Migraine induced love and hate combined in new Seigmen song
‘Elskhat’, the third single from Seigmen’s upcoming album, is out on February 28th. It’s the opening track on the album ‘Resonans’, and also the first one written back in the summer of 2015.
Migrane induced love and hate combined in new Seigmen song
(By our Norwegian correspondent Jan Ronald Stange / press release Indie Recordings) ‘Elskhat’, the third single from Seigmen‘s upcoming album, is out on February 28th. It’s the opening track on the album ‘Resonans’, and also the first one written back in the summer of 2015. At that time, their previous album ‘Enola’ had just been released, and touring and big festivals were on the horizon.
The search for that magical riff was a constant pursuit. The guitar riff that forms the foundation of ‘Elskhat’ was revealed outside the rehearsal space, played on a deep red semi-acoustic Gibson. The reception was good, so much so that the band realized this riff was the gateway to Seigmen’s next album. Little did they know it would take nine years before the song could be presented in its entirety.
‘Elskhat’ narrates the constant oscillation between extremes and has its roots in songwriter and lyricist Kim Ljung’s state of constant migraines. The contrast between light and dark is always close, akin to black and white, day and night. ‘Elskhat’ leaves no middle ground.
“If you tremble, then I tremble too.”
Author and screenwriter Harald Rosenløw Eeg (also known from the electro duo SubGud), a close friend of Kim and the band, was working on the script for his second disaster film for Fantefilm at that time. Earthquakes was the theme. Kim suggested ‘Skjelvet’ (‘The Quake’) as the title and expressed interest in writing a song for the film. It remained an attempt. Time and timing had different plans.
The recording process
In 2018, Seigmen borrowed a house near Karlsvik gård, a picturesque gem near the shoreline outside Tønsberg in Norway. Every room in the house was set up for recording and brainstorming ideas for the album.
‘Elskhat’ underwent a significant transformation here, moving from the key of D to G. For the uninitiated, it was quite an un-Seigmen-like move, but it turned out to be a revelation. ‘Elskhat’ gained the lift, the air, and light it needed.
In a pure bootleg style, the intense and creative days in the house were dubbed the ‘Karlsvika Tapes.’ Everything was just sketches, sounding raw and unfinished. Yet, it undoubtedly gave the band a boost, shaping the form of ‘Resonans.’
The band then returned to the rehearsal space, fine-tuning their aim for the final push before recording at Velvet Recording in Spydeberg in Norway. They were back to the familiar setting and the same studio where they recorded ‘Total’ in 1994 — the time many believe Seigmen truly found their identity. However, an unexpected turn of events occurred. The pandemic and illness stood in the way of continuation, putting ‘Resonans’ on hold.
Pandemic challenges
The challenges that followed have added a new dimension to ‘Elskhat,’ with meaning that might not have been there initially but will resonate with those who experienced a difficult time during the pandemic.
Seigmen faced their share of setbacks, but the extended delay also provided extra time to refine the songs that make up ‘Resonans.’ The lyrics of ‘Elskhat’ have proven almost prophetic for Seigmen—after the rain comes sunshine, and after a challenging period, it is an ultra-positive and inspired band getting ready to release their first album in nine years.
‘Elskhat’ is also the first song from ‘Resonans’ mixed by Mike Hartung (Propeller), setting the standard for the rest of the songs and defining the album’s sound. Like the rest of the album, the single was recorded at Velvet Recording with Christer Krogh as the technician. The single cover was designed by Sigurd N. Kristiansen, featuring an alternative prophecy created by Kim’s daughter, Nova.
Listen to ‘Elskhat’ and the other new Seigmen songs right here, or find it at your preferred platform.
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