Axel Flóvent

Interview & Article by Gabrielle Groves

Photo by: Magnus Andersen

Away From This Dream is the sophomore album from alt-pop singer-songwriter and producer Axel Flóvent who is known for melodious songs such as “Forest Fires” and “City Dream.” Released on June 7th, the album touches on themes of obsessive-compulsive disorder and codependency with the hum of a Juno-60 synth keyboard in the background. The Icelandic artist has a lot to say in just 10 tracks as he lays out his fears and anxieties for his 566k+ monthly Spotify listeners and beyond.

If you could describe your new album, Away From This Dream, in three words, what would they be?

Axel: “Dreamy, Cloudy & Moody.”

You’ve said that this album contains ‘anthems for the codependent’, and that you yourself have dealt with codependency and OCD. What is something that you wish more people understood about these two things?

Axel: “I guess I wanna raise awareness with my experiences [regarding] what it is like to have these heavy tools in your backpack. I just want to paint a picture of it but like with everything, it’s not a reason to not improve as a person and use it as an excuse to act poorly or not nice and then say, ‘I had nice intentions so don’t reject me.’ I think a lot of the time as a codependent and a people pleaser, you think you got this card in your hand and if you raise it people are not allowed to reject you, disagree with you or disapprove of your actions. Just because you think you’re acting nice, the reason you're acting nice might be more important than the action itself. Which I have been made aware of multiple times throughout different relationships. But…. like with a lot of things this is just my opinion on a running subject, not an issue, not a statement, not a fact. And it goes without saying because believe me, I have not mastered the counter and am still always trying to be nice until I get SICK of myself, and then I know I’m not doing it for the right reason. 

OCD on the other hand in my experience is not the washing of the hands 600 times before leaving the house, but it is the struggle between where to stand on any given problem I have. The endless amount of doubt and questioning that goes all the way to the moon and back with no result and overthinking becomes the obsessive compulsive pattern. I think about finding a solution, but the solution is never to be found because it has not been presented to me. It won’t [be presented] before I live through the very thing I’m trying to know before I experience it. IT’S EXHAUSTING. But I’m working with a VERY good therapist and won't stop meeting him any time soon. I think talking about all of it openly and with a lot of love and understanding for yourself and the problems is the only way.” 

What was the inspiration for the album cover? How did you come up with the concept?

Axel: “I had the title and of course the biggest mood words for the visuals were “moody,” “dreamy,” “hazy” so the director of all the music videos for the album, Magnus Andersen, and I sat down and started drawing up ideas for what we could do. One thing that came early were the lights [because] we knew we wanted to use the neon red and blue. Very A24 of us.

The balloons kinda came in the process of seeing some dreamy photos online with balloons. We had this idea of creating a bit of a dream world with the lights, a haze machine, a bike and balloons which in development and evolution became the music video for “When the Sun Goes Down,” the first single on the album. In one of the scenes we were at a parking lot with a lot of space and open feel to it, and had the feeling to take a good amount of photos in this setting. I had a feeling that was gonna be the moment I would use as the album cover. We took a lot of photos with lights in different places with me on the bike, but Magnus put his direction hat on and told me to lie down just with the balloons. We had an amazing shot so it was definitely an idea that came in the moment and not directed in itself for the cover art, but a happy little accident.” 

How do you create such dream-like melodies?

Axel: “I’m such a big fan of this dreamy world that I live in [with] reverb and 80’s synth sounds. The dreamy melodies just come when I turn on the right instruments, which is a total cliche but it’s true. Sometimes I feel like I have nothing to do with it.”

What part of the music-making process is your favorite?

Axel: “The production part. It’s still a thing I haven’t quite mastered and I try to improve, but I almost like to be able to produce it and make it sound as good as I can. Then usually I get experts to take it even further, but I also have done that enough times now that I’m confident and excited to start producing myself. I rely on my own production, and who knows maybe [I will] produce for others as well.” 

Will you continue to use the Juno-60 in future tracks? Or will you stick to the acoustic guitar?

Axel: “I think the Juno will always bleed through here and there, but it will never be such a distinct element in a future project I think. This was the juno project for me so nothing will ever overtake that. What’s next I’m not totally sure, but it’s gonna be something totally different I think.” 

What are some topics that you’d like to write about/explore in your music that you haven’t already? 

Axel: “Something outside of myself. I’m a very self-involved songwriter, and I have relied on writing about my own feelings to this day. I’d like to think there is growth in being able to be emotionally descriptive about things you care about that aren’t so revolved around the self, but who knows where that will take me.”

You’ve always been a big fan of artists who “evolve on each album.” Name two to three artists that you think have had a great musical evolution.

Axel: “My all time favorite bands have this exact example, and is the main reason I’ve never fallen off the fan wagon. The 1975 & Bon Iver.”

Let us know what is next for you! :)

Axel: “With a lot of months of promo and touring, I have some time for some writing this summer so I’m very excited to spend the next weeks and months in the studio. But first I have a UK run from [the] 1st to 3rd of July which I’m excited about, and hopefully we’ll have some more music and touring planned very soon.”