Originally starting out as a bedroom project by singer songwriter Lucas Berner, The Chairman has grown into something exponentially bigger than even Lucas could have imagined. Now, The Chairman prepares to share his sumptuous sound with a worldwide audience through the release of Animate, out on 10th March 2017, via Danish Music Entertainment (DK).
The Chairman has built up an impressive amount of recognition in his native Denmark having released the critically acclaimed debut album 2064. A huge amount of national airplay followed and, as a result, The Chairman’s music has seeped into the creative consciousness of the country. Lucas found writing music as a cathartic release from the chains of anxiety and depression, using the outlet to develop both on a personal and creative level. The result of this process is an emotive, deeply personal sound that anyone dealing with modern life, and the many obstacles we have to overcome, can relate to.
In this interview spotlight, we chat with Lucas about influences, the digital music world, his newest project and more.
Full Q&A along with links and streams can be found below.
Let’s dive a little deeper into You, the artist and your music. What attracted you to this genre(s) or style(s)?
To be honest, generally, I don’t know what appeals to me in music. If I get the feeling that something is insincere or forced I won’t listen to it. I try to refrain from genre- and/or style dividing (both when writing my own, but also when listening to anything else), because it will usually give people a biased opinion on what they’re about to hear. When people show me music, I prefer to be kept in the dark.
What led you into this journey with music? And further, what drives you to push it out to the public?
My father was in the music industry for a very long time and my mom is just a full-on music lover. So it was just completely natural for me to take up arms, when the opportunity presented itself in school.
Writing is very therapeutic to me and my songs address different issues that I think a lot of people can relate to. My songs help me define my state of mind, and maybe it can help others do the same. At least I hope so.
Who or what influences your creativity?
Women, mostly. Most of my songs are either about current or past relations, the all-consuming anxiety of ending up alone, the sensation of experiencing new love, longlasting or momentarily.
Have your tastes in music changed over time?
It has and it changes every day. Hopefully it will continue to do so – I like to implement new vibes into my daily life on a regular basis.
Were you trying to accomplish anything specific on this new project? Creatively or otherwise?
I wanted to write songs that are completely honest and produce them with no intention of genre or style. We’ve managed to create a universe that is very close to the one I find myself in, and that’s why I especially hold my new album, ‘The Strange Life’, very dear. It’s very real to me.
What was the last song you listened to?
I think it was ‘Same Drugs’ by Chance, The Rapper. Amazing track.
Which do you prefer? Vinyl? CDs? MP3s?
I collect vinyls because I love the aesthetics of them. Both sonically and visually. And when I’m home I’ll listen to them. But I’m not home an awful lot and usually listen to music on-the-go. I’d like to say that I prefer vinyl, but truth be told, I listen to MP3s the most.
How about this one…. Do you prefer Spotify? Apple Music? Bandcamp? Or something else? Why?
I haven’t had streaming services myself until very recently, where I got Spotify on a 3-months for 9 kroner deal, so I guess Spotify? But that expires soon, so I’ll be back to my iTunes library.
Other than the digital era overwhelming us with access to an abundance of music, what is the biggest challenge you face when trying to connect with or find new fans?
It’s very hard to get in touch with new listeners without having a lot of middle-men in between, and if those middle-men won’t play with you, you’re just not gonna get in touch with a potential new audience.
Where is the best place to connect with you online? Discover more music?
My Facebook page, which I manage myself. Every other social media account I have is linked to that and I update it frequently with news of releases, videos, shows etc..
Anything else you’d like to add before signing off?
The album is out September 17th and I can’t wait to share it with everyone!
