March 2, 2007
Sondre Lerche

C = Cath, S = Sondre

C: What’s the most satisfying aspect of being a musician?
S: For me, it’s just being able to live on doing what I love. I’m doing something that, when I was 8, 9, & 10 years old, was my main interest, in the same way that others played football or soccer or stuff like that. For me to be able to make a living from doing this is really absurd. And, of course, more than you could ever hope for. It’s very exciting.
C: What’s the most difficult aspect?
S: It’s difficult to write good music. You have to take your time and you have to always remember what this occupation actually is - writing songs. For me, it’s writing songs, performing songs, and in between that, recording them so that people can take the music home. You have to really remember that. As much as I appreciate doing interviews and talking to people who are interested in my music and writing about that, my job is actually to create music. That takes time sometimes. A lot of the time it doesn’t happen when you want it to happen, and you get impatient. I don’t have any ‘monthly’ salary, so sometimes you make a lot of money, and then all of the sudden you don’t make that much money. That’s the price you both pay and gain from being a recording artist in the world today.

C: When you started playing music, did you set out with any particular goals? Do you feel you have accomplished them at this time?
S: I didn’t even dare to dream about being allowed to make a record or anything like that. I was very happy to meet really creative and generous people when I was as young as 14 & 15 years old. These people produced and play on my first two records. The musicians I met still play in my band, The Faces Down. I guess around then I really started hoping and dreaming that we could maybe make a record - that becomes the goal. Then when the record comes out, you’re sort of surprised that people are actually listening to what you sing and are taking it into consideration. Some people really enjoy it, and that’s just amazing.

C: Speaking of your band, they’re called “The Faces Down”. Did they just get that name from your first album's title, or is there more significance to it?
S: We had some trouble finding a proper name for them. I didn’t want it to just be “The Sondre Lerche Band” – I wanted them to have their own name. We were touring the songs from Faces Down - they play on that record and were very instrumental in the making of that record, as well as the other records I’ve made. We thought we’d make it a tribute to our first collaboration.

C: If you could choose any animal to be your mascot, what would it be and why?
S: A real live animal?
C: I guess it could be a make believe one if you want.
S: I’d perhaps choose a locust or something.
C: Why?
S: I really liked locusts when I grew up. I actually had two huge Californian locusts in my bedroom. They both ran away and I found them dead up in the attic.

C: Your new album was just released earlier this year. This was your first record recorded in the States, right?
S: Yeah, that’s right.
C: How did recording here differ from recording in Norway?
S: The studio is a lot bigger and there are more assistants. Everybody has assistants and runners - somebody can run out and get you a hamburger in 10 minutes if you want. They can even probably flush the toilet if you want someone to do that. It’s definitely more professional. It was different for us because when we’re at home recording, everybody sleeps in their own bed with their families and kids and whatnot. But here we were on a mission - the only thing we had to do was record an album. We just recorded, slept, and went out every once in awhile. It was a very focused process, which is what I wanted. I wanted us to be isolated from our familiar surroundings and to be somewhere where we were ready to play and record anytime.

C: What was it like working with Tony Hoffer on the album?
S: That was really cool. He did really great things for the record. I wanted to work with someone who really wanted to work with me – someone who didn’t just look at it as a job. Tony had shown interest in me already, right after Faces Down, and had been in touch with us when I was recording Two Way Monologue. I had always kept that in mind and I was really flattered by that because he’s produced a lot of records that I really like. When I wanted to make this record and go somewhere else, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to work with Tony. I played him demos and really made sure that he understood what kind of record we wanted to make this time, and whether he was into that. Or, maybe if he wanted to make another record, then we could get together some other time. But he was really game, he wanted to do it. I’m really glad that he came on board and helped us out. He made it sound great.

C: Your first two albums were very poppy. Duper Sessions was very jazzy. Phantom Punch is very quirky and eccentric. What direction do you think you will you go in for future records?
S: I don’t know! I definitely want to hang on to some of the restless and physical energy of Phantom Punch for a future recording, but right now I’m not sure what it would entail at all. I really want this record to be a record that I can go out and play for the rest of the year. People are interested in it. I’ll play these songs for the rest of the year before there will be a new record.

C: In your opinion, what's the most important song you've ever written?
S: That’s difficult to say, but I think “You Know So Well” was a very important song, and one of my favorite songs that I’ve written. That one will always be very special. I remember when I wrote that song.

C: Can you tell me a little about the Dondre Vaular myspace? Is that your personal myspace or a side project, and will the songs on there ever be released on CD?
S: Well, some of them actually have been released on EPs in Europe or stuff like that. Some of them have been released, but not on albums or anything. It’s basically just a secret. My label runs the Sondre Lerche myspace, and I thought for people who have a special interest in what I do, I’d like to make a site that you will only find if you are very interested. It’s just to have another output for some of my home recordings and live recordings - more rare stuff.

C: Do you prefer recording our touring more? Why?
S: Right now I really can’t wait to go tour. There has been a lot of recording lately, and when you have a new record you want to go out and play it. These two last records have both been about gathering some musicians in a room and recording what you come up with. I really hope that there will be a lot of touring now, but at the end of that, I’ll be very eager to go back into the studio with new songs. It’s impossible to choose one before the other.

C: You've toured in a wide variety of countries. How do the shows you play in the States differ from the shows you play everywhere else?
S: I don’t think it’s that different actually. I think the differences are more from one night to the other. When you’re on tour, every night feels really different. I think people here in the States are very enthusiastic and they take the music very seriously, which is fantastic. At the same time, they dare to sing along. Sometimes the European audience is more shy when it comes to singing along. But that’s cool – I like when people sing along.

C: What kind of show should your fans expect for your upcoming North American tour?
S: They will be very energetic and dynamic shows. We’ll play songs from all of my records and we’ll play some numbers that only the most dedicated fans will recognize. We’ll probably play all of the Phantom Punch record, and mix it up with some of the other songs. I feel really good about touring now because I have 4 records to choose songs from. We can make the night more dynamic than we could before. I can’t wait.

C: If you could trade places with anyone for a day, who would it be and why?
S: Would they take my place?
C: Yeah, I guess.
S: Well, I’d like to be Elvis Presley for a day. Can it be not living?
C: Sure.
S: I’d like to be Elvis for a day. That would be very exciting. Like, Elvis in the 70’s - his last comeback. That would be very exciting and depressing and confusing.

C: If you weren't playing music, what do you think you'd be doing instead?
S: Perhaps I would be writing. I would like to maybe work with film, or maybe work with music and film. Maybe I’d be a music supervisor in Hollywood or something.

C: If you were stranded on a deserted island and could only bring 3 things with you, what would they be and why?
S: Oh wow. I guess I would bring an iPod, and I would bring a guitar. For the last item, I’d bring a small tape recorder so that I could tape all of my ideas.

C: Ok, well that was my last question. Any closing statements?
S: No. I can’t wait to tour and meet everybody. I’m very excited, especially to be bringing the legendary Faces Down stateside. That will be fun.