Interview Lydmor | Ahead of the release of her highly anticipated album „I told you I’d tell them our story“, Jenny Rossander aka Lydmor and I sat down for another #nofilter interview over messenger. Discover the story behind her biggest album to date, its crazy narrative concept and how the amazing electro pop tracks connect. On top of that, the Danish artist shares her favorite sound details of the upcoming album and helps you dive into the world of LYDMOR.
that new music blog
good morning jenny, I hope you are doing alright!
I’m so excited to do this again with you
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
Me too!
that new music blog
back then it was like the first big feature on my blog
and your album was still somewhere in the far future I guess
and now, it’s neeeearly there!
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
Yeah, I wasnt even finished back then. Now it feels like a million years ago hehe
So close!
that new music blog
do you remember where you were at exactly 18 months ago?
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
haha not really.
I can probably figure it out
that new music blog
did you have an album title?
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
Time is such an odd thing 😉
I did
that new music blog
haha now that is true
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
The album title actually came first
Before any of the songs
that new music blog
I guessed something like that haha
but the majority of the song was already written over a year ago I guess?
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
It was one of those ideas that was just a very clear sudden thing in my head
Yeah I was just finishing up the production and making the last few additions
I feel like the last 10% of making an album is always the part that takes soooooo loooooong time
that new music blog
haha
the last 10% like the little extra things, the mastering and so on?
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
The small production things, editing sounds, trying out different mixes, etc. I think I spent a year telling my friends I was almost finished hehe
that new music blog
hahaha
but now you are !
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
YEAH
that new music blog
can you still listen to the album? or is that actually something you do?
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
I haven’t in a while.. I needed a small break after I finished it. But when I hear songs from it now I’m still really fucking happy with it.
It’s the album I’ve made that I am most happy with myself… I don’t know if that means that it’s my best, but it feels like it
that new music blog
yeah I did hear you calling it „your biggest piece of art“ or even your masterpiece. 🙂
I listened to it and I love it, that’s all I can say about that!
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
Ah I’m glad you do!
<3
that new music blog
we’re a little over a week before the release, I know that journalists have the possibility to listen to it. what about the people close to you? have they listened to the entire album?
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
Yeah Of course. Right after I finished it, I mastered it in Norway, I came back to Copenhagen and in the weeks after I would invite close friends over and listen to the entire thing with them. I think it was also a way for me to process that it was actually done…
that new music blog
that must be such a nice moment
but also weird, no? :p
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
IT was!
haha. not weird at all actually. all love.
that new music blog
nice
did you get to read any first reviews or not yet?
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
But it’s gonna be interesting to see what other people, people who don’t know me and don’t know the story, how they react!
I havent had any reviews …. yet… I have no idea what theyre gonna say.
that new music blog
haha
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
REally.. I’ve spent so much time with the music I have no idea what a reviewer would think of it
that new music blog
but you do read them, right? I mean I know a lot of musicians who say they don’t care about reviews
(at least that’s what they say)
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
Fuck, yeah I actually do care..
a lot
too much haha
that new music blog
haha
I totally understand
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
how could i not? I mean, I wish I was all rocknroll and cool and didnt care
that new music blog
better be real!
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
The other day a journalist asked me if I had ever had a bad reaction from an audience..
we were talking about playing concerts and how much I love it
that new music blog
and have you?
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
And I realize I’ve never really had a bad audience! They’re always really nice to me!
Which is good because..
If I ever had an audience turn bad on me
I
Would
Die
Sieh dir diesen Beitrag auf Instagram an
that new music blog
I knooooow
that is like the worst thing ever
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
Like.. I would be so hurt. Concerts are such an intimate, emotional thing for me, that it would feel so horrible if people didnt react
that new music blog
direct negative feedback
yeah!
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
It’s kinda the same with reviews.. I’ve only tried mediocre ones. Not the horrible slashing blood everywhere reviews
that new music blog
and I guess for reviews, even though you might be hurt, you can still say, nah it’s just not his/her taste
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
yeeeah maybe
that new music blog
still hard
so let’s help the reviewers a bit
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
yes?
that new music blog
I have one BIG question about the album for the beginning!
