Interview: Ulf Ljusberg
How does one look when one looks like something from a forest? Perhaps something like Ulf Ljusberg? Yet again, maybe not, but the sound of Ulf Ljusberg could certainly be something you could find in the depths of a vast maple woods of Canada, or just about any wilderness there is to be found. Every once in a while a musician comes along who can capture the soul and essence of things – Ulf Ljusberg is one of those.
- Christian Stenbacke
I have a difficulty of describing your music with just a few terms, every time I get close to a definition it slips away again. How would you yourself describe the music of Ulf Ljusberg?
I feel the same way, and I should know better, right? I often get stressed out because people ask what the music sounds like and I really want a quick fix description to not sound totally disorientating, and usually I start off with a 10 second "uhmm..." I hate when that happens, so I have started to use other people's descriptions and it helps a lot. The latest one is "bossa-folk-jazz-pop" and that's not too bad, eh? To simply try to describe what I want to accomplish with my music - it would be something like "acoustic music that shifts from melancholy and emotional to more aggressive and a bit funky with a lot of different influences and a focus on rhythm and the element of surprise in harmonies". However "folk/blues" is the one I use most often for obvious reasons.
A solitary man armed with a guitar and a voice of honey; it's a difficult genre to master. What where your thoughts upon taking up the guitar in the first place, have you ever been frightened by the "competition" or the legacy of the genre?
In the beginning it was all about playing electric lead guitar in rock bands, which I did for several years and that was all I ever wanted to do at the time. I did the Mike "Jumping Cat" McCready in front of the mirror you know, which is not perhaps what you'd expect? In the meantime I began to write my own songs and sing and that has since evolved. For many reasons, better or worse, I have never felt part of that specific legacy.
You're truly a gifted and imaginative guitar player, do you have any specific role models when it comes to guitar playing? Where do you get your inspiration in general?
I grew up listening a lot to contemporary blues related rock'n'roll, which later introduced me to some of their predecessors such as Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin, and I think that shows in my guitar playing and music writing in many ways. I also learned a lot listening to Ani Difranco, and when I started experimenting with open tuning that really set me free from how I used to think, write and play in general. That was a huge step for me and that changed lots of things.
First there was Something from a Forest, now there's Ulf Ljusberg only, what's the story and what's the difference?
The expression comes from a Dutch guy who said I looked like something from a forest and I used that as an alias until the end of 2005. I liked that kind of Red House Painters cloak, when it's not too obvious and "in your face." I don't think my real name was ever mentioned in the first demos I put out. Eventually I just grew out of it and musically there is really no big difference in what I want to do apart from the natural progress.
Common or Garden Records is a project of your own, how does it work and what plans do you have for the future of the company?
I started the label in 2004 together with Tobias Hall and we have been building up things slowly. It's not until this previous year that both of us have had time to really focus on strategy and how we want to continue. For the last couple of months I've been working on getting involved with other independent actors, both in Sweden and in other countries – networking - with the intent to consociate on an informational basis, share ideas and work with promotion in each respective area and so forth. I was very glad and inspired when I first read about "The Swedish Model", since that's kind of what I've had in mind, and that is also a confirmation that there is an understanding and interest to work together and achieve greater things out there. "No man is an island," so to speak.
Love is indeed a powerful force - You recently moved to the city of Växjö to be close to the Mrs, how does this effect your music writing and ability play live shows for instance?
When I told my sister that we were moving away from Stockholm she said: "well, all you need is a guitar, a computer and a coffee maker and you're happy with life," and I guess there's a lot in that. Of course there are downsides to things as well, but in general it has worked out very well. Musically it's perfect, I have lots of time to write and record. There are also a lot of different places to perform live shows here, to be introduced to a new audience, but I'm also going back to Stockholm to perform.
What kind of response have you received so far? I can imagine that it's hard to make one self heard these days, even though myspace and whatnot, since more artist fight for the attention of potential listeners. Especially since, as I've experienced it, most of your tunes need some time to really sink in and affect. What's your take on the music climate closest to you?
There is certainly a duality in the fact that it's so easy to present your music nowadays and yet so hard to get people to listen to it due to the huge amount of music available. However, with the internet and myspace come infinite possibilities if you are imaginative, and today it's all about finding your audience and I believe there is one for every genre. If your listeners are halfway around the world - it doesn't matter! That is definitely a good thing. For me personally, it's a struggle yet a pleasurable one, since as you mentioned my tunes need some time to really sink in. I think we are most effective in getting new listeners while playing live and perhaps that is something natural. Many times the sound engineers are the ones we persuade the most, and that's good credentials, but sometimes I'd wish for the addition of more sugar to the cake!