At the centre of Tårfödd is Simon Lindgren, who handles the writing and plays across the whole record: guitars, bass, vocals, drum programming and synth programming. It is a solo project in structure, but not a closed one. Johanna Furberg appears at times on backing or lead vocals, and Simon has also worked with figures like Vindur from Mörkvind and Revenant from Sarkrista and Order of Nosferat, writing the music and playing the instruments while they contributed vocals and lyrics.
Tårfödd is rooted in black metal, but Simon does not keep it rigid. Acoustic passages, clean vocals and other influences move through the songs. And even with collaborators involved, the identity of the band still comes from one person’s hands.
Tårfödd began as a solo project, and on Mörker täcker livets ljus you are still handling the writing, instruments, programming, mixing and mastering yourself. What does working that way give you emotionally and creatively that a full band setup would change?
Simon Lindgren: I’m not completely sure, but I do like working alone when it comes to songwriting. Of course I’m open to suggestions when I work with other people, but I like the control I have when I work on my own, and it usually turns out better that way.
This album has both Swedish and English song titles, and the title itself, Mörker täcker livets ljus, feels central to the whole atmosphere of the record. How do you decide which thoughts stay in Swedish and which need English to come through properly?
I usually write in Swedish, and sometimes in English, but there isn’t any big reason behind it. It’s just easier for me to express myself in Swedish. I’ve always liked bands that sing in their native language, whether that’s Norwegian, German, French, Russian or whatever else. I also think my voice sounds better in Swedish. The reason there is more English on this latest album, and on the Mörkvind collaborations, is simple: they write the lyrics, they prefer English, and they don’t speak Swedish that well.
Revenant appears on several tracks, while Johanna Furberg comes in on the title track. When you bring another voice into Tårfödd, what are you listening for? What kind of human presence did they add to this album that you felt it needed?
Revenant got in touch with me because he loves Tårfödd. One thing led to another, and we decided to make an album together. It was the same with Mörkvind. Both of those guys have great black metal voices, and their lyrics are great too. Lyrics have never really been my strongest side, and it’s not where I put most of my focus. I care more about the music. So it’s great to work with people like Revenant and Vindur, who are strong lyric writers. They take my music to a higher level.
Farväl till allt came out as the first taste of the album before the full record arrived. Why did you choose that track to introduce Mörker täcker livets ljus, and what did it represent about the album as a whole?
The truth is that song wasn’t even part of the album at first. I wrote it after the album was already finished. I make a lot of songs and I work at a fast pace [he laughs]. But I thought it turned out great and fit the album really well, so I decided to include it and release it as part of the record.
“I like the raw feeling you get when the vocals aren’t too perfect. It gives the music a more true, live feeling, and I think it becomes more emotional that way.”
Tårfödd has been very active in a short time, from the project starting in 2022 to a growing run of releases and now a new full-length. Where does that pace come from?
Good question. I’m very productive. I’ve always found it easy to make songs. Usually I finish one in a day or two at most, and a lot of the time in two or three hours. Vocals are usually one or two takes only. I like the raw feeling you get when the vocals aren’t too perfect. It gives the music a more true, live feeling, and I think it becomes more emotional that way. The fact that I make so much music is also why I’ve done collaborations, because I can’t really release as many albums under Tårfödd as I would like to. That’s also why I started a side project called A Throat Slit, and why I also release softer music under my own name.
“Music should never be replaced by AI. It is something I am strongly against, and honestly afraid of.”
Your themes deal with death, anxiety, misanthropy, anti-religion and depression, and the album title suggests a world where light is being smothered. What were you trying to document with this record?
Like I said earlier, lyrics and themes are not my priority. The music is more important to me. But of course the lyrics still reflect who I am as a person. I have always struggled with depression, for example, so those themes come naturally. That is a big part of why music is art, and why it always sounds unique to the person behind it. It can and should never be replaced by AI, but unfortunately that is happening more and more across almost every genre now. It is something I am strongly against, and honestly afraid of. If you cannot write lyrics, play guitar, sing or whatever, then maybe there is a reason for that, and maybe you should do something else instead. Not everyone is meant to make music, paint or write books. Soon there will be nothing unique about being good at something like songwriting or painting, because everyone will be able to do it. Sorry, I got off track there. I just dislike AI so much, and I hope people start realising the danger of generative AI soon.
Mörker täcker livets ljus is out now through Purity Through Fire.
