Cartographs

author AP date 03/01/19

Having just premiered the first single off their upcoming début album exclusively via our Facebook page, “Wilt & Blossom”, the Danish melodic hardcore turned post-metal group Cartographs have their most important year yet ahead of them. And in that connection, we decided to shoot a series of questions at them regarding their progress as a band thus far, what we can expect from the record when it lands in early March, and how Cartographs hope to ensure their longevity in a domestic scene renowned for fast breaks and short careers. Read on to find out why you need to mark “Wilt & Blossom” amongst the most anticipated releases this year and what 2019 has in store for one of the most exciting young bands in Denmark right now.

RF.net: Let's start with your journey as a band so far. How did it all come to be, and how do you see the state of Cartographs now, compared to when you started out in 2014?
Cartographs: Our music has always been meant to move people, help people and give them a space in which to feel, relax and reflect. When we first started, we were a melodic hardcore band focused more on riffs and cool beats than genuine songwriting. Lyrically the themes where personal battles and sadness. Now we have matured, and the musical approach has changed as well as our philosophy concerning lyrics. Although the core concept of wanting to move and help people has remained the same, it is now reinvigorated and reinforced due to our new mindset. Cartographs has turned a chapter since we first started our journey and we have now found our sound and our passion. We now seek to create something truly beautiful and rough at the same time with our music, combining the sound and lyrics of adventure and epic tales with the ones of despair. We have taken a much more genuine approach to the songwriting, wanting to write genuine pieces of music rather than just songs or tunes. With our influences from beautiful orchestral music and folk songs we have mixed that together with our natural affinity for the harsh side of music and have created a stronger link between the two. The two sides of the same coin, the rough and the delicate. The music is now much more grounded, much more organic than before and much more atmospheric. We feel like we have found our roots. We have put out hands in the earth and found something primal in us all.

RF.net: How did Cartographs come to be a part of the Prime Collective roster, and how has signing with the label influenced your style and sound, as well as your career as a band thus far?
Cartographs: Mirza Radonijca-Bang and the Prime team already made the first contact 3-4 years ago, but we were still way too new in the game then. We’ve been working with Prime on the sidelines for a few years now, but mainly for gigs. We have been following them and have seen them grow and so we thought now it’s the time and the best way for us to go.

RF.net: You have just premiered the first taste of your début album, “Wilt & Blossom”, in the shape of the lead single: “Peace Was Never Mine to Be Found”. To me, both the title and sound of the song imply some kind of inner turmoil — is this an overarching theme of the record as a whole, or am I way off in my hunch?
Cartographs: That is somewhat true, as it is represented in many of the songs on the album, and has always been an important lyrical theme in our writing. The primary subject of the album is the act of repetition, and how the effects of such can spiral both inward and outward.

RF.net: Judging by the lead single, Cartographs have made a pretty significant shift away from melodic hardcore, toward post-metal. What motivated you to make the change, and how do you think your existing fans will react to it?
Cartographs: We love the atmospheric and beautiful side of music and wanted to combine those with the rough side in a way that we have not done before. We wanted to present a piece of music rather than just a song or a tune.

RF.net: Although post-metal is perhaps not the most popular genre in Denmark yet, there is a growing number of other artists playing it now. How do you feel Cartographs stand out from that group?
Cartographs: We have a sense of melody and a folklorish sound that we hope will take the listener on a journey and/or adventure that they can’t get anywhere else.

RF.net: “Wilt & Blossom” was produced by Chris Kreutzfeldt. Was it an easy decision to go with him?
Cartographs: We have worked with him since the start of the band and love his work and workflow.

RF.net: You chose to record the album live as a band instead of separate takes for each instrument. How come?
Cartographs: Recording live is the most authentic way of doing it and it enables us to record our sound exactly as it is.

RF.net: Speaking of ‘live’, have you had to make any adjustments to your showmanship after moving away from your hardcore roots and into more atmosphere-driven music?
Cartographs: We used to have a lot of energy; running around the stage and we would jump into the crowd and go wild, but nowadays there is a more serious tone in our music and so we want to connect to the audience in a different way. We want to convey feelings and atmosphere.

RF.net: Prime Collective has a knack for getting its bands out to play concerts very often, and I’m guessing Cartographs will be playing plenty of gigs this year as well in order to promote the new album. Do you have any specific ambitions with regard to where you would like to play — any bucket list shows that you hope to tick off?
Cartographs: We play wherever we are wanted and are delighted to share our music and atmosphere with anyone who wishes to be a part of it. Specifically, however, playing at the classic Roskilde Festival has been a dream of ours for some time.

RF.net: Do you have some bucket list bands that you would like to share stages with in the future?
Cartographs: Not especially, but we did already have the pleasure of supporting a few great bands that we are big fans of personally.

RF.net: Beyond releasing “Wilt & Blossom” in March and touring in support of it, what do you feel differentiates Cartographs from the many Danish metal artists that burn bright and fast and then disappear as quickly as they emerged?
Cartographs: We have already been around for a little while and had some success. Now we have turned a chapter and we think that’s an important point. You have to keep bettering yourself and improve what you are doing even if that means switching genres or something else. You have to evolve and make something new from time to time and that’s what we hope will keep us afloat.

RF.net: Given that it is the beginning of the new year, I’d like to end this interview with New Year’s Resolutions. Have you set out any things that you want to achieve in 2019?
Cartographs: We only have one resolution and that is sharing our music with as many people as possible and nurturing the band and its sound for the next album to come.

RF.net: Finally, I’ll leave the stage for you — anything you want to shout out to your fans or those of our readers who might not be acquainted with Cartographs yet?
Cartographs: We love engaging with our listeners, so listen to our stuff, write us if you have questions or just wanna talk, take a look at our photos and relax. We hope you will enjoy our work.

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