Dark Optimism
SOEN
Cris Cohen: The common through-line to a lot of the music is what I would call “dark optimism.” You address very heavy, serious issues facing the world today, but there’s always this glimmer of hope. Where does that hope come from for you?
Joel Ekelöf of SOEN: We take life kind of lightly, with a smile. We smile a lot on the tour bus and on tours, and we have fun. I try to smile a lot during shows as well, because it gets pretty unbearable if it’s only darkness and melancholy. But in a way, melancholic music gives me relief. It gives me joy. I think it gives the music a certain meaning if you address the more difficult topics.
Cris Cohen: I like the fact that there’s always a hopeful twist in the end about overcoming all the darkness.
Joel Ekelöf: Because otherwise it gets unbearable. If it’s just “good night, everything goes to hell, let’s just die,” that doesn’t work. So we address the things that are dark and problematic, but there has to be a way out. There’s always hope, and I believe in mankind.
SOEN website: https://www.soenmusic.com/
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