"Become Norway's best live band, and win hearts along the fjord and beach, in the long country." - No less are the ambitions of TØFL, the siddis band that describes itself as the new oil.
/ 18/02/2022 / Kristian DugstadGive us an elevator pitch on what and who TØFL is?
TØFL is the new oil. Four steady guys with a flair for catchy melodies and recognizable lyrics.
TØFL consists of Mathias Eeg on drums, Tobias Lidegran on bass, Thomas Campe guitar and Hans Markus Riisdal on vocals/guitar. All have been members of TONO since 2017 and 2018.
When and how did you start dabbling in music?
We all played in our boys' dorms growing up, but it was in 2012 that we met and jammed after school. Then we went to Bjergsted VGS in Stavanger and explored jazz and prog rock, before in 2016 we sharpened our skills and confirmed that we are an indie band.
And when did your interest in music develop into a need to express yourself through songwriting?
His: I actually think songwriting is an even bigger artistic driving force in me than music production. In elementary school I started making corny songs with friends that we sang when we hung out. I remember getting a real kick out of making a catchy phrase with a melody, and hearing others sing it! Now my interest is probably just as much about communicating ideas that I think are important to highlight.
You were immediately noticed when you released your first single Alle Andre Får Lov. Can you tell us a little about the song?
Tobias: We probably made a song that many people were longing to hear, with a lyric concept that strangely enough had not been taken before. When we released the song, everyone was listening to indie rock in Bergen, Bogom and English and it felt like few had blasted siddis music since Kaizers broke up. There are still too few bangers in Stavanger from our generation! But we think that will change soon. The youth in Stavanger are completely wild.
The song is currently their most streamed on Spotify, with 1,6 million streams. How important are Spotify and other streaming services to you?
We use Spotify to keep us updated, for inspiration, innovation, and entertainment. You can say a lot about how streaming services treat artists, but the fact that almost all music is so easily accessible, we believe helps create more diverse and better music.
With its nostalgic, melancholic and naive expression (the undersigned's completely subjective description), the song has stood as a rather apt foreshadowing of the music to come. What do you feel is your musical vision?
We want to make the best pop songs in the country, in band format. The songs quickly land in a noisy, bouncy guitar landscape, since that's the culture and sound we grew up with. At the same time, we love the energy and immediacy of pop. Starre inn i øyelokkå is a good example of the songs we try to write. A soundscape that hits you in the face, with lyrics and form that resonate with you. A song you understand right away, that you can sing along to from the first listen.
The stories you tell are written in a way that listeners understand: unpretentious and honest. How important is the communication of lyrics in music?
Tobias: Essential! Hans has said many times that he wants the listener to understand 100% of the text, and he uses direct language, he writes like people speak. This is in mind when we work with mixers, because the vocals must be clear and the text prominent. We also often ask people with other dialects if they can hear what is being sung.
All of your texts are in the traditional Stavanger dialect. Are there any creative advantages to writing in your own everyday language? Do you find that communicating the content in your own language is an important identity marker?
Absolutely! Everyone with a dialect identity automatically gets a special character. We think pride in the culture you come from is important, and want as much diversity as possible in music Norway! It's great that so many of the country's dialects are represented in popular music these days.
The lyrics are set to music by a classic band with guitar, bass and drums. This is also unpretentious and honest. How do you think about the connection between lyrics and melody?
His: Good question! The sound probably comes from the music we all have in common and our love for indie, rock and pop. I think the lyrics I write can be worn in a wide variety of ways, and we'll be exploring remixes in many different genres in the future – look out for psy-trance remixes!
How do you proceed when you write?
His: When I wanted to write proper songs in high school, I found it extremely difficult to find something to write about – until I realized that I could only write exactly what I was thinking!
The first songs came from iPhone notes of my thoughts: sometimes written as completely unstructured poems, sometimes in diary format, or just descriptions of an observation or idea. So they were not intended as song ideas. This is still the starting point for most of the songs.
Then I make a demo, or use the text on a demo one of the others has made, and from there we all work hard together over a (maybe a little too) long time, hehe! I also love involving many different producers and wise minds in the process towards the perfect product.
You are all members of TONO, and have been since 2017 and 2018. How aware are you of your roles as composers and lyricists, and your copyright?
We are very committed to fair credit, rights distribution and payment. When it comes to others using our intellectual property, we want to be very open, but of course also to get what we deserve – this is complicated and something we definitely want to learn more about and explore!
What role does TONO membership play in your music career?
His: Being a TONO member is vital for musicians in Norway. We are incredibly lucky to have a system that ensures we are fairly paid for our intellectual works. I go to LIMPI, with lots of foreign students who can only dream of similar systems in their home countries.
The music and art economy is a big, complicated hornet's nest that you would have liked to have an economics degree to maneuver through, but in the middle of the chaos stands the steady TONO and ensures regular payments, as long as we deliver. Thanks to TONO!
Just over a week ago you released the single Stare into the eyelid, to rave reviews. Can you tell us a little about the song?
Mathias: For me, it's probably the most important song we've made so far. The song is about sometimes all you can do is lie in bed and wait for it to pass. For most people, it passes after a few hours, days or weeks. But, for some, it doesn't. Chronic illness is awful... I hope the song can put into words feelings that are difficult to explain, and be comforting in its recognizability. You're not alone, after all.
After two years of lockdowns like beads on a string, what's the plan now that (knock on table) we're finally out on the other side?
Become Norway's best live band, and win hearts along the fjords and beaches, in the long country. We will release an album, and not long after that we will visit most people's hometowns.
You're going on a small tour in March. How important are concerts to you, both financially and musically?
Financially, the concerts are everything. Musically, they are a great motivator – something that gives us faith that what we are doing is actually good enough. It has been easy to forget all the people who care, during periods when there have been few concerts. At the same time, it is incredibly important to get feedback on which songs are working, and which ones need more work.
What would you say is the highlight of your career so far?
His: I would say that the period we are in right now is the highlight so far. Extremely happy with the response to the two songs we have released, both from the public and the press!
Can you share your greatest music experience – as a listener?
Mathias: Definitely the over three hour long concert by Paul McCartney at Roskilde in 2015. Imagine writing so many hits, and being so good at communicating them. Will never forget that concert. MAGIC.
Tobias: Being depressed and seeing Slowdive in Gothenburg. Recommended!
His: Sondre Lerche at Os in 2016 is high up! What a vocalist, what a guitarist, what a showman! St. Vincent at Roskilde was also absolutely extreme.