Through more than 30 years of friendship, collaboration, and dedication to their craft, Röyksopp have become one of the most sought-after duos in electronic music.
Officially merging under the Röyksopp moniker in 1998, the group have since released seven studio albums and countless EPs, collaborations, and additional records.scenestr spoke with members Svein Berge and Torbjørn Brundtland about the process, history, and inspirations behind their latest pair of records, 'Profound Mysteries I' (released in April) and 'Profound Mysteries II' (released in August).
Fans of the group will be familiar with debut record 'Melody A.M.', a universally acclaimed masterpiece of synth, sample, and drum machine eclecticism, honed and unified under a prevailing dogma of unforgettably wistful, nostalgic melodies, which are often compared to the works of composer Erik Satie.
These sensibilities and accompanying inspirations have carried throughout the group’s distinguished career as Svein shares.
"We were listening to all the pioneers of electronic music, being the likes of Kraftwerk, Jean-Michel Jarre, Yello, Depeche Mode, Vangelis obviously. Those were the ones that caught our attention when we were kids. They have always stuck with us, so those are the ones we've always been bringing up."
Adds Torbjørn: "And what unifies a lot of our inspiration is that these are artists that very much create their own sounds. When someone might ask us, for instance, 'what's so good about the album 'The Man-Machine' from 1978, compared to other music from 1978 that used drum machines?'.
"Well, other music hasn't aged in the same way, because it used drum machines that were 'known' and sounds like the typical electronic music of its time.
"Some of these influences that we have, obviously if you listen to it today it would sound like it's from another time. But still, these artists, they have gone to some lengths to create their own sounds.
"That's really part of the songwriting process for us, that's the main takeaway of what we've been given by our influences. It's a part of the writing, basically, to also create the sounds."
The group have referenced the abstract emotional impact of David Lynch, the impressionism of sound, and the evocation of emotions in listeners, as opposed to passivity. It's an influence that certainly shines on tracks like '(Nothing But) Ashes', which conjures powerful, dark, and confronting inner landscapes.
Svein and Torbjørn had this to say in relation to impressionism, particularly in the group's instrumental music.
Svein: "Well, I think that is a realm where we, really – and Torbjørn you are at liberty to disagree – where I think we really shine. If we ever do. When we make instrumental music, is where I think we have our strongest forte. Because as you say, we want to make music that triggers some sort of emotion, that evokes something."
Torbjørn: "I think that's too harsh. I think our following, the people who enjoy our music, some people gravitate towards the instrumentals, whereas others also enjoy the lyrical content, and that brings an extra dimension. So, I think we’re in a good place either way to be honest. We can do it all [laughs]!"
Svein: "That's more confident! I like that, yeah [laughs]; though, the downside to vocals is that it's a bit of a giveaway. As soon as you choose a certain word, you've sort of charged or loaded a track.
"If you feature the word heartbreak, you've already decided on a direction. And that's one of the attractive things I find with instrumental music, is that you don't have those things.
"You, as a listener, have to participate in what this is, and how you respond to it. I think that's been really strong with us ever since we started with music, back in the day."
Though often praised for their reflective instrumentals, through collaborations with the likes of Robyn, Fever Ray, and Lykke Li, it is indisputable that Röyksopp have built an equally impactful collection of vocally oriented songs.
Nowhere is this more apparent than on 'Impossible' from 'Profound Mysteries I', featuring none other than savant songstress Alison Goldfrapp.
"We obviously love her work, and getting to know Alison has been a pleasure," Svein says. "It's just one of those things, I don't know. . . Chemistry is obviously important when making music together, and for whatever reason, I don't know why, I think without exception everyone that we have worked with has been a joy to work with.
"I don't know why that is – whether we are just lucky, or the world is just a good place to be. But clearly, Alison is all that you'd want her to be in terms of her personality, creative force, and drive. I'm just full of praise when it comes to her.
"It's a track that has a certain level of dirt to it. You know, it's a bit raunchy, but not like, overtly raunchy. It's just a tad raunchy. It's as dirty as we can be without losing focus of what Röyksopp is all about, I think. . . it's a matter of pushing boundaries, finding balance."
On several levels, the 'Profound Mysteries' records come across as a perfect synthesis of all prior Röyksopp LPs, encapsulating several of the essential elements for which the group have come to be known.
Instrumentals such as 'The Ladder' and 'There, Beyond The Trees' are reminiscent of the neoclassical electro charm of earlier works like 'The Alcoholic' from 2010's 'Senior'. Whereas others like 'Let's Get It Right' from 'Profound Mysteries II' point squarely towards a fresh, innovative new direction.
