Indie-pop sensations Highasakite have taken Europe by storm. Not satisfied with just one chart topping album to their name, the band’s latest release, Camp Echo, has catapulted them back into the spotlight once again, claiming them the number one spot in their native Norway for the second time.
It’s a dark and assertive follow up to 2014’s Silent Treatment, an album that, despite being heavily fraught with shade, had the equal ability to embrace the sharp, concise art of the 3-minute pop song. Where does this latest release leave one of Norway’s brightest talents? And which new acts do they think we should keep our ears open for in 2016? One Stop Record Shop sat down to investigate with Highasakite’s Øystein Skar.
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● For those who haven’t heard (and sorely missed out on) your latest album, Camp Echo, how would you describe it sonically in comparison to 2014’s Silent Treatment?
Camp Echo is much darker, and definitely a lot more dancey. We only used electronic drums and programming on this album, whereas the last album used a lot of acoustic drums. It’s also very “up tempo” compared to the Silent Treatment album. This time we were inspired by all the stuff we listened to back in the 90s (Prodigy etc).
● Camp Echo, alongside being the title of your album, is also one of the seven solitary camps in the now infamous Guantanamo Bay. In what ways did this feel like a fitting title for the album?
Camp Echo is the name of the infamous detention camp, but also the name of a name for a lot of summer camps for kids in the US. And the ‘echo’ name is sort of musical. We liked the weird balance between the two.
● Lyrically, loneliness is a theme that appears heavily on this album, was this the headspace you were in whilst writing and recording the material?
This is a question for Ingrid, since she writes all the lyrics. She doesn’t usually like giving away too much information about the lyrics as it’s important that our fans and listeners make up their own minds and bring personal meaning to our music.
● If you had the chance to add an additional instrumentalist to the band’s lineup, what would be the instrument of choice and why?
Modular synths (because I’m a synth-nerd and there cannot be enough synths on stage!)
● Speaking of stages, you’re hot off an international tour with Monsters & Men; are you a band that revels in the adrenaline and loves to play live?
Touring with Monsters & Men was so great!! We toured with them four times I think, and we also went on a big US tour with the band London Grammar. Both bands are so sweet, and it was a great experience for us, especially playing all those super nice venues around Europe and the USA.
● The atmosphere at your recent sold out London Underground show was electric, have there been any live performances over the course of your career that particularly stand out for you for being crazy/eventful?
Thank you! The London Underground show was great! Playing at Roskilde was also really cool, and even if it was super muddy, it was great playing at Glastonbury Festival. We also had some really great experiences in Hong Kong, Tokyo and Taipei, that I have to mention.
● We love new music, what three acts would you recommend to look out for at the moment and why?
Andre Bratten (great Norwegian electronica artist), Odd Martin Skålnes (Norwegian singer/ songwriter) and Røyksopp (Norwegian electronica duo). Røyksopp has of course been around for a while, but I still want to recommend them if people haven’t checked them out yet!
● OK, time to cut to the gritty questions: most embarrassing moment as a band? (it’s fine, we’re all friends here)
When I said on live television in South America that I was responsible for the “tour diarrhea”… I meant tour diary!!!!!
● And your guilty pleasure tracks would be?
We actually have a lot guilty pleasure tracks! We dance to them in our nightliner bus when we are touring. Toto and Phil Collins are often amongst our favourites!
● Here at One Stop Record Shop we have a tradition of asking for 3 items that sum up a band (they can be as weird and wonderful as you want; from home comforts to obscure items you take everywhere). What would your 3 choices be and why?
1) Mobile Phones – because everybody is way too addicted to them. This is actually quite sad…
● Hey, we’re all guilty! We’re a generation of phone zombies…
2) Healthy organic food – because everybody tries really hard to be healthy on tour (though it doesn’t always work out this way).
3) Coffee (a LOT of early mornings)
● Finally, in a theoretical world, you have three legendary musicians standing in front of you. You have to pick one song from your back catalogue to collaborate with each on. Who would you pick and which track would you re-record?
Miles Davis – “Man On The Ferry”
Jimi Hendrix – “Since Last Wednesday”
Fever Ray – “I, The Hand Grenade”
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Well there you have it! Highasakite as you’ve never seen them before. Discover more by checking out their album Camp Echo on Spotify.
