IT'S A TRAP! Scandinavian Music Journal

Interview: Henric de la Cour

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 10:00:00 -0700

From his start with cult favorite mid-90s indie/goth act Yvonne through his time with the bigger, brassier Strip Music, Henric de la Cour has long been a compelling fixture in the Swedish music, both for his distinctive voice and physical presence. Now, after 17 years in music, Mr. de la Cour is back as a solo artist with his self-titled debut album on the way via Progress Productions (due out October 19). It's a Trap! seized the opportunity to learn more about how he got to where he is today.

Why go solo? What made you decide to go it alone as opposed to starting a new band?

I've always thought that being in a band is much cooler than being a solo act. But after having been in two six-piece bands, who made four and two records respectively, it was time to do something less complicated, just me and my producer in our own studio, just recording music. No politics. Just good fun and good music. But sure, I can miss being in a band, especially the first couple of months, it's like being in love.

You've long been associated with making music that doesn't shy away from grand gestures, yet your solo album finds you paring the instrumentation down more than ever before. Was that a conscious decision? What led you away from guitars?

With Strip Music our motto was "more is more". We never held anything back, the bigger sounds the better we thought. This time I wanted to make something more bare, more electronic, but still dark as fucking midnight. I gave the guitars a smaller part to play this time mostly because neither me and Rikard (Rikard Lindh, also ex-Yvonne), who produced, can really play that well. But there is of course some guitars on the album.

The various live videos I've seen on YouTube show you and your band adopting an almost-black metal look with corpse paint makeup -- what made you decide to go that route? How important of a role does the theatrical/visual element play in your musical vision?

I think that the visual element is very important, especially when it comes to more electronic music performed live. When it came to the make-up I thought that "yeah, maybe this could look cool with the right light setting" and just went for it. I borrowed ideas from the black metal scene and sad clowns. Looks better on photos as well. The live concept I am aiming for is of course KISS Love Gun Tour of '77.

There appears to be a bit of a recent resurgence in goth and other dark music these days and it even seems to be creeping a bit into the mainstream. Would you agree?

I don't really care. I don't listen to music that way.

So how do you listen to music then? Do you keep up with new releases at all? Any recent favorites that may surprise us?

I'm terrible at finding new music, it is always by chance I run into something I like, perhaps a friend shows me something new, or that I happen to be in a record shop and the staff put something on. I'm just not that interested in the hunt for new music, or old music for that matter. But WU LIF's "Go tell fire to the mountain" floored me. Other recent stuff I've liked is I Break Horses debut album and Agent Side Grinder, both Swedish acts.

Lastly, what does Henric de la Cour do for fun these days?

Getting lost in the annals of horror.

Progress signs Henric de la Cour

Mon, 16 May 2011 14:05:06 -0700

Progress Productions has officially signed ex-Strip Music/Yvonne frontman Henric de la Cour and will be releasing his debut solo this coming September. Looking forward to it!

Henric de la Cour - Dogs

Mon, 28 Feb 2011 17:19:42 -0800

Not an official video, but still cool to hear something new from Henric de la Cour (ex-Yvonne, Strip Music).

Henric de la Cour doc in the works

Tue, 08 Jun 2010 16:26:31 -0700

PSL reports that Jacob Frössén (one half of the duo Skriet) is working on a documentary about Henric de la Cour from Yvonne/Strip Music: http://blogg.svt.se/psl/2010/06/08/extra-extra-jacob-frossen-gor-dokumentarfilm-om-henric-de-la-cour/

MyFriends: Saturnalia Temple, Count Raven, Magnus Pelander, First Love, Last Rites, Underacheiver

Thu, 01 Apr 2010 19:38:33 -0700

If this is the future of music, then stick a fork in me. I'm content with being old and boring and listening to boring old music made by other old boring people.

Saturnalia Temple

SOUNDS LIKE: There's so many killer reissues coming out nowadays it's almost not worth bothering with modern music. Yet, still I do because there's bands like this embracing old styles (in this case, kvlt doom) in fresh new ways.
HIGHLIGHT: Dreaming out of death, Babylon gnosis, Mount Meru is tall
LINK: http://www.myspace.com/saturnaliatemple

Count Raven

SOUNDS LIKE: Hell yeah, sounds like "No rest for the wicked"-era Ozzy without the Zakk Wylde flash, but all of the heaviness. The music of my youth remains the music I love best.
HIGHLIGHT: Poltergeist
LINK: http://www.myspace.com/countraventheband

Magnus Pelander

SOUNDS LIKE: You want old man rock'n'roll, you won't get much better than Witchcraft frontman Magnus Pelander playing solo. Stripped of his backing band's bombast, what's left is nothing but killer occult-minded folk.
HIGHLIGHTS: Every track is great; it's amazing this dude doesn't have a label yet
LINK: http://www.myspace.com/magnuspelander

First Love, Last Rites

SOUNDS LIKE: I'm not only into classic rock and metal, I can get down with some classic indie stylings too, 1990s style.
HIGHLIGHTS: Slow wind
LINK: http://www.myspace.com/fllr

