Snasen: The Wednesday Alternative Mix

Music

Oslo-based graphic designer and musician Snasen is a solo-electronic artist who last year provided the soundtrack for the award winning documentary, Drone. Snasen also released his debut LP Forsvinningen in June 2015. Dark, layered electronica, it was a brittle yet beautiful listen. Today he provides The Ransom Note with an hour-long mix, and tells us a little about it and him:

Please introduce yourself…

Who are you?

My name is Robin Snasen Rengård and I produce and play music and draw pictures for a living.

Where are you?

Oslo, Norway.

What are you?

A musician and graphic designer.

‘Music For Drone’ was released recently, how did the project come about?

The director, Tonje Hessen Schei, saw me playing live at the Øya festival in Oslo and commissioned me to do music for parts of the film.

What was the production process like in making a record like that?

A lot of back and forth just trying different textures and themes. I would come up with a part and she would usually ask for more bass. Most of the electronics were recorded in one take on a modular while the acoustic things were recorded in my studio and processed in Ableton. Bjørn Rumelhoff-Hansen played guitar on some tracks.

Where you pleased with how it accompanied the film as an end product?

It´s weird to hear and see it in context – all you get is snippets of your music here and there but it feels good. I was particularly happy with the opening shot when the piano kicks in. Special moment for me.

Where was the mix recorded?

At my studio in Oslo.

What would be the ideal setting to listen to the mix?

On a rainy Monday morning as the coffee high peaks.

What should we be wearing?

Nothing at all. This is important.

What would be your dream setting to record a mix?

In an old whaling hut in Antarctica. Need some power for my computer though.

Which track in the mix is your current favourite?

The Upland track at 34:50 gives me goosebumps.

What’s more important, the track you start on or the track you end on?

The last one. Everybody hears the first song but the last track is for the special ones that stuck through it.

What were the first and last records you bought?

First one was Youth of Today – Can´t Close my Eyes. The last was all of the Tortoise albums. They recently re-released their whole catalogue on vinyl. Thank you Tortoise.