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On their first album asFever Ray, Karin Dreijer was over romance.
When they returned eight years later with 2017sPlunge, theyd made a 180-degree change.
Now Dreijer is looking at love anew.
When I do music, its very much processing whats going on around me, Dreijer says.
It would be weird if it wasnt personal, they say.
It has to be real for something.
How does it feel to be Fever Ray again?I wanted to; thats why I do it.
And that is always a chaotic time because you never really know what will happen.
I think Ive found a place where I enjoy it more.
And then I also look forward to what Im going to do after the tour.
I hadnt decided to make an album.
I just started to see what things I enjoyed and what would be fun to do.
So I still have to do that at some point.
I see it as a place for freedom, as a very positive Im not afraid of the ocean.
I like to play with words, and Rabbit Records isRandR.
Martin and I said, when the album was finished, So what is this really about?
What are we going to do?
What kind of characters?
What kind of tweaks?
And we said it was a love album, but theres not really any love songs on it.
Its more about finding out what it is that it’s crucial that you be able to love.
I mean, Heartbeats is probably a love song.
But I think its always something else present.
So its always some fear present.
A lot of fans were excited to see that Olof was involved in this album.
So we were just next door.
I had done a lot of sketches, and Im not so good at finalizing.
I dont have my focus, and my patience is not the best.
So I really like to collaborate with people.
I just asked him if he wanted to try a bit.
I didnt know what to expect; sometimes hes like, Oh, I dont do Fever Ray music.
But he was like, Yeah, sure, Ill try.
And it was very easy.
It couldnt have been Knife tracks.
I think thats beautiful.
Always, when you feel strongly for a sound or music, theres probably some nostalgic part to it.
And steel drums, I just feel it wakes something.
Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross were involved in this album.
So I just thought maybe they would be up for adding some of that world into these tracks.
I read that Trent had five kids now, and I thought maybe he would be up for it.
Thats one of my favorite songs on the album.
And the system here still has crapped out so well.
Because you’re gonna wanna take self-respect back when you have been wronged.
Its like you should probably balance something.
Ive been thinking a bit about the KnifesShaking the Habitual, which turns ten this year.
Back then, we were very into the process of how to do things.
And I think, today, we are both looking for something else.
Do you feel like youve found that thing, something thats not the process?
Maybe it just turns out super-boring, and then you have to do something else.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
