:::FEATURED ARTIST: APEN [YOGA FIRE | OSLO, NORWAY) | 13.05.2010
Text: Alexander Andorff & Apollo aka Apen [Yoga Fire] | Photos: Anton Soggiu / Yoga Fire (Used with written consent) | 13.05.2010
We had a friendly chat with Apen (aka Apollo) from the band Yoga Fire regarding his surf merits, and to our pleasant surprise, it turned out this lively guy had plenty of extravagant warstories to tell. Just listen:
"I had heard some rumors that it was possible to surf in Cuba, but this proved to be completely wrong. After traveling around for two weeks in search of waves, we found sort of a river break that proved disastrous for two reasons: abnormous underwater currents and fierce male forestry workers with machetes ... "
YOGA FIRE - SPIKER'N I KISTA FOR NORSK MUSIKK
Apen plays in the band YOGA FIRE which released their first album "FUCK YOU ELLER PENGA TILBAKE" on the 28th of September 2009 through the label MTG. The albumet is full of groovy tunes such as the international superhits "Superkul med kniv" and "Spikern i kista for norsk musikk" (see video links further down in the article). The album is a must have for anyone who is into norwegian rock og barberwire-disco in general. You actually have to check it out. Do it right now. Enter YOGA FIRE in the search field of your spotify player and let yourself be indulged in the musical goodness.
See see, I told you so.. You look and feelmuch better after that audiotory treatment... and if you have a guilty conscience for not actually listening to the album, which you were properly instructed to do, you are now getting a second chance ... go ahead ... have a listen. If you don't have Spotify you can enter YOGA FIRE in YOUTUBE and have a look at the magnificent videos posted there. Such as "SUPERKUL MED KNIV" which features Jenny Skavlan.
Yoga Fire consists of 5 band members. Dane on vocal and cow-bell, Alis on bass, Apen on lead-guitar, Dr. S contributes with audiovibes from the "stueorgel", syntheziser and rhythm guitar, while Posen bangs on the drum kit. All in all, a lovely musical composition.
TRACKLIST - FUCK YOU ELLER PENGA TILBAKE
| 01. Tikkende Bombe
| 02. De Eneste I Verden
| 03. Den Beste Låta Jeg Veit | 04. Blod
| 05. Slepp Johnny Fri | 06. Natta Er Ung | 07. Schizofren | 08. Superkul Med Kniv | 09. Spiker'n I Kista For Norsk Musikk | 10. Apen Må Dø | 11. Verdens Svakeste Mann |
Anywhoo.. as mentioned earlier, we had a little chat with Apen regarding the watersport we all love, wavesurfing. Here's the interview:
::: Gone-Surfing.com: Hola Apen! First of all.. how did you get into surfing?
::: Apen: I tried to surf for the first time in Ecuador in 2002, at a little place called Canua. There was a beach break with fucking fierce local surfers who did not have much patience with a pale, fat and sunburned pearshaped idiot from Norway. In spite of all this, the experience of trying to surf was completely surrealistic and amazin. Nothing I had tried before had made such an incredibly strong impression.
::: Gone-Surfing.com:Haha, sounds like an amazing maiden-voyage. What drives and motivates you to get out there among the blue velvet?
::: Apen: Well.. Before I enter the water, my motivation is to have a great time. Then, when I am in there, my motivation is to not die.
::: Gone-Surfing.com: What is the most amazing spot you have ever surfed?
::: Apen:That has to be Guarda do Embau, a couple of miles south of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. I have never seen so mange hot women in one place. Thinking about it, I have never seen so many hot guys in one place either.. so it is quite hard competition. In Guarda, they have three different breaks, tons of beachpartys, the ultimate hangover-cure; an brazilian fruit which is called acai; and the restaurat La Manchaka, which dishes up with the best food and drinks when the waves have gone to bed for the night.
::: Gone-Surfing.com:
That sounds amazing! It has been added to my «must visit, must surf » list. Have you visited any other exotic surf destinations? ::: Apen:
I have surfed in Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, Ireland and Mexico. And I have travelled across Cuba looking for waves. I had heard some rumors that it was possible to surf in Cuba, but this proved to be completely wrong. After traveling around for two weeks in search of waves, we found sort of a river break that proved disastrous for two reasons: abnormous underwater currents and fierce male forestry workers with machetes ...
::: Gone-Surfing.com:
Haha, awesome. Sounds like you have experienced quite a lot with the surfboard under your arm. Do you have any special surfingexperiences you would like to share with the general public?
::: Apen: I was surfing in Ireland in November, a few years ago. Or... I tried to surf in Ireland a few years ago. Surfing in the winter is not for me. It is not the temperature which is the problem, it is more that the whole experience becomes a bit too intense when you are in the water and you are deadttired, and you realize that you are breathing frostsmoke. To me, the temperature and the sun is a very substantial part of surfing.
::: Gone-Surfing.com:
I totally agree. To my own experience, you become a bit more spoiled after having surfed exotic surfingspots across our beautiful planet Tellus. You mentioned earlier that things might get wet and wild when Apen takes it to the sea. Has Apen ever been close to dying out on the raging sea?
::: Apen: It has definitely felt like that at times. In Puerto Escondido,Mexico, I had a nasty wipeout which tore of my boxershors and boardshorts, which lead to me being thrown onto land, soaking naked. Also had a few unpleasant experiences with underwater currents, among other things, in Zipolite in Mexico, but it must be said that I am a mental weakling by nature, and it may well be that I have exaggerated the danger of these situations somewhat.
::: Gone-Surfing.com:
Haha, it sounds pretty rought even for the mere mortal I think.. Coming to the end of the interview; do you have a special tune you throw in the cassette-player when you want to get amped before a surfsession?
::: Apen: That would have to be «Search & Destroy» by Iggy and The Stooges.
(ALBUM) [Link opens in a new window] 
::: Gone-Surfing.com:
::: Gone-Surfing.com:
