Formula Indie Sessions _ Interview with Dread Spectre Council

Dread Spectre Council originated as Kenneth Amundsen’s solo-moniker compiling years of

archival demos reimagined and re-recorded, first presented through the debut EP “Dystopia/Eons” feat.

Dale Crover (Melvins/Nirvana/Redd Kross) on drums. On Thetans Kenneth plays all instruments,

records and mixes himself in a solitary catharsis. A gang of co-conspirators is lurking to join for future

releases and tours. Singles are released digitally prior to the physical edition.

“Chiming guitar fuzz and earnest pop songwriting reminiscent of Sub Pop-era Sebadoh and Mary Timony’s

solo material.” – Ron Hart, SPIN MAGAZINE

“Hooves & Cloves is a hazy, heart-on-sleeve anthem that wraps raw emotion in layers of lo-fi shimmer and nostalgic grit. Dread

Spectre Council captures the ache of quiet moments with a sound that’s both tender and jagged at the edges”. – Buzzyband

“Norway’s Dread Spectre Council and the screaming slacker sludge guitars and gothic dark folk fables of “Hooves & Cloves” is

a “We’re not in Kansas anymore!” kind of creation.” – American Pancake

“Dread Spectre Council Releases Hex’s Up, a Dark and Immersive Track You Can’t Pass Up ️ 🎶 Listen Now” – Freim TV.

“a hint of poetry in every move made on Hooves and Cloves”. -GLIDE Magazine

What is your earliest memory connected to music?
I am told I was into everything music very early. Sneaking around the family stereo, checking
to see how a bar of chocolate sounded inside the cassette deck was one of my early
experimental performances. But from what I remember myself, it will have to be, messing
around with the living room organ at home. I remember playing some sad melancholic
sounds. So early emo too I guess.

How did your passion for creating music begin?
I would think around the same time. I must have been 4-5 years old. I got a baby size guitar
around that age, and I used to put on shows for people visiting our house. I used an empty
cable tumbler, with a stick inside, and a soft foamy tennis-ball on top as a mic and stand.
And I didn’t appreciate hecklers back then it is said.

What’s the story behind your current music project?
So.. ever since.. ever. I record stuff. Snippets and bits of ideas. Very unstructured, as it’s on
phones, dictaphones, computers and whatever nearby. I hadn’t really fronted my own
songwriting since my old band Mindy Misty. In part because I thought I hadn’t written much.
But as I eventually went through it, I found I had been writing all this time. I found 600+
recordings on there, and so I started curating and turning some of them into finished songs.
The completion, I find, is the hardest part, so that shines through in all my escaped
beginnings.

How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music
before?
I’d say. Guitar and melody-oriented indie rock with some lyrical folky input and mournfulness.
(But they’ve probably left mid-sentence).

What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music?
Maybe that input and output can be quite different, and that what you pick up best turns into
your own voice unforced. Kill yr. Idols and do you!

What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process?
To me it often is very guitar driven, initially anyway. For this particular record the studio really
became an essential tool since I played all the instruments myself. But I appreciate starting
on unfamiliar instruments sometimes to break the patterns a bit.

Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?
Love Big Dummy, Hounding, Wombo, Nervous Verbs, Andre Borgen, Urobune
are some of many.

How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision?
I think all impactful life experiences weave into your creative output one way or another.
Having lived through some grit and at times the grit you instigated yourself, at least can
make for some valuable perspective if you acknowledge it. The sincerity in that has a way of
transcending universally between humans I believe.

What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work?

I mean, I’m borderline hippie, so I hope it says “luv is all”, somehow. But really I just hope the
sincerity I’ve put into it connects with others out there.

What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far?
Don’t quit your day job.

What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at?
Oh, that’s a long list. But Primavera Sound is up there.

If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?
I have recently conspired with a pack of rascals to possibly do some shows next year.
So just now I am very excited to collaborate with Svein Egil Hatlevik (Dødheimsgard/Zweizz)
Trond Harald Jensen (Laconic Zero) Roy Amundsen (Star Bug) and Espen Strøm (Far From
Tellus). I am still living off the high of having Dale Crover play on my debut EP last year.
Also I am very lucky to collaborate with visual artist Monica Fosser in all the coveraesthetics
on this project. I’ve always wanted to work with Beck tho, he always keeps a box of magic.

Where can our listeners follow and support your music?
instagram @dreadspectrecouncil
Facebook /dreadspectrecouncil
Tik Tok @dreadsc
www.dreadspectrecouncil.com
www.handmaderecords.net
Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical
journey?
I hope to continue to make more records and tour with this new version of the band.
What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way?
Anything that speaks to them somehow.