Today we’ll be discussing something truly unique, I am talking about Swedish duo Principe Valiente’s “In This Light” album. They have belonged to their own special sound for the past few years by combining shoegaze effects with this very spacious, captivating music. The band certainly hit it big with their 2022 album, “Barricades,” and now topping that they’re back with “In This Light – their latest offering that continues to explore and push boundaries.
Give me a minute, but let me say that this album just exudes comfort and inviting sensation throughout. Every song will give you the unique pleasure to go on its own path, telling a story where each sound, so dense and real, sinks in your heart. Whether it is the entrancing thrill of “Your Only Enemy” or the late-night introspective mood of “Abandoned Car,” Principe Valiente serves up an incredible melodic soundspan you will love.
To go deeper into the production of “in This Light’ and to discuss how Principe Valiente’s sound has evolved, we are here with the vocalist from the band, Fernando Honorato, sharing his thoughts. From the musical greats such as Bowie, The Cure, which shaped him right from the onset to the inspiration and ambition that drives him even today; Fernando’s creative journey is a testimony of the transformative nature of music
Through this adventure, we’re going to dive into all the stories behind the new tunes, industry dilemmas, our future plans and more. There will be many things that will be revealed, especially upcoming collaborations and how they convey their heartfelt gratitude to their fans. It’s like a window into Swedish music universe peered into by one of their most mysterious and powerfully charismatic forces.
As the “In This Light” chords enter your ears, the lyrics and the views of Principe Valiente himself will completely engulf you. This is a one-of-a-kind interview you would not want to miss!
Listen to In This Light below
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What is your stage name?
Fernando – Howling Ferre.. No, no such things here man..
Where do you find inspiration?
Fernando – All through the years it’s always been from life, relationships. Alienation? And music, movies, nature. But nothing I actually reflect that much about. When I begin writing a song, it’s mostly from a blank page and during the process maybe I recognice some of the chords or melodies from other things I’ve heard in my life and then do some changes, make it more personal and play along a little back and forth and see what comes up next. It’s like doing a painting I think?
What was the role of music in the early years of your life?
Fernando – Well, long story short, I heard the song “Starman” by Bowie when I was about 5 years old. On a car cassette radio. And I remember it really did an impact on me, don’t know exactly what but something about his voice, on the chorus of that song. And somehow that feeling has followed me through the years.
Are you from a musical or artistic family?
Fernando – Actually yes. But it’s nothing I actually think about so often. From my mothers side, both her sister and brother played guitar and sang pretty much when I was a kid. Don’t remember exactly what kind of songs but pretty much Chilean/South American folklore kind of stuff. My younger cousin, also writes music and I find her quite talented, even though we do totally different things. My mother had also an opera singing cousin. So I absolutely think it’s in the blood, the creative vein.
Who inspired you to be a part of the music industry?
Fernando – When I was about 16 I joined one of the bands in my high school on bass. I was quite shy back then but the music they played (mostly covers) had a huge inpact on me. So I just had to try that. I think they had only two own songs, the rest were covers by Suede, Radiohead, Rage Against The Machine, Sex Pistols, Tom Petty, and the Swedish 80’s group Ebba Grön.
It was just a beautiful mess. I was a huge Suede and Nirvana fan back then, but I listened to pretty much different things to find like an identity. But just these two bands still follows me by my side.
How did you learn to sing/write/to play?
Fernando – Actually before this high school band that I joined. I (only a few times, if my mother reads this) skipped lessons at school and spent that time in the music room playing around with other people.
A mix and an incredible mess going on there of different styles and stuff and quite bad metal things as well. But I learned how to play bass anyway, then a school mate asked me there if I wanted to join his band and told me about their Suede/Nirvana stuff they had going on.. So I did, and I’m still thankful for that moment.
What was the first concert that you ever went to and who did you see perform?
Fernando – I saw a lot of bands in high school events at my school back then, and actually quite good musicians, but my first big show was Radiohead, in 94’, 95’ I think? I was under age (17?) but still don’t remember how I got in there.
It was in town here in Stockholm at a quite regular, semi big club venue called Gino. It was after they released the album The Bends. And I was of course blown away.
How could you describe your music?
Fernando – The description that has followed us most through the years is actually Dark Pop. And I still think it’s quite appropriate.. And spiced with a little shoegaze, dream-pop vibes and postpunk. Dinner is served!
Describe your creative process.