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
Aha!
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would you classify it as a „concept album“?
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
hahaha
YES
very much so
that new music blog
pouh
lucky me
ahahaha
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
It is almost so concept that it’s beyond concept.. conceptx4
that new music blog
sorry by the way for always calling it „the album“ or „it“ but the title is just so long for messenger writing :p
hahaha
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
haha yeah I’ve noticed that too when texting about it!
But yeah it’s very concept. EVERYTHING in it is connected and there are a lot of hints, a lot of hidden storylines, secrets and things inside it. And some of it is hinted at in the videos and some will be hinted in later things.
that new music blog
so basically, on the narrative side, I found out that there are three different layers
(thank you to the press text)
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
hehe
that new music blog
can you explain them?
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
I totally forgot that I put that in press text so for the first few interviews I did I was SOOOOO impressed that journalists got that!
haha
that new music blog
I’m like the worst lyric listener when I’m not reading them, so I wouldn’t have gotten far hahaha
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
Hehe, thank god for my press team then…
that new music blog
YES!
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
well as to the 3 layers, I feel like those layers are present in all stories.
that new music blog
so there’s three stories/settings?
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
somehow. But they are also the same. It’s a story about a crowd of people, it’s a story about a specific person, it’s a story about humanity.
that new music blog
and the whole „story“ of the album tells the three stories at the same time? via the music, the lyrics and the songs?
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
The 3 stories happened at the same time, and they ARE the same story. That story has a lot of characters, but somehow all the characters are like different sides of the same person.
One of the characters is the city Shanghai
one of the characters is the club The Mansion
that new music blog
the first techno club you went to?
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
Yes. one of the characters calls me Uma Thurman… One has a Manchester accent and his voice repeats, and also ends the album
One I call the Queen Of the Night
that new music blog
yeah I did hear the Manchester accent one
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
But she is also Shanghai. And she is also a lot of other things.
that new music blog
and there’s you as well, no? :p
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor,
🙂
There is me as well, I was in the middle of it. But for this album, I am just the teller of the story.
that new music blog
ok
and without getting too personal
do the „specific person“ and „the group of people“ really exist?
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
Oh yes
that new music blog
and do they know you’re telling their story?
I mean you told them obviously
(see what I did?)
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
Hahahaha niiiiiiice. but yeah. I asked their permission. Especially the ones where their voices are featured on the album
that new music blog
so these voices. are they real? like real recordings or did you re-record them?
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
They are real recordings and voice messages that people sent to me and eachother on the chinese app wechat. It’s kinda made for audio messages, so a lot of people use that function.. Lucky for me and my album
that new music blog
aaaaah
I didn’t think about that
I do that too hahaha
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
I hope some day, someone who has heard the album will go to Shanghai, find The Mansion (it’s not easy) and then suddenly they stand there in the crowd and realize that they are surrounded by the characters
that new music blog
haha
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
It will be easy to spot them, once you know what you’re looking for
that new music blog
well it does make me want to go to Shanghai to be honest
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
Good!
Do it!
I feel like my album is also a little bit a treasure map haha
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haha
and so one more thing about the narration:
it is told in a circular way
somehow
what does that mean? the beginning is not the beginning and the end is not the end or way more than that?
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
OF course
It’s a circle.. But every time the circle repeats, it has become a little big bigger.. So actually more like a spiral
that new music blog
an upward spiral!
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
Very much so!
that new music blog
and I guess that interferes with the three layers?
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
No, haha. The three layers are all following the same line..
that new music blog
ok, damn haha
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
Time is different.. on my album.. than we normally see it
fuck I sound like a person on drugs
that new music blog
I’ve never been a good literature analyst
hahaha
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
hahaaaa, I promise this is also a very surealy thing to analyze. I spent years putting things into it and twisting into a maze.. It is MEANT to never be fully understood
that new music blog
can you give the people out there a little tip of what they should do to dive into this special world of the album?
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
hmm
that new music blog
make themselves free?
