Niklas Sundin et son autre passe-temps

Niklas Sundin, guitariste de Dark Tranquillity, est aussi connu pour ses talents d'illustrateur. De nombreux groupes tels qu'In Flames ou Arch Enemy ont déjà fait appel à ses services. J'ai profité de mon interview lors du Eastpak Antidote Tour pour lui poser quelques questions sur son activité au sein de Cabin Fever Media.

Can you tell us about your past as an illustrator: how did you begin and what did you do until you created Cabin Fever Media?

I have always been in drawing and painting even when I was a small kid. I have also always been somehow a computer geek as well so I kind of grew up with computers and painting. I went to high school (of artwork / web designers) when I was 21 and I learned stuff like Photoshop. I was working in webdesign for a while and I did not really enjoy it so I decided to go freelance in my own company. I had a lot of contacts and offers from different labels so I thought it would be interesting doing album layouts.


Have you been influenced by some artist in particular?

No, I can enjoy anything but I cannot say someone really influenced me.


How do you work when drawing an album artwork: you always want the band to be involved or you also deal with not inspired bands who let you chose entirely what the cover will be?

In some case the band wants me to do everything, and in some other case the band and the label come up with a clear concept of what they want me to create.


What is the time scale you have to create an artwork?

It can takes from one day to one year. The stuff which took me the longest time was often the Arch Enemy stuff, for example that 28 pages booklet they asked me to create.


You make covers for metal bands: Is it a choice? Would you like to create covers for other style of music? Or others kinds of artworks?

I am open to everything.

Does Cabin Fever Media keeps you busy or are you experiencing some downtime?

I always have to say no to many offers so yes it keeps me busy.


You always created very complex artwork for DT albums: you said you were looking forward hearing the reactions concerning Fiction artwork. Was it just a will to change or did you have something else in mind when creating it?

I have been wanting to do a more simplistic cover for quite a long time but this is the first time the lyrics and the music would actually work with it. So I had an idea of having a really simple cover with more detailed things inside the booklet. It think it works well. It is also always good if you do something different and don't stick to the most predictable.


I saw your photos on your website and I must say some of them are quite nice: is it something you want to explore more in the future or is it just a hobby?

I would like to do it more; I have done some promo shots for some bands and there are some of my own photos in album layout but I am still in the learning phase. I know how to make the best out of a photo in the post processing part but I am still learning the basics.

DOSSIERS LIES

Illustrateurs de metal (partie 1) Février 2008