"Ett" by Row Boat is one of my recent *secret* pleasures ... an album of intense beauty that I bought and kind of don't want to talk about because I worry I may spoil it somehow. I know it is silly but ... it makes sense to me too. I want to keep "Ett" pure ... untainted by the expression of my opinion.
Row Boat aka Mark Wardale is a recent friend ... he's connected to Apta ... and I am glad to have made his acquaintance.
As is my want ... I asked him my wee interview ... this is what he had to say:
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1) Who are you and what do you do?
I am Mark Wardale and I'm a songwriter, composer, producer and also go under the pseudonym of Ambient/Post-Rock artist 'Row Boat'.
2) What are you working on at the moment?
Currently I've just started to write a new EP to follow up the recent release of my album 'Ett'. It's going to be a more ambient style EP as I'm looking at a Winter release (for me that's when my ambient side comes out!)
3) Who inspires you?
I can't deny that my biggest inspiration to date is Sigur Ros. The way the these guys create sounds and atmospheres from literally nothing is incredible. You almost feel like your say next to them watching and feeling every note being played. Although some of the most inspiring work for me is Frakkur AKA jonsi from a few years back. My music is I would say 50% inspired geographically. I was interested in Scandinavia since about 16 when I started learning Norwegian. I don't know why, but I felt drawn to it. The landscape, the food, the people and of corse the music. There was something very liberal about Scandinavia and there is alot of respect in being creative. I'm also inspired by my family. My wife is of Swedish decent and that has helped fuel the Row Boat music to what has been achieved so far. Now we have a little boy in the mix which changes your perception and outlook on life hugely. I'm very proud of this part of my life and I try to convey this within my music.
4) What drives you to do what you do?
Passion. Without it, I'm pretty sure that any success made in life is impossible. I certainly don't do what I do for money, but for pure love for the music and what it stands for. The style of music I write and listen to is driven by the respect that most of us look for, and the musicians I have had the pleasure of meeting or working with take pride in the creative rights they have been given and the people they touch by what they write about.
5) What values do you wish your creativity to express?
I would say its more about expressing emotion. I always look at ambient and post-rock music as an open book with blank pages. Of corse you have to have an idea of what your message is, but I would prefer the listener to hear the music and evoke an emotion that relates to there own story in life.
6) What role does community play in what you do?
I think that there is a very close relationship with the community of writers and listeners within this genre of music. It's very unique. I don't believe there is anything else like it out there. You can reach out to a society or community in a different part of the world and still connect with them on a very personal level without even knowing their background. It's not always about lyrical content, it's about a connection through chords and notes.
7) What is next for what you do?
Next up is a collaboration between myself and the very talented Apta called 'Fracture' which I'm extremely honoured and proud of. Its due out in October though Bottle Imp Productions who have been extremely supportive with the release. We decided to get together to remix each others tracks and see how it would turn out. We're both really happy with the process and its quite different to anything out there at the moment.
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Thanks Mark ... I've heard 'Fracture' and can confirm - it is very good indeed! Until then, however, here is "Ett" for you to listen to:
... and yes, I know ... it is something beautiful indeed.
Tx
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