THE VINTAGE CARAVAN defy all odds

25. March 2021

The Vintage Caravan

THE VINTAGE CARAVAN trotzen allen Widrigkeiten

Sweat is obviously part and parcel of The Vintage Caravan: They owe their reputation as an excellent live band among other things to very movement-intensive concerts, bassist Alexander Örn Númason is a semi-professional trail runner, the studio sessions for the fifth album "Monuments" turned out to be an endurance sport. And the Icelanders can chat enduringly as well.

eclipsed: You started your own podcast during the crisis. How did it come about?

Alexander Örn Númason: We are all podcast fans, and some people thought it would be fun to listen to us chatter endlessly. Also, it's always been important to us to maintain an open relationship with our fans - which is of course difficult during the pandemic. So now they can participate more in our lives and we in theirs.

eclipsed: In one episode, you talk about the problematic romanticization of rock stardom, as there are often mental health issues behind "sex, drugs & rock'n'roll" clichés. That's often forgotten when indulging in crazy stories ...

Númason: Yeah, that's true. You know, we tour a lot, and I've been a part of stories like that. You experience a lot and you have fun. But it also opens your eyes. When I meet someone on tour today, I know that's just a normal person doing normal things in their life. The mystique wears off. Behind all the stories, a lot of times it's just adults dealing with their feelings in an uncomfortable way instead of being really cool.

eclipsed: You guys are a live band first and foremost. How did you experience the pandemic?

Númason: It was tough at first. We had just finished recording the album when it really started. Summer festivals and a tour in the fall were already planned and then, of course, couldn't happen. Strange, because we had been touring for a good part of the previous six years. However, it gave us the opportunity to reflect on things and try new things. When you're playing in a dedicated rock band, there's always a lack of time for that - that goes for your private life as well. As a live band it was a shock at first, but in the end it was a blessing in disguise. We are also a studio band. I think "Monuments" is our best studio work. As composers and arrangers we have learned a lot.

THE VINTAGE CARAVAN - Whispers (Official Video) | Napalm Records

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