Dungen
October 15th, 2009 by
I recently caught Swedish band Dungen at the Troubador in Los Angeles. The show was, as predicted, epic and aurally transcendent. The band is currently between albums, taking time to experiment with turntables, tour, and tune out from the ever-invasive nature of modern media. Below is an interview with frontman Gustav Ejstes.
Has your fan base in Sweden changed over time?
I think it has changed. But I mean the hipster thing is like that. When the world discovered Stadsvandringar in 2005, that fall we went to New York and played Vice Magazine's 10th anniversary. Big party, models, and hipsters. We were part of the hype. But then we just continued doing our thing. The hipsters maybe didn't follow it—the new stuff–because that's being a hipster, you're always moving on. And hipsters in Sweden found it and went away and came back, whatever. Like for most artists, I guess. But there have definitely always been those who don't like it. And now that I'm older I can say, “that's cool” because I'm less concerned about a reaction. But when you're 20, 21, it's easy to hate or maybe love something immediately. I hope that our music is developed and better recognized as well, not just because of hype and trends. I hope I can write better songs.
And so what exactly is it that you've moved on from?
When you're young and being part of it, getting dissed made me have a very shallow mind, because I didn't want to get hurt, I wanted to protect my little world and I was like, 'Fuck you, I do this music and I'm not expecting anyone to listen to it. I do this for myself. I haven't asked for this, I have not asked for this.' And this was actually in the middle of the hype, this is with Vice. But then another Swedish artist told me that as soon as you put out the music it's not yours anymore. Technically. You have a responsibility to the people who really like it. And I mean, from anywhere, from Toledo, or wherever. It's so fucking weird. I thought I was doing this for myself the first time over here, and now I'm really working for the people who've stayed interested.
What are your thoughts about the touring the world in the state that it's currently in?
You notice so many changes and so many shifts in media coverage or audience. Speaking of politics and religion or whatever, we are so many now on this planet now, you know? I am so aware now of people coming to me and saying that they like my records. I mean, unlike many people right now I have a job, a very special job–to do something creative, that's amazing!
Your desire to escape from modern media absorption, it funnels into your recording and your engagement with things? The recordings sound like the product of patience.
It's become more and more important to me. I'm becoming more and more selective. Like in the bus: 'Hey, let me play you a song.' No. I don't want to hear a song. But you feel like a fucking dick, like 'what the fuck is wrong with you?' But sometimes I don't want to hear a song and spoil my focus. I have my records and my inspirations.
How about your community of friends and people you hang out with, what's their relationship to this abundance of media?
Well, I'm getting older. I have been spoiled because I've been doing this for a long time and the last three years have been incredible. But I'm definitely not rich, but I've been able to survive. I have chosen to take time for other stuff. I've been producing a record for another artist. I like hanging out with people and just talking, keeping it quiet. I met these two rappers before I left. That was an experience. We have started to like it. It's amazing. Hip hop and hanging out. We hang out and freestyle. We battle each other. It's ridiculous.
How about American media, like, say when you're touring the more remote regions of America? We talk about all this when touring: fast food commercials, car commercials, and insurance commercials. There's a lot of fast food commercials. Everywhere: Texas, Arizona, whatever, it's all over. And they have the spinning cameras and all the light like on a roast beef sandwich from Subway. You can't make food porno. It's disgusting.
