TLOBF Interview :: The Tallest Man On Earth

Anyone who grew attached to Shallow Grave, the gorgeous debut record from The Tallest Man On Earth (aka Kristian Matsson), has been waiting patiently for a new full length from the supremely talented Swedish singer-songwriter. And with the release of his follow-up, The Wild Hunt, scheduled for April 12th, the three year wait is nearly over. The new record finds Matsson growing bolder and more expressive, both lyrically and musically. But when you have such an impeccable combination of insightful words and penetrating music as Matsson does, there is really no need to reinvent the wheel at this point. Fans of his first album will most assuredly take great pleasure in The Wild Hunt, an album that will not only galvanize his dedicated supporters, but should appeal to a whole new audience drawn to the purity and honesty of his music.

We were fortunate to have the opportunity to be able to ask Kristian some questions about how the recording process for the new album was affected by his changing record labels, how recording in the countryside influences his writing, and he shockingly reveals, once and for all, that Bob Dylan is actually his dad. He shares just enough to give his fans a glimpse into what inspires him, while still maintaining the mystique that has intrigued us all from the beginning. But in the end, it’s his splendid music that ultimately speaks to us, so look out for The Wild Hunt on April 12th.

The Wild Huntis a really beautiful, quietly assertive album. I’m wondering if changing record labels or the critical success of Shallow Grave affected your approach to the new album at all?
No, I guess it’s just about trying to make another album that hopefully could be of use for someone. Of course you have your lows when you get confused over what is happening, and think about what people expect in an album from you. But those kind of thoughts needs to be chased away. They will surely mess up your songs. I was glad to find I could get rid of them and get ten songs recorded that just felt like the right ones to do. The only thing that was really different this time was the fact that I had to write and record the album while being in a turmoil of touring all over and taking care of private life in between tours. It’s written in many different places and states of mind, and I can definitely hear that in the finished recordings.

Is the “Boots of Spanish leather” line in ‘King Of Spain’ you having a bit of a laugh at all of the Dylan comparisons cast upon you? How do those lofty comparisons affect you, if at all?
You got me! And Bob Dylan is actually my dad, did you know that?

They don’t affect me much, I’m not trying to hide his influence on me and how it’s given me energy and inspiration to try write good songs and do good live
shows since I’ve was 15 years old.

Your delicate guitar playing has always impressed me, and it’s even more pronounced on The Wild Hunt. Do you start with the melodies and work your lyrics in wherever they fit? Or, do you craft your lyrics like poetry and try to build songs around them?
Thank you. It’s really hard to describe that process. I’m sorry. Sometimes it’s the first way around, sometimes the second. And sometimes you just don’t
know what the hell just happened!

How much kinship did you share with Justin Vernon when you opened for him in the States, since he also retreated to a secluded house in the country to record his debut album? What is the draw and influence of that isolation and solitude on you, and how does that impact your songwriting?
Maybe I shouldn’t speak for Justin, but maybe there’s a more simple answer to this than you’d think. I don’t think it’s so much about some special
isolation, hiding in the the woods, Walden pond or whatever. I guess we’re both from the same kind of countryside, and for me it’s a lot about getting away from unnecessary disturbance and heavy traffic to get more stuff done. Growing up around here makes nature a part of your element, and that helps me to gain power to create. Someone from the city might instead be bored or freaked out about it.

Do you draw inspiration from film, literature, fine arts or even other music while you are writing or recording an album? If so, who are some of your favorites, and how does their work cause you to rethink or modify your creative process?
I listen to tons music all the time, and that inspires me a lot. stuff sneaks into your songwriting without you even knowing it until after. Books, articles, conversations, it all melts together and there you are, with some new songs. Most often you find traces of inspiration in your songs that you never could have planned. Like the fact that it was playing around with an old Sade song that somehow fooled to me write ‘You’re Going Back’.

How has touring the world and playing shows in places you’ve perhaps never dreamed of performing influenced your approach to songwriting?
Its hard for me to talk about any certain approach because I’ve always just tried to do it. To write a song. After that, tried to make another one, even better. I guess what this touring thing does to me, is the fact that you get a lot more input to build on.

There isn’t a whole lot written about you, personally, on the internet. Most of what is out there is about your music. Is that an intentional endeavor on your behalf? How important is it for you to be judged by your songs alone, as opposed to your style or any scene that you’re associated with?
Of course I think that it’s the songs and the performances that should be “out there” to be judged. I don’t want to think about styles or scenes someone might want to associate me to, I find it kind of draining actually when I hear about it.

It seems that the typical music fan isn’t nearly as loyal as they once were, moving on to the next thing while discarding an artist they once loved. Are you worried about longevity in an industry that seems to be constantly searching for the ‘next big thing’ as opposed to being faithful to an artist from one album to the next?
I’m not too worried. I don’t know if it’s the typical music fan you’re talking about. Maybe it’s just the loudest. I’ve met a lot of great people out there and can only hope they’ll give the new record a couple of spins before they decide if it’s better to move on or not.

A lot of the appeal that your music has, for me, is it’s simplicity – just one man, one guitar, one voice. Do you ever wish that you were playing in a different era where those type of talents were held in higher regard, both commercially and critically? Or do you think the people that connect with your music are so tired of the auto-tuned, fabricated style of music that they are searching for something simpler, something honest?
No, I don’t wish I was playing in some different era. Of course there’s a lot of music being made for mainly commercial interests, but I consider myself real lucky to be living right now when you can actually turn that off, and that there are so many ways to find new, great music instead. There are so many awesome records being released every month.

The Wild Hunt will be released on April 12th via Dead Oceans. The Tallest Man On Earth will perform at Bush Hall, London on Monday 15th March.

mp3:> The Tallest Man On Earth: “King Of Spain”