The Brvtalist is pleased to premiere a new track from Vanity Productions. “White Ribbons On The Ceiling” comes off the new 12”, But All Spiked (Posh Isolation) and sees Danish artist Christian Stadgaard expand on his already impressive body of work under his Vanity Productions alias. The release features five pieces that veer surely yet subtly through a complimentary range of acousmatic environments. The works are emotive, delicate yet powerful with Stadgaard’s finely tuned touch leaving a lasting imprint on each piece. Today we premiere the first track from the release and also speak with the artist about the record, his solo work and more (see below).

But All Spiked is out October 16th on vinyl and digital. Pre-order yours now from Posh Isolation.

-JRS

The Brvtalist: Tell us about But All Spiked. What was your approach to the record and was it any different to previous Vanity Production releases?

Vanity Productions: I have a background in noise music, and to a large extent still consider myself to be a noise musician. But in recent years I’ve found myself more sensible to the noise of the world: the media information, SoMe information, the whole postmodern media storm. 2020 is the loudest noise record I have ever heard. So my aim was to do the opposite, to reduce the noise, to reduce information, and to make an expressive record using as little means as possible. I think there has always been an aspect of minimalism to my music, but this record is the most reductionist I have ever gone.

TB: Today we premiere the first track, “White Ribbons On The Ceiling”. It’s a great introduction to the powerful melancholy and acoustic sound of the record. Tell us about the song and any concepts or themes behind it.

VP: The whole album is about hitting rock bottom, impossible love, friendships lost and that long, long journey towards the light at the end of the tunnel. Since this is the opening track - the opening scene –its meant to touch all these themes. But as such I hope it will appeal to anyone who has been going through hard times in life.

TB: You are involved with a few other projects but Vanity Productions is a solo endeavor. Talk about what the project represents for you and what you want to do with it.

VP: Often I find myself out of touch with my feelings, but then I listen to the music made during a certain period and I can tell from that. Vanity Productions often acts like a mental reflection of how I feel. I know it sounds like a terrible cliché, but that is how it is. Often Vanity touches more existential themes than other of my projects.

TB: How has the pandemic period been for you? Have you found any silver linings perhaps?

VP: The last couple of years I have been traveling quite extensively with music. I love traveling and I love playing music, but during this period I realized that lifestyle does not fit very well with an ordinary everyday life. Since I have an 8 years old son, I have responsibilities beyond my own well-being and myself. It’s a code I’m trying to break, as I’m sure many musicians before me have tried. I’m just trying to live well and be healthy; I was a national team swimmer in my youth and I took up swimming again, and spend as much time with my kid as possible. But of course the pandemic has been a disaster for me and pretty much everyone else involved in electronic music.

TB: What’s coming up next for you?

VP: At the moment I’m working with a very old friend of mine who is releasing his first novel this November. His writing is somewhere between the Danish writer Hans Scherfig and the French writer Michel Houellebecq, two artists I myself enjoy very much. A few shows are planned where he’ll be reading from his book and me and two other musicians playing improvised music to it. This is a completely new way of working for me. And I guess that’s the whole point of all music I’m involved in; to always move, to always try new things, to look for something I have not heard or done before.