Name: The Third Sound
Members: Hákon Aðalsteinsson (guitar, vocals), Robin Hughes (organ, guitar), Frankie Broek (drums), Wim Janssens (bass)
Interviewee: Hákon Aðalsteinsson
Nationality: Icelandic (Hákon Aðalsteinsson), Dutch (Frankie Broek, Wim Janssens), British (Robin Hughes)
Current release: The Third Sound's latest album, Most Perfect Solitude, is out via Fuzz Club.
Recommendations: I will mention the band Goblyns, which make cool, instrumental 60s inspired music. I mention Leonard Cohen in this interview and can recommend the biography I'm Your Man by Sylvie Simmons

If you enjoyed this The Third Sound interview and would like to know more about the band, visit them on Instagram, bandcamp, and Facebook.



For a while, it seemed as though the model of the bed room producer would replace bands altogether. Why do you like playing in a band rather than making music on your own?

I actually do a lot of it on my own, that is how it all starts; I make demos of songs and then bring them to the others that then give their input. Sometimes it transports the song into something different while in other cases it stays very close to the original idea.

When it comes to playing live you obviously need people (in most cases at least) to make things more interesting.

Before you started making music together, did you in any form exchange concrete ideas, goals, or strategies? Generally speaking, what are your preferences when it comes to planning vs spontaneity in a collaboration?

No, we don't plan things beforehand. The music has to come out naturally because it is always evident when it is forced.

At later stages, like while mixing, there may be a conversation about an overall sound.   

There are many potential models for creativity, from live performances and jamming/producing in the same room together up to file sharing. Which of these do you prefer – and why?

I prefer being in the same room whilst working with someone - although I am glad the other option exists as well.

Is there a group consciousness, do you feel? How does it express itself?

We have had a lot of changes throughout so I don't know if we can talk of a group consciousness.

Me and Robin have worked together for a long time now. So I guess we have learned some things about what we like and what we don't like.

Tell me about a piece or album which shows the different aspects you each contribute to the process particularly clearly, please.

The first single from the new album, “Another Time, Another Place” was one of the more collaborative songs.

The demo was only acoustic guitar and vocals so everyone contributed to that one. In other cases the demos are much more developed.

What is your sense of ownership like as part of the collective songwriting process? What is the balance between the lyrics, melodies and harmonies, and the groove in terms of your sound?

It's hard to give a definitive answer about that, it comes down to each song.

What tend to be the best songs in your opinion – those where you had a lot in common as a band or those where you had more differences? What happens when another musician take you outside of your comfort zone?

Again I can't give a definitive answer, there is no formula for it. I was watching a Leonard Cohen documentary recently and he was asked about where he got his ideas from and he answered something along the lines of: “If I knew where the ideas came from I would go there more often.“

I think that sums it up pretty well

What are your thoughts on the need for compromise vs standing by one's convictions? How did you resolve potential disagreements?

I think it's always good to keep in mind what is best for the song, the song should lead the way.

Do any of the band's members also have solo projects? If so, how do these feeds into the band's creative process?

Our rhythm section is quite new and they have a band together called Goblyns. I think it is too early to tell if our how that influences The Third Sound.



How has the interaction within the group changed over the years? How do you keep things surprising, playful and inspiring?

Like I mentioned before, there have been several lineup changes and that always brings something different.

Have you worked with outside contributors - from sessions musicians via producers to other songwriters? How did this change, improve or challenge the established dynamic and how do you look back on that?

We did a song called “You Are Not Here” with the Canadian singer Tess Parks in 2016 ...



... and Anton Newcombe sang and contributed to our song "Photographs" in 2018.



Both experiences worked well and I am very pleased with the results. They brought something new to the table for sure.

Most bands eventually break up. What makes you stay together? What are essentials for a successful band?

I think for as long as there are ideas that excite us we can keep doing it. But you never know how long things will last.