Interview with Lör of 1000 Bone Cylinder Explosion

November 17, 2021

Interview with Lör of 1000 Bone Cylinder Explosion

By Mick Michaels

COSMICK VIEW: Hello, Lör! Welcome to The Cosmick View. Thank you for taking some time out of your day to chat with me, it's greatly appreciated.
Lör: Thank you for having me!

CV: Do you feel that it's still possible for an unknown band today to be plucked out of obscurity and make it to stardom? Can a dedicated core of fans sharing their music make that possible or has the internet and social media changed the game?
Lör: I guess it depends how you're defining "stardom". Youtuber's are basically today's celebrities in some ways…and a lot of them exist in totally niche spaces. I think it's definitely possible for a band to "make it" in their scene via fans and word of mouth. Metallica levels of fame might be pretty rare though. Not sure that will ever happen again.

CV: Do you feel that given the accessibility and social awareness of modern times that a music underground still even exists today as it once did?
Lör: It totally exists! If anything, it's much stronger because of social media and the like…people are able to organize and get things together more efficiently. I mean COVID probably pressed pause on some things, but I think it will come back. People want to go to shows again. It might look a little different for a while though.

CV: What do you see as the biggest difference in music and how it is perceived from back say 35 years ago compared to music today? Has both the music and the artist evolved from your point of view?
Lör: Yes it's a totally different landscape. Technology has made it so anyone with a computer can record in their bedroom…like me. There are wayyyyyy more artists out there, and record labels aren't the gatekeepers anymore. You'll hear variations of "music was way better back then" but that's just because people aren't looking. There's so much more now. I think there's probably more great music now than there ever was. With so many people engaged with it now, it's just bound to happen. Artists are able to be more independent, and make more interesting things. I think having a strong niche these days is probably better than having mass appeal, which might be the biggest difference. Having a small strong following can give you traction. Getting thousands of luke-warm "likes" feels like it means nothing…those people aren't going to support and spread the word. I don't know, I feel everything has at least the potential to be more interesting now because of the internet and technology.

CV: Do you believe bands and artists who have the biggest impact on fans and other artists are aware that they are or is there more of a tunnel vision sort of process for them keeping them somewhat in the dark? Can influential artists see past their own work to be aware of the ripples they make?
Lör: I'm sure it's different artist to artist. I know that there are plenty of artists who at least appear to not think of themselves that highly and are successful, but then there are people, like Kanye, who is pretty vocal about his achievements, and he is also undeniably influential. Artists are people, and people cover a pretty wide spectrum of behaviors. It can probably look like anything.

CV: Does music need to be influential to be considered worth listening to in your opinion? Or can music simply be just an enjoyable auditory experience devoid of substance?
Lör: It can definitely be both. I tend to prefer things that I consider to be "great" or whatever usually, but there is also a time and place for the "candy" of music. It's all got a place I think. Not everything has to be deep and meaningful... in fact...if everything was, nothing would stand out then right? You can't even have the "breakout pioneering" things if there's nothing to compare it to.

CV: The world has been rocked by the COVID pandemic. The economy has been sent into a tailspin in its wake, unfortunately. Bands worldwide have been restricted from performing live, and for some it seems, restricted from earning a living. How has the pandemic affected your band? Are you hopeful that 2022 will see many of the restrictions being lifted?
Lör: COVID hasn't really affected me much. I'm a home-recording person, and though it definitely made it so I couldn't play out live, 1000 Bone Cylinder Explosion isn't a live band yet anyway, it wasn't a big deal. I do want to go to shows myself though again…so yes, hopefully everything starts going back to "normal" soon.

CV: What do you feel artists and bands can do right now to stay relevant, especially in an environment, such as the present, where performing in front of a live audience is being restricted? What immediate options do you see available?
Lör: Making records and videos seem to be the hot ticket right now. You can't just be a musician anymore it seems, you have to learn how to do a little bit of everything.

CV: As an artist, what have you learned from the events of 2020? Are those lessons learned different for you as a person than as an artist or are they one in the same in your opinion?
Lör: Yes, I'll reiterate what I mentioned in the previous question- you kind of have to get into more things. It's a "content"-based existence. You have to constantly be in people's faces if you want to stay relevant it seems. I'm not super concerned about it personally, since this is not my income, but if you really want to get ahead, it seems you have to get into a lot of things- marketing, shooting and editing videos, writing (the not-music kind), etc…especially if you have no label.

CV: What's next? What can fans expect to see coming in 2021?
Lör: I don't really know yet, haha. I'm working on the next Lör record and some other things so hopefully at least one of those records come out this year! Well at least in 2022, not sure anything will be out before the New Year.

CV: Thank you again Lör for spending some time talking and sharing with our readers. It was such a pleasure. I wish you all the best.
Lör: Thanks for having me!

Check out 1000 Bone Cylinder Explosion at:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/1000BoneCylinderExplosion
Bandcamp: https://www.1000bonecylinderexplosion.bandcamp.com

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My name is Mick Michaels...I'm an artist, music fan, songwriter, producer, show host, dreamer and guitarist for the traditional Heavy Metal band Corners of Sanctuary. Writing has always been a creative outlet for me; what I couldn't say in speech, I was able to do with the written word. Writing has given me a voice and a way for me to create on a multitude of platforms including music and song, articles, independent screenplays, books and now, artist interviews. The Cosmick View is an opportunity to raise the bar and showcase artists in a positive and inspirational light. For me, it's another out-of-this-world adventure.