PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF FOR US WHO ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH YOU AND YOUR MUSIC AND TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOURSELF.
My name is John and Comprehending is an instrumental math-/post-rock project that I started in 2019 In Uppsala, Sweden. I’m using this project to try to learn more about all the different aspects of music by challenging myself through usage of different time signatures and instruments. I’m originally a guitarist and by creating this project where I write music for all the instruments, I’ve learned a great deal!
TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR NEW ALBUM OR SINGLE?
“Try” came out on March 18th and is the seventh single I’ve released as Comprehending. It’s instrumental math-rock and the goal I had for this song was to first make a kind of catchy riff in 4/4, but then try to push it as far as I can without ruining its integrity. The result became the main riff of the song, which is the intro riff but played in 11/8 instead of 4/4.
The title of my latest single “Try” has kind of a double meaning to it. This was the first song I wrote where I had a clear goal to “try” to follow, so that is one meaning of it. The other meaning is a direct translation. Try is the Swedish name for the plant that’s on the cover of the song.
WHAT INSPIRED THE ALBUM OR SINGLE?
Before I had written the first riff of the song I sat down with my guitar and realized that I didn’t have that many songs where I used finger style like in my song “Repose” so that was the main inspiration I had. Aside from that I was in a period where I listened to a lot of Via Luna and I think that influenced how the song ended up sounding.
CAN YOU SUM UP THE ALBUM IN A FEW WORDS?
I would sum up “Try” as chill, complicated good times.
WHAT RECORD CHANGED YOUR LIFE AND WHY?
Definitely “Disappointment Island” by TTNG. I remember hearing that album and it changed my whole perception of what music could be. Just to hear every member use their instruments in ways I had never heard or seen before was really eye opening for me.
DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE MUSIC VIDEO FILMED BY YOUR BAND OR ANOTHER ARTIST?
The video I like the most from Comprehending is the music video for “Seasons”. Mostly because it was really fun to record it, and because I was the one who directed it. I really enjoyed creating something by gathering a bunch of friends and just act silly in front of a camera for a few hours.
WHAT WOULD WE FIND YOU DOING WHEN YOU'RE NOT MAKING MUSIC?
Probably working, sleeping or hanging out with my girlfriend. I am a member of another band called Scent of Surface as well, so sometimes I also record, gig or just hang out with them! I do have a really strong interest in nature as well, so I try to go outside and enjoy nature as often as I can. That is also a really big source of inspiration for Comprehending.
DO YOU GET NERVOUS PERFORMING LIVE, IF SO HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH THAT?
Yeah, man. I get really nervous. Especially when performing with Comprehending. Being mainly a guitarist I haven’t had that much experience with talking in front of people, so that’s the thing I find hardest, but I’m getting there! Every gig I become more and more comfortable. I prepare a lot before every gig and I think that is my main way of dealing with it. The more prepared you are the less things you have to worry about.
HOW DID YOU FORM THE BAND?
It wasn’t really me who made it into a project. When I wrote my first song “Spring” I wanted a good recording of it just for myself, so I contacted my friend Richard Stöök who helped me record and mix the song. After that he told me that I should make it an actual project and to start releasing my music. Richard has mixed all of my music since.
HOW DO YOU WRITE? - DO YOU HAVE A KEY SONGWRITER, OR DO YOU ALL WORK TOGEHTER?
I write everything for Comprehending myself. When it comes to drums, I write demo drums. If I’m happy with them I keep them, but otherwise I contact a real drummer to record and spice up the drum parts for me. For “Try” for example I had James Clark from the band Florid and Sorry record the drums.
WHAT INSPIRES YOU?
Nature, different bands and challenges I set for myself. It’s hard to tell sometimes though. At times stuff seem to appear out of thin air. I also get inspired by other smaller bands and artist who doesn’t have that big of a following, like myself, but who keeps on going because they really love music!
WHAT IS NEXT?
I have some song ideas brewing and hope to record some of them in 2023. I also plan on playing some more live shows this year, hopefully starting this fall.
PLEASE TELL US ANY SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS SO WE CAN SHARE.
For day to day stuff you can follow me on Instagram and Facebook and if you’re interested in supporting my band by buying my music or merch you can go to Bandcamp.
Social media:
https://instagram.com/comprehendingband
https://facebook.com/comprehendingband https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHXGMMDGF9FSeVADaSPdXkg
Music and merch:
https://comprehending.bandcamp.com
https://open.spotify.com/artist/0N8dP4ED11pNvFsnZVC9MV?si=aPDWG63aRMyHlGq4a_UOMw
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