Scandi artist Albert af Ekenstam unveils new track 'Made of Gold' - premiere

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Scandinavian artist Albert af Ekenstam takes his cues from the likes of Bon Iver and Mogwai.

Signed to Kning Disk, he's putting out a new track, 'Made of Gold', which we're premiering on The Independent:

Q&A with Albert af Ekenstam

What are you listening to at the moment?

At the moment I am listening to Jesu / Sun Kill Moon's album. There is a depth in this album that I haven't heard in long time. The heavy drone / hardcore-like sound scape with Mark Kozelek on vocals who is drawn more to folk scene, them two mixed together makes it truly hypnotic. The al- bum also has the uncompromising melancholy that allows one to listen to it over and over.

I also listen to David Bowie's latest album Black Star. His music has always surrounded me in diffe- rent ways, but this album had made a big impression on me. Every song has something more to say. Incredibly well composed. One feels that the album has grown from the agony of death to happiness and relief at the same time.

What are your plans for the rest of 2016?

On September the 16th, I will release my single, “Made of Gold”. There will also be a video release as well around that same date. My debut album Ashes will be released in October the 14th. In the meantime I am booked to play some shows in London, September 12 (St Pancras Old Church) then off to the Reeperbahn Festival, Utrecht (NL) and Copenhagen. It will be a mix up between solo concerts and with a band.

I just got back from rehearsal and right now everything feels great, I worked with my music for so many years and I am incredibly grateful for all the musicians and friends who are involved in this album. It is a dream come true to finally have it made and out there for people to listen too.

What was the first gig you ever played and what’s been the best so far?

My first gig was about 17 years ago, when I was 15 and I played with a hardcore band called Core Creatures. We were booked to support another Swedish hardcore band called Division of Laura Lee. We invested everything, rehearsed 5 times a week and gave everything and more...to say the le- ast we had big dreams.

That’s where it all started, finding like-minded people with the same dreams about music and life. Back then music was all about life and death which in many aspects are the same now even if i am older and wiser.

The best gig so far is when I played at Roskilde Festival summer of 2014. I played with my instrumental post-rock band Tempel that I have, including Filip Leyman who pro- duced my upcoming album.

Just before the show was about to start there was almost no one in the audience, and our anxiety level began to kick in and we thought no one would show up and all the work we had put into it would be in vain.

But then when we got out on stage, it was almost packed and we ended up some sort of euphoric heaven, you know when the sound, crowd and the atmosphere of Roskilde makes it good it does that to you...I do hope to experience the same vibes on my solo project.