THP are back and hitting you with another exclusive! Today, we’re honored to share our interview with Edgar Homeros with you. Edgar is an insanely creative singer-songwriter from Sweden who is celebrating the release of new track ‘Televised.’
Our conversation offered such insight into Edgar Homeros’ creative process and mindset, so we’re so happy to share this interview with you right here!
Congratulations on the release of ‘Televised!’ How does it feel to have that track out in the world?
Thank you so much! Honestly, this release along with all of November went by so fast I barely noticed it. Things pass you by and you can’t appreciate them when you’re so caught up in work and wanting to release new things. But now that you mention it, it feels good.
The way ‘Televised’ builds is so cinematic! Can you tell us a little bit about the creative process for that song?
As always per my creative process, it’s all just a mess. I start with something, let’s say a chord progression or loop, then I just throw random sh*t at it until I feel like I’m on to something. If I don’t see results in the first 10 minutes I trash it and move on. I’m extremely impatient. In the case of ‘Televised’ I think I wrote the melodies as soon as I heard the guitar, like 2-3 minutes. I thought it was boring as hell so I tried f***ing it up; first with drums, then with the distorted bass. I thought it was more fun that way.
We imagine that this track would be super cathartic to see performed live. Can you tell us about any gigs you have coming up?
Haha, honestly, I’m terrified of playing it live since it relies so heavily on production, but then again I’m always a harsh self-critic. Maybe I’ll do it justice but probably not. If anything can save it it’s gonna be my band, they are all super talented and make up for most of my shortcomings. Talking gigs, the next one is going to be a small cosy one at Häktet here in Stockholm in December. I’m really excited because while the band and I have been using playback and pre-recorded elements thus far, we’re going to be doing it all live from now on. Feels more genuine that way.
How does anticipating how a song would be performed live play a part in the writing process for you?
Great question actually! I’ve only recently been thinking about that one. When I made the Volatile EP I really had no thought about playing live at all, it just seemed so distant. Like why and when would I be playing these songs? So the thought of how wasn’t ever present in the writing process. But now that it is, I can say that some of the songs are becoming a lot more evolved and interesting. ‘Televised’ is kind of a stepping stone to this new process.
‘Televised’ is your first release since Volatile earlier this year. In what ways do you think your sound has evolved in that time?
Like I said above, ‘Televised’ really feels like a stepping stone. I’ll expand and say that ‘Televised’ to me could have placed on the Volatile project. The new things I’m working on however, now that’s a different story. I can just say that I’m becoming more comfortable in being what I am, and apparently that means a more acoustic soundscape. I’ll leave it at that for now.
We, of course, have to shout out your hit ‘Centerfolds!’ What has the success of that song meant to you? What has it changed for you?
I have no idea! I don’t even know what classifies it as a “success” or a “hit”, and here I am being completely honest. I have nothing released before it, so I have nothing to compare it to. I had no life as an artist before, so again I do not know what that song has changed. I just used to hate it because I was so tired of it, it was the first song I completed on the record, but now I can see the charm. You know perhaps it was more important than what I realize, sometimes I feel blissfully unaware of how precarious the world of music is. You need to be relevant, and that is something I am not, yet.
The harmonies in ‘Centerfolds’ are truly the stuff of dreams. How did you go about recording and producing that track?
Thank you so much! I recorded and produced it here in my bedroom as I usually do, it was a super-fast process. I found all the melodies after a couple of minutes; first the verses, then the bridge, then the chorus. What took me some time was writing the lyrics, but after 20 minutes or so I had the whole thing on paper and started recording. The harmonies just felt like a cool thing to try when I got to the chorus, I looped that part and sang whatever felt right. The whole song was done in probably less than 40 minutes, most if not all of the vocals are first takes. I hate having to do more than one take.
All of your work is super brutally honest, which we absolutely love, but it can also be quite vulnerable to share like that with an audience. Does sharing that rawness sometimes feel daunting or does it come naturally to you?
No not at all, I’m quite surprised you see it that way actually, I feel like I’m holding back quite a bit in my texts. I feel like if I really exposed myself fully I would not have anything left to share to those whom I love, so I restrain myself. Being raw and honest however is a sort of disease I have, a need to be myself. I do not care what people think of me that much. But there is a difference between being yourself and fully exposing oneself. Like I said I do not do the latter and the former is simply a pleasure to me.
You’ve mentioned being inspired by childhood heroes such as Stevie Wonder or Donny Hathaway, but who are some of the artists currently making music that you love or are inspired by?
Yes, they were some of my early inspirations along with Michael Jackson that my father showed me. Currently there are a few amazing artists I love but my current favorite at the moment of writing has to be Dijon, ‘Nico’s Red Truck.’
On the release day of ‘Televised,’ you mentioned on social media that there’s more coming in 2024! What can we look forward to from you next year?
F*** yes there is; if all goes to plan it’s going to be a good year for me. I look at Volatile as a sort of test run. Now it’s time to be serious, not that I was not serious with Volatile but you get my point. ‘Televised’ is a nice send-off to that warmup. 2024 is going to be stressful and I’m very excited.
What’s one of the goals you have your sights set on as you build on the success of ‘Televised’ and Volatile?
The goal is always the same: not dying until I do. And until then, make as much music as possible and to fall in love, because what else is there to do?
This year has been big for you musically, but what have been some of
your highlights in 2023?
Honestly, getting a real job. I work at a grocery store and that sh*t is so f***ing good. I can pay rent; I can eat properly and I don’t have to leech off anyone else’s money. It’s the first real job I’ve had in years, and I love it. I have met wonderful colleagues and have enough time to make music even though I can become quite tired from doing both.
Thanks so much to Edgar Homeros for taking the time to chat with us for this exclusive interview!
What did you think of our conversation? And let us know your thoughts on ‘Televised’ over on Twitter @TheHoneyPOP, or on Facebook or Instagram!
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