Peter Sandberg composes music to help you unwind from your hectic life

BY STEPHANIE ESLAKE

Since I first heard about Peter Sandberg’s newest release Motion, I’ve been listening to it pretty regularly throughout my workday. And let me tell you: if you’re looking for music that exists simply to make you feel calm and content in your hectic-as life, it does the job very well.

Peter is a Swedish composer and multi-instrumentalist, and his new album Motion is certainly a slow listen. Two of its ambient singles, Deep and the title track Motion, have also been woven into music videos that are equally engrossing, though each starkly different on a visual level.

We chat with Peter about his new post-classical release, and how it’s helped him find calm in his own life. Then, after the read, you might even join in with me to contribute to the 150 million Spotify streams his music has achieved.

(They’re not all from me, I promise. Though, give me a little time…)

Peter, congratulations on your new release Motion. How are you feeling about sharing this work with the world?

Thank you! I’m very happy it’s finally out there. It is a very special and personal album to me.

I’ve had a look at the video for your title track, and it’s a stunner. Tell us how the single-take visual journey reflects your music and identity.

Initially, when we planned for the video, I had this vision of having different scenes of memories from my childhood in a single take. But we decided to do it a bit more subtle and abstract.

The director Josua Enblom came up with the idea of using the light as a tool of showing the different scenes whilst the camera ‘danced’ around me and the piano, and that would suffice to tell the story. I also think that, by doing it that way, it enables people to interpret it in their own way.

Your works project a strong sense of calm and meditation. You’ve been open about your experiences with ADHD, leading you to learn piano as a young child and to channel your energy into music. How has composing and performing empowered you to find, in your own life, the sense of calm we can hear in your music?

This was actually quite a revelation to me when I worked on the album and the concept for it. The reason why most of my music is so calming is that it is, and has always been, my tool to calm myself down.

When working with music, I get very focused and can concentrate for hours which, for me, is pretty spectacular. It also gives me an outlet for all that excess energy and restlessness so I can stay calm when not working.

The Deep video further explores the idea of inner peace, but through a confronting and action-filled dance video. Why did you want to connect with, and convey the story of this work, through human movement?

I wanted something that would really evoke feelings for the viewer and also explore something darker.

I have followed Joanna Skywalker’s career for a while, and have been waiting for the right project to come up so I could get a chance to work with her. I’m so happy with the result, and we were just blown away by her performance.

I think it really resonated with people, and I’ve received a tonne of responses and comments saying that they were so moved by the video.

Your works have been heavily streamed on video and listening platforms. Why do you think your introspective and ambient music resonates so intimately with listeners today?

I think people have a big need for something to compensate for their high-paced and stressful lifestyles.

What impact would you ideally like your music to make on the minds of those who listen?

I want my music to be some kind of sanctuary for people so they can unwind in their day-to-day life, and that it somehow works like a breath of fresh air.

**Listen to Peter Sandberg’s new album Motion (Phases Records) on your favourite streaming platform. If you’re in Europe, you can also catch him performing his music live at St Matthias Church, London, 6 June.**

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