The album title suggests a feeling of ultimate euphoria. Is this the mood that you were aiming for on the record?
Hmmmm, on some songs yes, but also possibly the complete opposite. Utopia also means "an illusion": a non-existent place. Like the first single, called "Young Again" is a dark, trippy love song. When you see the video that accompany the single, you will understand what I mean... I made it to make the girls dance at home in their living room—or their bedroom!
What can we expect from the album? Is it much of a departure from the off kilter electro-pop of In Gumbo?
It's a quite moody album, with many proper song compositions on it. Some of them, like the singles, could even be categorized as modern pop songs. Half the album is instrumental and the other half features singers that I admire and love for their songwriting and vocal expression. There are elements of neo-disco, no wave, techno and house—but basically I have tried to create a more unique expression with one overall specific, warm sound. This album will hopefully be enjoyed by people who also listen to indie, folk and pop—just as much as by DJs and lovers of electronic music in general. I've used a lot of analogue outboard gear and instruments, and the final mixing and mastering was done on an old school half-inch tape machine, so I've deliberately kept as much dust in there as possible.
Has your production process changed much in the past couple of years?
I think I am more flexible now, and I work faster than I used to. Being on the move a lot has made me work more when being on the road, on my laptop. That has changed the way that I work in the early phase of production, not being in the studio all the time, and has also affected the way that my productions sound. I have also separated my work into two different directions. The techno and house releases and remixes, I will be putting them out as "Kasper Bjørke & His Friendly Ghost" (like the 12-inch "The Great Derangement" on We Love This) and the more song-based, neo-disco releases (like the album) is presented as "Kasper Bjørke." When I DJ, its a mixture of everything, because basically I love many styles of music and I want to keep making music that goes in many directions and not be locked down by something that people expect to come out under my name.
What else are you up to now the album is finished?
I'm also working with
Tomas Barfod (Get Physical / Gomma / Tartelet) on some Barfod & Bjørke releases, and I sometimes produce for other artists, like Danish rising star Oh Land.