Doom dealers Norska brought the heavy with last year’s self-titled album. Ghost Cult Writer Matt Hinch awakened guitarist/vocalist Jim Lowder from the hibernation induced by the frigid American North West winter to dig deep within the band’s history, influences and the writing process..
I understand you formed in 2004 but the album only came out last year. Were there obstacles preventing an earlier release?
In 2004 we formed with a different line up. We recorded a few songs to pass around at shows, but it never saw a formal release. We later recorded a full-length which we made available for download, by dubbing cassettes, and burning CDs, but it wasn’t really “released”, either. Our time as a band had been very intermittent in those days. Once Jason [Oswald] (our current drummer) came into the fold, we were able to get busy growing into what we are now. Our current release was self-released in 2011 and later (2012) picked up for a vinyl release from Brutal Panda Records. We still occasionally indulge in prolonged absences from working on material and playing shows, but our drive is to continue writing and performing.
The album cover is…. interesting. Can you tell us what is going on there?
The cover art was done by a fellow named Tim Wenzel, a friend of Aaron’s [Rieseberg]. The work is based on a painting titled “Our Daily Bread”, which we’d seen here and there growing up, and I think it’s a great fit for that release. We had a hard time narrowing the possibilities. When Aaron showed us Tim’s work we jumped at it.
Your songs can be quite varied within themselves. Is the song writing process very collaborative?
It is. The Rieseberg brothers [Dustin and Aaron] often bring a backbone to a piece, which is often a sort of sketch of what a song is to be, then we begin arranging and reworking until it feels right. That’s a process that is difficult to describe. When it’s right, it’s right. I’ll play with the vocals throughout the process, and settle when I feel like I’m doing something that holds up to its energy, something that meets its standard. The piece will change and progress with time. We can hold to the structure of it, but a recorded song will grow into something with a bit more energy and emotion when played live.
How important is the tone of the instruments on the album? Is it something you spent a lot of time developing?
Tone is an ever-changing and growing entity in this band. We are constantly chasing the tone-dragon. For us, the tones on this record speak for the time which it was recorded. I think we spent a couple of days here and got everything right.
Do you find it difficult to manage everyday life, practice and still find time for inspiration?
I find inspiration in everything, from the worst of things to the best. For all of us within the band, everyday life has a crucial musical component. It’s a vital part of who we are and how we function. We’re all very grateful and humbled to be able to do what we do, so there’s a lot of inspiration to be found in that in and of itself. For me, our music demands that I pour myself into it. I like to be in a place where the songs play me, if that makes sense.
Do you feel like the environment or the climate in the NorthWest had any influence on Norska’s sound?
I certainly do. I spend as much time in the woods here as I can. It’s a passion of mine. I live in the WillametteValley. We have the Cascade Mountains to our east, over which is the high desert, and the CoastRange to our west. It’s a dream come true for the outdoor type. We see very defined seasons here, all of which offer unending opportunities to take in the best of what this region has to offer. Every time of the year is the best time to be out there, from the sort of slow darkness of cold winter days, to the high-energy of our short (but very nice) summers, I find a very old and powerful energy out there. I can’t recall a time when I wasn’t influenced by it. I think all of us in the band feel that sort of connection to this landscape in our own ways.
What’s the scene like in Portland? Is there much to feed on or other like-minded bands to push you?
Portland is a force of support. Any night of the week you can see a good rock show. The bands that we play with are made up of some of the kindest, most supportive folks one could wish to know. Those who come out to support the bands are a receptive and energetic crowd. We are incredibly fortunate in this place and time.
If a fan were to look for the bands that influenced you, which direction would you point them?
Between the four of us we could compile a massive list that would only serve to bore your readers. The short answer is—just about everything rock, jazz, prog, metal, and punk. Since I’m answering the question, I can tell you what I’m listening to lately, which would be a lot of Leo Kottke, early AC/DC, Queen, ZZ Top, Black Flag, Flower Travellin’ Band, Thin Lizzy, Floor, and Miles Davis… to name a few.
Having survived the Mayan apocalypse, what are your plans for 2013?
We’re working on a new record and playing a few shows here and there lately. We’ll release the thing when it’s done and tour to support it. We recorded a track for Eolian Empire’s ‘Keep Our Heads’ compilation (out in May), which consists of 25 other Portland bands, some of which I’m a rabid fan of. It’s certainly worth checking out. We have a few other things cooking, but I suppose the thing to do would be to stay tuned, and we’ll try to make a big deal out of stuff when it happens so folks can hear about it.
Matt Hinch