Pleased To Meet Me: Craig Fahner (Fuses/Motorists)
Image:Victor Cornelius
Born out of a long-distance correspondence, Sweden/New York-based transatlantic duo Fuses craft songs that feel like signals sent across oceans. Their debut album ,Sawdust in the Transmission out June 26 via Having Fun Records, the rock imprint of Toronto’s We Are Busy Bodies, bridges geography and emotion with a sound steeped in 60s folk rock and classic country. Echoing the timeless jangle of The Byrds, the pastoral storytelling of Fairport Convention, and the bittersweet warmth of artists like Gram Parsons and Jason Molina, the record connects the Swedish urskog with the Canadian muskeg. Lush vocal harmonies and reverb-soaked steel guitar create a sound that is both melancholic and hopeful, timeless yet uncommon.
Introduce yourself… (Where are you from, what band do you play in etc..)
My name is Craig Fahner, I play in the band Fuses with Moa-Linn Rosenlöf. We split our time between Toronto and Gothenburg. I also work in New York City. It's an international band.
Why do you play music?
Because it's a life force! It connects us to all the people that are important to us and provides a creative language that brings us together and makes us feel whole.
What was a major influence on you as an Artist/Band? What’s a favourite book or film?
We are both influenced by folk and folk rock music, both in a Swedish- and English- speaking context. Some favourite artists are Fairport Convention, The Byrds, Magnolia Electric Co., Gillian Welch, The Roches, Pugh Rogefeldt, Ola Magnell. My favourite book is Feast of Snakes by Harry Crews, and Moa-Linn's is The Broken Earth by N. K. Jemisin.
Do you prefer the recording process or performing live?
We love both! Recording is special as it gives us an opportunity to really focus. We both play most of the instruments you hear on the record, so it's a very in-depth and detailed process. Playing live is totally different – we get to play with different musicians in different cities and it's really great hearing how the music changes in that context. And it's a very direct way of sharing and connecting with listeners.
What's your favourite local haunt?
In Toronto you can find us at Low Bar. In Gothenburg, you can find us at Hängmattan.
If I were pursuing anything other than music it would be…
We both have jobs outside of music! I am a professor of art and design at the Pratt Institute in New York and Moa-Linn is a social worker.
What are some of your favourite aspects of being a musician in Gothenburg and Toronto?
Both cities have a really supportive music communities. There are always people in both places excited to play and listen to new music. It’s been really fun and effortless to find collaborators in both places, especially when putting together bands for our live shows. And there are some great venues in both cities – we love playing at Dina’s Tavern in Toronto and we’re excited to have our release party at Fyrens in Gothenburg.
Any sage advice for young musicians?
Don’t worry too much about fitting into the current hype cycle – do something you love and people will take notice!
Fuses Sawdust In The Transmission is out now , check out Fuses BANDCAMP HERE!
Pre-Order Sawdust In The Transmission on vinyl via We Are Busy Bodies / Having Fun Records HERE!