I mean, mind-wise
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
Sit in a window. While it rains. And listen to the entire thing with headphones on while you watch the rain fall
I think that would be a perfect start for the album
that new music blog
okay, so wait for the rain for a first listen 🙂
one thing that I don’t get yet
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
yir
that new music blog
so there is this really conceptual story and storytelling, but then I do feel like there songs like „Claudia“ that have quite an explicit meaning.
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
Hahaha.
Claaaudia
that new music blog
how does that fit?
it’s actually my other’s name hahaha
*mother
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
Haha. daamn
well Claudia…
that new music blog
but you know what I mean? it seems quite straight-forward lyricwise
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
uh, what do I say about Claudia…. Dear girl. She is so many things. She is a part of the story. A character that comes in like a hurricane, and then exits the storyline again, leaving everything different
But she also became a symbol for something
that new music blog
she is the damn amazing synthesizer destroying everything at the end of the song? :p
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
No that’s me. Hehe. That’s my anger.
And my sadness, for her.
She is the only person who will never know about the album.
that new music blog
oh ok
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
And NOW
I’ve told you too much
haha
I’ll have to kill you
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hahahaha
it does sound rather sad though
quick change of topic
before I get killed
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
Haha wise choice
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what do the symbols in front of the song titles mean?
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
Oh that one is easy
You know it already, don’t you?
that new music blog
damn I knew it was easy
but no I don’t
let me guess
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
It’s the numbers
that new music blog
that would have been my guess
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
oh haha! didnt see you wanted to guess. I ruined it
good
that new music blog
hahaha
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
Yeah it’s just to make it obvious that it is a continual story
that new music blog
ok, stupid question, another change of topic
ok haha
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
Especially because I knew that we would be releasing singles beforehand and I wanted people to know they were part of something bigger
that new music blog
ok
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
ah I love stupid questions!
that new music blog
about the singles
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
Yes
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why did you choose these three?
it is in the order of the album, but not from the beginning!
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
Well, the singles were chosen by me together with my team. That was more business decisions, than artistically. For me the most important thing was the album. It was actually a coincidence that they were the same order as the album!
that new music blog
ha
wise choices though
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor,
I would have prefered no singles, but on the other hand I also wanted to promote the album so a lot of people would listen to it… and get lost in my maze
that new music blog
yeah I think without singles it’s difficult to build up a hype
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
yreeeeaaaaah I know
that new music blog
sooooo let’s forget storytelling and business and dig a little bit deeper in the music
there are SO many nice textures and sounds
details
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
I’m glad you notice!
that new music blog
that must have taken so much time to put them inside
so I want to know
can you name like three little moments that you absolutely love?
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
yyes?
Uh
dope question
that new music blog
or just one haha
I mean I have one
if you want
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
YEAH tell me!
that new music blog
the awesome „glitch“ between the synthie chors in the verse of „killing time“
didn’t notice it until yesterday
so intriguing
because it sounds so „pop“ and so smooth and then you notice this little off-tuning that makes you feel mysterious and so on
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
hahaha, that’s so nice you notice!! Actually if you hear the sound solo it sounds COMPLETELY FUCKED.. But I needed that as a balance, the verse was too sweet without it.
It took me a long time to figure out
that new music blog
there you go, that’s what you mean
to everyone out there, play it on headphones, then you’ll hear it!
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
I tried doing al sorts of weird things to the verse because it was too sweet for my taste, and then finally I detuned the shit out of that synth and then it was perfect!!
that new music blog
haha
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
Ok so 3 moments that comes to mind for me
1.
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yes <3
I try to catch them at the same time
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
In Shanghai Roar, after the 3rd chorus, there is an instrumental part, and you hear this weirdo synth that is made out of my voice cut up, and it plays the synth melody, and I am sooooo happy with the sound right there
2.
that new music blog
aaah nice
nice stereo action too
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
In Nostalgia, the way the bass and beat comes in right where I sing „I can feel the moon pulling“, I wanted it to feel like an ocean wave hitting you right in the face, and I worked so long on the balance between bass, voice, beat and instruments
3.
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yep, that is quite a destroying synth!