Underacheiver

SOUNDS LIKE: Ex-members from Yvonne, Meanwhile and At the Gates doing heavy noiserock? You know I'm all about it. Big ups to Patrik Wirén for the tip.
HIGHLIGHTS: Solid the whole way through
LINK: http://www.myspace.com/underachieverofficial

Kite confirm new EP

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 15:39:29 -0700

Kite, the excellent Swedish synthpop duo featuring Nicklas Stenemo (Melody Club, The Mo) and Christian Berg (Strip Music, Yvonne), will release their sophomore EP "II" on October 16 via Progress Productions and once again, it will be available on both CD and vinyl. Details here: http://progress-productions.com/kite2/
You can also hear a couple new tracks at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/progressproduction

Kite s/t EP Lyckan/Progress Productions

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0800

Nicklas Stenemo's (The Mo, Melody Club) voice, an instrument that functions like a fuller, more masculine translation of Karin Dreijer's vocal style, elevates this fine record, one that would be perfectly capable of garnering strong reviews without Stenemo's captivating utterances, to something well beyond the run-of-the-mill renditions of 80s electronica. Christian Berg's (Yvonne, Strip Music) love of authentic 80s synth sounds combined with Stenemo's pop sensibility and voice converge so fluidly, bringing to mind acts like New Order, but it's merely a reference point. Opener "Ways to dance" is a distinctly Scandinavian electronic pop song: driving, punctuated by oscillating drum fills à la The Knife; "Say it ain't so" relaxes its hold on the throttle, settling into a layered, paced rhythm; and closer "Learn to like it", a mesmerizing, melancholic track, puts on display much of the aptitude demonstrated on the EP: the intricate levels of synths and voices, the pitch-perfect structure of the songs - never meandering, never going on too long, and merging the measured step of "Say it ain't so" with the unhurried, ethereal expanse that is "My girl and I", my personal favorite. Kite have been fine company on long, cold walks home through streets lined with dying leaves, while reading Ellis' "Less Than Zero", and during the final hour before heading out into the city; the fact that Kite can offer so much in four songs gives the thought of a future full length effort enough weight to push me through what looks to be a bitter winter. I just hope it's not too long a wait.

MP3: Kite - Ways to dance

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 11:57:48 -0700

I doubt the coldwave/industrial revival will ever go mainstream, but I'm enjoying that more and more bands are embracing dark analog synths. Kite is as close as we'll get to a crossover act though, if only because they've experienced some success before with former acts such as Yvonne and Melody Club. At the very least, it gives them a head-start over the competition. Whatever happens though, I'm just glad to hear this kind of music being kept alive and done well, especially with a stripped-down, minimalist approach. It's so easy to overdo it. Now I know "Ways to dance" isn't actually dismal enough to be considered coldwave (wait 'til tomorrow's track for that), but think of it as getting your toes wet. If you dig this (and you should - it's a fantastic pop song above everything else), perhaps you can go darker, more underground, or, at the very least, into the past. When Bruce Springsteen is covering Suicide, it's time you started paying attention.

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 16:56:02 -0700

Progress Productions have signed Swedish new-wave/electro duo Kite, the band of Christian Berg (Yvonne, Strip Music) and Nicklas Stenemo (The Mo, Melody Club). Look for a new EP soon.

MP3: Yvonne - Modern love

Fri, 23 May 2008 11:07:53 -0700

Two things! First, the reunion of Yvonne. I mentioned it in passing a few weeks ago and now the date (June 7 @ Debaser Medis in Stockholm) is just about upon us. Honestly, I'm much more familiar with their reputation than with their music, but I do know their big hit "Modern love" which is a great song. As for them being heralded as Eskilstuna's answer to Joy Division, well, you can hear a bit of the darkness that would become more prominent in post-Yvonne act Strip Music, but this particular track is 100% indie pop. Which leads me into point #2 - the comp I pulled this track from, "Svensk indie 1988-2006 - En kärleks historia", will finally be available in a brand new English-language edition. NONS has informed me that copies are now ready, so hopefully I'll be getting 'em really really soon. It should go without saying, but it's a great comp and I'm eager to pour over the copious liner notes in a language I can easily understand.

Mon, 12 May 2008 13:02:07 -0700

Steso Songs has signed with the label Lyckan and will be releasing her debut EP on May 23. Read more: http://www.lyckankommer.se/
As you will note from that link, Lyckan will also release a new EP from Kite featuring Christian Berg (Yvonne, Strip Music) and Nicklas Stenemo (The Mo, Melody Club) on the same date.

