Who is Tess Fries?
I'm the front singer and songwriter in the swedish electropop band Dual Density.
What triggered you to be a singer, was it a special song or special event?
Well, I'd say one "special person" (in a bad way) and many songs. I was only 14 and at a certain crossroad of my life when I met a so called "producer" who said he would help me. Which he certainly did not. 1,5 year later I cut off all contact what so ever with him. But during that time though, in that certain period of my life, I developed a strong passion into the Synth music and self esteem in my own music making. I also got in touch with and worked with Jonas and Pontus earlier songs from their previous project "Vision Factory", which was the main reason to why I later contacted them again and formed Dual Density. Therefore I'd say that it was because of that very negative experience that I was pretty much triggered to be the one I am today.
I read in an interview you were a goth once, how do you see yourself now?
I look upon myself as much more "real" and self confident now, with a style entirely dominated by my personality, and it has changed a lot since then so I'm definitely not entirely "goth" anymore. I've always been dramatic and expressive as a person, and like to dress up in tight, colourfol clothings. Fetish, sexy, latex, glitter, party. It's a combination of many styles really, reflecting my personality. Just the way I like it, hehe.
You are the singer of Dual Density, can you give a brief introduction to the band?
We've been active in about 2 years now and are currently most active with our debut-album release "Soul Ecstasy", with a touch of club/party feeling combined with slow, extremely emotional songs.
How did you all meet and what made you decide to start with Dual Density?
We all met on very different paths in life, with one equal passion, music.
3 or 4 years ago we first co-operated through the earlier project "Vision Factory", but then started off into the Synth music industry making electronic/synth tunes in 2008. Jonas asked me to send him my "response" on his instrumental track that later become our very first song "Soul Ecstasy" (which also ended up as the main title of the album). With no expectations what so ever both he and Pontus was positively chocked and after four songs were recorded we decided to continue writing music together and create a band, which we did. The very first time when we finally met was outside a gigantic church in Lund, haha. How symbolic.
Dual Density makes ‘80s influenced synthpop music. Since you are too young to have experienced it back then, how did you get in contact
with the ‘80s synthpop? What is it for you that makes the ‘80s such a great period in music?
How I got in touch with the 80's synthpop music was like I mentioned earlier, through really sad circumstances. I experience the 80's as something really great and magical. I'm fascinated by it, and it feels like its era isn't really over.
What makes a song a good song for you, can you give examples of songs you really love?
I love songs that comes right from the within. Songs that comes from the bottom of ones heart telling the most sincere and darkest of stories and secrets. Honest, deep and meaningful songs with still a very catchy and commercial beat are the best songs ever. But mostly a very, very good song to me is a song that can "talk to" and "see" people and the world in general, and through the music inspire people to something good. That is a true masterpiece according to me. I must also confess I think I've always been and somehow always will be a little Eurodance girl. Therefore I love all fast beats, electronic sounds and much variety in the production.
The Swedish scene is really growing fast these days with acts like Dual Density, Ashbury Heights, Javelynn, Auto Auto, Octolab and several others, can you explain why there is a boom of Swedish synth bands and what makes them stand out of the majority?
We stand out because we are Swedish! Haha, no, I'm not sure really. People that are unique, expressive and talented are usually the ones sticking out, so I guess that'd be the reason, hehe.
How does Dual Density create their music? Is it a band process or does everybody work at home, email each other ideas and combine them into a song?
I always receive a complete instrumental track from Jonas or Pontus and take it from scratch. I then make up songmelody and lyrics from what I "sense" in the music, and write down the images I get. Then I go into the studio and record the song. Later Niklas Ringström, the producer, works his magic and put his production on top of it, exchanging sounds, making it more commercial/mainstream and so on. He does a great part of the entire production but takes less credit for it. He's in fact incredible and knows what he's doing.
What comes first, the music or the lyrics, do you always work the same way or does it deviate from song to song? As I just mentioned the music comes first, and that's how we currently work.
How would you describe your role in the band, are you just the singer or do you have a bigger role? Well, I front the band and run Myspace. I also take part of promotion around the band, but I'm not the only one doing that.
Almost every lyricist says that life inspires him/her in the writing of lyrics, what are the things in life that inspire you and how do you transform experiences and observations into a lyric?
What inspires me could be everything. It depends entirely on what's most current in my life and gives inspiration. Sometimes it could be something on the news, something that might have happened and deeply touches me. And sometimes and at most times it's the challenge/experience I'm having at the moment that steers the lyrics of my songs. I prefer it honest, therefore my lyrics come directly from my emotions. When I wrote "Fake" for instance, I was fed up with every single feeling within that song. I didn't write down what people "wanted to hear", I simply wrote down exactly what I felt at the time. Cause I strongly believe that when you're truly honest to your own feelings, thousands of others will recognize themselves in the exact same feeling within the song.
You also write poems, can you give your favorite part of a poem?
My favourite...Woah, there are SO many. But here's a few of them:
"The only way to achieve the impossible is to believe it is possible."
"The sky aint the limit."
"Limits and impossibilities are nothing but bullshit-illusions."
"BE your dream." And so forth...
Does your songwriting benefit from the fact that you were writing poems before?
You could say that. Through the years I might have developed a certain kind of self esteem and trust in my writing up til' a point when I now feel completely comfortable with mostly whatever I write, to be honest.
You just released your debut album Soul Ecstasy on the german Conzoom Records, how did you get in contact with them and how is the collaboration doing so far?
