The legendary producer/writer/DJ/musician from Norway unleashes his new album on Anjunabeats
October 30th sees Anjunabeats release the debut album from long standing label artist and Anjuna family member Boom Jinx, titled ‘No Answers In Luck’. Øistein’s music career spans over 20 years, having worked on music for advertising, video games, TV and film – including the biggest TV series at the time ‘CSI: Miami’ and ‘CSI: Las Vegas’, plus Electronic Arts’ ‘Need For Speed: Shift’. 6 years after creating the Boom Jinx guise, this album could well be his most defining moment to date…
Interview by Dan Prince
Øistein’s a huge welcome to DMCWORLD – where in the world are you today?
Good morning! It’s 6:12am and I’m at home, in Bergen, Norway.
What was the first piece of music you heard this morning after rolling out of bed?
I have to admit it was some of my own work. More specifically, Boom Jinx & Meredith Call – Bring Me Back Around (Boom Jinx Chill Out Remix).
So an exciting few weeks for you with the release of your brand new album ‘No Answers In Luck’ swinging our way via Anjunabeats…please give us a few words on your new 13 musical babies…
Boom Jinx – Forethought
There’s a lot of jazzy, “musical lounge” in yours truly, and this is a good example of that. It’s also one of those pieces where you can hear this album wasn’t just created with mouses and keyboards.
Boom Jinx & Meredith Call – Bring Me Back Around
Something, something, something, Boom Jinx…Something, something, something- Meredith Call is awesome.
Boom Jinx & Meredith Call – The Dark (Album Edit)
The album edit of The Dark. Epic description. What do I win?
Boom Jinx & Aruna – Light As A Feather
For lack of better words, a proper song. I’m obviously biased but I can’t help but feel this is Aruna’s best songwriting to date.
Boom Jinx & Fatum feat. Katrine Stenbekk – Coming Home (Album Edit)
A banger with soul?
Boom Jinx & Soundprank feat. Kerry Leva – Don’t Let Me Go
A downtempo, musical journey where Soundprank and I explored our love for jazz, groove, production, self-inflicted food poisoning and birdwatching. Kerry Leva be like icing on da cake yo.
Boom Jinx & Soundprank feat. Janai – Running Away
A homage to my Soul, Deep House and Acid Jazz days.
Boom Jinx & Soundprank feat. Katrine Stenbekk – We Know (Album Edit)
Another banger with soul? Is this what they call Trouse? I have no idea what I’m talking about. Amazing work on both this and Coming Home by songstress Katrine Stenbekk. I’m so proud to premiere her to the EDM community. Stay away from her, folks! She’s mine. (She’s gonna kill me for this.)
Boom Jinx & The Blizzard – Senja
A slightly retro progressive trance piece with a nod to the early days of Anjunadeep, inevitably with a lot of Norwegian spirit.
Boom Jinx – Lunar Arcade
A homage to my roots; Commodore, Nintendo, Tim Follin, Namco, Capcom, video games, arcades, Jazz Fusion, umm… Japan?
Boom Jinx feat. Justine Suissa – Half The Man
Something Justine and I recorded in London at the same time we recorded Phoenix From The Flames. That’s gotta be at least 5 years ago now. This went in countless directions before it ended up in its final form, quite recently I might add, and I have reason to believe it will present itself in other forms in the future.
Boom Jinx, Thomas Bergersen & Meredith Call – Ahead Of The Storm I think once you hear this, you’ll understand why I have no idea what to write here.
Boom Jinx & Thomas Bergersen – Forgotten September
A reinterpretation (now, that’s an understatement) of my second Anjuna release, Remember September. People who remember that might get a kick out of this, but I suspect this will come as the biggest surprise on the album regardless.
You are well known for being a perfectionist who works obsessively with details and mixing. How long did the album take to create?
I don’t think anybody really knows anymore. Since the process began, we’re talking about 7 years. Some of the album’s content admittedly came and went over the years. I anticipate parts of an unfinished second album will be played at my funeral.
There is a well known saying of – “all good things come to those who wait”…how true are these words when commenting on your debut album?
Speaking for myself, very much so. The project was (and still is) so important to me, the fact it dragged on for so long eventually became a huge psychological burden. There were times I felt it would never end, and there were unforeseen “obstacles” along the way. Truth be told, there have been at least 2-3 times where I was sure it was finished. Now that it’s left my hands, I’m still occasionally hit with a mixed bag of feelings, but there’s no doubt I’m in the middle of a long overdue “life reboot” of sorts.
Speaking for everyone else, well…we’ll just have to wait and see.
“I think it’s really healthy for artists doing albums to think outside the box.” Discuss…
I’m not even sure I went that far outside the box because it’s become a big box over the years. I’ve done music for a living since I was 16 and so I’ve had to explore so many types, styles or genres in music (in hindsight, I think just writing types here would suffice (I clearly have no idea how to edit text (okay, now this is getting out of control))), let’s just say finding more than one way of expressing myself musically doesn’t require a lot of effort on my part, although I tend to stick to what I feel I do best.
Tough question but I know you’re up to it – what is your favourite track on the album?
Lunar Arcade or Forethought… or Forgotten September.
It’s that time of year again, the Top100DJs Poll. The chart has already leaked out with Martin Garrix toppling Hardwell, Avicii, David Guetta and co…what are your thoughts on the modern day DJ in 2015? Is there enough creativity out there?
I think you just answered your own question. Let’s just say I agree. What’s for dinner?
When was the last time you had a really good dance to a DJ?
Above & Beyond, Las Vegas, 2009. For the record, I don’t dance. In fact, it should be illegal for me to even try. Sure, I move onstage, but don’t you dare tell me that’s dancing. I’m a disgrace to the dancing community.
What is the Norwegian scene like at the moment? It wasn’t so long ago you were saying in interviews that it was still undeveloped?
And it still is. A Boom Jinx show can sell a few hundred tickets in my home town, a few thousand in certain places in Africa. I’m pretty indifferent to it because the best chance of Norwegians like me (EDM artists and DJs) becoming known in Norway is because we’re known elsewhere, and that’s not the type of recognition you want as an artist.
An up and coming artist to watch out for in 2016?
Haywyre.
Not many people know this, but Øistein Johan Eide is really good at…
Accomplishing whatever he sets his mind to. I have a somewhat obsessive personality. Calling me moderate would make certain people laugh. I’m also godlike at losing personal belongings. There would be nothing left of me if limbs were detachable. (Where the hell did that come from?)
And finally, gotta ask – did your new neighbours in your apartment block mention you trying to break into their home by mistake?!??!?
I have yet to encounter them since the… incident. Thanks for reminding me. We shall never speak of this again.
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‘No Answers In Luck’ News & Tour Dates: http://po.st/BoomJ
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