Thu, 08 May 2008 12:35:59 -0700

Swedish indie act Yvonne is back? Really? It looks they've been confirmed to play Send it the Clowns @ Debaser in Stockholm on June 7. Details: http://www.myspace.com/sendintheclownsstockholm

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0700

Listen to the new single "Besatt" from David Lindh's (ex-Yvonne/Broder Daniel) new band Svenska Kürkan: http://www.myspace.com/svenskakyrkan

Festival report: Arvika

Wed, 18 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0700

I just recently wrote a take on this year's Arvikafestival for another publication, in Swedish, and I reached the conclusion that what seemed like a great line-up at first glance ended up as something less interesting than I had anticipated. Why? Being a great fan of music, in all forms, and an equal fan of festivals in general, I have come to see a great deal of bands each year. This year being no exception. Especially Swedish and Scandinavian bands, since they tour just about anywhere. Unfortunately, this leads to the fact that it takes quite a lot to impress me these days. On this year's festival I went to the concerts of twelve Scandinavian bands. Only three of them where bands that I had never seen before. Most of the rest of those bands are bands I've been to recently, at least within the range of a year. But that doesn't necessarily have to be something bad, sure, I'm harder to impress, but I'm also able to compare different occasions with each other, and festivals tend to be something different from a regular gig at some club. Still, something more exclusive would absolutely be preferable. I'm growing quite tired of the likes of The Ark, Mando Diao, Timbuktu, Shout Out Louds and The Tough Alliance (you can't avoid them!).

But on with it, you have my two cents on the Swedish music climate, here's a take on some of the artists. Hellsongs was one of the bands I've never had the pleasure to make an acquaintance with. Transforming classic heavy metal songs into lounge music, what do you get? Lounge metal of course. And really, these songs show a completely new dimension when made into slow ballads. "Run to the Hills", "Seek and destroy", "Breaking the law", you know, the sing-along is great even in the ballad versions. Ballads turned into nifty pop songs with piano and loads of energy is the one of the specialities of Linda Carlsson, aka Miss Li. The woman is crazy, I tell you! Her rough vocals would make any man proud, still she manages to keep her femininity and sensuality intact. There's no way you can leave a Miss Li concert without at least a few dance steps. Along with Weeping Willows, those old geezers still know how to play a show, Linda Carlsson was the highlight of this festival.

You can't mention Strip Music without mentioning Henric de la Cour (Ex-Yvonne). The man may look like a wolf, but he knows how to work at stage. The music can best be described as emo-rock with lots of synthesizers. Perfect in the cold night of Arvika. Do you like leather boots, wearing a black mask and the taste of a whip by the way? Then you should have been at the Kristian Anttila ('cuz he did apparently) concert. How almost pubertal pop music can turn into Sado-BDSM, I'm not sure. The gig was ok, though the "Does anyone want to fuck with me tonight?"-part was a bit unnecessary. Some other people that I don't want to sleep with are the guys from In Flames. Chubby, long-haired men, constantly pissed-off and armed with dozens of brutal metal-wrecking riffs, na, not my kind really. But the show was something for the ears as well as the eyes. Bombs away! Pain, alias super genius Peter Tägtgren, also had the riffs, but only one bomb. He got the rain on the other hand. Too bad, I think most people who like In Flames would find Pain enjoyable as well. Most people decided to stay in their tents.

So, what about the no-so-good-bands? Vapnet, Mixtapes & Cellmates and Ida-Maria were all big disappointments. I really thought Vapnet would be more than a one-hit-wonder ("Kalla mig", anyone?), but sadly I was mistaken. Mixtapes & Cellmates on the other hand, have really good songs but they still have problems applying them to the live format. And Ida-Maria. I wouldn't say she did an all out bad gig, it was just not as incredibly fantastic as it was at Hultsfredsfestivalen. But you shouldn't focus too much on the bad things, all in all, I am still very satisfied with Arvika 2007.
- Christian Stenbacke

Tue, 11 Apr 2006 00:00:00 -0700

David Lindh (ex-Yvonne/Broder Daniel) has posted tracks from his forthcoming album "Chocolate and seafood" on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/davidlindh
It comes out May 3 via Razzia Records.

Wed, 22 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0800

David Lindh (ex-Yvonne, Broder Daniel) will release his second solo album "Chocolate & seafood" on May 3 via Razzia Records. Listen to a sample at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/davidlindh

Strip Music s/t Playground

Sun, 20 Mar 2005 00:00:00 -0800

Strip Music are a new Swedish synth pop band, who have risen out of the ashes of Yvonne. However, describing them as "pop" is a bit of a misnomer. Although Strip Music use the synth as a device to drop as many hooks as possible within each song, the overall sound of the band races along at a speed and urgency that is perhaps too epic to be merely described as pop music. Songs like album opener "2.75" have vocalist Henric delivering vocals with such intensity that they lay genuine claim to the Joy Division comparisons, creating a sound that is both melancholic and uplifting at the same time. Forming a new band with the synth as the core of your sound is a tricky and obvious thing to do in 2005, what with the recent successes of The Bravery and The Killers. However, somehow Strip Music have managed to carry this off successfully without sounding cheesy, whilst being able to retain a human element to their overall sound.

Thu, 22 Jan 2004 00:00:00 -0800

David Lindh of the Hail Marys and Yvonne has been confirmed as the new bassist for Broder Daniel. He made his onstage debut with the group at the recent Aftonbladet Rockbjörnen awards.