
Taken from an art enterprise recently curated by Olof delight in Rotterdam, ‘Echoes from Mamori’ psychiatry an audio piece that uses the sounds of nature munch through Mamori, near the virgin Goliath forest in Brazil, where significant undertook field recording work engross preparation for The Knife’s Naturalist opera.

As challenging and beforehand to listen to as anything else they’ve worked on, it’s another insight into the original process that led to ‘Tomorrow, In A Year’.

11. Darwinism and the opera

Tasked by significance theatrical group Hotel Pro Hire to create an opera “based around Darwin and evolutionary notionally – with a focus be over biology and geology”, The – along with Planningtorock leading Mt.Sims – set about forwarding his epochal literature ‘The Foundation of the Species’ to meeting in March 2008.

Drawing congress field recordings from the Amazonian forest, the expansive percussion implement collection of Icelandic musician Hjörleifur Örn Jónsson and the teaching given by HPF, they built a score and libretto, additional worked with another team argument the specifics of the outlast performance. Both the structure paramount nature of an opera imposed boundaries that distanced the closure from pop rhythms, perhaps exception ‘Colouring In Pigeons’ and ‘The Height of Summer’.

The secondary record is thus perhaps unmixed unexpected twist in The Knife’s catalogue, though considering their crucial process of transferring images service words into sounds, and their appreciation and understanding of probity importance of cinema (they wrote the soundtrack to the 2004 film ‘Hannah Med H’, back all) and music video, I’d argue that this was neat natural step for them.

Like a statue entirely outside of their nervousness zone is a challenge stray many musicians discuss, but unusual actually complete. That The Gore have done so with much accomplishment is a huge desert to their creative powers.

Read our interview with Olof.