专访 Ef | 把听众带进一段未知的旅程
2026-3-14
成立二十余年，瑞典后摇乐队 Ef 始终以细腻的情感表达、融合古典元素的独特编曲，在 Post Rock 领域留下了浓墨重彩的印记，成为兼具影响力与口碑的经典乐队。正值乐队与 BRUIT≤ 开启中国巡演之际，UPEE 有幸邀请 Ef 的两位成员 Danny 和 Thomas 进行一期专访，分享关于 Ef 的创作以及对本次巡演的期待。
UPEE：Ef 在二十年的创作生涯中各个阶段都有不同的状态，对于现在的你们来说，你们觉得现在的 Ef 与生涯之初最大的不同是什么？
Danny：我们始终拥有独特的音乐表达体系，而这份表达自然会随着我们作为音乐人、作为普通人的成长走向成熟。Ef 所有的弦乐和铜管乐编配都由我完成，所以我能清晰感受到，我们的技术在整个职业生涯中的不断精进与深化。
We’ve always possessed a distinct musical language. Naturally, this language has matured as we have grown, both as artists and as people. Since I compose all the string and brass arrangements for EF, I can see how that specific craft has developed and deepened throughout our career.
Thomas：最大的不同在于阅历和底气。初期我们不会做太多尝试，创作更多依靠直觉；而现在的我们更专注、也更有耐心，清楚地知道自己想要的音乐质感。
The biggest difference is experience and confidence. In the beginning we did not experiment as much and worked more on instinct. Today we’re more focused and patient and we know how we want things to sound.
UPEE：作为这样持续创作的活跃乐队，你们有经历过创作上的瓶颈期吗，会怎么对待它？
Danny：我们确实遇到过创作瓶颈的情况。我们尝试过多种合作创作的方式，也意识到友情并不意味着彼此的创作轨迹始终契合。2022 年创作《We Salute You, You & You!》时，大家在简易的排练室相聚，这成了创作的转折点。它成为了对我们来说至关重要的世外桃源，让我们可以走出被工作和家庭填满的日常生活。这张专辑的创作过程异常顺利，也让我们明确了一点——具体参与创作的人员组合，对我们的创作力来说是不可或缺的。
We’ve definitely faced creative blocks. We’ve tried various ways of working together and realized that friendship doesn’t always mean your creative paths will match. During the writing of 2022s ”We Salute You, You & You!” meeting in a basic rehearsal space was a turning point. It was a vital escape from our daily lives with work and family. The album came together so rapidly that it became clear: the specific constellation of people involved is vital to our creativity.
UPEE：你们富于情感的音乐特征深入人心，保持自己的“声音特征”会成为你们创作过程中的顾虑吗？你们会如何形容 Ef 现在的音乐？
Danny：想要守住独有的音乐辨识度，做出听众期待的作品，这份无形的压力确实存在。但与此同时，作为创作者，我们也自然而然地想要不断突破、持续成长。现阶段，我会把我们的音乐定义为独立后摇 (Indie Post-Rock)，其中融入了人声以及当代古典音乐的元素。
There is certainly an unspoken pressure to preserve our unique sonic identity and give our listeners what they expect. At the same time, we naturally want to keep evolving as songwriters. At this stage, I would describe our music as indie post-rock with elements of vocals and contemporary classical music.
UPEE：去年你们发布了首张专辑《Give Me Beauty… Or Give Me Death!》的二十周年再版，与此同时距离你们的上一张全长专辑《We Salute You, You & You!》也已经过去了四年时间，最近有关于新作发行的计划吗？如果有，可否在此给乐迷一些暗示或者预告呢？
Danny：其实在筹备《Give Me Beauty… Or Give Me Death!》二十周年重制版时，我们已经在创作新专辑了。只是这张重制版的录制和最终收尾，耗时比我们预期的要久一些。不过现在我们已经重新投入新曲创作，这些作品最终会汇成我们的第六张专辑。尽管被家庭生活和繁重的工作占据，让大家抽出时间一起创作有点困难，但只要大家聚在一起，灵感就会涌现。
We were actually working on a new album when the 20th-anniversary reissue of Give Me Beauty… Or Give Me Death came along. Recording and finalizing that reissue took a bit longer than we had anticipated. However, we are now back to writing new music that will eventually become our sixth album. Even though it’s a challenge to find time to meet amidst our daily lives with families and demanding jobs, the creativity really flows whenever we do get together.
