Even when it’s an order from A Perfect Circle, I can’t. It’s hard to close your eyes when silver shines from the corners of the nights and the mornings are edged in gold.
Photo credit: Regin Hjertholm
“This is not a girl’s guitar”
… and that would be a Les Paul to be exact. Indeed a heavy infiltration creator with a testosterone loaded sound. Perfect for the rat suit vibe as long as the girl doesn’t have to play it! Aaron did an amazing job nailing the tracks and I’m thrilled with the sound of the guitar.
Knobs of the finest kind…
We recorded the guitar at Mark Plati’s cool and comfy studio in the East Village. It has such a nice vibe and being there feels like hanging out at a very good friends house. It was pure Danish hygge discussing subjects such as music, Danish pork, music and music in between recording.
You know you’re with geeks when your iPhone accidentally plays 0,5 seconds of a song in your iTunes library. Mario: Was that Morrisey? Aaron: The Smiths? Spot on boys…
Aaron’s custom made brown brick of awesomeness.
Be sure to check out Aarons band The Madison Square Gardeners. They are playing in Brooklyn at the Rock Shop February 24th so I get a change to see them live while I’m here – weeeee! They have an EP and a loaded tour calendar including SXSW coming up.
Stars and stripes and sunshine
Rise and shine! What a beautiful day to wake up to after a great flight and a great nights sleep. Thank you Pete for the flag reminder minimizing location confusion waking up from jet-lag sleep: I can on only be in America or at Burger King, Rådhuspladsen.
The first two days here Mario and I went through the songs at his home studio getting everything in place and making the final decisions about arrangement, tempo and drum sounds. Before I arrived Mario and his friend Sterling did a number of electronic drums for ‘Hotels Terminus’, and they sound spot on. We will record real drums for ‘United we stand apart’.
“Oh, you are looking to make that really strong European coffee?” Exactly, miss shop assistant.
I have spend a lot of time walking around, soaking in the city, doing yoga and stocking up on my essentials from Whole Foods such as fruits and nuts and tea and espresso and chocolate and my newest addiction that Cristiaana got me into: shortbread biscuits and almond butter.
Gluten free since 1988? I know I’m not. Great almond butter to fit in your bag. God bless America.
This nice weather man (yes yes, it is in fact him) has been pouring heat and sun all over New York City since I arrived. Thank you! (great hipster 2008 glasses btw)
The recording plan goes like this: guitar, drums, vocals x 2 days, keys, piano, mixing, mastering. Love it, love it, love it.
And on that note…
see you in New York…
Travelling essentials:
Pure love.
The Mitch Buchannon of creams.
Book of secrets.
Very dark chocolate.
Mark your calendar – gig in April
I’ll be playing at Upcoming Onsdag April 13 at Huset Magstræde with two of my favorite rock n’ rollers: Baek & Korff from Honolulu Blitz. This time with live drums, never seen before in the history of A Girl in a Rat Suit. Pretty damn exciting.
On guitar: Kristian Baek
On drums: Martin Korff
Highly inspiring
“Blah, blah, restricted, blah bla” – please go to Youtube and watch it – and preferably watch the entire documentary:
Stretching my etching and sketching skills
In between all the demo making and working, I shot a music video for an old song of mine: 42 inches. I it did together with the talented, incredibly sweet and cool Jonas Krüger, who I met when Morgensang was created back in September. It’s a creative collective of all sorts, sharing a space in Copenhagen NV at an old piano factory.
A half-finished snake
Jonas was filming, instrcuting and is also doing the editing. I was just etching and sketching for hours and hours. He will do the finishing editing in the next few days, so stay tuned for the premiere.
A quick survey the night between Saturday and Sunday made it clear that no one could tell that this hands was holding a fish. Creative suggestions such as a parsnip, tepee, rocket and a hornets’ nest made it clear that we had to redo the fish. Luckily all the other motives came out great…
Thanks to my friends for helping me with camera, equipment and light.
This image of me and my Washburn will also be in the video.. etch’ed of course.
If you look good tired, there is no excuse for not being in a rock band
This girl could be in my band. Love her. By one of my favorite photographers Valerie Phillips.
Travel heavy
I got this very old and very heavy suitcase from my grandfather Boy, who got it from another family member Lorenz Meesenburg (1878-1954), a Latvian consul, who clearly traveled the world and then some with this suitcase. It’s absolutely beautiful and so full of history and soul.
I named the song Hotel Terminus after this sticker. A while ago Kristian was recording a bunch of random guitar riffs that I had on my phone, we needed something to call them, the suitcase was in the room, the sticker caught my eye and the title just stuck.
Wear and tear of the most beautiful kind.
I have a guitar riff named Bad Brambach too…
It’s recording time
At some point in your life you have to stop imagining yourself being Willie Nelson looking super uncomfortable in front of that microphone, face your fears and actually start recording something. For A Girl in a Rat Suit, this is now.
For the last few months I have created new demo songs and driving Mario (who is producing) crazy with my lack of click tracks, quantizing skills and not knowing a D from a C. Somehow two songs emerged from this messy chaos that we agreed upon doing. At this point, this is what I know:
– I’ll be leaving for New York February 14th – recordings starts February 16th
– I’ll be bringing my laptop and my so-called voice. Mario is in charge of musicians of all kinds, studios, recordings, mixing and guiding me to the best local chocolate shops (the last part, I haven’t presented to him yet)
– I will record two songs: ‘United we stand apart’ and ‘Hotel Terminus’.
– I will call this project ‘We are not amused’. Thank you über cool 90-year old Helen from England, who I met this summer in Norway, for the title.
A Girl in a Rat Suit 
