1. I've never come across the sound that escapes from 'Skiftninger', where did the idea for the sound of Naervaer come from? What is the history to Naervaer, and why the name?
Terje Sagen Back in 1993, I was 18 years old and pretty fed up by a lot of things. One of the things, was the kind of music I was playing. I had started out two years earlier on an electrical Kavai guitar and had joined a metal band called INNHALATOR. The band was not very serious, and after two years of metal riffs & rolling drums I`d had enough. But I didn`t want to give up music because I loved to make stuff, I was just tired of all the effects and all the techniques that dominated the el-guitar world at that moment – so I sold the electric guitar and returned to my nylon string guitar. This was the first move in the direction towards Naervaer. The new concept I was working on sounded something like this: It is not important what we play, it is how we play it that matters. The music should come natural, meaning that I weren’t gonna sit down and stress the stuff out. Instead of "making songs", the concept was revolving around reflecting moods from inside, so if a mood needed 3 years to mature and come out – That is what it got. In this period of my life, I was occupied with keeping things pure & natural. Our choice of instrumentation on our first outcome "Demonstration-95" reflected this. Classical guitars, cello, contra, flute, percussion where some of the instruments involved in this first recording. This sound or choice of instrumentation has been developed since that time to fit the moods. The moods on Skiftninger are much more filled with paranoia & energy where the Demonstration-95 is laidback & melancholic, so the sound & instrumentation on Skiftninger is therefore quite different. Jan K. Transeth (former vocalist in INNHALATOR) has been my companion right from the beginning, and has contributed richly to the sound in regards to the human aspect of it – vocals. Being that Naervaer is about expressing feelings, and we are moving in an area of music that can either touch the listener or sicken him with a melodramatic pile of garbage, it’s very important to have a vocal performer who can deliver the stuff in a realistic believable way close to the mood inside. Naervaer has been blessed with Jan. We have done 3 recordings with Naervaer so far, all of them in Jailhouse studios. This has off course also played an important role in the finished result. "Naervaer" means "presence" and was chosen because it reflected our thoughts of being pure and natural and our wish to stay in tuned with the music.
2. What has been the draw for you to make music? What does it give to you?
Terje I`ve always been very fond of the musical expression. Even though I didn’t start playing until I was 16 years, I remember from my childhood being touch by beauty in music. I think this is one of the things that still feeds me the energy when it comes to music making – that I am able to reflect beauty, melancholy, aggression (mood in general) through the recording of some tones on a cd. It is a kick to make something personal & unique and it gives me pride, confidence and inspiration to continue when I make it.
3. Is there something you are trying to reach inside your listeners? A place in their minds? An idea? Do you hope they create something in their imagination with the vibrant sounds? Or is their something more?
Terje I think that most of the music I make, is made directed towards my own use. I often make music that I can’t find elsewhere and would like to listen to... Skiftninger contains 15 tracks, and all of them are different in mood, but when I put the record on myself I’m expecting an experience of soul & mood – to either give the music focus & energy and in this way relax, or to be fed energy. I hope this is a way others can use it as well. Some tracks demand focus to work while others work best as background feeders, so I think that each listener have to use the record to fit their lifestyle… One tip: Some of the details in the composing and arrangements of the songs can only be heard with headphones!
4. Will their be a follow-up album to 'Skiftninger'? Will the next album follow the same flow as the first, or will their be big changes in the sound?
Terje If it is Gods will, there will be a new recording. The music that has been coming out since Skiftninger makes me happy. I really like to play `cause it soothes me. I think the songs nowadays are generally more upbeat, happy & groovy than before. I don’t like stagnation, so if I didn’t have anything new to present, I’d never do a new recording.
5. Beyond Naevaer, are there any projects you're working on (musical or otherwise)? Could you tell us abit about them?
Terje Last year I moved to Denmark and I’m studying to be an occupational therapist. So the next 3 years this will be my main occupation. Last April I got Jesus into my heart and since then my time is spent trying to get as close to him as possible. I do some theatre, exercise my body and play the bass in a church group. Life is good!
6. How do you think the area and environment, where you grew up and/or live, plays a role in the music you create? Does it have a direct effect on the direction of the sound?
Terje My surroundings, both in nature & the people, played an important role in the musical outcome. The city I’m from is known for being a bit "depressive", cold and the people keep to themselves. By living here for 26 years I picked up some of the vibes from the area and passed it on to the music. On Skiftninger I decided to do most of the lyrics also adding some of the groove from the southern Norway.
7. Do you get much feedback from fans abroad, Europe or the Americas? Is there a different feeling in getting recognised for your music outside of you local space?
Terje Not really. Occasionally we get some feedback, and it is exciting to hear what people think. We worked around 7 years on Skiftninger, so feedback tells us how well we spent our time.
8. Do you get the feeling that the present global state alters anything of what you do in life or in music?
Terje Of course! I try to stay tuned in with my surroundings. I spend a lot of my time outside among people and I try to use the media as an informer to what is happening elsewhere. This interaction contributes to how I’m feeling. How I’m feeling equals what kind of music I make...
9. How would you describe Naervaer's music?
Terje If you take Jackson 5, and add a spoon of Billy Idol. Mix it up for 30 seconds and top it all of with a half Puff Daddy (aka P. Diddy) and 3 energetic Jazzmen – you will have the exact opposite of Naervaer's music.
10. Was it a difficult choice to not sing in English? Do you ever feel any pressure to do so? Would it be something you would do more in the future?
Terje No! No! Yes!
11. The following questions deal with artistic influences that have brought you to this point in your life.
a- What have been some of the most important musical discoveries for you (albums/artists)? What kind of an impact have each of them had?
b- What have been some of the most important literary discorveries for you (literary work/author)? What kind of impact have each of them had?
c- What have been some of the most important film work discoveries for you (movies)? What kind of impact have each of them had?
Terje My first encounter with Elvis was huge. I was 7 years old and I got one of his cassettes for Christmas. Man I was rocking all holiday long. My meeting with the Swedish group Landberk more or less worked as a kick off to the Naervaer way of thinking. My Nick Cave period has been very traumatic. Bob Dylan rocks! I found Bob Marley at the age of 26 and I’m very thankful. He has put many smiles on face.
There are two literary works beside the Bible that have marked me... A trilogy by Ketil Bjørnstad "Drift, Drommen om havet, Veien til Daka", Nick cave "And the ass saw the angel". Their description of the decay of human moral inspired me.
There are a lot of movies I could say, but I chose the last one. "Requiem for a dream" I kept on seeing this in my head long after I saw it in the cinema. The story, actors & director are excellent!
12. Is there a dream artist(s) (musical, literary, in films, etc) that you would like to meet or collaborate with?
Terje I wouldn’t mind having a jam session with Bob Dylan. Me on the guitar and Bob on the harmonica. Now that’s something to tell the grandchildren.
13. If an (past or present) artist would choose to cover/remix one of Naervaer's songs, who could you see doing it and which song could you hear them do?
Terje I would like to see either Bob Dylan’s or Led Zeppelin's version of track 4 on Skiftninger "Vi sakke land". They would kick ass!
14. If you could choose any song(s) to cover, which would it be? Why that song(s)?
Terje I am actually fooling around with a good old Elvis tune, "That’s all right mama", at the moment, and maybe it will be featured on a future release.
15. Before I conclude this interview, do you have any last words to share with our readers?
Terje Sunshine reggae!