Anatomy of a Song: Barði Jóhannsson of Bang Gang on “My Special One”
The Wolves are Whispering out now via Bang Ehf
Jun 26, 2015
Web Exclusive
A song is a chance overlapping of countless variables in an artist’s life. Anatomy of a Song is a place where those variables can be dissected and examined. In this edition, Barði Jóhannsson (aka Bang Gang) discusses the track “My Special One” from his new album, The Wolves are Whispering, which was released this week on Bang Ehf. It’s been seven years since the last Bang Gang album, Ghosts From the Past. In the meantime Jóhannsson teamed up with Jean-Benoît Dunckel of Air as Starwalker and with Keren Ann as Lady and Bird. The Wolves are Whispering also features Helen Marnie of Ladytron on guest vocals on “Silent Bite.” Read on as Jóhannsson writes about how “My Special One” was inspired by his daughter.
I wrote the base of this song on one of my work travels. I was recording an orchestra for classical music I was doing for some TV series and was missing my loved one. Ever since my daughter was born, I always have the same feeling on my travels, it starts to appear at the airport in Iceland and gets stronger with everyday. It is an indescribable connection that crosses all borders and it seems like she is just next to me even though she is very far. This feeling of connection and knowing that you are yet far away makes me miss her tremendously. This song is for her, the best person I have ever met in my life. Even though it is impossible to describe the special bond between kids and parents, this is my attempt.
Half of the lyrics came automatically when I wrote the song only with a piano and voice. What I was thinking came flowing out as the lyrics are quite direct. I didn’t want the song to have a “power chorus” as it would kill the intimacy. I wanted the song to be smooth and tender. Not pretentious or over performed, I wanted to sing it in an honest way, just like I would be in front of the person listening. While producing it, I wanted to have strings that would be arranged with a retro feel. I got some help on that from a girl who has played on some of my score work, Greta Salome. There is a simple solo part also that I tried a lot of different elements on. Finally there was decision between an organ or a guitar. I chose the guitar. The sound is a combination of distorted guitar going through a flanger, doubled in two octaves. On top there is a little bit of a vocoder mixed in.
Jofridur (Samaris) is doing backing vocals on it. They are not very present but make a big difference. Since I am not the best piano player on earth, I got Dadi Birgisson, who has played on my previous albums (for example on the tracks “Inside,” “Follow,” “The World is Gray,” etc.) also, to take the piano to the next level. There is a lot of details in this song, just like the whole album (The Wolves are Whispering). If you listen with good headphones to the album, you will be finding small surprises all over.
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