INTERVIEWS PRINT

Interview with Slow Celebration

Brendon Goldwasser

 GroundSounds recently caught up with Slow Celebration, an incredible new act out of Copenhagen. They have infiltrated the music scene and in the first month of the new year, these guys are already on my Top 10  lists for 2014 (for real). They’re fresh and they’re bringing a promising sound, with thumping percussive elements, dreamy synths, and just the right amount of soul necessary to give you goosebumps. Check out our chat with them below, as well as their music video for “Fun”. 

Hey guys! Thanks for chatting with us at GroundSounds! For those who are just discovering your music, describe your sound.

Sometimes its really hard to describe your own music. Maybe I can do it like this: Two skinny indie boys interpreting a wave of music that has roots in soul and hip hop. A take on something that started very far from where we are.

I have to admit that I’ve been listening to your debut EP Worlds on and off for the past few days and every time I listen to it, I end up enjoying it even more than the time before. That’s what these songs have, its spontaneity and adventure, and that’s rare these days. How did you both meet and begin working on the music that we hear?

We have been playing at a lot of the same festivals all over the world the past years. We always had a great time when we met each other. Always felt that there was an instant connection. Dreamt of the same things. Saw the world in the same way. Had the same kind of childhood. Laughed at the same stuff. Then one day after a night out we decided to go in the studio together. Just for the heck of it. And we instantly felt a spark. That first day in the studio we made the sketch for the song Kids. And the day after made what later turned out to be the song called Light. In the beginning we didn’t know what the music was for. We just felt like doing it. But we soon realized that we had to make a new band. I guess you can say that the music made the band. We had no urge to start a new band when we started making the music. Thats the truth.

I love how The EP begins with that rumbling kick drum and this growling synth fading in and out. Songs like “Neighbours” slow things down a bit and create a completely different vibe from some of the other songs. What were some of the main influences behind the production on these songs?

There is an early 80’s synth wave love in some of the productions. And some of the melodies have a taste of 90’s rock. And then there is a lot of Hip Hop influences as well. But we have of course tried to interpret there whatever inspired us in a a way that fits the present and with the opportunities that there is in producing today. Some of the most recentr acts that has inspired our sound is amongst others Oneohtrix Point Never. Jai Paul. Kanye West. Gorillaz. Crystal Castles. Hudson Mohawke. Stuff like that.

Making this EP must have been really fun and a great learning experience. How long had you both been making music together and developing these song ideas before for going in to record?

We wrote these songs while recording them. We just found out that there was something special between us. That we trusted each other in a rare way. And that we complimented each other great. And as you just said. We were able to have fun. In about a month we wrote 9 songs. Finished 6 of them. Recorded. Produced. Mixed. And even mastered them ourselves. It was super intense. Working till 4 in the morning most of the days.

Of all of the songs on the EP, my favorite is the first track “Fun” and maybe that’s because the music video is amazing, too. It’s really creative, visually pleasing, and eye-catching. Where did the idea for this music video originate?

Well. The song is a longing for fun. You know the kind of fun where everything else disappears. The fun that drowns it all. The stress, the doubts, the noise. And I guess the video is a visual interpretation of that. Trying to find the fun. In an insisting way. But that kind of fun can be hard to find. That kind of fun often tends to find you I guess. We came up with the idea for the video in the studio. Talking about the song. I think the song has somehow become a backbone in our band. Because this band is about enjoying. Each other. And the music.

With the music video for “Fun” making rounds on the web and the fresh EP out on both Spotify and Soundcloud for all the world to listen to and digest, what are your plans for the rest of the year?

We are going to play our debut concert in Vienna the end of next week. And are really exited about that. It’s always interesting to see how it is to be on a stage together. Its very different from sitting in a studio. But I think its going to be great. Have no doubts about that actually. We are probably going to play concerts around most of Europe this year. But we are both busy with our other bands so we will only play the shows that we REALLY feel like. Which is a nice place to work from. We are also going to work on a new release at some point. Whether its going to be an EP or an album we still don’t know.

What do you think will be a common theme in music this year?

A big wave of Hip Hop and R&B have been riding the world the past years. So its going to be interesting to see if it will die out in 2014 or continue all the way into 2015. I think the 90’s will be back in some form soon as well. As in strongly back.

Well, thanks again for taking some time to chat with us! Best of luck this year gentlemen and please let us know when you’re in sunny Los Angeles., would love to catch a live show!

Thank you. We totally wanna go to sunny LA! Its freezing in Copenhagen today. Hope to see you there.

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