Dear readers, we are pleased to offer you in this article an interview with a Swedish band that combines Prog, Doom and Nordic Folk. We welcome Patrik Andersson Winberg from Dun Ringill.
Hello, how are you?
“Hello! We are doing great. We just got back from a 5-date German tour together with the band Iron Walrus. It was so much fun and a great success. We are extra happy to finally receive the physical copies of our album at last after a long delay. The product looks and sounds sooooo awesome.“
What is the meaning of your band name Dun Ringill?
“We took the name from a Jethro Tull song on the album “Stormwatch.” Ian Anderson, the songwriter and main man of Tull, wrote this song when he lived close to the old Iron Age fortress called Dun Ringill. I visited this place once as a Tull fan, and it is a magical location with a great vibe in the surroundings. When Tomas and I, vocals, formed this band, we aimed to start a Doom band with a prog feeling à la Jethro Tull, and we felt that this was a good way to honor Tull as an
influence.“
Your style combines Doom, Prog and Folk, where does your passion for these sounds come from?
“”The Doom style has been a part of our lives since Tomas and I started to play music together in Doomdogs. After that, I was a member of The Order of Israfel, also a doom band. When that band took a break, it felt natural to play doom together again with my good friend Tomas. We wanted to add a little twist to the doom style by incorporating some Swedish folk music. Everything fell into place when we began to rehearse and jam on new songs with the band’s lineup. Everyone in the band loved it, so we stuck to it.“
Your third album ‘Where The Old Gods Play – Act 1’ was released in August 2023, how would you describe this work?
“Without Covid, this concept album would not have seen the light of day. It all began after we released “Library of Death” in July 2020. Jens, on guitars, suggested to me, “Let’s do a concept album.” I initially felt overwhelmed, knowing the amount of work it would take not only to write the lyrics but also to come up with a compelling storyline. So, I initially said NO WAY. However, three days later, I read a book by Yuval Noah Harari called “Sapiens,” where he explained that congregations or companies can function well without a strong leader up to a group size of 150 people. Beyond that, it doesn’t work without a strong leader. This concept laid the foundation for our album, where a priest in a small parish leads with a gentle hand, but everything changes when the group exceeds 150 people. Now, he, Nathaniel, transforms into a dictator with a hidden agenda. Lucia, the main character, joins the parish and loves it, but over time, she becomes fearful and turns against Nathaniel. The story concludes with a big twist. To develop the storyline, I enlisted the help of my friend Jonas Granath. As we delved into the creative process, we also turned the storyline into a movie script. To enhance the album’s comprehensibility, we had a friend create illustrations for each song, and the lyrics are included in both the CD and vinyl releases, allowing the listener to follow the story at home. The music had to align with the lyrics, making it a challenging task to write and arrange the songs to fit the concept and storyline. We worked on these songs for 1 ½ years before recording the album. The result is 80 minutes of music, constituting a double album. However, the label decided to release it as two separate single albums, with the first album marked “to be continued” on the sleeve.“
Elaborate and engaging tracks, it will be interesting to listen to them live, do you have any plans in this regard?
“When Act 2 is released, we are planning to do at least one show where we play both albums in a single performance, accompanied by projections of illustrations and some video parts as well. Hopefully, this will take place this fall. Originally, it was supposed to be this spring, but the pressing plant messed up the delivery of Act 1, so we have had to postpone Act 2 accordingly.“
This is your third album, how has your sound evolved over time?
“We worked hard to find the right DR sound, and we were close on the “Library of Death” album. However, when we got our new drummer, Neil Grant, everything fell into place. We are a tight unit today, playing well together, allowing us to challenge ourselves more and write more complex songs.“
How do you see the modern music scene in your country and beyond?
“There are so many great bands and cool people working in the music industry, but it is really hard to get gigs and sell albums today. Despite the anticipation that it would be like a dam bursting once Covid was over, it is, on the contrary, even harder now to secure gigs than before the pandemic.“
How difficult is it (if at all) to succeed in the modern music market with a more sophisticated genre like yours?
“It’s incredibly challenging, especially since young people are more into pop music and TikTok watching. Our songs are so long that they can span between 24-60 TikTok videos each. In the midst of the media noise, the best way to break through is to play live and get people talking about your band.“
What advice would you give to new artists approaching music by proposing sounds like yours?
“‘Stay strong and believe in your idea, don’t give up, and have fun.’ That’s a great mantra! Persistence, belief, and enjoyment in what you do can make a significant difference. Keep pushing forward!“
Do you have any other activities or artistic passions outside music?
“It’s wonderful to have diverse interests outside of your musical pursuits. Writing movie scripts, cooking as a chef, and spending time with friends and family are fantastic ways to find balance and inspiration also varied hobbies like brewing beer, skiing, and watching soccer. These activities not only provide personal fulfillment but can also contribute to a rich and well-rounded creative mindset within the band. Keep enjoying your passions!“
I thank Patrik Andersson Winberg and Dun Ringill for the interview, wishing them all the best for the continuation of their artistic career.
Read ou Review of their new album here: [Review] Dun Ringill – 150-Where the Old Gods Play Act 1