Interview: My Sleeping Karma
After 11 years of band history and 5 studio albums, we thought it is a nice gift for the fans and us to release a live record and some bonus material. It just felt right to do this right now.
Absorbing trance inducing melodic post-rock instrumentalists My Sleeping Karma, are about to embark on a European tour to coincide with the release of their first ever live album Mela Ananda, out on February 24th on Napalm Records. At Echoes and Dust, we wondered if it represents a chapter closure in the hitherto band’s career and any seismic shift in sound for future endeavours. So, we caught up with the band who kindly took time out from their upcoming tour rehearsals to find out more.
(((o))): Thanks for taking time out to answer a few questions for Echoes and Dust.
MSK: Thank you for the chance to do this interview!!
(((o))): You are about to release your first live album. Why have you decided now is the right time?
MSK: After 11 years of band history and 5 studio albums, we thought it is a nice gift for the fans and us to release a live record and some bonus material. It just felt right to do this right now.’
(((o))): Does the live album represent the end of one chapter and so begins a new chapter for the band?
MSK: Yes and no. We felt that with the release of Moksha (our latest studio album) we finished a “picture” which we started painting with SOMA (the album before Moksha). That picture is ready now for hanging on the wall.
I don´t think we will change much in our musical style in the future, but surely there will be fresh ideas and more experimental stuff coming up.
(((o))): Where did you record the live album? Was it recorded at one show, or recorded across different shows on a recent tour?
MSK: We recorded several concerts during the Up in Smoke Tour last February and used songs from the “best sounding” shows in Paris, Antwerp and Stuttgart.
(((o))): How did you decide which songs to include? Are they all your personal favourites?
MSK: We are always trying to have an “emotional structure” in our live set, therefore not every MSK song works as good live as on a record. Sometimes we switch song spontaneously to react to the audience feelings. The songs on Mela Ananda reflect the “best played songs” (feeling-wise) of those shows. As we only recorded 4 shows, we unfortunately had no recorded song from the Satya album.
(((o))): Can you tell us more about the meaning of the title of the new album Mela Ananda?
MSK: We see our concerts as a nice and joyful gathering of the band together with their friends and fans. We all share the same vibe, emotions and having a great time. Mela Ananda means “gathering of bliss” and we thought it´s the perfect title for that live album.
(((o))): Who did the artwork to the new album?
MSK: The artwork was again done by Sebastian Jerke. He creates excellent art and has the right understanding for us and our music.
(((o))): Do you have any long-term plans after the upcoming tour e.g. to write and record new material for a new album?
MSK: After the tour we are trying to meet again more often to work on new material. We all have families and live in different parts of the country so it´s sometimes difficult to meet frequently and working straight on new stuff but over the years we got used to it.
(((o))): On your forthcoming European tour are you going to replicate the live album or are there going to be some surprises in your set?
MSK: We are currently rehearsing for the tour and trying to add some different songs.
(((o))): Once again, thanks for answering the above questions. It is much appreciated.
MSK: Thank you as well and hope to see you soon at a concert. Keep your good Karma!!!
Check out the band’s Facebook and website pages for full details and catch the mesmerising MSK on their forthcoming tour.
