Doing some time in a Foreign Resort
The Foreign Resort is a shiny post punk sonic ear-worm. Relentless, self assured and hailing from Copenhagen, they are fierce and you need them in your life. I sat down with one of three. Singer, Guitarist and possible madman Mikkel Jakobsen about all things foreign and domestic.
SEAN TEMPLAR: Thanks for taking the timeout to talk with me about all things Foreign Resort. I guess it is always best to start from the beginning and so with that, let me ask you, how did The Foreign Resort come into existence?
THE FOREIGN RESORT//Mikkel: How did we start? It actually started with me just writing some songs and recording them at home. If you listen to The Starlit Sea off the album "Offshore", that's from those bedroom sessions from back in 2003 - 2004. Then, in 2006 I wanted to turn the project into a band and Morten and Henrik joined. We were a 4-piece for several years until 2013 when we realized we would be better off at a trio. We're more like old friends than actual band mates in this band. Back from the death metal days where I (Mikkel) was also a drummer and Morten was drumming in a different death metal band. We played some shows together and that's how we got to know each other.
SEAN TEMPLAR: That is a huge musical departure. From Death Metal to Post-Punk what was your influences for The Foreign Resort? Why did it not come out sounding like Cannibal Corpse?
THE FOREIGN RESORT//Mikkel: I don’t think the difference is that big. Listen to some of the bass riffs on our new album. For TFR, I was trying to make some shoegazey stuff, but it always turned out more new- wave sounding. I guess it was meant to be that way.
SEAN TEMPLAR: The stone directs the sculptor.
THE FOREIGN RESORT//Mikkel: Our influences change all the time. Back then, it was more like My Bloody Valentine and Jesus and the Mary Chain. Not that we sounded like that. And yes, we had no choice but to go post-punk.
SEAN TEMPLAR: Do your Death Metal friends enjoy TFR or do they think you went crazy? I know when Nergal from Behemoth released his Nick Cavesque side project ‘Me and the man’ there were a lot of groans from the Death Metal community.
THE FOREIGN RESORT//Mikkel: As far as I know all my death metal friends changed their taste in music too. Or at least started listening to other stuff. I guess none of us were true death metal.
SEAN TEMPLAR: I can only speak for New York, but the scenes here do somewhat cross pollinate. You will see similar faces at both types of shows. Which I feel is totally healthy. Is it the same in Denmark? Or do you have to wear fake beards and stuff?
THE FOREIGN RESORT//Mikkel: Ha! I’m not sure since I’m not familiar with the metal scene here. I would say, in my impression the metal scene is a little more colorful / trashed than the more clean-cut goths. But the metal scene has more “regular” people who dress up for the occasion (concert). Goths seem to be depressed for real and all the time.
SEAN TEMPLAR: Oh no those poor Danish Goths. I have to come over there and cheer them up. It will be a sacred gothic duty! I know some bands prefer the studio to playing live and there are those who prefer the live experience, which would you say you prefer?
THE FOREIGN RESORT//Mikkel: Definitely live. I do this to get out there and meet people. I do like the writing process, but recording is the thing I like the least about being a musician. It also depends on how the recording process goes. Our latest album was recorded and mixed in our practice space which we share with a guy running his studio. Very convenient! There was good chemistry and we didn’t have to record everything at once. I hate the 10 days in the studio, get the shit done thing.
SEAN TEMPLAR: Yes, and we need to talk about that sonic masterpiece named “Outnumbered”. That was going to be my first question about the album. Was it created over a long period of time or did the pieces fall into place quickly?
THE FOREIGN RESORT//Mikkel: It actually took quite a while due to touring and life in general. We recorded first half of the album in 2017 and the second half a year later. Mixing was done in December 2018. The song “Send Your Heart to the Riot” is from 2012 or something like that. It just never fit into the albums we released.
SEAN TEMPLAR: Which begs the question, how does this album compare musically to the previous New Frontiers?
THE FOREIGN RESORT//Mikkel: I’m my opinion: “New Frontiers” feels to me more like an album in one piece whereas “Outnumbered” is more like several pieces that don’t necessarily fit together. Does that make sense? NF is more unified. Written over a much shorter time span.
SEAN TEMPLAR: It absolutely does, each song is its own environment, its own cell structure.
THE FOREIGN RESORT//Mikkel: Each album has its own strengths. I think “Outnumbered” is more diverse.
SEAN TEMPLAR: I think it’s your strongest album to date. It’s more self-assured, a more confident record in some ways.
THE FOREIGN RESORT//Mikkel: Thanks! I’m glad that’s how it appears out there. I’m never confident when it comes to our music. I hate releasing new music and having people give us thumbs up or down. But reviews are a necessary evil.
SEAN TEMPLAR: You’re welcome. I don’t think any artist is ever 100% ok with the final product, let alone throwing it up in the air and seeing if it can fly on its own. Lucky for you, the album was very well received. Speaking of well received. I was lucky to catch you at Wave Gotik Treffen and you really played an unforgettable set. How was it for you to play amongst all those great bands?
THE FOREIGN RESORT//Mikkel: I love WGT! It was the second time we played there, and the first time was the show that opened doors for us all over Germany. This time we arrived two days prior to our show and got wrecked while watching other bands perform. It was awesome! Come the day of the show, last day of the festival, and I had a massive hangover - I thought. In reality, it was me being nervous about appearing in front on 1200 people. But everything went beyond expectation. The WGT crew were super friendly. The stage manager was the same we had the first time at WGT and the audience was amazing! A definitive musical career highlight!
About the other bands. What was cool was to be able to meet up and hang out with the bands you only meet briefly when occasionally playing shows together. That’s the great thing about festivals! Everyone has a little more time.
