Axel Flóvent in Otwarta Pracownia Jazdów [interview]

Axel Flóvent, a talented artist from Iceland, has recently performed in Open Studio Jazdów. His magical concert was one of the secret shows that are happening every two weeks in the hidden district of Finnish wooden cabins, in the center of Warsaw.

Natalia: First, I need to ask you, because I’ve never had a chance to speak with an artist from Iceland. Could you tell me a little bit about music over there? How does it look from your perspective? Is the type of music you do, popular, or there’s a big competition?

Axel: There’s definitely not a competition and I don’t think a lot of Icelandic artists feel that way, even if they are in the similar genre. It’s usually more about collaborating and finding a way to do it together rather than competing. Also, I wouldn’t say there are a lot of musicians doing the music that I’m doing and it’s not really popular in Iceland. 

The new single from Axel Flóvent

Natalia: Do you see it as an advantage, or disadvantage?

Axel: I think generally in Iceland, there’s not a lot of opportunities for artists which can be a problem for the ones that don’t have bone in their nose to do everything themselves and have to depend on the Icelandic music industry. 

N: Why?

A: The Icelandic music industry is very specific. I think, if you don’t tick all the boxes, it’s really hard to do things over there. There are kind of rules that you have to sing in Icelandic to be taken seriously by the industry. But I’ve never depended on it, so I’m looking at it from another perspective right now.

N: Really?

A: Yeah, it’s really like: „Oh, you’re singing in English, that’s great,” People will pay attention for one second, but then they don’t stay with you very long. There’s always this feeling: „you’re looking somewhere else anyway, so I’m not going to give you attention because you’re not trying to speak to me as an Icelander.” - at least this is my observation.

fot. Paweł Wołoch

Axel Flóvent: I’m always on my own

N: Do you think they are somehow pressing musicians to cultivate the culture of Iceland and preserve the language?

A: Yeah, but maybe not pressing. I would say they’re trying to support the people who are maintaining the language. But it’s very hidden though - it’s not very obvious. If I hadn’t been getting opportunities that I’m getting, I might have belonged to the group a little bit more. But because I’m getting those opportunities somewhere else, they don’t even bother me in terms of belonging to the community, which is always a funny thing, because obviously I’m not part of any other community out there either. 

I’m always on my own playing what I want and this is kind of a way that I chose to go. I am not very complicated if it comes to my creation, however, I do not make it easy for people to put me in the box. On purpose, I create my art in a way to avoid fitting into one, specific place. 

N: So it seems like you know what you want to do.

A: Yeah, definitely, but it doesn’t always fit the perception of how others wanna perceive me, or my music. When they ask me:„What kind of music do you do?”, it’s always a very hard question to answer. 

fot. Paweł Wołoch

The success came suddenly and unexpected

N: You seem to be very independent, and you say you do not belong to the community.  How did it all start then? How did you succeed?

A: Well, yeah… I didn’t do all of that by myself (laugh). In the beginning I definitely did a lot of things on my own. I was for a very long time recording and putting stuff out on SoundCloud. Then, a manager from Reykjavik contacted me, wanted to meet me, and I went to see him. He was repeating that he believed in me, he had a lot of contacts, and then yeah, he helped me to fund the recording of my first EP.

N: And it turned out to be a success…

A: Yeah, immediately. I wasn’t expecting that at all. But it was a part of this feeling that finally something is going to happen. I was 18 at that time, so it’s not like I was waiting for this to happen, but still I was putting things on SoundCloud for 2 years, kinda hoping that something would happen.

N: I listened to your songs, and I see that it’s not the type of music you listen to on the radio. Were you afraid at some point that all of that it’s not gonna work, and people will not listen?

A: I think I didn’t have a chance to be afraid, because I got attention right after my first EP. Even though my first EP is still the most popular release, my inner goal for 10 years is to outperform that (laugh).

N: It seems like a lot of pressure…

A: Yeah, but it is also a driver. It’s exciting as well. But yeah, I always try to reshape myself as an artist and people’s eyes are sort of my own eyes, so it’s like trying to always discover something new - not to get stuck in one place.

The new album from Alex Flóvent

N: Can we say then that the new album that’s coming out in June will be a new you?

A: I released four songs that kind of indicate the sound of it. It’s definitely more uplifting and more pop than I ever did before because I had something in my system that really needed to come out for that record.

N: Your first EP was called „Forest Fires”, then your album was called „You Stay by the sea”. Is nature a thing that gives you inspiration?

fot. Paweł Wołoch

A: Yes, it is very easy for me to use in the lyrics nature as an emotional painting. For example, the concept of the sea was painted all over my first album because the story was about me moving to Amsterdam, UK, and then back to Iceland.

N: It sounds like it’s really important to you.

A: Yes, and also in my drawings, I am drawing trees..

N: Can we see some of your art?

A: No, no (laugh)… I mean, I share it a lot on my IG though.

N: Okay, so, we need to follow you on IG then! (laugh)

A: Yeah…

Axel Flóvent in Otwarta Pracownia Jazdów

N: My last question is about you being today in the Open Studio Jazdow. What will we see? Do you like to connect with the audience, or is it more you inviting us through the music to your world, and it all happens naturally.

A: It really depends on the room, and how I read the audience. I have shows where I’m more in my zone, but if it feels like the audience is interested in what I want to say, I usually pick up on that really quickly and I feel I can open up a bit. Tell me about my songs, my stories. Especially in an environment like this, which is very open. It feels like you’re playing more for 40 friends rather than playing a concert. 

N: It gives you a feeling that you are in the living room with friends.

A: Exactly, then it’s kind of weird to not say anything (laugh). 

N: I hope our audience will welcome you in the best way and you will enjoy playing in Open Studio. Thank you Axel.

A: Thank you.