We’ve certainly had our in-house favorites from over the years, having always been keen on keeping up with the wonderful artists from across the globe that have crosspollinated our company catalog for nearly 8 years, and Jens Christiansen has been along for nearly the entire ride. Under his Rumpistol moniker, he’s produced a professional collection of music that has gradually filled out the narrative arc in his musical imagination. From pensive to frenetic, the territory his music lies in has always been deeply informed by a certain retro-future aesthetic, and his recently released Nebula LP brings that aesthetic into direct focus.

With orchestral instrumental accompaniments from a cast of musicians, to a brewing interdisciplinary live performance and experience that’s soon to leave the lab, Christiansen has a clear vision of how his work needs to be channeled to its intended audience. Nebula, serving as the principle force in this extraplanetary narrative, comes off like a love letter to the stars, replete with tension, instrumental interplay, and cinematic overtures that take this collection of tracks far beyond traditional genre stereotypes. With such passion demonstrably evident in the work, The Rust felt it necessary to have a brief conversation with Christiansen on the nature of the album, its inception, and what he has planned for its full unveiling as a dedicated performance.

The Rust: Let’s talk about the direct influences on the Nebula LP.

Jens Christiansen: Many of the things happening in the US and the rest of the world influenced me, particularly the polarization of our societies. It made me wonder how a simple thing like stargazing has the potential to bring us together as a species, because we're reminded that we're all just part of this small planet, floating in space. Unfortunately whenever we hear about space in the news, it's usually stuff like Elon Musk's ego maniacal dreams of colonizing Mars, and his contribution to the ever growing belt of junk orbiting Earth, such as with his Starlink satellites, coupled with the fact that going into space has become a hunt for resources, because we've used up all natural resources on Earth. Combine that with the idea of space as a tourist destination for the super rich, and you have something that just seems grotesque.

A lot of books inspired me too: Carl Sagan's “Contact”, Kurt Vonnegut's “Slaughterhouse 5”, Arthur C Clarke's “2001: A Space Odyssey”, Michael Ende's “Momo” & Viggo Bjerring's “At Its Heart”, and of course sci-movies in general. Then the story of “Earthrise”, the photo of Earth that the Apollo Mission brought back from the first lunar expedition in '69. How a picture of Earth ended up becoming the most important piece of information after such a long and expensive journey is quite interesting..

The Rust: Your inclusion of orchestral elements both in production and on the stage for the performance of this body of work feels hand-in-glove. What's your perception of that?

Jens Christiansen: Thank you! I really enjoy working with Maria Jagd (violinist and arranger) and Sven Dam Meinild (woodwinds and brass) and they were both encouraged to come up their own ideas this time. It was more like a team effort than with the piano trilogy.

The Rust: How did you conceive of the LP? Did you set out to record this album as it exists right now, or did circumstance or experimentation drive you here?

Jens Christiansen: It was actually very deliberate. I wanted to do an album dedicated to the universe, so I started thinking about ways to do it justice. How to capture something of that scale!

The Rust: Talk about the recording process for Nebula. Did you craft these compositions prior to working with the musicians included on the record, or did you write together?

Jens Christiansen: I did all the rough compositions, melodies and arrangements before handing it over to the musicians. So my MIDI files got replaced with their instrumental takes so to speak. With some tracks like “Pale Blue Dot”, I asked Maria to write a large scale string arrangement that matched the song and there was also quite a lot of improvisation going on.

The Rust: Your music sits in a distinctly instrumental space alongside many of the contemporary producers adjacent to your project. Do you consider your own recent productions to be "electronic music"?

Jens Christiansen: I try not to think too much about genres, because I find them limiting. I guess Nebula is a mix of all my influences: space rock, classical music, a bit of jazz and vintage synth music like Vangelis and Tangerine Dream.

The Rust: Let's talk live sets: You mentioned to us that your intention for the performances on your side of the Atlantic is a synergistic approach between all the disciplines involved in a full-spectrum performance. What were some of the initial challenges in getting the ensemble off of the ground?

Jens Christiansen: In September we're premiering the audio-visual version of Nebula which combines sound, light, set design and laser mapping by the light collective Vertigo. The idea is to create a site-specific audiovisual and performative experience designed to dissolve social hierarchies and inspire reflection. A bit like stargazing, just inside a theatre. This show is of course a huge production and so far it has just not been possible to bring it outside of Denmark, but it is definitely on our bucket list!

The Rust: How do you approach integrating the ensemble into your existing catalog?

Jens Christiansen: In the ensemble shows we have included older songs like “Gargamel & Cholic”, because it really made sense combined with the overall space theme. “Come into the laboratory”!

The Rust: What's your performance for each show?

Jens Christiansen: With the ensemble it's pretty much the same set list each night, but we have these moments of improvisation between the tracks, which makes each performance unique and fun. When I do solo shows I don't have a fixed set list, but rather go with the flow of the audience.

The Rust: How has your approach to the ensemble evolved? What kind of influence has it had on your concurrent productions?

Jens Christiansen: With Nebula I gave each musician more musical freedom than I've ever done before, instead of giving finished scores and very strict strict guidelines. I think this strategy works much better to be honest, because you get a more personal and dedicated performance this way.

The Rust: What does the future of Rumpistol look like to you? Where's the horizon for the project?

Rumpistol · Stargazer Mixtape

Jens Christiansen: I'm returning to stage production this fall with a score for Out of Balanz' “Turbulence” – a contemporary circus project exploring climate migration. I'm really looking forward to that. Then, we of course have the A/V shows coming up in September, as well as some festivals. Lastly, I'm also working on my 2nd Stargazer Mixtape!

Given his track record as a composer, musician, and producer, it comes as no surprise that Nebula is such a introspective and stirring album. There’s a clear evolution from the nascent days of his early works to 50+ concerts alongside a cast of equally impressive instrumentalists, LDs, and production staff, and the results finally have a proper place to call home within this record. Find the Nebula LP anywhere good music is consumed, and be sure to snag a copy on vinyl for a proper physical listening experience.

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