A week after Norway closed, Kristian Haug released his first single. – With the global pandemic in mind, you realize that a new song is not that important. At the same time, I believe that art and culture are more important than ever in such periods.
/ 24/04/2020 / Kristian DugstadWho is Kristian Haug?
A very existential question, haha. Strictly speaking, I'm a completely ordinary guy in his early 20s trying to find his place in the world. "Ordinary" is actually a bit of a descriptive adjective, because what is ordinary? But yes, full of ambition, while I often struggle with uncertainty about my own choices, greatly appreciate good company, while I perhaps enjoy my own company a little too much, in good and bad, in love, while I am a little too fond of popcorn, and like most people, have a concrete plan to be a rock star by the time I'm 30.
Tell us about your musical background?
Both my parents are musicians, so music has always been there. My mom is a classical pianist, and my dad was voted the 2nd best dance band saxophonist in the Nordic countries in the 90s, so it was only natural that I would end up as a jazz-studying country/folk/pop Singer-Songwriter. I've tried a little bit of everything, like classical violin when I was 6, and also played in a band for a couple of years before I discovered at the age of 12 that guitar, AC/DC and Guns N' Roses were much cooler. Much of my childhood was spent cursing that I didn't have long, black curls like Slash. After that, I went to the music department in Gjøvik, the jazz department at Sund Folkehøgskole, before I ended up on the jazz department at the Norwegian Academy of Music in Oslo. During this entire period, I expanded my musical horizons, as it is so nicely called, so now I'm a bit "all over the place" when it comes to sources of inspiration and what I listen to.
We can't avoid the corona crisis: How do you spend your time?
At first, I was completely exhausted, so I probably spent at least two weeks exclusively in bed with Netflix and grandis. But I eventually got back on my feet and now have a fairly structured everyday life, fortunately. I spend a lot of time practicing and writing new music. I also feel that it is perhaps more important than ever to stay active, both for physical and mental health. It is also a great opportunity to read all the books that I otherwise never take the time to read.
On March 20th you released your first single Once In A While. Tell us about the song!
It's a kind of minimalist feel-good song, with a slightly, at least for me, serious theme. The lyrics came primarily from a somewhat abrupt realization that I was living a somewhat too self-centered life at the time, where ambitions and the work-job-job-job mentality played a slightly too big a role. I'm definitely a fan of working hard for what you believe in and to get where you want to be, but the point of the song is that you shouldn't forget the even more important, human aspects of life, such as good and close relationships. It was also a point for me to do everything myself on my very first release (except for the recording, mixing and mastering, which were done absolutely beautifully by Christian Engfelt and George Tanderø), so that definitely helped shape the sound.
What was it like to kick off your artistic career just over a week after the strict
infection control measures were introduced?
Very strange. You would really like to say "Hey everyone, listen here! Here's a song I'm crazy about! It's important!", but then you sit with the global pandemic in the back of your mind and realize that it's not that important after all. At the same time, I think that art and culture are more important than ever during such periods, so I'm very happy if the song can have influenced one or two weekdays in a positive way. Of course, it was stupid not to be able to follow up on the release in the same way that you would have done if corona hadn't existed, but you just have to make the best of the situation.
Have you had any plans cancelled as a result of the situation?
I had a couple of gigs planned that I had to cancel, otherwise it hasn't affected me too drastically. The plan was also to take a semester in Los Angeles in the fall, but that's on hold for now, so we'll see how it goes.
Shortly after the single was released, you also released a music video. You also make a point of using a beautiful tape recorder. I find that this is very much in line with the aesthetics of the music. Are you interested in the good old days?
I am certainly interested in the good and the old, but not to the detriment of the new. Still, there is something special about the warmth of the old records that were made on tape and with analog equipment. The Beatles, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, etc. sound special. Black Messiah by D'angelo is probably the best example of old techniques used in modern times, and you can really hear that.
You also play in the rock band Koala Queen, who recently released their debut album The Muppet ShowHow has working with this host been?
The work on the album has been top notch! In the fall of 2018 we went to the Svenska Grammofonstudion in Gothenburg and hammered out the album in two long weekends together with producer György Barocsai. The songs were created in a more or less collaborative way just a couple of months in advance, so the path from nothing to the finished album was relatively short. What took a long time was getting it out to the world, but now it's finally out, which is really fun!
How do you balance the different projects you are working on?
You really want to do as much as you can in everything you are involved in, but unfortunately there are only 24 hours in a day. Therefore, it came to a point where I found that I had to define my role in the different projects more clearly, and accept that for example. here I will only play guitar, and not be PR and booking manager at the same time. When the roles became a little clearer, it was easier both in terms of time and on my conscience to balance the different projects.
What made you start writing music?
Ever since I started playing guitar, I have had a certain urge to create, even though at first it was just to make instrumental songs. There were a few songs with vocals in high school, but just for fun for myself without any vision that it would become something more. I have mentioned this before, but it was a special concert with Marie Løvås at Pust Kaffebar in the fall of 2017 that made me decide to try my hand at songwriter.
Where and how do you write?
In my room, with a guitar and a pencil. When the idea is there, I like to take it into Logic or Pro Tools to work on arranging, shape, etc.
When we are in extraordinary situations, like now, can it have any positive effects on the art we create? Do you get to write more? Do you write differently?
When this is over, and we look back on this period, there will clearly be a consistent theme in much of the art that was produced. Some will remain, and some will fall away, as in all periods. The situation in society has always helped to shape art in one way or another, so regardless of whether this helps to change the expression of artists, the change will always be experienced as positive for some, and negative for others. What can certainly be considered positive is that hopefully more is produced, and that artists have more time to explore, experiment and create. At least I get to write more, and manage to have a more consistent process than before. The process is so far the same, but now I have the time and peace to turn it on its head, turn it inside out, and hopefully end up with new music and lessons about my own work.
Do you have any equipment or tools that are indispensable in the writing process?
Guitar, something to write on, and some form of recording equipment, even if it's just a phone.
When can we expect more music from you?
Hopefully during 2020.
Do you have any plans you will implement as soon as public cultural life is back on its feet?
Book full gigs, go to full gigs, have a pint outside.
What is your career highlight so far?
Releasing my first song under my own name.
Can you share your greatest music experience – as a listener?
Fieh at the Park Theatre 2019.
Finally – Can you give us a tip for a Norwegian artist you listen to a lot these days?
Vegard & Ivar band. A gang of good people. Check it out!