Your name sounds extraordinary, like a type of coffee or the interpretation of “no depressions”. What is the story behind it?
Maybe that’s what I would do for like merch: coffee. (laughs) Umm, the story behind is, as you can tell I’m very Spanish looking. My great-great-grandfather is from Spain. And he and his family came to Norway to buy fish and sell wine. But then he got really seasick. So they just left him in Bergen, which is the city where I’m from and they never came to pick him up again. (laughs) So he kind of just stayed behind and got married and somewhere down the line I was born with the name dePresno as my middle name.
Wow, that’s the coolest story I’ve ever heard about an artist’s name! And how did you get into music?
Also really cool story! Because I was really like just a boy’s room musician. I was kind of shy about it, didn’t really wanted to play anything to anybody. But then my brother – or my foster brother – he thought I was good, so for Christmas two and a half years ago he gave me a Christmas present, which was a couple of hours in a studio in Bergen. And a couple of months later I called the producer and I got into the studio and after some time and long consideration I recorded a cover of Donovan’s “Catch The Wind” and the guy who produced that moment, he just said “We have to keep in touch!” and now he’s my manager. So it’s a weird story because I never expected, never really wanted – or better I thought it would be impossible to become a musician. So I never really aspired to be one. But when I realised it was actually a possibility I kind of realised it was what I wanted to do. (smiles) And now I’m just doing it.
You started doing music aged 4, I heard. Is that true and how is it even possible? What do 4-year-olds do then?
(laughs) Actually my father plays guitar. He’s not like super good or anything, but even before I was born he used to play for my mum a lot when she was pregnant. And when I was born he just played that song and I became really quiet the minute he played it. And he’s just been playing guitar my whole upbringing. And when I was four I got a guitar for my Birthday I think and I kind of started but I didn’t really started playing, I kind of liked the sound of it or whatever and I kind of had it around and played sometimes on it. I didn’t really start playing guitar till I was like ten or tenish, I don’t really remember. And that’s when I really wanted to learn to play guitar.
That’s also a very nice story. You should write books!
I should! Short stories. (laughs)
Your sound is very clear, chilled and a bit dark – like one of the long Norwegian winter nights. Do you have more time to write/produce and get inspiration during this time of the year?
I think so! I think that’s one of the reasons Norwegian music is so good and why there are so many good acts from Norway. Because especially in Bergen, where I’m from, it rains like 250 to 300 days of the year so you don’t really have anything else to do, just sit inside and write music (laughs). And you’re kind of depressed like all year around. So yeah definitely, I think that inspires a lot of people. And it inspires to do fun stuff with music. Or depressing stuff!
I think your music combines both. It’s like fun stuff with a depressive note. When you create a song, what comes first – lyrics or melody?
That question is so hard, because I don’t really know. Cause it really depends. Sometimes I just know what I want to write and I know what the lines got to be like and then the melody comes. Or I can sit and play and I just hear the melody and then I have to write on top of it. But it really depends on what kind of tune it is and what kind of mood I’m in.
What is your suggested emotional and mental mood or time to listen to your music?
Oh wow! I never thought about that. That’s a good question. I would say Sunday afternoon… when you’re in bed already… it’s raining outside, you’re kind of a bit hung-over maybe, you just want to go to sleep again and you just need to pass some time by listening to music.
That sounds great, I will try that!
Do that! I never tried it myself but maybe it’s good. (laughs)
I really hope there’s an album in the making. Please say something positive now. When might we expect it?
There is an album in the making! I was just in LA writing a bunch of songs for it. Sometime next year… I really don’t know when it will be done cause I really don’t want to push it too much. I want to have it good before I release it. The EP is going to come out on the 14th of October and then the album… (thinks)
Soon.
Let’s say soon, yeah. (laughs)
What does music mean to you?
Pretty much everything (giggles). It’s what I make a living of, it’s what I do 95% of my time awake, maybe even more. It’s just something that helps you through anything. Like any emotion, there’s a song for it. And it can also change your emotions. Like if you just go out, you fix your hair, take on some sunglasses, put on a really cool song, just go out. You feel a lot better than you did sitting at home. That’s a great thing about music. It wouldn’t be the same if you hadn’t that tune on your ear.
Which German words do you know?
Ich liebe dich! Und äh… I don’t know… I know some words… links, rechts, ein bisschen, äh tschüß! (giggles) Actually it’s kind of a fun story. Till I was three years old the only kid’s television program we had was RTL. So I kind of understand a lot of German or I did, anyway, but I don’t really know if I speak it. I knew this song… it’s like “Why is the banana…” – krumm! “Warum ist die Banane krumm?” I knew that song for so long but now I forgot it.
Aaaww… It could be your next Single!
(laughs) Maybe I write it, yeah… an English version.
What should / shouldn’t you do at a festival?
Ooh… You should get drunk. But not too drunk. You should miss shows cause you always do it anyway. But you should do anything in your power to go to the show you really want to see. Don’t let anyone stop you. If you have to get in, get in!
This could be dangerous sometimes…
Yeah, but it’s worth it… sometimes. Hopefully.
We’re huge fans of mix tapes and playlists. Tell us your favourite songs for…
…lovesong?
Bob Dylan – „Make You Feel My Love”
…nightly car drive?
HONNE – „Warm On A Cold Night”
…beach music?
Beach Boys – „Surfin’”
…festival?
That would probably be one of my best festival memories, what is „Black Bird“ by Paul McCartney. It’s not really a festival song, but I cried my eyes out.
…heartache?
O. Martin, it’s a Norwegian guy – „In Hindsight”
First record ever bought?
I think it was Bob Marley – „Legend“. What is a kind of weird thing to buy for the first record. (laughs)
But it’s a cool first record.
It’s a cool first record, yeah! My dad always listens to Reggae, that’s why I love Reggae for some reason.
Why don’t you do Reggae?
WHY DON’T I DO REGGAE! I want to do Reggae now! Come as a Rastafarian. Do a Snoop Dogg and just change. (laughs)
Inspiration / idols?
Josh Rouse is probably one of the biggest ones. He’s an American singer/songwriter, he’s not too big. But he has done, I don’t know, like 5 or 10 records. And they’re just all SO good! Like the songwriting is amazing! And they’re so different in their own ways. Yes, so many great lines and I just fell in love with them the first time I heard this stuff. Actually two years ago I went to Spain to see him live. Which is like, yeah it’s really crazy just to see him, but it was so worth it.
I’m kind of relieved to hear other people are as crazy about music as I am.
Yeah, I fanboy like everybody else does.
Which song is on continuous loop in your current playlist?
Neiked – „Sexual“, you heard it?
No.
You should hear it. It’s sick!
Small gigs or big festivals?
That’s a hard one. Small gigs, I think. It really depends on the vibe. Cause a small gig can be the best thing in the world, if the vibe is right. Like if the people give anything back and if you give enough. But going to get on a festival is just crazy, it’s like thousands of people which is such a kick. So it’s two completely different things. But I think I might choose the small one over the big one.
Music genre that shouldn’t exist?
They should ALL exist. Because they just evolved from something and we have to evolve music at all times. And maybe some of them didn’t turn out too great but still somebody tried. And they have to try and fail; maybe they’ll try again and succeed.
That’s a really good answer! Thank you a lot for all your time! It was an absolute pleasure.
Interview conducted by Maria
