Swedish outfit OH HIROSHIMA have come a long way since the release of their debut album in 2011 Resistance is futilewho confidently built on these foundations over the last decade and became a prominent figure in the post-rock scene. What was once a quartet is now the brotherly duo of Jacob Hemström And Oscar NilssonAlthough this change took some time, the two are now happy with the newly released Everything shiny.
“We feel like we’ve picked up the pace a bit for the band and are in a state where we feel very creative and want to keep that momentum going,” explains Jacob“As soon as Myriads (2022) was released, we started writing for the new album. We went in a new direction and incorporated a lot of different styles into the music that had always been there on some level, but we wanted to make sure they shine through. It was a lot different than jamming with more people and kind of piecing together songs on the fly in a rehearsal room. This time we were bringing ideas to each other and seeing how we could contribute within that structure. Sometimes you miss the collaborative aspect, but there’s a lot more creative freedom this way.”
Everything shiny shows a clear evolution in the development of their signature, expansive sound, where many different instrumentations are sprinkled into the mix to expand their already colorful offering. Particular attention was paid to the inclusion of vocals. “In the past, we would write the instrumental parts first and then look at where we could add vocal parts to enhance the songs,” explains Jacob. “I think this was the first time we wrote parts with vocals in mind and with the intention of adding them. I was humming melodies alongside my guitar playing and wanted vocals to take up more space in the arrangement. The opportunities to perform live with this project were pretty limited, but we definitely want to get out there and play shows and festivals and it’s fun to play songs with more vocals.”
Post-rock is synonymous with expansive soundscapes and vibrant textures. Some artists prefer to use fewer songs with a longer running time, and others prefer to divide their creations into more compact chapters, especially when a theme or concept ties them all together. This is another factor that OH HIROSHIMA pay close attention during the writing process.
“In the past, we have set out to write a limited number of songs, but this time we probably had more than twice as much material as on the album,” says Jacob“Some of the material was already written before Myriads that we felt didn’t really fit with our vision. This time it felt natural to introduce them into the collection. I don’t usually focus on a common thread or concept when writing lyrics, but when you put the overall product and song titles together, there’s usually something that ties everything together. If you’re in a certain state of mind when you write, it can flow into your creations, and this time it’s all about the theme of maintaining your youthfulness, trying not to grow old and cynical, and making sure the world retains its shine and wonder.”
Creating compositions of this magnitude requires a lot of choreography and careful placement to ensure that the multitude of layers fit seamlessly into the overall picture and do not get lost or drowned in the arrangement. Jacob has a special ability that many creative minds would envy. “An idea usually comes from just playing around on an acoustic guitar at home on the couch. I record it on my phone and have hundreds of these short clips. Then you see how you can expand on that idea. I can usually picture in my head what instruments should go with it, so a lot of my compositions come from my imagination. Then I make a demo and move the pieces around to see where we can get with it.”
“All Things Shining” is available now via Pelagic Records.
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