During 2021 Arn-Identified Flying Objects and Alien Friends has released a string of singles and a double album. The latter, co-produced by legendary David Myhr (from the Merrymakers) brings together elements of power pop, folk and indie rock, but although many of the songs might be rooted in musical soil of the sixties and the seventies, there’s no nostalgia here. The lyrics are heartfelt and poetic, sometimes ironic, but contemporary and always honest. A big group of musicians have contributed on the project. Apart from multitalented David Myhr who plays several instruments on many tracks – and shares lead vocals on some of them - the friends in REDMOON must be mentioned: Daniel Lagerlöf, Åke Lindgren and Johan Lundström.
By Kamil Bobin
Discovered via Musosoup
Hello Arn-Identified Flying Objects and Alien Friends. How has the time gone for you since our last interview?
Hello, Kamil! Thanks for having me again. It’s been fine, thank you, though the recording of the forthcoming album has taken a longer time than expected. The plan was to have it released by now. Frustrating, as I’ve got other ideas I want to work on.
How do you balance your time in the studio with other commitments such as a part-time job, family, admin?
Well, you know, that’s the big challenge. Working full time as a teacher and doing my best being a good husband and responsible family member, I have to take every chance working on my musical projects when scraps of spare time come your way.
Your latest song is 'Some Angels Never Learn to Fly'. Can you tell us more about the making of it and if there were any unusual things happening during the process?
The song is actually not my latest – it was included on the double album 17 Birds at the Summer’s Gate. I felt, though, that I never promoted it in a way it deserved. Well, some of my tunes take months to write. This was the case with NO SWEET DREAMS (my actual latest release). This one, SOME ANGELS, was wrapped up in a day or so. I more or less improvised the song rehearsing with two om my friends in Redmoon, than finished the lyrics the day after. – When recording it I managed to convince my co-producer David Myhr to sing harmonies and share lead with me. His probably the most talented and versatile musician I know. His singing gives the song another dimension, I think.
What was the most difficult challenge you faced?
Originally I didn’t quite manage to create enough contrast between verse and chorus. The key was actually to make a key change, but not a rise (which is the common trick), but by lowering it. This really shouldn’t work, but it does. I think the Beatles does something similar in Penny Lane.
What is your goal in artistic activities?
I try not to think too much in terms of goals, but rather to dare trusting intuition and let songs grow on their own, like flowers, without me interfering too much. If that makes sense.
How do you know when a work is finished?
It differs from time to time. But usually I decide a song is finished when I start getting bored of it, and when applied changes (a new guitar lick, slight changes in the mix) doesn’t improve the overall feeling.
What is your trademark?
It's about unique sounds or behaviors on stage. Others will have to be judges of that. It’s hard to watch yourself from the outside!
What are your biggest achievements so far as an artist, but also personally?
I’m happy that I’ve actually managed to create a sort of a musical identity and a “career” of my own, of sorts at least. I’ve always regarded myself as a band member, not a solo act. And on one level, I still don’t. When I look at these efforts of mine – whether you perceive them as successful or not – my strongest reaction is that of surprise. (My personal achievements – there are such – they are just that: a bit too personal to talk about:)
What memorable responses have you had to your work?
I’ve received some really fine reviews on blogs and musical papers and that has of course made me happy – after all, you put a lot of work and love into these musical projects and ditties. But most memorable are the occasions when your closest friends – who tend to be blatantly honest - once in a while say that “Gosh, this is a good song!” Or when Åke Lindgren, drummer in Redmoon, listening to my then newly released single By Your Bed, couldn’t say a word as he’d started to cry.
What can we expect from Arn-Identified Flying Objects and Alien Friends in the near future?
A new album, tentatively titled NO SWEET FOR ELVIS, will hopefully land on earth in the middle of May. A couple of recently released singles will be included among the twelve tunes, but most of the song are new and never heard before. I’m quite proud of it! – New ideas are already wrestling my brain and heart, though I don’t know where they will lead. Or if they will lead anywhere. I think, though, that the lyrics in my next set of songs, might be in my native language (Swedish), not English.