The Baker's Dozen #30 Dim Gray
Norwegian trio Dim Gray released their debut album ‘Flown’ digitally in 2020 and it is now available on CD or a 2LP set with four bonus tracks across the physical formats. The Dim Gray sound is difficult to categorize with modern progressive and art-rock rubbing shoulders with Nordic folk as the trio all bring markedly different influences to the table. Radiohead, Fleet Foxes, Steven Wilson, Sigur Rós and Susanne Sundfør all get a mention in the band bio, which should be enough to get the more discerning listener on board. RGM caught up with Håkon Høiberg, Oskar Holldorff and Tom Ian Klungland to discuss a wide range of topics such as those myriad musical influences. We also delved into why choosing a band name is not for the faint of heart, and that, underneath the surface gloss, reality TV can leave a positive impression when approached with an open mind.
1. What is your earliest musical memory?
Tom Ian: I had a grandfather who played drums and both my parents were musical people who sang and introduced us to music of different genres at an early age.
Oskar: Listening to my father playing piano and singing when I was growing up is the main reason why I’m a musician today. But if I’m being honest, the earliest thing I actually remember is getting a Casio keyboard for Christmas that could play on its own accord with those blinking red lights on the keys.
Håkon: I believe my earliest memory of music is hearing my father's loudspeakers in the living room. Everyone at home enjoyed listening to music and I know this influenced me a lot.
2. Do you remember the name of your first band?
Tom Ian: Trollhaugen, a black metal band I started with some friends when we were 14 and just learning to play.
Håkon: Jawbreakers. We started in middle school. We figured out very soon that it would be cool to play our own material, so it was a very nice learning experience for songwriting, even though I wouldn't dare listen to any of that stuff now...
Oskar: Sadomasochistic Pornstars From Outer Space – although we had an unfortunate name change to the much more bland Copyright before our first gig. We practiced in my basement. Drums, bass, keys, three guitars and a lot of fun.
3. Which current artist do you hear and just go Wow?
Oskar: Owen Pallett. Incredibly interesting and bold arranging and songwriting.
Tom Ian: Friendship Commanders. A Nashville based heavy/stoner/punk duo with an amazing groove!
Håkon: Rodrigo Y Gabriella. Very impressive arrangements and a big sound using only two guitars.
4. Do you sit down to write songs or do you wait until your mojo comes to get you?
For us, songwriting is a long and taxing yet ultimately very rewarding process. It involves sitting down to write whether you feel like it or not, and it can be incredibly frustrating, but the end result makes it all worth it. However, that mojo can really speed up the initial process if you allow yourself to write something from scratch when inspiration strikes.
5. Big venue or small venue - what's your favourite to play?
There’s something very special about playing to a large crowd. We’d definitely like to take Dim Gray to the big stage someday.
6. Who is the one artist you wish you could share a stage with (past or present)?
Oskar: Kevin Moore (Chroma Key, OSI) – in part because he never performs live, and I’d love to see him in action. But he’s also the kind of musician who leaves a big mark on whatever he does, and I’d love to hear him warp some of our material into something completely different.
Tom Ian: I think I would want to play with Alicia Keys, she is a crazy good artist.
Håkon: I am a fan of Ane Brun and always get very impressed when I see her concerts. The band is really good and it would be amazing to share a stage with them some beautiful day.
7. Bowie, Prince, Sinatra, Elvis which departed great means the most to you?
Håkon: Phil Everly. My first ever favorite band was The Everly Brothers. Their voices are from another world and Don's (big brother) guitar playing inspired me to start taking guitar lessons.
Tom Ian: Valfar. The man behind legendary folk/black metal band Windir, who tragically died in a blizzard at the age of 25. His music has been a major influence when making metal music myself.
Oskar: Joe Zawinul. Legendary keyboardist of Weather Report fame, a wonderfully different and brilliant musician.
8. The musical landscape could change markedly due to the Covid-19 pandemic. How has the situation affected you and what do you feel will be its impact on the music business/live performance going forward?