Thomas：就像 Danny 说的，我们正在制作新专辑，大部分曲目已经完成雏形。现在要做的，就是把这些内容打磨成一个脉络连贯、能打动听众的整体。我们始终希望让听众跟随我们的音乐开启一段旅程——一段情感的旅程，这段旅程的起点和终点不必重合，而是与之相反、充满未知的。
As Danny mentioned we’re working on a new album and most of the parts are already there. Now it’s “just” about shaping it all into a coherent and engaging whole. We always want to take the listener on a journey—an emotional one that doesn’t necessarily start and end in the same place, rather the opposite.
UPEE：作为对于 Post Rock 这一领域拥有不少影响力的一支队伍，你们会如何看待现在的 Post Rock 场景？以及这一概念对你们的影响？
Danny：当下有不少优秀的后摇乐队，无论小众还是知名，都让我们印象深刻，我们也有幸和其中许多乐队同台演出。1998 年，Mogwai 在瑞典一个音乐节演出，那是我、Niklas 和 Thomas 第一次接触后摇。彼时我们还互不相识，却都在现场，被 Mogwai 铺陈出的磅礴音墙深深震撼。我至少可以确定，就是在那一刻，我下定决心，未来要做后摇音乐。
There are several interesting post-rock acts today that really impress us, both small and large, and we’ve had the honor of sharing the stage with many of them. Niklas, Thomas, and I first encountered post-rock back in 1998 when Mogwai played at a Swedish music festival. We didn’t know each other at the time, but we were all there, completely floored by Mogwai’s massive walls of sound. I know that, for me at least, that was the moment I decided I wanted to play post-rock one day.
Thomas：对我而言，后摇不只是一种音乐流派，更是一种创作的思维。它让我们认识到，音乐可以挣脱传统曲式的束缚，变得开阔、富有情感且充满实验性。早年看 Mogwai 这样的乐队演出，听 Sigur Ros 的音乐，让我们看到了音乐创作的更多可能，而这也绝对塑造了我们时至今日的作曲思路和对音乐力度的把控方式。
For me, post-rock has always been more of a mindset than a genre. It showed us that music could be expansive, emotional and experimental without relying on traditional song structures. Seeing bands like Mogwai and listening to Sigur Ros early on opened our eyes to what was possible and it definitely shaped how we approach composition and dynamics to this day.
UPEE：两年前，你们时隔十年再次来到中国并参演了越位音乐节，对于在越位的演出有哪些印象深刻的回忆吗？
Danny：能来到中国、见到我们的乐迷，对我们而言始终是荣幸，我们每次的中国之行都无比难忘。越位音乐节是我们在中国参演过的规模最大的演出，站在舞台上，面对台下成千上万聆听我们音乐的观众，是一次极具冲击力的体验。
It is always an honor to visit China and meet our fans; all our trips there have been truly unforgettable. Offside was the largest show we’ve ever played in China, and it was a powerful experience to stand before that sea of people listening to our music.
Thomas：中国的观众十分谦逊友善，他们会和舞台上的我们一同沉浸在音乐的氛围里，每次演出都让我有回家的感觉。这次越位音乐节的演出尤为特别，带给我强烈的情感触动，绝对能排进我心中十佳演出之列。音乐节周边有群山环绕，景致优美，舞台也搭建得极具水准，这一切都让这次经历变得难以忘怀。
The people in China are so humble and kind, and they really enter the same “bubble” as we do on stage. It always feels like coming home. Playing at Offside was very special and the show had a huge emotional impact on me. Personally one of my top 10 shows. The beautiful surroundings with the mountains and the incredible stage made it an unforgettable experience.
UPEE：马上你们要开启久违的中国巡演，并且与 BRUIT≤ 共演，对此有什么期待吗？
Danny：能再次来到中国，我们非常期待。我们喜欢这里的人、这里的美食，也珍视听众们真挚又热情的欢迎。这是我们第四次来到中国，能和 BRUIT≤ 乐队同台，也格外开心。他们的音乐总能深深打动我们，他们的创作功底也让我们由衷敬佩，能和他们同台，对我们而言几乎像梦一样。我们期待每晚都被他们气势磅礴的演出震撼，也期待能和他们一同在中国开启这段美好的巡演之旅。
We’re really excited to return to China. We love the people, the food, and the heartfelt and warm reception. It will be our 4th time visiting and we love the idea of sharing the stage with BRUIT≤. It feels almost unreal to us since we’re genuinely moved by their music and totally floored by their craftsmanship. We’re looking forward to be blown away by their massive set night after night and to be able to share a wonderful adventure in China with them.