SOURCE – This is your first album. What makes an album like Meta stand out?
Fredrik Bendiksen Bergersen (Vocals) – I think that the collaboration with us as musicians, who all comes from different angles of rock/metal, really put a touch to the sound on “Meta”. The burning wish of making something that would push the boundaries of what the majority of music, regarding our set genre, produces these days. We wanted to make quirks but still keep the “pop” elements with hooks and sublime choruses to stand out. With the theme of the lyrics and the sound of the album being what it is, we hoped to convey with the audience listening to it.
SOURCE – Can you talk about the concept behind the album?
Fredrik Bendiksen Bergersen (Vocals) – In the center of what made us create what we did, stands a need for communicating what mental state a human being can go through in his/her life. But the albums algorithms change when it is approached by different personalities. So the concept is really up to each listener to kinda interpret on their own. Each story is different. What makes me, me, does not make you, you. If the song means something different for you, that is just fine. For example: “Spectral friends” is actually about our times as gamers. When you are friends with someone that you never actually meet, and you lock yourself inside your apartment. But you really want to meet them. For others, that song could be a plain and simple lovesong. And so on.
SOURCE – At this point in the band’s career, how do you balance out the fan expectations for what you create and deliver versus your own personal expectations? Do you find they work hand in hand?
Fredrik Bendiksen Bergersen (Vocals) – Fan expectations so far is just for us to continue making what we’re doing. They’ve been enormously supportive and we could not be more happy with the respons of what we are creating. Our own expectations are more exciting to be honest. The next album, which we are currently working on, will contain something slightly different than the first album. The development of the band, both personally and as a ground, and the sound evolves as time goes by. That’s a good thing. But we will allways keep the distinct sound that we have managed to establish in “Meta”.
SOURCE – Does it get tougher, given that there’s a certain fanbase for the band, to come up with a new spin on material without making it seem like more of the same?
Fredrik Bendiksen Bergersen (Vocals) – In our certain fanbase the people seem to respect what it is to be a musician and explore what ever you we to explore. To be a true “norwegian humbleguy”, I would say that it’s nice that someone has some expectations for us at all. But we will continue on distinctively separate what people want and what we feel/need to create.
SOURCE – Being able to work with so many talented musicians over the years with the band, what do you feel that you’ve learned from others?
Fredrik Bendiksen Bergersen (Vocals) – We have deffinently learned alot about being a better liveband. At least for me as a lead singer, there’s allways tips and tricks to pick up from other bands. I guess the other guys would say the same. For Maraton as a band the organizing and the structure of the band has been important. What do we need to do to reach out, and then mainly give each member a role to play in the long-term run. It’s not easy to play in a band with ambitious plans for the future. In that way you need every component to run smoothly.
SOURCE – What’s the plan moving forward after Meta is released?
Fredrik Bendiksen Bergersen (Vocals) – After Meta we are planning on doing alot of live shows throughout the year. Currently we are also working on getting a new booking agency in Norway and “world” that sees the same potential for the band as we do. Other than that we are already making music for the second album. I can say that the next single from Maraton is not that far away.
SOURCE – So you don’t really depend on Maraton for a living, what do you do other than studio work?
Fredrik Bendiksen Bergersen (Vocals) – As I stated earlier, it is not really easy living as a musician. Economically for us at this point it is not profitable enough to live purely of it. Let’s put it like this:
Magnus Johansen: (keys) – Works for Widerøe (Norwegian airline)
Vegard Liverød: (bass) – Works with crafting metal.
Frank Nordeng Røe: (drummer) – Selling carparts
Jon Vegard Næss: (guitarist) – Owning his own clothing-brand and works at a clothes-store.
Fredrik Bergersen Klemp: (lead singer) – Part-owner of a norwegian soda-factory
SOURCE – What are your short and long-term goals for the band?
Fredrik Bendiksen Bergersen (Vocals) – Short term: Make a ton of new music and spread the message of what Meta has to offer + play alot live around Norway and Europe. In the long run, we are really hoping to release at least 2 more albums within the span of 3 years. It is also on the list to tour both USA and ASIA. I allways know that we will continue making music either its in a 5 year span or 10.
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