The pandemic, and a lack of support during it, has caused a lot of the smaller venues to shut up shop for good in Oslo, where we’re based. It’s incredibly sad, and means that we have lost a lot of unique places with rich histories. This should also lead to much tougher competition for acts looking to play gigs now that we’re starting to open up again, which is a worrying development.
On a personal level, we’ve hardly been able to play any gigs during the pandemic, meaning we’ve been unable to support our album as well as we would have liked. Instead, we’ve focused on writing and recording our next record, which we’re aiming to release next year and are incredibly excited about.
9. Should music be free?
Music has value. And just like everyone else, musicians need an income. Streaming is a good idea in theory – certainly better than piracy – but the current streaming giants do not compensate musicians well enough. They either need to be regulated much more strictly, or will have to be boycotted at some point. There are some smaller streaming sites looking to pay artists fairly, but it’s of course very difficult to compete with the established giants. Currently, buying LPs, CDs and merch and attending gigs are much more efficient ways of supporting artists than streaming is.
10. Can you remember the first record you bought and what have you bought recently?
Håkon: The first album I bought was R.E.M - In time: The Best Of R.E.M. I remember listening to them on the radio and really liking it. My recent purchase was Needlepoint - The Diary Of Robert Reverie.
Tom Ian: First record I bought was HiFi Serious by British punkrockers “A”. Great album and the soundtrack to many a summer. My recent purchase was Windir’s three latest records, reissued on limited edition coloured vinyl.
Oskar: The first record I bought was possibly Under the Iron Sea by Keane on CD, an album that has had immense influence over my development as a musician, especially my singing style and my love for distorted pianos and manipulated tape delays. A recent purchase was Tigran Hamasyan - The Call Within on vinyl. Tigran is probably my favourite pianist. He has a distinct playing style and has written some wonderful pieces.
11. What was the last song that made you cry actual tears?
Tom Ian: Alan Silvestri - “Portals” from the soundtrack to Avengers Endgame. I have been a comic reader and collector since the age of 4, and this epic conclusion to the Marvel cinematic universe’s first saga was a real tearjerker.
Håkon: Thomas Newman - “Come Back To Us” from the 1917 soundtrack. This movie caught me by surprise and the music is just amazing.
Oskar: Adrianne Lenker - “Not A Lot, Just Forever.” The Big Thief songwriter recorded her solo album Songs during lockdown, and I think it’s just fantastic.
12. Do you binge watch Netflix / Amazon / DVD box sets (any recommendations)? Do you have a guilty pleasure in Film or TV you’ll admit to watching and loving?
Håkon: I recommend watching Invincible on Amazon Prime Video and cross my fingers for a second season. Right now my guilty pleasure is Silicon Valley and it is really addictive!
Tom Ian: Just started X-Men the animated series on Disney+, classic series. My guilty pleasure would have to be RuPaul’s Drag Race and season 13 just came to Netflix.
Oskar: The Expanse. Game of Thrones in space, but on this occasion they actually finished the books before the show. Extremely realistic and politically complex sci-fi. Guilty pleasure; possibly RuPaul’s Drag Race for me as well, it’s a reality show after all, but I think it’s a healthy show to watch as it really helps to break down stereotypical gender norms.
13. What is the most important thing to you that you can see from where you are right now?
Håkon’s red guitar, which we are recording today!
These days, with a seemingly inexhaustible amount of music available at the click of a mouse, it is easy to miss things in our search for instant gratification. The art of getting to know an album over repeated listens, allowing it to slowly reveal itself, is in danger of being lost. A case in point is the aptly titled ‘Modern Nostalgia’, the latest release from The Last Hurrah (!!), a project helmed by Norwegian musician/producer HP Gundersen. ‘Modern Nostalgia’ blends a distinctly European (Serge Gainsbourg/Marianne Faithfull) approach with the California sound of Gram Parsons and The Byrds, utilising a variety of singers and instrumentation along the way to reveal its charms. With this in mind, we caught up with HP Gundersen to learn more about HP and his collaborators in The Last Hurrah (!!).