4 April 2023

EYEMOUTH is a Swedish musical project that started in 2014 as a quartet
and evolved in the two-man orchestra of Marcus Lilja and Joakim Åberg.

For Turn Up The Volume they’re not a proper band, they’re a sort of spiritual
experience, floating from the past to the present with an eye on the future.

Their new grand opus, entitled A Headlong Fall Into The Vast Ocean Of Anxiety
is an explorative voyage through their mythical world with atmospheric synth-scapes
soundtracks of sci-fi movies, mellow prog-rock echoes, dark-electro-wave surrealism
and an overall symphonic sonority.

Intriguing right? Therefore we invited Marcus and Joakim
to tell us more about the past and the present.

Hello, welcome
and thank you for taking
time for this chat,

When and how did EYEMOUTH start its musical journey?

“Back in the day, we were in a band together as members of Estrange,
putting out some records. But as musical tastes and styles evolved, we
decided to start a new project in 2014, Eyemouth, a band that carried on
alongside Estrange.

Over time, the lineup changed and morphed, until only we, Marcus and
Joakim remained to continue creating and reflecting our mental landscapes.”

Which track would you pick from your work to introduce
EYEMOUTH to people who never have heard of you?

“That’s hard to say, but some songs come to mind. Maybe Elements and Entropy (Marcus) or On Black Wings and Lowlands (Joakim). If the number of plays on Spotify has something to say about this, Black Breath, Altered and To Carry The Spark are some of our most played songs over the years. So maybe it’s better to trust the listeners’ taste over our own here.”

There’s a 6-year gap between debut LP A NEWLY PLANTED GRAIN and this year’s second one A HEADLONG FALL INTO THE VAST OCEAN OF ANXIETY. What happened in between?

“We don’t really think of albums as the only thing. There have been three EPs
that we value as real releases. It was a trilogy and also a sort of concept series.

We have also worked with a band called Beneath the Woods, and have established
two albums that haven’t come out yet. But hopefully, it will happen soon. It’s with
Tommy Carlsson, who also played clarinet on one of our EPs mentioned above, Spiral.
He’s a true artist and an innovator, a genuine creative spirit.

He has a hand in some impressive undertakings, such as Ljudandelandskap, dayoftheorganicblackbirds Little White Wedding Chapel. And, alongside Plike,
we have also contributed on her stunning album Soteria, with a song called
The Real Plot.”

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What do you want to express with the new album’s title?

“Life can be seen as a reflection – a journey from the beginning to the end,
and sometimes, we find ourselves caught in a downward spiral, unable to
find or create a purpose that provides stability.

Recent years have been filled with pandemics, wars, and devastating personal losses.
For me, the passing of my father has left me feeling lost and uncertain. It’s difficult
to find one’s bearings when confronted with such a profound shift in life.”

Are all tracks connected or does each one stands on its own?

“I (Marcus) would say that there is a connection between them all, but the sequence
of events and time progression isn’t entirely linear in my perspective. However, there
is a sense of coherence in some way. Joakim on the other hand, thinks that most of
them can still function as standalone pieces and can be appreciated independently.”

Was the writing/recording/producing a DIY process
or are others involved in ‘the making of’?

“It’s always a do-it-yourself project for us, as most of the elements in the productions
are played and made by us. Nonetheless, there are moments when we need to step beyond our abilities, and that’s when we ask for outside help.

We are not experts in any instruments, so when we require anything beyond our means, we turn to other people. Inviting outsiders is an effective approach to introduce fresh perspectives and new energy to our creative process.

This time, our good friend Esben Willems from Monolord and Studio Berzerk Sweden aided us on drums on our song For The Bold. His contribution added an amazing lift and energy to the track. We are so grateful that he made time for this project.

Additionally, we record and mix all our songs in our studio,
All Harmonics Studio, which is located within Musikens hus
in Gothenburg.”

At times it sounds like a whole orchestra is playing.
How do you actually create that sound?

“Utilizing a variety of techniques involving synths, modulars, and a fusion of diverse instruments, we have produced a collection of past recordings. Recently, I, Marcus, experimented with a combination of trumpet and flute, while Joakim amplified
the sound with guitar and mandolin riffs along with bass grooves.

When we blended these components with our older instrument tracks, the result was
a pleasing composition that, we felt, accurately captured the essence of our music.”

Is the image on the album’s cover from a real place. If so,
which one and is it that you wanted to visualize with it?

“As we delved into crafting the album, we couldn’t help but notice its occasional folkish undertones. A fusion of Celtic and Nordic customs that lent an intriguing air to the music. Given this, we aimed to channel its essence into the album cover. To achieve this, we opted for a brooding, melancholic theme.

To create the desired effect, we merged two evocative photographs – one captured
near Howth, the scenic coastal town located outside Dublin in Ireland, and another of a breathtakingly frozen landscape not far from Gothenburg. We’re really satisfied with the result.”

Howth, Dublin, Ireland

Which movie would be perfect to have the album as the soundtrack?

“I (Marcus) was blown away by Maurice Jarre‘s music in the 1990 Jakob’s Inferno, but it got me thinking about the potential fit of our own music in the movie. Perhaps certain tracks could be considered for movies like Under the Skin. Specifically, some of the more ‘epic’ pieces like To Part and The Endless Call would lend well to a sci-fi or similar genre (Joakim).”

If you could collaborate on a new record with
a big-name artist, who would it be and why?

“Now that’s a tough one! The musical tastes of our band are quite eclectic, ranging from
the haunting melodies of Anna von Hausswolff, to the gritty tunes of Nick Cave, to the iconic sounds of The Cure and Swans, just to name a few.

We’re always looking for new and exciting collaborations to explore, like teaming up
with David Tibet for some creative synergy, or having Warren Ellis lend his masterful violin playing to a few tracks. And if Coil were still with us, we can only imagine the invaluable knowledge they could have imparted on us about creating truly authentic music.

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What’s the next step for EYEMOUTH?

Our focus is currently centered on creating fresh, innovative music. As we have no upcoming live performances lined up, exploring new creative avenues is our sole priority. We aim to broaden our horizons by partnering with other artists and connecting with diverse listeners, opening up exciting opportunities for growth and exploration.”

Thank you for this interview.
May the road rise with Eyemouth.

Buy/stream new album here.

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EYEMOUTH: Linktree