A Musical Chameleon
Trentemøller Likes It Deep & Live
If you’ve never heard the Danish DJ’s music before, you’d probably never guess all of Anders Trentemoller’s records and compilations are done by the same man.
His first solo album The Last Resort was all about dark atmosphere and heavy, almost dirty sounds, and since then his electronic brew has been consistently evolving. Into the Great Wide Yonder, his last studio album, is spacious and melodic, while the compilations or singles since have been constantly playing with styles and expectations.
“My last albums were very dramatic, with big sounds, and now I want to limit myself,” said Trentemøller. “When you are making electronic music with a computer, you want to do so many things, you have so many different choices and it can sometimes take away some of the music.”
This Copenhagen musician likes to surprise; even in a single song, style and emotion will change radically. And unlike some laptop artists, he isn’t content sitting back and pressing play.
“On stage we play with a full band, and that’s how I manage to conciliate those two worlds I like,” he said.
“It’s actually also because in my last album there are so many different sounds and it’s hard for me to play everything. And I think it is a bit boring if you just play your music with your laptop. Sometimes it looks like you could be checking your e-mails instead of playing music.”
With the advantage of live musicians, he keeps things exciting during his shows.
“I think it is a bit boring if you just play your music with your laptop. Sometimes it looks like you could be checking your e-mails instead of playing music.”
“We improvise on stage; we often change the setlist also. We try to feel the vibe of the crowd, and play what we feel is the right song to be played. It is boring for the crowd to know exactly what to expect,” he said.
This makes it hard to define Trentemoller’s music. As his sounds defy the typical, his musical background and influences do the same.
“Many different music styles have influenced me, not only electronic, but jazz jazz, and rock,” said Trentemøller. “A band like the Velvet Underground is one of my favourite that I’ve been listening to for a long time.”
He wants his music to be honest, natural, and raw, something obvious when he talks about the creative process.
“It is more a question of following this flow of inspiration. For me, the challenge is not to make it perfect. It’s boring if it’s too perfect, too polished. I’m just trying to express the emotions I have in my head.
“Writing music comes a feeling that is melancholic, not quite sad but more melancholic. Those kinds of feelings are creatively good for me,” he said.
There’s anything but melancholy towards his ongoing tour however. The electronic artist is exited to come back to Montreal, having a successful gig here in April.
“Last time it was amazing and I’m really looking forward to go back with my band. We also have some new tracks we didn’t play last time and I’m really looking forward to those, along with songs we never played live and that might be on my next album. I cannot wait. It’s going to be an amazing show!”
Trentemøller / Oct. 15 / Metropolis (59 Ste. Catherine St. E.)
