motel void

THIS TIME WE INTERVIEWED A SLOVENIAN MUSICIAN MORVERN

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You come from Slovenia which I know for its MENT Festival. How would you describe the current music scene there?

Throughout my life, I’ve mostly identified with the independent music scene. I was born and raised in Trbovlje, Slovenia and when I was growing up (2005-2010) the AKDT collective (Alternativno kulturno društvo Trbovlje) was very active in my hometown and did lots of shows. Through that I got involved in the scene and started playing in local bands.

I’ve been lucky to work with some of the nicest initiatives that support independent music in Slovenia. After moving to Ljubljana, I was part of the Klubski Maraton project (with my other band HAY). We played quite some shows around Slovenia as part of the project. That was a big boost. The project is still run by Radio Študent (the oldest student/independent radio in Europe), which has also supported lots of my music after that tour. There’s ŠOP Records which are the heavyweight champions of proper forward-thinking under-the-radar music in Slovenia. Almost all my releases from 2019 onwards have been released on ŠOP Records. They have brought much joy to Morvern’s music and have supported my work in so many ways I can’t really write everything here. There’s a very nice community of DIY musicians around ŠOP Records and I’m grateful to be part of that.

In the last year or so, we have started playing live much more frequently with Morvern as a band. Apart from me on vocals and guitar, there’s also Damjan (Rush to Relax/Lelee) on guitar, Erik (Long Dumb Voices) on bass, and Vasja (ujma) on drums. In the last few months, my old friend Nejc (HAY) also joined in on synths and back vocals. We all play in each other’s solo projects and collaborate on our records. Everyone’s playing in 3/4/5+ bands at the same time and that’s been a very nice musical environment, especially now when there are not many chances for playing live.

There are lots of great artists everywhere around Slovenia. We’re probably not well connected as we could be, but there’s lots of good music coming out. Apart from the DIY/independent scene, yes, there are many publicly funded projects/institutions like MENT Festival, Kino Šiška, etc., which support and promote many different artists.

I was once in Ljublana and attended there a concert in a famous Metelkova place. Does it still exist? I was fascinated by such an unique, open-minded local venue, do you have more places like this in Slovenia?

Metelkova still exists but there’s a large pressure on independent spaces and squats around Slovenia, many of which have been evicted in the last 5-10 years. For example, the only squat in Ljubljana (Tovarna Rog) was evicted in the last year. It seems like many things go in the wrong direction. It’s a pretty shitty situation at the moment, also with doing any sort of events.

Most of our concerts have been at similar independent spaces (e.g. different clubs at Metelkova) but also at other more formal and established concert spaces (Kino Šiška). We also enjoy playing at friends’ home parties, those are always nice!

You’re a prolific songwriter. On Bandcamp you’ve got many releases. I found there also an EP with Kurt Vile covers. You also put out a playlist with music you were listening to while making your latest album CAPTAIN TRIPS: Thee Oh Sees, King Gizzard… but also Can… how much do these artists inspire your own music?

I wouldn’t say I’m a prolific songwriter, but thanks for the compliment. (laughter)

I have always been very fanatic about music, including the process of listening to music. In every new cycle of doing an album, I’m usually hooked up to some new music. What I like the most is that I feel how all these musical influences (throughout my life) have aggregated and show up with every new record. In very different ways.

And what’s also funny, there’s always a tendency for me to try and reach some sound/approach by other bands. But usually, it develops into something completely different…

I must say you’ve made a big improvement since the first releases I listened to on your Bandcamp. What were the biggest changes for you and your music during past years?

Morvern started around 2016. That was when I finally started living a more normal life. Before that it was wild, sleeping on friends’ couches and not really having any stability. Having a home again meant a lot. And that’s when I really devoted myself to Morvern.

Throughout the years I used all sorts of gear, depending on what I was able to obtain – lots of shitty DAWs, mics and software, but I have slowly found my way. One big change in the last year or two is that I’m actively spending time playing in bands – also with Morvern. Because of that, much of the new music I’m doing is getting more of a band shape. I also started becoming a better musician in general. At least that’s how I feel (laughter). I’m sure there’s a lot more to come from our bands in the upcoming period.

Morvern: Bandcamp page

In the last year and a half, I’ve adapted one of the rooms in the house where I live in a small recording studio. Having a space only devoted to recording/mixing music means a lot. I hope I can start working on other people’s music more and more from my home studio (As Key Snjt Studios).

What is your opinion on streaming services? What is the platform where you feel the most comfortable?

I feel closest to Bandcamp, I suppose that’s not so strange. I see it as the fairest approach to music distribution among all the platforms.

I have also used Soundcloud a lot – you can actually find lots of unreleased music on some Soundcloud profiles:

What I like about Bandcamp is that things are very clear and it also has a community feel. It often reminds me of the blog scene that I experienced in the late 00s. I also use some other more convenient streaming services for listening to music, but I don’t really find it close to my way of doing things.

When did you first start learning about recording and producing music and which DAW do you use now and why? Do you have experience with a professional studio?

Around 2005-2006 I first started recording songs on cassettes. It was a funny process recording EP’s on an old 90’s tape deck because you only had one take and if you messed up you had to start again hahah.

Then I remember an mp3 player for listening/recording music. It also had a small microphone. I recorded some demos on that one, you can actually find them on Soundcloud:

sLAvvEs

In the same period (2011-2014), we recorded lots of songs with my friend Nejc (HAY) on a Zoom digital multi recorder, many of which ended up as HAY songs that we played in the next few years.

I have recorded on many different samplers, Zoom recorders, telephones, whatever I got hold onto. In 2016 I started learning Ableton from a friend (who still produces electronic music). That’s when I started doing proper recording and was the basis for where I am now. Still, the recording tools are not as important as the emotion you leave on the record. That’s always been the number one goal.

How do you write your songs? What part of the song comes first? Is it lyrics, or melody/music?

Almost always it starts with a riff on the guitar or bass. It often comes from playing the acoustic guitar. Afterwards, vocal melodies and lyrics start coming. Sometimes, the songs get structured very quickly, other times I spend more days writing the song. Because I have a routine of recording all ideas, most of them are instantly recorded.

What’s funny about Morvern is that it started with the intention of doing simple songs but it has become quite complex through the years. Most of the songs on my latest record were done in open tunings on an acoustic guitar. But then I changed much of the songs, recorded them with an electric guitar, and the songs got a different shape. That was fun!