Halfway through his track-by-track breakdown of Crush—the fifth installment in Varg's Nordic Flora series—the producer/Northern Electronics co-founder writes, "Crying is cardio." Instagram antics aside (and what's wrong with a sense of humor, really?), he's not kidding; the heart of this record is heavy. Here's how he sees it....
Varg Shares the Stories Behind His New Posh Isolation LP ‘Crush’
The fifth installment in his 'Nordic Flora' series
Photo by Melina Åkerman Kvie
"MUSIC FOR BREAKUPS"
I got this love poem sent as a voice memo from Morning Star. It felt on point for this record, so I made some quick granular loops on my iPad and here we are—CRUSH.
"RUSH / TINDER"
A lot of the music on this album is made completely on iPad. This one I made on a train going from Helsinki to St. Petersburg.
"VANITY LIGHTS (FIRST CRUSH)"
A wild mixture of YouTube videos, analog rhythms, and Ecco2K's choirs/poems. Also some nice gun cocks from an iPhone application.
"(+46) PLACING MY IPHONE X FACING UP TO SEE WHEN U ANSWER MY TEXTS"
This one was made on my iPhone during a trip from Tbilisi to Stockholm. A love song about that endless moment when you wait for your lover to answer your text. Later arranged on my computer while watching a show about antique furniture with my parents.
"STONEWALL POEM"
A poem AnnaMelina sent me on SMS, late at night. I got addicted to listening to it in my phone and started using it in my live sets right away. I got so obsessed that I had to release it.
"U CONTROL THE OCEAN (SECOND CRUSH)"
One of the few tracks I'm actually impressed that I pulled off. It sounds like me but better—much better. I don’t know what kind of power overcame me that all of a sudden made me good at mixing instruments.. I wish I could change some stuff in it, but of course I deleted the project. At the same time, I wish I could make something that sounds this HD ever again LOL (semi-pro music). There is a secret version of this track with vocals by AnnaMelina; it's even better. Haha. Maybe I'll put that one out too.
"OND_F.T.P."
Made on my iPhone in a hotel lobby in Taipei. Dedicated to the Copenhagen graffiti squad ”O.N.D”, FTP!!
I got this love poem sent as a voice memo from Morning Star. It felt on point for this record, so I made some quick granular loops on my iPad and here we are—CRUSH.
"RUSH / TINDER"
A lot of the music on this album is made completely on iPad. This one I made on a train going from Helsinki to St. Petersburg.
"VANITY LIGHTS (FIRST CRUSH)"
A wild mixture of YouTube videos, analog rhythms, and Ecco2K's choirs/poems. Also some nice gun cocks from an iPhone application.
"(+46) PLACING MY IPHONE X FACING UP TO SEE WHEN U ANSWER MY TEXTS"
This one was made on my iPhone during a trip from Tbilisi to Stockholm. A love song about that endless moment when you wait for your lover to answer your text. Later arranged on my computer while watching a show about antique furniture with my parents.
"STONEWALL POEM"
A poem AnnaMelina sent me on SMS, late at night. I got addicted to listening to it in my phone and started using it in my live sets right away. I got so obsessed that I had to release it.
"U CONTROL THE OCEAN (SECOND CRUSH)"
One of the few tracks I'm actually impressed that I pulled off. It sounds like me but better—much better. I don’t know what kind of power overcame me that all of a sudden made me good at mixing instruments.. I wish I could change some stuff in it, but of course I deleted the project. At the same time, I wish I could make something that sounds this HD ever again LOL (semi-pro music). There is a secret version of this track with vocals by AnnaMelina; it's even better. Haha. Maybe I'll put that one out too.
"OND_F.T.P."
Made on my iPhone in a hotel lobby in Taipei. Dedicated to the Copenhagen graffiti squad ”O.N.D”, FTP!!
Photo by Melina Åkerman Kvie
"LOVE ECONOMY / ANTI POLICE MUSIC"
Love or hate, I don’t know…. It's meant to be a soundtrack for riots, looting, reclaiming your city, but also music for holding your partner when it rains outside. Recorded at Mayhem in Copenhagen with instruments.
"ARCHIVE 1 - SPIT SUGAR FREE RED BULL IN MY MOUTH"
A jazz track with a made-up band and Chloe Wise on vocals. Made for self-reflection, this is my mirror; this is your mirror…. Sit back, relax, chain smoke.
"BLUE LINE 2 (112 FRIDHEMSPLAN)"
Recorded around the same period as when Christian Stadsgaard and I wrote the music for our Rave album as The Empire Line. This track was too soft and Varg-sounding. The same night Melina came by the studio and we passed her the microphone; she improvised the vocals on the spot in two takes. One for mains and one for choirs. This is one of my favorites.
"RUSH / WICKR"
For all the sweaty bodies exchanging fluids as if it was currency on the dance floor. Sounds best on a huge system at 115dB in the morning hours.
"ARCHIVE 2 - DM EXCERPTS BETWEEN @SKAELIPTOM & @CHLOEWISE_"
A piano sample from Matti Bye, and Chloe reading a outtake from our DM conversation on Instagram and some stuff I told her over breakfast in O.C. 2016. This is a track made in tribute to my old IG account that got deleted. A reminiscing track, now we are @skaeliptom2.
"FINAL CRUSH (FOR 940524)"
My attempt at writing EDM music. An iPad for all synths and Eurorack modules for the percussion. Dedicated to 940524, while is also a tribute to Tim "Avicii" Bergling in some way. Rest in peace. This flower grows forever.
'Crush' is now available in double LP and digital editions through Loke Rahbek and Christian Stadsgaard's Posh Isolation imprint.
Love or hate, I don’t know…. It's meant to be a soundtrack for riots, looting, reclaiming your city, but also music for holding your partner when it rains outside. Recorded at Mayhem in Copenhagen with instruments.
"ARCHIVE 1 - SPIT SUGAR FREE RED BULL IN MY MOUTH"
A jazz track with a made-up band and Chloe Wise on vocals. Made for self-reflection, this is my mirror; this is your mirror…. Sit back, relax, chain smoke.
"BLUE LINE 2 (112 FRIDHEMSPLAN)"
Recorded around the same period as when Christian Stadsgaard and I wrote the music for our Rave album as The Empire Line. This track was too soft and Varg-sounding. The same night Melina came by the studio and we passed her the microphone; she improvised the vocals on the spot in two takes. One for mains and one for choirs. This is one of my favorites.
"RUSH / WICKR"
For all the sweaty bodies exchanging fluids as if it was currency on the dance floor. Sounds best on a huge system at 115dB in the morning hours.
"ARCHIVE 2 - DM EXCERPTS BETWEEN @SKAELIPTOM & @CHLOEWISE_"
A piano sample from Matti Bye, and Chloe reading a outtake from our DM conversation on Instagram and some stuff I told her over breakfast in O.C. 2016. This is a track made in tribute to my old IG account that got deleted. A reminiscing track, now we are @skaeliptom2.
"FINAL CRUSH (FOR 940524)"
My attempt at writing EDM music. An iPad for all synths and Eurorack modules for the percussion. Dedicated to 940524, while is also a tribute to Tim "Avicii" Bergling in some way. Rest in peace. This flower grows forever.
'Crush' is now available in double LP and digital editions through Loke Rahbek and Christian Stadsgaard's Posh Isolation imprint.