Fernando – Mostly I just sit down with nothing or a simple chord sequence. And then take it from there, you just got to begin somewhere. I’ve realized that the first idea can become a totally different thing in the end. And that journey is quite interesting. And the inspiration comes under that process for me.
I rarely have a clear picture from the beginning of how the song should be or what the lyrics should be about. All that comes during the process, and it’s a quite enjoyable journey.
Sometimes I can also just dream a melody, and as we all know, dreams can be very powerful. But then after just a few minutes after waking up, I forget about it. One time though I tried to remember the melody really hard and picked up the guitar. Then I recorded it on the computer, placed some arrangements around it and after a few hours I had a quite decent demo.
The melody and ground chords itself were pretty basic actually but as the dream had this special vibe, I tried to revive the vibe as best I could. The song though ended up being one of the songs for the solo album I’m working on. But it was an interesting process, and very fast.
What is your main inspiration?
Fernando – Other music, in general. But also the vibe from movies. And I’m more open minded regarding from which genres I found inspirational these days.
What musician do you admire most and why?
Fernando – Well, Bowie. No explanation needed.
And also The Cure of course, for so many reasons. The albums Disintegration and Faith are two of those reasons. But if we also talk modern artists I can really admire Future Islands and Nation Of Language. PJ Harvey has of course also a special place in my heart.
Did your style evolve since the beginning of your career?
Fernando – I think so pretty much, we had the tendencies back then to be pretty much more shoegazy on the first two albums, mostly the debut one. Now I believe we dare to have more air and not 3-4 guitars playing all the time. I’m also more comfortable now having my voice much more in the front in the mix than before.
Who do you see as your main competitor?
Fernando – I don’t think we care that much on that matter. Music can never be a competition. It has different impacts on everyone. You can prefer a band or a song more than another but that’s just a personal thing, don’t think a band can be “better” than anything else.
What are your interests outside of music?
Fernando – Well, I’ve always loved film. And do some dj sessions around town together with friends. As much as I can. I also jog a bit more than I used to, since I have long-covid (I’m quite alright these days so no worries) since some years, I realized it’s now a good thing for my recovering. It’s damn boring though but after a while now I enjoy the endorfines more and more again. Like in my younger pre-musician days when I was more of a sport kind of guy.
If it wasn’t a music career, what would you be doing?
Fernando – Actually before I discovered I could play music I was into sports quite a lot. As mentioned above. For the most football and tennis, but other stuff too from time to time. But tennis player was a bit of a dream back then, besides the football thing. So maybe that? (Even though I’m TOTALLY uninterested in sports nowadays haha).
Otherwise some kind of researcher/scientist? If I was a more patient kind of guy..
What is the biggest problem you have encountered in the journey of music?
Fernando – Play bigger tours, it just doesn’t seem to happen. And it’s been quite more difficult after the pandemic, but the most important thing in the end is just write some great songs, and we’ve succeeded with that quite well, in my opinion.
If you could change one thing in the music industry, what would it be?
Fernando – Well, the general royalty system for digital streams, in any platform, specially Spotify. It’s a joke, and it kills the chances for smaller bands to get anything for their songs, or semi big bands like us. It’s realy something that has to be changed. And it’s been like this for more than 10 years now?
Why did you choose this as the title of this project?
Fernando – Jimmy came with the idea of “In This Light”, due to the sun illustration on the album cover and the first words on the last track “Afraid To Grow”. The lyrics also in my opinion, sums up pretty much my theory where I am in life at the moment. That life is actually a journey and going through it without fear (for the most) is quite interesting in most areas.
The “light” there also refers to the calm I felt while writing those lyrics, as I did actually in front of a candle light at home. Which also reminded me that I actually could feel that calm in my younger age as well.
What are your plans for the coming months?
Fernando – The new album is coming out in May so we’ll be doing a show here in Stockholm to celebrate that, then do a few festival shows in Germany. After that, with a bit of luck, confirm some shows for the fall and conitue with the mix of my solo album, which I’ve been working on for about two years now.
Do you have any artistic collaboration plans?
Fernando – Actually I collaborated with the German band Girls Under Glass on vocals for a track coming on their next album. I also did a remix for Clan Of Xymox for their upciming single, due to be released at the end of May. Pretty exciting stuff to do, both of them.
We are also waiting for a bunch of remixes from bands for the released singles. It’s going to be fun to hear the different interpretations there.
What message would you like to give to your fans?
Fernando – Well, hope you all enjoy ”In This Light” as much as we do.
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