Sweden’s Orkan returns with their third full-length album, “Vakendrömmar,” out August 28, 2025 via Blåsväder Records. Known for their electrifying live presence and politically charged lyrics, the Gothenburg-based band blends 70s Swedish Prog influences with contemporary urgency. We caught up with Orkan to discuss the making of “Vakendrömmar,” the inspirations behind their most intense and imaginative work yet, and how they continue to push the boundaries of Swedish Folk Rock while staying true to their cultural and musical roots.
Thank you for joining us at Progressive Rock Journal! It’s a pleasure to talk about “Vakendrömmar,” your new album.
To start, could you tell us what the title means to you and how it connects to the album’s overall concept? “Vakendrömmar” translates as “dreaming while awake.” How has this dreamlike, surreal dimension influenced both the music and the lyrics on this album?
The title Vakendrömmar (dreams you dream when you are awake) is a way for us to describe the setting of the entire album – a dreamlike state of consciousness, nightmares about injustices and dreams about how it could be better. It captures both the lyrical themes and the dreamy, reverby vibe of the music.
The opening track, “Vågorna,” has an immediate, hypnotic impact. How did you decide to make this song the first glimpse into your new chapter?
To open the album with a track like Vågorna is maybe not an obvious choice, since it’s not really like any other song we have recorded this far. But then again, the songs on the album all reach for quite different moods and styles, and to really pull the listener into this world of different sounds and feelings, what better way than to start it all off with naked drums and build it up from there? The instrumental section in the middle of the song is perhaps one of the more intense parts of the whole album, which also gives a taste of the energy contained in some of the other tracks,
The lyrics of “Vakendrömmar” tackle political and social themes. How has the current situation in Sweden and Europe shaped your writing?
Our writing is often a reaction to things going on in the world around us. The song Ohyra is probably the most straightforward protest song of the album, and is a reaction to the debate in Sweden about increasing housing inequality and rents. The closing track Vem bryr sig? was written as a reaction to the migration situation and closing borders in Sweden and Europe. Several of the songs came from a more personal starting point, but in a way they also describe our personal experiences of the society we live in.
The figure of the mare from Swedish Folklore is central to the album. How did you interpret this symbol musically and conceptually?
The mare is a symbol for gaining consciousness about injustice – in folklore she sits on our chests when we sleep and forces us to face our nightmares. We think she serves as a perfect metaphor for our music that wants to make you aware of issues around you.
The album blends your Folk-Rock roots with Psychedelic influences. Can you describe the creative process behind balancing these sonic elements?
To be perfectly honest, there really isn’t anything more to it than us writing and playing songs in a way that feels inspiring to us at the moment. Whatever influences one can hear on different songs reflect our headspaces and feelings at a specific point in time.
Orkan draws inspiration from 70s Swedish Prog legends like November and Nationalteatern. Which elements of that era felt most relevant, and how have you reinvented them for today’s audience?
The most central element is how this movement used music and lyrics to highlight needs for societal change. Even though our music is for today’s audience, we don’t think this element has to be reinvented – it stays relevant even though the matters we highlight change.
“Vakendrömmar” shows a greater focus on sonic depth and instrumental layering. How did you work in the studio to achieve this richness?
Compared to our previous records, this time we had a clearer vision of which elements to add to each song besides the ones the five of us could achieve by just rehearsing together. The first step in the studio has always been getting good live takes, but this time we felt even more open to trying out different instruments and effects. Someone knows how to play the flute? Then why not do it! There was a bit of experimenting going on in the studio, and not all of it made the final cut, but the things that are there we really felt added depth to the songs.
Beyond lyrics and music, how important is the visual and conceptual aspect of the album? Are you already thinking about live visuals or stage design that reflect this new world?
For this album we’ve got the mare with us – on the album cover, in the music video for Ytan, and maybe it will be possible to get a glimpse of her on our live shows as well. Maybe we have taken a little step away from the earthy atmosphere of our previous works, and step out into space and a more dreamlike world.
Your live shows have always been intense and iconic. How do you plan to translate the energy of “Vakendrömmar” to the stage? Will there be new dynamics or arrangements specifically for live performances?
We will have some guests helping us out on our upcoming live shows. Some dear friends will join us and make the live shows be even more incredible than we could make them on our own. However we always write songs with the intention that they should work as they are when we play them in a live setting.
After previous releases on Alleycat Records and Gamlestans Grammofonbolag, this is your first album on Blåsväder Records. How has having full creative control affected the process, and what motivated you to launch your own label?
We have never limited ourselves musically or written our songs in a different way just because we were signed to a record label. Writing what we want and how we want and being completely free in that creation has always been a priority. We have never tried to fit into a box in that way. Being able to take musical risks is a big part of the fun of writing music. It just kind of felt like a natural next step right now to start our own record label, it almost felt strange that we had not done it before considering what our processes look like. But it does require a not insignificant amount of knowledge and confidence that we probably haven’t had until now. Having the opportunity to release your album on your own record label is a very special feeling, and one that we do not take for granted.
Each track seems to have a very distinct character, from “Ytan” to “Den som sover ska få se.” How did you decide the track order, and how did you want the listener’s journey to unfold?
Deciding the exact order of songs for an album can be a bit tricky sometimes. But the order we decided to go with seems very natural, at least to us. The opening track Vågorna is followed by the album’s rock anthem Ytan, and then the more punchy Ohyra. The journey then slows down a bit with the softer Symfoni, leading up to the intimate Tröst which concludes the first half. We really had in mind that the album should work well on vinyl, and the fade out of Tröst marks the end of side A. We then kickstart with Den som sover ska få se and keep the tempo up until the for the most part instrumental Sanningen om Spöket puts us back in a more psychedelic and dreamy state of mind. The final track Vem bryr sig? is building up to the loud and dirty guitar solo that ends the record. The track order is always conscious and we hope that the listener will follow the journey from the first song to the last!
The emotional intensity of the album is striking. Were there any moments during writing or recording that surprised or challenged you emotionally as a band?
We’re happy that the emotional intensity is cutting through! Writing and recording are always emotional processes, where the songs are personal to both each individual member and to the band as a whole. For us, writing and recording is usually characterized by focus and intentionality, and excitement, while mixing and releasing the music can provoke anxiety about putting out and hearing peoples’ reactions to this that we’ve poured our hearts into. It truly can be an emotional rollercoaster, but it has definitely ended up in all of us being very proud of what we have created!
Your sound remains deeply rooted in Swedish tradition while embracing contemporary urgency. How do you maintain this balance between past and present without losing your identity?
The way we see it, our identity as a band simply is whatever the result of our creativity is. The way we combine influences from the past with today is just a product of us writing and playing songs in a contemporary setting with the Swedish progg tradition as inevitably intertwined with our understanding of music.
How do you hope “Vakendrömmar” will be received by an international audience, given its strong ties to Swedish musical culture and history?
We don’t think that it is necessary to have any relation to the Swedish musical culture and history to enjoy our music. We think, and hope, that what we stand for and are, shine through regardless. Also, we’re happy if our music can be different things to different people, some people might just think it’s good rock and leave it at that.
Thank you so much for your time and for sharing your thoughts with us. Before we wrap up, is there a message you would like to give to both your long-time fans and new listeners on the occasion of Vakendrömmar’s release?
We’re so proud of this album! We really hope you enjoy it.
Purchase “” on Bandcamp: https://bandetorkan.bandcamp.com/album/vakendr-mmar
[…] Straight from Sweden, Orkan share insights into their creative journey and the inspirations behind their Psych/Prog sound. An exclusive interview to get a closer look at their artistic vision. [Read the full interview] […]