| ......................................INTERVIEW |
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| . | with the Norwegian multi-instrumentalist, BJORN LYNNE |
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by
Sergio Motta,
Rio de Janeiro - Brazil
Sergio
Motta - Although you have lately been living in England, I suppose obviously
that
Bjorn Lynne: Yes, I played in a band when I lived in Norway. We were called “Ab Intra”. You can find one of our recordings on the Scandinavian prog rock compilation CD called “This is an Orange”. We were a 5-man progressive rock band, and also played some concerts in Norway. But the band broke up when I moved to England in 1995. After that, I have been writing my music alone, but bringing in several guest musicians from time to time.Although progressive rock scene is taken for an underground movement, the name Bjorn Lynne seems today to be a synonym of success in the current musical scene. What do you attribute to the success reached by you within a musical style of so little recognizance by most of the people in the world? Bjorn Lynne: I think perhaps “success” is too strong a word. I sell a couple of thousand copies of each CD - and that isn’t much success. But I have been working on my music for 10 years, and I was very early to adopt the internet as a communication channel. I had my music web site online already in 1994. I guess that is why a lot of internet using music fans have heard about me and my music.On reading some interviews, I have often been testifying that most of musicians have a great desire of reaching professionalism and to keep themselves up economically through their music. By the way, do you still have it like a goal to attain, or have you got it already? Bjorn Lynne: I already make a living on my music, and I have done that since 1995. I pay all my bills, and feed my family, only from money that I have made on my music. And that is a great feeling. But it’s not because of my prog-rock albums. I make most of the money by doing “production music” for things like videos, multimedia, games and other projects. This spring I am going to work on the music for a sci-fi TV series. This is how I can make a living on writing and playing music.England has been historically the starting-point for progressive rock music, and even today this country is strongly taken as one of the most important references to this kind of music. Would you be able to describe how important your going to England was to your career? Bjorn Lynne: I think it has been quite important. There is a lot more life in the music scene here, and one can even be taken more seriously as a musician if you live in the UK, rather than in Norway. But I still feel that, even if I had stayed in Norway, I would still have been doing okay. Most of the production music contracts I get is with companies in the USA, not here in the UK. And the country you live in, doesn’t really matter. Everything is communicated world wide in seconds by email now.I don’t know how long you have been absent from Norwegian progressive scene, as well as I don’t know either if you are lately aware of what’s happening over there. Are you conscious of current progressive scene in your homeland? Is there any band over there which you like most so far? Bjorn Lynne: I haven’t really followed the Norwegian prog rock scene since 1995, when I moved to the UK. Actually, even when I lived in Norway, I was more interested in the Swedish prog-rock scene, with their many superb bands such as Änglagård, Ritual, Landberk, Flower Kings and many other great Swedish proggers.From what I remember reading, your music is not attached to an only direction, seen that the electronic and progressive music are both of your musical creations. Which of these two musical directions do you think in fact to have captivated a larger number of fans through? Bjorn Lynne: I get a little bit more interest in my prog-rock albums, than my electronic albums. But I think that’s because my prog-rock is released by real record companies, while my electronic music is self-published, so it’s not reaching so far.How do you get to have enough inspiration on the verge of working simultaneously upon two different projects? Do you use to take refuge in a peaceful spot and close to the nature as a way of letting your mind flow out? Bjorn Lynne: I just try to let the music come naturally, and don’t force it in a special direction. That is why I often end up working on different projects at the same time. If the music that comes out wants to go in a certain direction, I let it go that way… even if it doesn’t fit into the concept of what I’m working with at the moment. So at the moment, I am working on 3 different projects: A sci-fi rock album, a fantasy / medieval rock album, and an electronic trance album. I have written about 25 minutes for each album, over the last year. I will use another year, and just see what happens. I don’t know which will be finished first.In your view, what does it generally make a person to decide to become a multi-instrumentalist, his appreciation for several instruments, or for his difficulty in getting on well with other people in the aggregate? Bjorn Lynne: I my case, the reason is that I am very enthusiastic and eager, and I never want to wait for anybody else. When I got a musical idea, I don’t have time to wait until the next time the guitarist was available, or the next time the bassist was available, etc. I got an idea, and I just had to perform it, there and then. By the next day, maybe the feeling was gone. That is why I learned some basic skills with all instruments, so that I could get things done in my own time, when the feeling was there.Some of your musical projects really sound in grand style in my viewpoint, and that even reminds me of ‘’Wolves of the Gods’’ for instance. Is there any other project of you which you couldn’t bring it to pass as yet? Bjorn Lynne: I haven’t really thought about that. I feel that I have been able to realise the projects I wanted, and I think that “The Gods Awaken” is my most grand project so far, with a lot of musicians involved and an epic theme.Just to close our interview, would you like to impart a message for all those who appreciate your music? Bjorn Lynne: Just that I appreciate all the interest from those who are willing to use their time to listen to my music, it really makes me feel good. And to welcome people to my web site www.lynnemusic.com and to join my free electronic newsletter mailing list from there. |
Bjorn Lynne - Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitars, Keyboards, Bass Guitar, Percussion... Discography:
Self-published
Bjorn Lynne
Bjorn
Lynne Home Page
Bjorn
Lynne is a composer and multi-instrumentalist who produces a unique and
exciting style of music with many influences. His work has been compared
to pink floyd, enya, mike oldfield, genesis and many, many others. |
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