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
In The Mansion, the way the whisper sounds when I start to say „It comes in waves, it comes in waves, etc..“
That is layerd between me shouting it into a vocoder, whispering it into two microphones, and singing it, which was then pitched down… It’s quite subtle but I wanted it to feel …. different, in a way.. Like a voice inside your head
that new music blog
shouting, really? 😮
never would have guessed that haha
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
It’s mixed very very low
You almost can’t hear it. But I believe you can feel it
that new music blog
and, now that I am listening to that very moment
is there a male voice somewhere or is that just me?
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
That’s the pitch down.. Women sound like men if you pitch them down
that new music blog
aaah!
interesting!
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
It’s all a matter of frequencies
that new music blog
thanks so much for these insides
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
Youre welcome!
that new music blog
I guess there’s like 100 of these
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
More like 1000
that new music blog
haha
or 10000
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
🙂
Every single sound on the album is carefully molded and thought about. It was a lot of fun to make
that new music blog
but where do the songs come from in the very beginning? like what did they sound like when you wrote them?
it’s hard to imagine
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
Some of them quite different
sometimes its jsut my voice and a small beat
that new music blog
do you have the bass, the synth melody and the beat, and the vocals?
ok
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
Sometimes they have a different tempo
or different lyrics
that new music blog
and just to clarify that, Shanghai is everywhere on this album, but it hasn’t been written in Shanghai, has it?
or did it?
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
The story happened in Shanghai. But it is written afterwards in a lot of different places..
that new music blog
ok!
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
I had to leave Shanghai to be able to make the album. The city is too intense for hard work
that new music blog
yeah that’s what I thought
and I guess you had other stuff going on while being there
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
Yeah. Shanghai is one of those cities where time passes really quickly and everything feels really intense all the time
that new music blog
I feel like the album starts a bit smooth and then builds up in the middle and then goes somewhere else in the end. what can you say about the musical structure?
NERD QUESTION
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
Hmmmmm.. For me, it start’s out in a simple place and becomes increasingly complicated.. And more darkness in the end than in the beginning. Also in the sounds
that new music blog
yup
I agree with that
my favorite part is the middle, especially around „soft islands“
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
But when I worked on it I always wanted to sounds to match the story, so those two are very linked for me
uh that’s also a personal favorite for me
that new music blog
yeah I guess
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
so much fun to make
that new music blog
what a great track which I see as the central track of the album
it has everything the album stands for
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
yeaah, I can see that. I think it is, soundwise… I feel like all the different aspects of the sounds of the album are in there
that new music blog
and the beginning is so beautiful and then it gets so intense
anyway
haha
you will hear that in my review
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
How do you feel about the ending? when it becomes… different, hehe
some of my friends said they thought that was too weird… haha
I have no regrets!
that new music blog
different?
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
In the end of Soft Islands.
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ah the ending of the song
it’s mad
it makes the whole song
it blows you away in the first listen
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
haha I’m glad youre on that team… People disagree a lot about it!
that new music blog
but then you hear the little synth which comes in quite early actually and you’re just waiting for it to explode
I mean the thing is
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
boy it was soooooo amazing to make. I was playing it crazy loud in the studio, the crazy synth, and the beat that comes in
that new music blog
I will tell people that it’s my favorite off the album and that it has this incredible power
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
🙂
That makes me quite happy
I do however have to run soon
that new music blog
but on the other hand, if I’m like doing a mixtape and want to put a song of yours on it, I would probably choose another one
ok, of course!
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
I’m gonna have dinner with Bon Homme!
no wait, lunch
is the right term
that new music blog
me too, actually
well not the lunch haha
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
He’s been to burning man with Whomadewho and has promised to tell me all about it
that new music blog
amazing
yeah I’ve seen that
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
Crazy guys
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I miss the beard though hahaha
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
Yeeeeah me too
that new music blog
tell him that and say hi
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
I will!
Thanks for the interview! <3
I like your questions. Feels nice to be back in this format. do it again sometime?
that new music blog
of course! thanks for taking all the time!
Jenny Rossander | Lydmor
Of course <3
I’ll run along now
talk soon <3
„I told you I’d tell them our story“ erscheint am 28. September über hfn music. Hier könnt ihr nochmal ein Interview über die erste Single „Money towers“ lesen. Pünktlich zu Release findet ihr hier außerdem eine Video-Review.