MATTIAS NOREN ,
CD artwork designer

Interview - April 2007,
Sweden - Russia

- It seems you have found your way on a crossing of music and painting. How long you went to it and what you have felt when you have groped this way?

I always loved music but I never managed to learn to play anything. But I had some talent with pen and brush, so doing cover artwork was a dream that came true. I had this dream for many-many years and one day I was lucky to meet the right person. It was some day back in -98/-99.

- And it isn’t ‘many-many' years ago… :-) It was yesterday! :-) What about your feeling of the time?.. Does it run quickly for you or not?

Yes, time flies. That’s even more obvious when you have small kids.

- Why you can’t stay within a limits of the web-design? There is a mention on your site about web-projects which you made. You made a web-design for some bands' pages among other web-projects... Did you need something more powerful? Why you started to make a covers?

I worked as a web designer for six years before I started doing cover artworks full time. So I’m slightly tired of it. Cover art is more “free”, but now and then it feels fun do a web site as well.

- Do you use a mixed technique? Open, please, a pall of a secret - how do masterpieces born? :-)

Yes I like to try different things. Most of my creations are photo based. I can often be seen in the woods on my knees photographing stones and things no other normal photographer would take pictures of, haha. I also do some traditional art with pen, brush and airbrush… and of course traditional painting in the computer… and I have even started to experiment a bit with clay… let’s see where it leads.

- What managing of your life more - rationalism or spirituality?.. Don't like to ask people about their relations with God. I think this is a very personal question for each of us. But there are people who live by their mind more, and there are people who live by listening to voices of High Soul. So, who are you? I ask you about that because I can see many images in your cover's painting, and many of these images not from this world... Where you can find them then?

Well, then you will probably be surprised to hear that I'm the rational type :) I don't believe in God or spirits, but I do believe there's life on other planets, haha.

- Ok. :) Which of your works you are proud more?

Some favourites:
Lost in tears – To No Avail
Jag Panzer – Casting the stones
Cloudscape – (both of them)
SHIFT – Creating a monster
Andromeda – II=I
Sonic Debris – Velvet thorns

- Do you have any contacts to other artists who work in the same direction? If so, who from them much nearest to you.

Yes, I have contact with a few other artists. But it’s more business type contacts. It’s good to get warnings from other artists about clients that doesn’t pay etc.

- No friends among artists? Business only?..

Yes, more or less. I have never met any of the well known cover artists in real life. On the other hand, I have made some really good friends in the bands I have been working with.

- You're working so much with new bands and their debut releases. Why? Is it the same desire to help and "to save us all"? :-)

I don’t care much if it’s a new band or a well established act. If they think I’m the right person for the job I take it.. if I have the time.

- Do you have a time for the rest sometimes? And if you have ;) what do you prefer to do then?

Yes, everyone needs a little bit or rest now and then. Sometimes we go a bit further up north in the country to visit the rest of the family who is located there. Other things I do when I’m not working is competing with radio controlled cars. It’s been a hobby since I was a kid and I have never been able to stop. I love all kinds of motor sports. Another hobby is orchids. I have more than 200 orchids in the house. I have even built a green house in the basement, haha.

- You are the "progressive" artist. What percent in your life music takes?

Since I’m working with music, naturally it takes very much time.

- Now you are listener... Want to say that your basic tools are a brushes, yours camera and computer... Are you glad by your choice? If you could turn time back... Really silly question! Because suppose we know the answer... :-) or not?..

Naturally it would have been fun to be able to play something. But not many musicians can make a living of their music either. I work with something I love right now so of course I am happy with my choice.