15 years have passed since Leif Dybendal founded the dance band Contrazt. There have been 13 studio albums, 200 songs, millions of streams and around 80 gigs a year. – We usually say that the bus is our second home and that the band is our second family.
/ 06/03/2020 / Kristian DugstadName: Leif Dybendal (Contrazt)
Current with: Party (Album)
TONO member since: 1998
Who is songwriter and musician Leif Dybendal?
58 years old, lives in Elverum, is married to Gro Anita, has 2 children aged 21 and 23, and currently plays guitar, sings and is a songwriter in the band Contrazt.
Tell us about your musical background?
I became interested in music in the 7th grade of middle school, primarily playing the guitar. I sat in the boys' room and practiced, both alone and with friends. We were very versatile in our choice of music. We practiced everything from old-fashioned dance to hard rock. I joined bands that had gigs early on, which was important for the development of interaction and understanding of playing. I have been a guitarist in many different genres from my early teens to the present day. These include various old-fashioned dance bands, rock bands, big bands, theater and of course the dance bands I have worked with the most in recent years. This is where the foundation for my music career lies. Theoretically, I have no formal education in music, only self-study.
In 2005 you founded the band Contrazt. This year you celebrate your 15th anniversary. How has the journey been?
It has been a fantastic journey. I can say that all dreams have come true. First and foremost, I have been allowed to fully pursue my songwriting dream. The other members have trusted my material and through their skill they have helped to convey the songs in an excellent way. A big thank you also goes to the record companies Tylden, Grammofon and Warner who have and have had faith in us and our uniqueness.
You are among Norway's most active dance bands with a large number of concerts every year and 13 studio albums to your credit. What does it take to be so successful?
First and foremost, an indomitable will to want what we are doing, this applies to all levels in and around the band Contrazt, from band members and crew, managers, record companies, etc. In addition, you have to have a product to sell. By product we mean songs, stage setup, stage performance, sound and lighting. When we travel around Scandinavia as much as we do, the chemistry in the orchestra bus is also very important. We tend to say that the bus is our second home and that the band is our second family.
Rumor has it that you are in full swing with a new album. What can you reveal about the fourteenth in a row?
We have recorded some live recordings at our gigs which are now being finalized into a live album. We have our 15th anniversary this year and the song selection will reflect Contrazt through these 15 years.
Is life as a professional musician on the road a Luxury life Or are there contrasts in your career?
There will always be contrasts. You have to be prepared for, and will experience, not only ups, but also downs. In any case, you have to try to be positive, creative and think ahead, see new solutions. In songwriting, I have constantly tried to see new trends in music and tried to adapt the expression of new song material to today's market. I have succeeded quite well, but I have also received some feedback that the songs can sometimes be a bit rock. It is positive to observe that we have many young spectators at our concerts and very good with streaming. And, we still sell CDs.
With your latest album "Kalas" you are registered in TONO with 200 titles. Where do you get your inspiration?
From life. Moods can appear in landscapes, in dreams, in encounters with other people. I also listen to a lot of different music, and there I find a lot of inspiration in the form of different soundscapes and moods that mix with other impressions.
In 2015, Contrazt participated in the Melodi Grand Prix with the song Heaven. The story continues below the video.
What made you start writing music?
It's probably something that's always been there. I'm probably a person who has a lot of imagination inside. And then I'm probably a little dreamer and I'm into music. That's how songs come out.
Where and how do you write?
I have my own little den, which I like to retreat to. It's a nice place to relax when I'm dreaming/thinking. My mood determines how songs come out. Sometimes it's just calm tones, while other times it's up-tempo. The common thing is that once the idea strikes, the "drive" to produce a good song takes over. Then hours of work can quickly pass without you thinking about it. The rest of the family says I can be quite distant at such times.
Do you have any equipment or tools that are indispensable in the writing process?
Besides guitars, I also have a decent keyboard that I use. The guitars and the keyboards are the most important tools. I use Protools and Cubase as software on each PC. I have a good sound card, a good mic and good speakers (Genelec) as excellent aids in songwriting.
What does songwriting mean to you?
A lot. It brings joy in itself. It feels good when others also appreciate the songs. Everything from dancers who think the beat of the song suits them well, to audience members who tell me that the content of a text meant a lot to them.
The dance band genre is not spoiled by media attention. Why do you think so little is written about music that is listened to by so many?
A good question that is not so easy to answer. Those of us in the genre often ask ourselves the same thing. There are probably many answers here. One angle, I think, is that there are many new styles in various media that have no relation to our genre. Ergo, there is no focus on our music either. Another is probably that the genre has become a bit "diluted" in the sense that today we have a lot of one-man bands/duos/trios who just stand around playing cover songs and do not contribute to the innovation of the genre in the form of new songs. A third angle is, if we go back 40 years, that much of the popular music of that time was performed by so-called dance bands. That is no longer the case. Therefore, I believe that we just have to continue writing quality songs with modern expressions that have hit potential. It is very important for the survival of the genre. A good hit song will be played in the media, regardless of the genre.
You have millions of streams on Spotify, so there's no doubt that you have the people with you. After all, that's what matters most, isn't it?
Of course. This is probably where the results of hard work over many years are shown. Our audience means a lot to us and we spend a lot of time with them. They inspire songwriting, and not least to continue on the road. Many claim that Contrazt is "the people's dance band."
What are Contrazt's plans for 2020?
Contrazt is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year. It will be marked with lots of gigs, an album and a proper anniversary party later in the year. Then there will probably be some time to think about new songs as well.
What is your career highlight so far?
I must say that the MGP participation in 2015 was a highlight. The whole process was very professional, inspiring and educational to be a part of. Our record company, Warner, with Guttorm Raa at the helm, was also absolutely fantastic to have on the team. It was extra fun that we brought the orchestra bus inland to Oslo at the time. It ended up that the majority of the MGP participants and guests joined the bus from Oslo Spektrum to the MGP after-show after the show to experience what it was like to have a band bus. A real "højdare".
Can you share your greatest music experience as a listener?
Pink Floyd at Valle Hovin in 1994 was huge. I'll never forget that.
And finally – Would you like to recommend one Norwegian artist you are currently listening to?
Lewi Bergerud. Creates nice atmospheres.