How it might sound at Point Nemo? Hailing from Sweden, Erratic unveils a sound where deep electronic currents drift like ocean swells, infused with a strong dosage of free improvisation. Read our discussion below!
Describe your sound in 3 words
Progressive, edgy, musical
How did the idea for Erratic come about, and what led you to explore a more avant-garde and free approach to music-making?
We have both for many years been involved in jazz styles with strong melodic content and, for the genre, typical arrangement structures. We felt a need to have a more free approach with this project.
The name Point Nemo is intriguing, often associated with the most remote point in the ocean. How does this concept relate to the music on your debut album?
We had this wonderful idea about how it might sound at Point Nemo. It’s not only the worlds most remote place, it’s also a space craft graveyard were the worlds power nations have agreed to crash their old equipment. Imagine the stack of amazing tech on the bottom of the ocean at that place expressing the last bleeps and bloops together
Erratic blends electronic and acoustic elements. What challenges and opportunities arise when trying to balance these two contrasting worlds?
Less problems than expected actually. Electronic music gains a lot when it’s combined with acoustic elements. We have a lot of experience with this since we have had many projects during the years combining acoustic and electronic sounds. Especially with the electro-jazz group Soundscape Orchestra where we both are members.
Erratic places a strong emphasis on improvisation and less structure. How do you ensure that this freedom still creates a cohesive musical experience?
This was something we weren’t sure about at first. Due to our background in jazz we’re used to certain song arrangements. That a song could be complete even though it lacks some ingredients took a while to get used to. But when people we trust in the business listened and really liked it we got more confident that we were on to something.
Is improvisation a talent or a skill?
It’s absolutely a skill you can practice and get better at. But we all have different talents to begin with and that talent might suit a specific instrument better than another. To improvise on a modular synth is very different from improvising on a saxophone or a conga drum.
But in another sense, true improvisation is neither skill nor talent. It’s more a state of mind, not something you do with effort, but rather you let happen. In this project we try to have a very “zen” approach to the ever evolving musical form, and not be afraid of letting our spontaneous ideas take their time.
Artists and people that have influenced you?
All that forward looking jazz music of the 70’s and onwards, like Pharoah Sanders and the Bitches Brew era of Miles Davis to name a few. A more contemporary artist that influenced us is Craig Taborn. An incredible musician with a very progressive mindset. Among electronic artists we listen to Autechre and Floating Points among others.
Something not many people know about you?
Our first project together was a band playing the music of Rufus & Chaka Khan. It was in the late 90s and it actually got really popular in our hometown Stockholm. We had a lot of gigs with that project.
Thank you!
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Follow our Spotify playlist Sonnets for the Big Screen feat. Erratic
Secret Eclectic 