"I think it's fair to say that we want a lot from this [project], so hopefully we have managed to maintain a focus with these ideas that we have," Svein says. "And as you say, as far as thematics go, it's a recurring theme that we've had over the years. Hesitation, doubt, regret and despair, desire, and compulsion and all these things.
"But the overarching thing that has stuck with us would be the willingness to create something that is, quote unquote, unique. Something that is really ours, that is Röyksopp.
"And that sounds awfully pretentious, we know. But that is what we try to do. We try to make music that has a place, and hopefully a certain longevity. And we feel that the best way of achieving that is making our own sounds, so it doesn't become the flavour of the month, and comes to pass a month after we made it."
The group have spoken of the 'Profound Mysteries' records as, in part, a nod to all of the things that have influenced them as musicians. There is a tangible sense of importance and urgency to the songs on these records, imbuing them with the unmistakable mark of records that needed to be brought to life.
"Specifically, in relation to the two parts of 'Profound Mysteries'," offers Svein, "I think it's fair to say that we wanted the first part to be. . . rebirth? That sounded awful. But us sort of emerging from oblivion, shall we say. Slowly coming back to the world.
"And on the second part, I guess there is a bit more presence. 'We are here.' It's not as introverted as the first part, it's much more open and 'here we are'."
The pair elaborate on the dichotomy between the two halves of 'Profound Mysteries', and the growth that shapes the arch of its concepts. "The first part was meant to be mysterious and hidden," Svein says.
"The second one is bolder and more pronounced. Also in the engineering, not only in the songwriting.
"The engineering is as much a part of the process as the songwriting. One of the many things we wanted to do with 'Part II' is to nod back to those artists, genres, and time periods that made us what we are as artists.
"And also looking back on what we have done in the past. You mentioned 'Melody AM'. We wanted to bring some of that analog warmth into the mix again.
"Because it is very dear to us, but we feel there are so many people out there that say or claim 'it is analog'. It might be analog. But it doesn't feel as warm and analog as it claims to be.
"So, we want to kind of overdo that – make it very warm, and brown, and orange and glowing. I think 'Let's Get It Right' has that thing, and it also makes for a more romantic sentiment, when that warmth is present."
Adds Torbjørn: "The first part doesn't have that romance. It's more solitary. Whereas the track 'Let's Get It Right' is something that you want to hear with others.
"I mean, we don't want to dictate how to listen to our music, but we feel that the first part is very much enjoyed on one's own – with headphones or in solitude. It's like a one-on-one conversation, whereas with 'Part II', people are gathering more."
Svein: "And you possibly play it out loud in your room, as opposed to in your headphones. I imagine there's possibly more light in the room. Not immense amounts of light, but more light (laughs)."
Torbjørn: "The curtains are halfway opened."
When pressed on what the future beyond 'Profound Mysteries' may hold for Röyksopp, the pair had this to say.
Torbjørn: "One thing we can disclose is that not all the 'Lost Tapes' were released. Obviously, there were more than those. So that points towards a second release."
Svein: "We want that to be a fan-driven thing, if I can use that term, where we try to pay attention to what people would want. For instance, we did a live version of 'Alpha Male' – that was purely because a long-time fan requested it.
"He'd heard us perform it live, many, many moons ago – and asked, 'can you please put out that version?' We recreated whatever we had. We want lost tapes to be that. We try to dig out things that fans would like to hear, which haven't made their way to releases.
"We're private, not on social media really. We like to be a bit hidden. So, we find that is a pure way of communicating – rather than what I'm wearing, or what we're having for breakfast."
In closing, Torbjørn and Svein offered their sentiments on the symbol which accompanies 'Profound Mysteries' – one which holds great significance for the Röyksopp oeuvre.
Svein: "As a closing line, there is this trefoil – a little symbol for the ['Profound Mysteries'] project. I'm trying to sort of point toward that trefoil, and to the future."
Torbjørn: "The trefoil symbolises something real for us. Just to end on the 'Profound Mysteries', and the mystery part of it – there's a nice quote by Frank Herbert which I really like. It embodies some of, I guess, the lyrical content in this process. '. . . The mystery of life isn't a problem to solve, but a reality to experience.'"
Svein: "The mystery is what we're all about. Embrace it."
'Profound Mysteries I' and 'Profound Mysteries II' are both available. 'Profound Mysteries III' will be released in November.
