Utilizing Slovenian lyrics and a brilliantly unique new sound, Enej Mavsar and his band explore universal existential themes.

By Keith Walsh
Since having released their first LP, Imagination & Metaphysical Metamorphoses 11 years ago, the members have experimented with other styles and forms, mainly punk and art rock, including the bands of Karmakoma’s singer songwriter Enej Mavsar, bands including Suzi soprano and Body Says No.

Last month Karmakoma released an intensely psychedelic new song, ‘Inženirji časa.’ With lyrics in Slovenian, and a visualizer by Izvanredni Bob and cinematograpy by Maja Djordjević, the song takes the more ordinary synth rock foundation of that first album and twists it into a catchy electronic number with odd sounds and a heavily processed lead vocal.

KARMAKOMA’s Lead Single From Their Upcoming Album Signals A Sea Change.

I sent Enej a few questions, and got awesome news about the new album.

Synthbeat: What factors led to the new style?

Enej Mavsar of  Karmakoma: If there is something that drives me, it is a constant change and to try different things in music. My plan for sometime was to go as far as I could from the first record. But each song differs one from another on the new album. But I think all together they are a nice combination. The name of the album will be called: Salsa sentimentum. I would prefer to speak about the album more when we release the whole thing. 

Synthbeat: Any new personnel or gear changes?

Enej Mavsar: Karmakoma live band members (mentioned below) also recorded 7 songs which will be released this spring. Songs were recorded at the Beartrack studio in Kočevje and with Janžej Mariinč in his home studio. All new and also old songs are now played live using many synths live, there are some midi sequences that we are running but the idea is to play it as live as possible. No more matrices. Karmakoma sounds different now but that’s the point. I am also not the same person 😉  

Synthbeat: On the first listen, I would have preferred your voice to be unprocessed with a vocoder. But after a couple more listens, it makes sense.

Enej Mavsar: Why vocoder? I was playing with this idea to use it on a song for some time, but to be really honest, I am quite obsessed with Black Moth Super Rainbow and Tobacco and if you take a listen to his music you will immediately hear the influence I think. 

I was messing around with some chords using a vocoder where the main verse line just struck out. I ve build everything else around that.  I really like it and for me this is the most important thing.  On the other six songs there is no vocoder 😉  Video for ‘Inženirji časa’ was done by Serbian visual artist Incredible Bob (Izvanredni Bob), Cinematography was done by Maja Djordjević.

Inženirji časa ( Engineers of Time)    

Let it slip, let it get under your skin, into your blood.
all you need is time to have fun
come, come to where I’m from, my home
here, nothing is sacred.

tea time, tea for time, not waiting for May.
Tea time, Mayan time.
everything is logical and we grow
but nothing is as it was

This warms my soul, let it get into your blood
from here, together, we can overcome fear.

What do you do when everything goes to hell?
Can you understand, recycled soul?

tea time, tea for time, not waiting for May.
Tea time, Mayan time.
everything in bloom, and we grow
but nothing is as it was
this warms my soul

come to where I’m from 
nothing is sacred here.
***

Vocals, guitar, synthesizers, programming, Enej Mavsar
Synthesizers, Janžej Marinč
Bass, synth bass, synthesizers, keyboards, Jošt Drašler
Drums and percussion Marek Fakuč 
Keyboards, synthesizers, back vocals, Mojca Zupančič
Snemala / Robi Bulešić, Janžej Marinč / Recorded by Miks /Janžej Marinč in Enej Mavsar / Mixed by Produkcija / Enej Mavsar in Janžej Marinč / Produced by Mastering / Michal Kupicz s

finis