Went For Angels, Found Fireflies

The different parts of «Went For Angels, Found Fireflies» was composed between 2004 and 2005, but the song was not concluded until 2009. The main structure of the song was built in Tarzana, LA in 2008. I remember hearing, what I thought was fireflies outside on the balkony, hence the name. However, fireflies (in California), are so rare, that it must have been something else (or I was very lucky ;).

The working title for the song was «Sand». At some point I had so many songs with desert themed names or athmospheres, that I started to perform under the alias «Desert Son».

The «Desert Son» name also reflected on the fact, that I had ended up doing most of the artistic work on my songs,  by myself. Everything from composing, mixing and playing most of the instuments.  I’ve basically always been involved in all instrumentation and recording, but at this point I decided to not have a fixed band of musicians, and approach music more as a painter or writer. 

This again, was the birth of this 5 year long album project, and enabled me to do what I am doing now. 

My Name Is Life

This is one of many songs I made in Tarzana, Los Angeles in 2008.

I tried to work on a new song every day for three months. 

I  worked out the arrangement on an acoustic bass and guitar. And recorded it that way, and started to layer parts. Adding a string section.  Then we I tried to alternate between a rock arrangement and acoustic backing between every stop in the song. 

Making the stops work was challenging by itself.  

I ended up recording "My Name Is Life" live in the studio with Bjørn Tore Tarranger.  I remember recording the vocals on Christmas eve and mixing it on my birthday. Not purposely. 

The lyrics are about the power of perspective, how you look at things can have a self-fulfilling effect, or what you see is often what you'll get. 

It was meant to be released with "The Creature With One Trillion Eyes" album; the first real album with my "Desert Son" project. The album was originally supposed to be named "Tarzania Album" an internal joke that came from a wrong-spelling on the region we were staying in.

Tarzana: the home of writer Edgar Rice Burroughs.

On The Wave Of Hope And Doubts

This song was actually inspired by a particular guitar, a Martin D45 Koa to be exact.

When I decide to buy a guitar, it’s usually because it has a voicing that is very different from my other guitars. The guitar must speak to me in a way that I don't expect from a guitar. 

Typically you'll find such an instrument on the rarest occasions and places. 

We were staying in LA, and our living rooom measured 13 ft in height. Along with the guitar it made a beautiful vibe. Many songs were made instantly with the guitar. 

The song to me is about being in a state of wonder, excitement and uncertainty. With the descending sequence expressing doubts and the ascending passage being hope. 

At a later stage I experimented with different instruments on the recording. Some are still present at the end of the song. Among these instruments are a Sitar, Banjo and a Portuguese guitar, if I remember correctly.