Late februari Heim released the debut single called Motif, which is a beautiful ambient/piano track. I thought it was tome to learn more about Heim!
What’s your real name?
Jonas Andersson
How did you come up with your artist name?
It means Home in northern Sweden dialect
Where are you from? And where do you live?
I’m originally from the north of Sweden and have lived there for the most part of my life but five years ago I moved south. Now I recide just north of Stockholm.
How long have you been playing the piano, and do you play other instruments as well?
Pianos has always been around I guess. I started playing the trumpet as a kid actually, but switched to piano when I was about 15.
Tell us about how you started playing music.
I was brought up in a family where music was a big part. My father was a music teacher who later became principal of the local music school, so it was kind of expected of me to play something. 🙂
How long have you been making piano music?
Well I have been making instrumental music for several years, but more on the electro side. Piano music is a quite recent path actually. I had all these musical ideas that I didn’t really know what to do with. I got inspiration from Icelandic hereos like Olafur Arnalds and Sigur Ros. Their music really shows the true emotional potential that piano music has.
Tell us something about that moment you realized you could make songs yourself!
I first got a music program called Notator, that could handle MIDI (yes, I was around in the eighties…) and I started making interpretations or covers if you will of famous songs. I learned about notation and harmonics and soon started making my own simple songs.
What are your favorite artists in this “piano genre”?
As mentioned, Olafur Arnalds and Sigur Ros, but I have lately listened a lot to LUCHS.
Is there one song which you play over and over again as soon as you sit down by a piano? Your own or someone else’s?
I rarely play my own songs actually. There are many other thoug. Ára Bátur by Sigur Ros to name one – simple but amazing!
How long is your shortest song?
Haha, odd question. If you count my unfinished songs, just a few seconds! Other than that, I guess around 1:30-2 minutes. I want the listener to get something out of my music – a reward in the end of some sort. That’s why I often run the theme one last time in the end!
What rules (in making music) needs to be broken?
Perfection! I like noises and other imperfections – if made with love of course, not out of laziness.
How do you record your music? Yourself? In a big studio? etc.
Just myself, some instruments and the computer.
Whats your take on sampled instruments?
I blend in a lot of them, so it opens up a whole world of possibilites for us “home composers”.
Anything else you want to share?
Just keep playing, creating, consuming and enjoying good music! Music helps people to get by you know.
The last question is asked by my 5 year old son:
Where do all your songs come from?
Good question! Sometimes an idea just pops up in my head. Other times I sit by my piano and play something. Sometimes I even accidentally miss a note and find a really nice chord to base a whole new song around. You never know, and that’s what’s so fantastic with music.
Thank you Jonas! Looking forward to hear new music from you soon!
Please check out these links for more information:
Instagram / Spotify