A Chat with Tragically Unknown (14.11.22)
Formed in 2021, Tragically Unknown is an alternative rock trio that is, well, tragically unknown. Don’t worry, they’re making their way up the ranks with Helena Hafsteinsdottir (vocals), Oddur Mar (guitar) and Thrognyr Einar Albertsson (bass) creating their exciting melodies. We speak to Tragically Unknown about their debut album Odes…, what music means to them, fears and future plans.
OSR: How did Tragically Unknown come about?
Mar: Helena had the idea originally and mentioned it when we were at Thorgnyr’s place. She had been talking about it when I showed up and told me I should join as well. Things just snowballed from there.
Hafsteinsdottir: Yeah, it was kind of a spur-of-the-moment decision that we couldn’t be happier about.
OSR: What does music mean to you?
Albertsson: To me, music mainly means two things. Creativity and fun. I find it very important to have a creative outlet and doing it with my good friends is just the best.
OSR: What can you tell us about your debut album Odes…? Is there a theme or backstory?
Hafsteinsdottir: Yes, there certainly is, even though it wasn’t necessarily the original idea to have such a strong lyrical theme. I was going through a breakup at the time that I wrote most of the songs on the album. The lyrics, therefore, tell the story of a breakup and moving on quite clearly. Honestly, music was a great way to work through the emotions that I didn’t want to feel. The lyrics on Odes… are almost all completely improvised in band sessions and are therefore very raw and telling of my feelings at the time.
OSR: What was the most exciting thing about producing Odes…?
Albertsson: Odes… is our debut album and we don’t have an endless stream of funds to finance the production. No record label, no wealthy backers, no family ties to influential industry people. Overcoming the challenge of going the DIY route of producing the album was a lot of fun. I handled the recording, arrangement and production for most of the songs on the album myself and we made ourselves a little studio. That was a very exciting, fresh challenge.
OSR: What was the most challenging thing about producing Odes…?
Albertsson: The challenge of doing it the DIY way was also the biggest challenge. We’re no recording geniuses and we don’t have the money to employ people like that so we had to work really hard and challenge ourselves a lot to make this happen. I think we did a good job.
OSR: What do you hope people take from your music?
Hafsteinsdottir: I hope that people can find their own take on our lyrics and storytelling and I hope that some people are moved by our music. If not I hope they at least have some fun while listening to it (she says with a smile).
OSR: What is your greatest accomplishment in life?
Mar: Honestly, this album probably. Three years ago I couldn’t play guitar, didn’t even know the difference between notes and chords and now I’m in a band with my best friends releasing music far better than I could have hoped for.
OSR: What is your greatest fear?
Hafsteinsdottir: Honestly, it is that I won’t be able to work as an artist in the future and the fear that I will feel “incomplete”. That fear has lessened over time but I think every creative has had this fear at one time or another.
OSR: What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?
Hafsteinsdottir: The classic Icelandic saying “þetta reddast” or “it will all work out okay”. We say it under any circumstance and it has yet to fail me.
Albertsson: “Perfect is the enemy of done”.
OSR: What are your future plans for Tragically Unknown?
Albertsson: We just recruited a new drummer for the band and are working on getting up to speed on everything. We’ll be playing a whole bunch of gigs and working on new music. You haven’t heard the last of us yet.
OSR: Do you have a message for our readers?
Albertsson: Yeah. Listen to Odes… on any streaming service and follow us on social media.
Many thanks to Tragically Unknown for speaking with us. For more from Tragically Unknown check out their Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