SEAN TEMPLAR: I dragged a bunch of my friends to see you at Haus Leipzig and everyone had such a fun time - and yes, all that alcohol helped. Are you going to come through this year? I know you can’t play but you can drink?
THE FOREIGN RESORT//Mikkel: Not going to WGT this year. Touring as much as we do and having day jobs and family, we don't do much once we're not on tour. Of course, we attend shows in Copenhagen, but traveling to other countries for music is a luxury we can only afford when we're touring.
SEAN TEMPLAR: So how did the whole SXSW thing come about. That has to be a really big deal for you?
THE FOREIGN RESORT//Mikkel: This will be our 5th SXSW this year. It is always great to be in Austin during the festival although pretty chaotic. Every time we go, we never want to go back, but then we met Mike and Poul who let us stay at their place, which saved us a shit load of money in hotel expenses. SXSW is really just a big money machine, draining both the musicians and the music fans coming to Austin. Capitalism at its finest. This year however, our label Artoffact Records is doing an official showcase which is the main reason for us going. Of course, we'll play plenty of unofficial showcases, knowing that any showcase could be a shit show, even the official. So, the more gigs that week, the better the chances of catching a good opportunity and meeting new fans!
As you can see, we take it pretty easy. I don't get excited until I see a clear result. I want to see that beautiful audience or meet that person who can set us up with a national booking agency. Until then, I just keep working on new opportunities. Nothing comes for free.
SEAN TEMPLAR: Well we are excited to have you back at The Red Party. It’s no SXSW but we have fun. What is your opinion of New York?
THE FOREIGN RESORT//Mikkel: After having played The Red Party once before, I am certain that it will be more fun than any of the SX shows. That doesn’t mean SX is not exciting; it means The Red Party kicks fucking ass!
New York? I need to see more of it. Right now, I see it as the culmination of American desperation. People don’t really have time for anything because there’s too much to do including working all the time to pay the sky-high rent. I’ve had some great times in NY, but I think I’m more a west coast person. Sorry .
That said, you and Mandana showed us around and for the first time we felt like we could spend a little quality time in the city.
SEAN TEMPLAR: I was born here in New York and it is so much different from LA and the lifestyle couldn’t be farther apart. That being said, I love LA. I just couldn’t see myself living there but it’s so much fun to visit. Are you playing in Cali this year as well?
THE FOREIGN RESORT//Mikkel: Unfortunately not. It will be a while before we do a full US tour again. Europe is simply going too well right now. But we’re playing 9-10 shows in connection with SXSW. Better than nothing. And we really enjoy visiting the States.
SEAN TEMPLAR: At the moment, where in Europe does The Foreign Resort go over the best?
THE FOREIGN RESORT//Mikkel: Germany. Without question. But our French and Italian shows in September 2019 went beyond expectation so we’re doing another tour of France, Italy and maybe Spain later this year.
SEAN TEMPLAR: How do the three of you get along on tour? Who is the trouble maker and who is the ‘adult’?
THE FOREIGN RESORT//Mikkel: There are no adults in the band. No, seriously we kinda take turns. I’m good at planning at logistics. Morten is good at executing, i.e., getting shit done when we arrive at venues when Steffan and I are only looking to get drinks. And Steffan is sort of in between everything, not too fooling but also not too serious. Sometimes, we bring a friend to handle merch and kick our asses to bed when needed. We’re a good team.
SEAN TEMPLAR: A couple of more questions and then you are free. Who are your favorite bands at the moment? Anyone new that you are stanning?
THE FOREIGN RESORT//Mikkel: I’ve been listening quite a lot to Angel Olsen’s “All Mirrors”. It has some amazing songs on it! Also, the new album from Fleeting Joys, “Speeding Away to Someday” is the album I listened to the most in 2019. Melted Mirror from Calgary made an excellent post-punk album called “Past Life” and the latest album from Trentemøller is also really good! Other bands that I have been listening a lot to are Creux Lies, Film School, Heaven, No Swoon, Silent Runners and Hapax. There’s more but I think I’ll stop here.
SEAN TEMPLAR: Haven’t heard Angel Olsen before. I will check her out. So then, outside of music what are some of your hobbies?
THE FOREIGN RESORT//Mikkel: I have no hobbies outside music. Kinda scary. I love my day job as teacher though.
SEAN TEMPLAR: And what is it you teach?
THE FOREIGN RESORT//Mikkel: Danish to foreigners.
SEAN TEMPLAR: You are going to have to teach me some when you get to New York. THE FOREIGN
RESORT//Mikkel: Sure!
SEAN TEMPLAR: And a final question that I like to ask, what is your favorite horror movie of all time?
THE FOREIGN RESORT//Mikkel: The Shining had a pretty big impact.
SEAN TEMPLAR: The Shining is a great one. How old were you when you first saw it?
THE FOREIGN RESORT//Mikkel: Hmmm. I think I was 16. More than a decade after the movie came out. I had to read the Stephen King novel first. Although the movie is better than the book.
SEAN TEMPLAR: I have read a lot of Stephan King but never The Shining. My faves were Salem’s Lot, Needful Things and The Stand. Funny thing is that Stephan King hated the Kubrick version, called it the worst adaptation of one of his books to screen.
THE FOREIGN RESORT//Mikkel: Yeah, The Stand. That’s a good one! And Needful Things. SEAN
TEMPLAR: So that’s it with the third degree. We all can’t wait to see you in action soon.
THE FOREIGN RESORT//Mikkel: Yesss! I can’t wait to come back to the States! And to spend some time in NY without jet lag!
TEMPLAR: Thank You so much for your time, and New York can not wait to see you in March!
Check out Foreign Resort Now & Watch them live at The Red party on Saturday, March 14
