10 Quick Ones with Krummi Björgvinsson of Legend – September 2017

According to a recent press release: “Icelandic band LEGEND will release their sophomore album Midnight Champion on October 13, 2017 via Artoffact Records! Pre-orders are available now at iTunes, where you get the track “Captive” and “Frostbite” as an instant grat song, and Bandcamp.” We get Krummi to answer our 10 Quick Ones about new music, his influences, and more…

1. Tell us a little about your latest release.  What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through?  Are there any hidden nuggets the band put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

This will be our second full length album bearing the title Midnight Champion. Progressing more into post metal territory I see this is a transitional record in our sound. Dramatic journey into moody songs with buzz saw 7 string guitars, downtuned 5 string bass and hammering live drums. The synths and programmed drums tie it all together serving as a blanket of different sound dimensions. Each song has a cathartic story to tell and are all over 5 minutes long. We want the listener to be overwhelmed. The sound scapes on the album will never stop giving the listener a different musical exterior each time. The lyrics are subjective but also a narrative of fiction and verity. The vocals have a lot of homophonic textures and depth. From introspective singing to external primal screams. Consonance and dissonance in almost perfect harmony. Quintessential for the diehard LEGEND fan. It will be available as a double vinyl pressed on special cream colour (black also available), digipak and a special edition cassette.

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

Music and art surrounded me when I was growing up. My dad and my sister are both musicians so there were always instruments laying around the house and vinyl records so I would mess with the guitar, bass, piano and then play some records. I remember loving this little drum machine Korg Rhythm 55. Used to sit for hours messing around with it. Sometimes my dad would connect a microphone to his stereo amplifier and put headphones on my head and I would sing and howl in it until everybody had enough of my hollering. By then I think it was already a sub conscience decision that I would end up in music. I remember when I was a toddler my mom playing her favourite music while cleaning the house so it was a lot of soul and doo wop and a lot of 60´s hippie era music like Crosby, Stills & Nash, Dylan, The Band and Joni Mitchell. My dad got me hooked on Elvis from a very early age and The Beatles and Rolling Stones too. I guess you could say I grew up in a Beatles family. Listening to The Beatles was really what got me seriously into music but when I discovered punk rock and metal it opened up a whole new universe. I started playing drums in punk bands with my best friends and to be honest I haven´t looked back since.

3. Who would be your main five musical influences?

I can´t narrow it down to only five. Sorry! The Washington DC hard-core punk and indie scene. Most of the stuff from Dischord records and the Seattle rock scene in the 90´s. Sub Pop etc. The music that AMREP records released in the 90´s. English punk invasion. I adore the Stooges, Sonic Youth, The Cure, The Melvins, Mark Kozelek, Jane´s Addiction, The Replacements, R.E.M, SWANS, Godflesh and The Smiths. Classic stuff like The Beatles, Stones, Dylan, Bowie, Hendrix, Sabbath, Zeppelin, Neil Young and The Everly Brothers. The Ministry live home video In Case You Didn´t Feel Like Showing Up had a huge effect on me as a kid. A lot of 60´s and 70´s prog rock. Metal music (doom, sludge, black, thrash and classic). 80´s pop music. Let´s not forget Public Enemy, Aphex Twin and Vangelis.  I could go on forever… but I’m not going to 😉

4. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be?

I would love to collaborate with Joakim Tháström from Sweden or maybe Michael Stipe.

5. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before?

Dramatic!

6. What’s the best thing about being a musician?

The place you go to in your mind when you´re writing and playing music. Working on your craft. Also being a musician gives you a persistent attitude. It comes in handy sometimes.

7. When the band are all hanging out together, who cooks; who gets the drinks in; and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

We´re not that kind of band but we do hang out of course. Well, when we can at least. I do cook and play guitar though. I have a hard time picturing us playing an acoustic guitar backstage singing “Kumbaya.”

8. If you weren’t a musician, what would be your dream job?

Streetcleaner 😉

9. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over”?

No not really. Your missteps in life do not define who you are but it does give you experience and that´s a crucial factor in developing your character.

10. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

Captain Beefheart´s Trout Mask Replica. It must have been really bonkers and scary being held there as a prisoner somewhat but at the same time witnessing a genius sculpting it´s masterpiece.

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Category: Interviews