Interview with Minneriket

October 21, 2024

Interview with Minneriket

By Mick Michaels

COSMICK VIEW: Hello! Welcome to The Cosmick View/MBM Ten Pounder. Thank you for taking some time out of your day to chat with me, it's greatly appreciated.
Minneriket: Thanks, glad to talk with you! The weekend is slowly getting closer, so nothing is better than to talk music to wind down from the struggle of life.

CV: Every artist experiences highs and lows. Many struggle just to move from one level to the next, and some, unfortunately, never do. What would you consider to be a pivotal point in an artist's career which would take them from one level to the next that a struggling artist should be aware of? Is it an individual mindset or does it equate more to opportunity? Or is it something altogether different in your opinion?
Minneriket: I think that really depends on what your goals are. For some it would be to measure objective success, either in money, fame or other numbers that can be quantified. For others it might be to reach personal milestones like getting that first record label deal or recording and album in a professional environment. It really comes down to who you are and what you wish for yourself. For me it’s all about freedom, and the freedom and opportunity to be creative. I think we’re all at our best when we’re an underdog, so “struggling artist” is a good place to be, but we also need success to not burn out.

I am very content about my own situation since I have several creative outlets, and have shaped Minneriket into something that I am more and more comfortable with being a vessel to present myself in. I’m lucky enough that I have the competence and the capability to create music the way I want, but still knowing that I need to work harder and be better every day. I’m free to spend a lot of time working on my music, and I’m lucky that I have listeners who care about what I do, but I too would of course enjoy becoming better, sharpening the vision and making an impact in an expanding demography.

For my own situation it is mostly about the individual mindset and being able to create what you envision in your mind. Often it just gets close to the music in my head, but sometimes what comes out is exactly what it was supposed to be, and that is a great feeling. That makes it all worthwhile. When others also appreciate it, that’s a bonus but never the goal.

CV: What do you feel an artist can do right now to stay relevant, especially in an environment, such as the present, where performing in front of a live audience is not an option?
Minneriket: I guess this template comes from the covid-times, as it has been possible to perform live for a few years now. Anyways, Minneriket doesn’t play live since this is a one-man band, so I guess your question is still relevant, all though not framed the right way.

People probably put different meanings into “staying relevant”. I’m not sure if that is something to aim for. But if I paraphrase it into keeping an audience while also expanding on your audience base, then that becomes something a lot more interesting. You need to offer the listener something they enjoy, something they want, but also something they maybe even didn’t know that they want. You should challenge them a little. Move people out of their comfort zone and then stay there with them, whether it’s music, aesthetics or ideology.

Most important of course is to be where people are in order to be able to reach them. Today that means social media and other relevant media outlets. And that “job” is boring as hell, so a lot of bands fail at it – including myself.

CV: What have you found to be the balancing point between relevance and over saturation when it comes to being an artist? Is there a fine line between the two or can it be looked at to some degree as the two essentially being one in the same?
Minneriket: I’m sure I should have a more strategic approach to this, but in the end I’m just one guy and I can’t be anything other than myself. Some days I’m introverted and want to be left alone, other days I hail the community and the cultural impact of other musicians and listeners. It’s really just a day to day thing, if I were to think of myself as a CEO of a musical enterprise instead of the creative force that I enjoy being I’d be bored out of my mind.

CV: Is there any level of consideration, or even concern, to deliver on expectations, whether it being your own or that of the fans, when working on new material?
Minneriket: Oh, always! If I weren’t able to improve, change, get better or be different than before I’d quit this whole circus. The expectations of the listeners doesn’t interest me, but I have quite high expectations to myself. That’s why I spend years working on my albums. Sometimes I hit those levels of expectations, and other times I don’t. That feels like a complete defeat. There’s no reason to do this unless you grow with it, that’s what creativity is about for me. I’m very harsh on myself when I work with the music and more often than not bring Judgement Day over my own head.

CV: For you, what’s first when it comes to songwriting…is it a matter of lyrics melody, chords, beat, attitude? Or is it more organic than that where the moment dictates the process and outcome?
Minneriket: It’s lyrics, but in the way the lyrics are presented. I always start with words, some feelings or something that just really grabs my attention and refuse to let go. From there I start working on the lyrics while the music is building itself inside my head. The music always complements the lyrics, framing the words the way they should be presented. When I have enough that I am able to record the demos I record it “as is”, as close to that original vision, and cultivate it for a while. Is the atmosphere correct? Did it represent what I wanted it to represent? I keep it like that for a few months while doing small corrections, and either toss it away or see that there’s a potential there. If I progress with it, I like to compare it to carving a statue from a block of stone. I have all the materials, but I need to show what’s inside. So then I start the re-writes.

CV: What do you believe makes songwriting more honest and impactful...that something that both the artist and listener can share?
Minneriket: For me the most important part is to be honest with myself. That is always the main priority. From there I try to find a common ground, something universal, imagery that people can relate to or interpret. I create the music as an internal dialogue but try to wrap it in a way that it will appeal also to others. I have fond memories of being a young boy, looking through the booklet of my favorite albums while listening to them and feeling like it was the soundtrack to my life. That connection between artist and listener is so strong, it never leaves you. That’s a powerful force.

The experience others have with my music is something I appreciate and respect, but still… in the end… I’m the main person in my own life, and my creative process making it is what is most important to me.

CV: What do you feel has been the greatest contribution to your success as an artist?

Minneriket: My clear vision and confidence in my own ideas. I have been surrounded by people wanting me to make other kinds of music, to compromise on my ideas, to change my concepts… all of that. Both friends, family and professionals. It’s like we’re not even speaking the same language. Why on Earth would I care about the opinion or feedback of someone who doesn’t respect that this comes out of me wanting to realize myself? I just can’t accept that. So when I have people around me who, regardless of whether they like the music, genre or whatever, cheer me on for sticking to my guns and doing what I believe it, I feel like I owe them a lot. Which is weird, ‘cause it’s really just normal decent behavior. Anyways, that ability to just brush of the negativity of others, and the ability to set goals and just do my thing regardless of my circumstances, is the main factor of why I’ve been doing this for more than 10 years now.

CV: What's next for you? What can fans expect to see coming up?
Minneriket: In a short while I’ll be releasing some news of a limited anniversary release. Minneriket celebrated 10 years this year, so I’ve put together a compilation of favorites and deep cuts to show of what Minneriket is about, and it will be a special release aimed especially at the fans. I’ll be updating more on this when it’s official on relevant social media and on minneriket.com.

And… I’ve been hard at work in studio lately, working on the next album. It feels very good, and I feel I am at a good place with this, so I’m excited to share it, but that will have to wait a little while longer.

CV: Thank you again for spending some time talking and sharing with
our readers. I wish you all the best and continued success.
Minneriket: Thank you, it was my pleasure.

Check out Minneriket at:

Website: www.minneriket.com

@minneriket on all relevant social media

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2jJuWRiEJo9wwyO6dnrzyl?si=EYpd-PIxSHuADjrdVDjT3Q

Youtube: Minneriket - Regnbuer i gråtoner (Lyric video) (youtube.com)

Photos: Minneriket - Gallery

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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.