Since our very first line-up on Myspace we reached a massive response and range of plays during the first year til' a point where even rumours where spread claiming us to be "cheating" the number of plays. Thanks for that by the way, it was very flattering, hehe. This number of plays and visits from all over the world gave a lot of interest to the labels who later started contacting us. After about a year or more we were just about to take an offer when conzoom Records showed up from nowhere and we felt at an instant that this was the company with whom we wanted to work with. So far so good, I'm glad.
Can you explain the albumtitle Soul Ecstasy, what are things that make you feel ecstatic?
The album title came from our first song ever recorded, and it's about pure attraction.
"Bloodred lips in deep desire, they haunt you.
Poisoned kisses bring you higher, I want you.
Hide and seek we play in the night.
The light fades out so grab me tight!
Soul Ecstasy..."
True "soul ecstasy" to me is making love, or to feel an extreme attraction.
How did the recordings go, did everything work out as planned or did you encounter some unexpected difficulties or problems?
The recordings have gone well. I feel like I have learned a lot in the studio lately. Much about preparation, pronunciation and other important things that has to do with what's best for the voice.
What was the hardest or most challenging part for you on this record?
There haven't been any real challenges yet, I think. But to mention some it would have been the last summer when I felt an urge to change within the band. So we talked and then renewed our whole image and sound and become more pop/mainstream, which I think was a huge improvement from our earlier image.
Most songs have very long vocal lines, how do you manage to sing those with catching a breathe, what is the secret?
Haha, well, if you're talking about Mistress Sleepqueen I know what you mean! Well, it's easier in the studio of course, but when live I always drink some water between every song, and take short breaks before we start with the next. But it's all about developing techniques really, and a self esteem that you can do it and relax. Every gig we've ever had has left us with an improvement, because that's what we're looking for.
How are the comments on the album?
We've had many reviews on the album, mostly good ones. Quite often they say that it's a great disco/club music with very good vocals and lyrics. They all seem to really like "Ego Girl" because its more mainstream sound and the way it differs from the rest of the album. But there are also those that completely dislikes us. Our market seems to reach its peak within the pure pop business which is very good because we're looking into the more mainstream market.
Are you already working on a second album, in what way will your sound develop, where can we expect to hear the biggest grow?
Yes, we are now working on our 2nd album. It'll be a surprise!
How do you prepare on a live show, do you have any strange rituals?
To walk in circles and sing through or at least parts of the songs loud and clear, as well as using a certain song technique to get in "pitch" by simply singing from a lower octave to a higher one. Opera also does the trick, the goal is to sing strong both low and high and every tone in between. During the live show itself, as I mentioned a little earlier, I always have a bottle of water at the side from the stage to which I drink between the songs, that helps A LOT. Especially the more songs you got.
What is the funniest thing that has happened to you in a live show?
Funniest...haha...I thought it was kinda funny when I was holding a speech in English for the audience at our Release Party when Jonas all of a sudden take the mic and start to speak Swedish to the Germans involved with the debut-album release when calling them up to the stage. Magically, they all entered the stage and we all hugged. But I also thought it was kinda funny when the gig started off without noise from the mick...
We read you love doing live shows, what is it that you love exactly? How do you interact with the audience, make contact and make them
being a part of the show instead of just watching the band with their arms crossed over each other?
The greateast satisfaction I've ever had has been accomplished on stage. I am in fact an exhibitionist. I'm not pompous or a diva really but I love to entertain and "flirt" with the audience and the cameras. Priorities - 1: A good live voice - 2: Emotion and "precense" - 3: Great dance moves - 4: Being as spontaneous as possible. Spontaneously lying down on the floor when singing, holding out the mic to the audience, and a LOT of drama is the best live act ever.
Can you tell us one thing you really want to experience in this life (it’s better to have tried and lost than not having tried and all)?
To chase ones dreams! That's what it's for. Okay, that answer is a teaser...I would love to bungy jump, travel around the world, experience different cultures, different people and get inspired by different ways of thinking. Experience and learning itself. And express! Most important for me to experience would be to reach my own personal dreams and goals. A goal in the practise of the expressive and creative arts. To create, to make use and through that reach a certain kind of confirmation and insight of myself. To prove there is no limits.
You seem to be a really positive person, where does this positivity come from and how do you manage to stay positive? How do you find your balance in life?
Thank you! I'm glad to hear that. Well, the way I first came into the music industry weren't that positive. So I begun to feel like "If I have survived that I can survive anything." And it left me with an assurance of being meant for something. I needed time to become myself again and realize normal limits of ones behaviour and such, and through that process I, for sure, met a few more assholes but developed a certain kind of strength realizing my own worth, will and self power and how much it really means when you stay positive. And most importantly, to believe in and care for thyself.
What are your hopes and dreams for the future?
There are so many! I can honestly say my personal hopes and dreams for the future are within a creative way of working. I've always loved and always will love everything about modeling, acting, dancing, singing, producing, writing, drawing and even preeching hehe. I'm an expressive, dramatic and emotional person and therefor the expressive arts naturally interest me and always bring me a great satisfaction.
What will be next for Dual Density?
Promotion of album nr 1 and the 2nd album, I think.
Any last words for the readers?
I'll give them a quotation my father once gave me as a child, which I've valued and remembered ever since:
"It doesn't matter what they say or don't say. You could stand on a school garden, only 6 years old dropping your pants in front of the whole school. Either you blush up and feel extremely ashamed, or, you put your pants back on and say :Oupsy Daisy! You always choose what to feel, who to be and who to become. No matter anyone or anything. It's not IF, but WHEN something negative will happen. The real challenge is how you deal with it.
Always believe in yourself and go your own way, no matter what. That's what I intend to."
www.myspace.com/dualdensity