Check out our latest chat with Alex Svenson (vocalist and composer) from Then Comes Silence about new music, inspirations and more.
[like_to_read][/like_to_read]S] Talk to us about your visual inspirations?
Alex] I’m very fond of the late 19th century aesthetics like the films by the magician George Melies. The classic theatre light and visual effects that were used on stage in the early years is hard to beat nowadays – that’s my opinion. The silent film era is mythical. Apart from the subtitles and the musical score, the visual performance was the main and dominant element in the silent films. Beautiful.
S] How important would you say that visual aspect is to the band?
Alex] On stage we only use white light, no colours. When we put the fog machines on we are able to create an eatheral and ’glowy’ feeling. The visual treatment is important and when we have a higher budget for the live shows, we will put some more effort into the visual performance. I would love to build some classic props for the shows, but that would require a big stage… So, we’ll just have to see what can be done.
S] What have been some of your biggest challenges to-date?
Alex] The work on the new album ‘BLOOD’ has been the biggest challenge we’ve faced so far. And the additional work around it, such as interviews, videos, social media and artwork. It’s a full time job figuratively speaking. I guess the next album will be an even bigger challenge.
S] What about a few career highlights?
Alex] The first Then Comes Silence tour outside Sweden in 2014, signing to Nuclear Blast and our Management, the show at Roskilde Festival and hopefully some up-coming events that I can’t tell – but I can’t talk too much about that yet!
S] Talk us through some of the people and places in your lives that you draw inspiration from, and why?
Alex] My late grandmother was my first idol. We had a very special connection when I was a child and we shared a lot of fun together. Places can be very inspirational of course. I wouldn’t say no to a nice long walk in an old Parisian cemetery with the gothic elements. That sounds cliché I know, but it works every time. Big noisy cities in motion can be as inspirational as dark mossy Nordic pine forests.
