Recently, I came across an album called ‘It all works out in the End’ courtesy of Stockholm-based artist Idan Altman. An absolute feast of sonic eclecticism and rich storytelling, it’s a genre-bending and meticulously crafted record that has been close to my heart ever since my first encounter.
Wanting to know more about the man behind the music, I was grateful that Idan took time out of his schedule to chat with us! Talking about finding inspiration in films, what he’d like to change about the music industry, and which 2 instruments he’d take with him to a desert island, please welcome our new friend Idan Altman!
Welcome aboard Idan! I’m super excited to introduce you to our ever-growing audience! Now, for those unfortunate souls who have yet to discover your sound, what would you say they’re missing out on? How would you describe your music?
Honestly, I can’t think of anything else like it. When I started making music, my favourite records were my reference for how I wanted to sound, which meant that in some way, I kind of sounded like someone else.
This album, on the other hand, comes from a later time in my life when I took a break from listening to music. I just did what came naturally after many years of figuring out what I really sound like, rather than how I want to sound.
It’s not for everyone, but for those who are fed up with mainstream music, who care about aesthetics and sound, and who are looking for something both alternative and well-produced – this album is definitely worth checking out.
Now, I’ve had ‘It all works out in the End’ on repeat for most of the day, and it’s such an intriguing and eclectic offering. Is there an overall theme to the record or does each song stand on its own? And what would you ultimately like our readers to know about your latest album?
This album is the product of nine years of work. Over that time, I released various albums and EPs, only to take them down later because I wasn’t satisfied with the results. For this release, I took the best tracks from everything I’ve released in the past and made sure to make them as good as they could be, redoing vocals and other instruments, as well as improving the old mixes. There are also some new tracks that I hadn’t released before.
The main theme here is a long musical journey full of ups and downs, during which I never gave up on getting things right, even if it meant starting over time after time until everything finally clicked. The title track, ‘It all works out in the End’, is a good example of this. Since 2019, I’ve released and scrapped this specific track 4 times until I managed to get to the version that’s on this album.
Who are some of your biggest musical influences? Who did you grow up listening to? And would you say that your tastes have changed over the years?
My biggest influences are probably John Lennon and Paul Simon. They are both excellent songwriters, and as far as I’m concerned, their storytelling style can’t be matched. I don’t really listen to the music I grew up with anymore. These days, I’m mainly inspired by films.
For me, music is no longer something that stands on its own; it needs context, it needs to be part of something bigger. It’s like being moved by a song you hear in a coffee shop – it’s not just the song, but the entire setting: the vibe of the place, the coffee, the interior design. A film creates the perfect context for me to be moved by a song.
Please tell us a bit about your songwriting process. Not specifically for any song but just in general. How do you take an idea and turn it into a piece of music?
I’m pretty passive when it comes to songwriting. I don’t just sit down and decide to write a song. Something external needs to happen to trigger it. It’s usually some aha moment when I realise something, and the next step is figuring out how exactly I’m going to express it.
I’ll work on the lyrics for a while until they’re as good as they can be, and once I have them down, the production part usually goes pretty fast. I often tweak the lyrics as I produce the song. Listening to the song on a loop also helps me figure out which words work and which don’t. It’s a very slow process. I really like to take my time.
What are your thoughts regarding the music industry of today? And, if you could, what changes would you make to it?
My favourite thing about the music industry today is that artists can do everything themselves. You can make really good music in your bedroom without spending too much money, and then release it on your own.
The downside to this is an overwhelming amount of music that people can’t keep up with, and as a result, a lot of it gets ignored. This has given rise to all kinds of scammers who sell you the idea of putting your music on playlists and getting you listeners, but it’s all fake plays coming from bot accounts.
If I could change something, I would like artists to know how to promote their music without funding any of these scammers.
Take us through a non-music day in the life of Idan Altman. What keeps you busy? What do you enjoy doing? What other interests or pursuits help you recharge and inspire creativity?
Non-music days are pretty rare because I do this for a living, but I make sure to have non-music time every day. If I’m staying in, I want to make sure my ears get some rest, so I’m definitely not listening to anything, but I do watch a lot of films and anime. When I go out, I leave my phone at home so that I can clear my head and not get distracted. One of my favourite things to do outside is watch ducks. They’re funny animals.
OK, Idan – desert island time, but this time with a twist! You’re allowed to grab 2 musical instruments before being stranded on an island. Which do you go with?
Well, since I’m gonna be on an island, I guess a ukulele would be the first choice. My favourite thing about ukuleles is that they’re very simple, which makes them perfect for beginners. This can come in handy in case I run into anyone else there who wants to get into music. My second choice would be a Xiao flute, again because it’s a very simple instrument, but unlike a ukulele, it can take many, many years to master. This could be my long-term project.
Idan, it’s been an absolute pleasure having you! Thanks so much for taking the time to chat with us! What comes next for you musically and do you have any words of wisdom you’d like to leave us with?
Now that this album is out of my system, I’m probably gonna take a long break from writing new songs. There’s a Bandcamp version of the album with a lot of bonus tracks for anyone who feels like 9 tracks aren’t enough. As far as fortune cookie wisdom goes, I’ll give you this:
We never know where we’re gonna end up in this life. It’s not up to us. What is up to us is choosing to go in the right direction.
