Thomas Dybdahl Q&A: On Signing with Capitol & US Release of 'What's Left Is Forever'
From Norway with love, here comes Thomas Dybdahl. The singer-songwriter (35), dubbed as Norway's Nick Drake, is a success in his homeland and he's managed to build a fan-base in other territories too like Sweden, Denmark, France or the UK.
Thomas' distinctive folk-jazz sound has definitely opened him many doors. The last one, a deal with US label Capitol Records! He got the exciting news earlier in the year. His first major US opportunity came in the soundtrack of Showtime's comedy-drama series 'House of Lies'. The soundtrack featured Thomas Dybdahl's sexy song "This Love Is Here To Stay", and 'House of Lies' producers used the track to be the theme music in a pivotal scene in an episode of the newest season.
Now part of the Capitol family, Thomas is releasing his latest album 'What's Left Is Forever' (#1 in Norway last year) in the US. The album is out TODAY, May 6th. So make sure to grab a copy of this flaw-free piece of folk-jazz music at your local record store or favorite digital store. In it, there are 13 songs that will definitely 'change your life'.
To celebrate the US release of 'What's Left Is Forever', we recently caught up with Thomas Dybdahl for a quick Q&A. We asked him about what the Capitol deal will mean for his music, the sound of his new album, our favorite tune 'This Love Is Here To Stay', the Nick Drake comparisons or what his favorite Norwegian bands are. Read below!
THE INTERVIEW
You
recently signed to Capitol Records in the
It feels
great, there is a lot of history there, I’m always hoping you can contribute to
building the legacy.
What does
the
I think I will have time to please them all really. Definitely spending more time in the US but I don't think it will affect
Is the deal
with Capitol only for releasing 'What's Left is Forever’ in
I really don't know yet, I guess we will just have to see what
happens with this record. Too early to talk about next. But I'm excited!
You will be
promoting the May 6th US release of ‘What's Left is Forever’ with a four-date
residency at Hotel Café in
I’m very
excited and plan to vary the shows a bit. Some will be solo, some maybe trio
and some will be band. I will also be playing different songs depending on each
night, and maybe some new songs too if I write some nice ones while here.
You have
said that recording the album 'What's Left Is Forever' 'has made me a different
person'. Why is that?
It was just
a very different way of making a record for me. Pretty old school really.
The sessions, 5 days of tracking in a big studio, working with a great producer.
It was just new and a great learning experience
We know how
we would, but how would YOU describe the sound of your latest album?
I wanted to
make a pretty straight album really, focused on solid, clear songwriting but
bringing arrangement ideas from all the movies I've done the latest few years
and trying to make it sound fresh and curious.
The album is co-produced by four-time Grammy winner Larry Klein. How was like working with someone as relevant as Larry in the studio? And, were there any musical differences fights at all?
It was great, I had the opportunity to get to know
him a little bit before we went into the studio and we spent a lot of time
making sure that we were on the same page as to what we wanted to make before
going into the studio.
'What's
Left is Forever’ was released last Fall in
Not
really, it's a pretty long album already. I left that decision up to the label
and if they wanted to cut some songs they could, but they wanted to go with it
as is.
First
single of the album is the jazzy and sensual 'This Love Is Here To Stay'. What
inspired this song lyrically?
Well, the
hook line came to me in a dream, funnily enough. And then I got stuck. I ended
up finishing the lyrics and music with Larry and a great guy called David Baerwald. We sort of just agreed that the album didn't need another
relationship song, but maybe it could use a song that was mostly about sex.
There’s
something about 'This Love Is Here To Stay' that makes me think of Robin Thicke
and ‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’. Has anyone told you the same before? It
isn’t bad thing, right?
(Laughs) I haven't heard that before. Or the recording. But he's a slick one though, pulls
it off too.
'This Love
Is Here To Stay' was featured on the soundtrack of HBO’s ‘House of Lies'. Were
you honored?
Yes, what a
great placement it got too in the episode, hot and steamy.
There is a
performance video of 'This Love Is Here To Stay' on your VEVO page. Are there
plans to shoot a proper music video for the single, though?
No, I don't
think so, but you can see the '1 mic 1 take' video shot in Capitol Records studio.
Out of the
thirteen tracks on 'What's Left is Forever’, what is the one that has the most
special meaning to you, and why?
My
favorite, from conception to finished mix, has always been the track called
"But We Did". Just the way it came to me, the way we recorded it, the
guys I wrote it with and the awesome way it was mixed. It was all just right.
A few have dubbed
you as
I was, and
still am. I don't know if i seen the comparison, but it certainly isn't a bad
one.
Move on to
other topics…
Is being permanently beardless an option for you?
No way, I don't like the person under.
What is your favorite outfit to wear?
I like a good suit
What is
your favorite place to just get lost in
At our summer home on a tiny
island in the Fjords. Just fishing, setting crab pots etc. Heaven
What are a
few
Well there are a few that already are getting attention.
The band Kvelertak is from my town and
they are great. There is also a Piano trio called In The Country that are
fantastic. And Highasakite are fantastic!
If you could record with any living musician an original duet right now, who would it be, why, and how would the song sound like?
It would have to be Gillian Welch.
She is just amazing!! It would sound perfect!
What are
Thomas’ Top 5 songs of the moment?
Highasakite
- H
Local
natives - You & i
Tom Waits - K
Wilco - Impossible G
Highasakite
- I, The Handgrenade
Finish the sentence, ‘People need to buy and listen to 'What's Left is Forever’ because…’
I'm
pretty sure it will change your life!
Thanks for your time Thomas! Best of luck with the US release and everything. Any last thing you would like to share with our readers at Direct Lyrics?
Thanks for the interview! And to your readers, make sure get my new album 'What's Left Is Forever' now. You'll love it!