Getting to know The Sound Veil Society and their epic synthpop – interview

We’ve kept tabs on Code 64, and later Xenturion Prime for many years, so when two members of Xenturion Prime started a new project, we were of course intrigued. And then came the first taste, and we learnt that this is a whole new ball game. The Sound Veil Society creates atmospheric dream synthpop on a level that few can reach. This Swedish / Norwegian constellation consists of Hasse Mattsson and Erlend Eilertsen, and we sent them some question to learn more about their new album “The Thing We Kept” which is out now on Progress Productions.

An epic, atmospheric sound

First things first, where did the band name The Sound Veil Society come from?

– The name came from wanting a name that conveyed the feeling we want to communicate with the music. That it should be a kind of veil of atmospheric sound washing over the listener.

You’ve been working with Xenturion Prime for a while now – how did you get started with this project?

– We had actually started working on new songs a while before Erlend joined Xenturion Prime, and we had also decided to start something new since the new songs didn’t fit into the bands and projects we were already working with. We also both felt that we wanted to start something completely fresh from scratch, so we started The Sound Veil Society.

Previously, you’ve both done harder, more danceable music. What is the inspiration behind your dreamlike, epic sound on “Things We Kept”?

– It’s probably a natural direction. We’ve both had some epic elements in previous projects, but now the danceable side took a backseat to the epic side. We draw quite a bit of inspiration from early ambient, kraut, and psychedelic rock, but we try to dress it in a punchier, more pop-oriented outfit.

How long have you been working on the album?

– The first demo – which turned into the track “OK” – we did shortly before Christmas 2023. Then we kept making demos until we figured out which direction our sound should take. We decided on the actual track list late in 2025 and finished everything before the spring of 2026.

Do you live in different countries these days? How have you worked together – in the studio or by sending files back and forth?

– It’s true that we live in different countries. Erlend lives a few miles south of Oslo and Hasse is in Lysekil, so there are a lot of files sent back and forth. But we make sure to use our time well when we do meet, whether it’s in the studio, planning, or rehearsing.

Does the album have a theme, and if so, what is it? Do you have any personal favorites on the album?

– Emotions – whether it’s longing, fear, or uncertainty. These are feelings we all carry, but don’t always admit to ourselves that we have. Favorites change all the time, but right now it’s “Bound in Circles”.

Is there any song that changed a lot from the demo stage to the finished track?

– Absolutely! In fact, the first and last tracks on the album changed the most. “Another Day” was originally more uplifting with drums all the way through, and “Epilogue” is based on a vocal line that wasn’t used on a synthpop demo that never materialized either.

Whose idea was it to release the album on the more or less dead Minidisc format?

– That brilliant idea came from Torny at Progress Productions, who is releasing our music. It was actually his surprise when we met up last summer and he was going to show us the finished CD:s and LP:s.

Looking ahead

Will you be playing live and touring with “Things We Kept”?

– The plan is to get out and play. We already have a few overseas gigs confirmed, but of course, we’re aiming to play some home shows as well.

What is the current status of Xenturion Prime?

– Xenturion Prime is very much alive, on the side. But since we are working on The Sound Veil Society, and Björn is also involved in the metal band Abyssic, we’re taking things steady. But there will be more music coming there too.

And what is the status of Essence of Mind and Lights AM, Erlend?

– Essence of Mind is a closed chapter, and it has actually been like that since late 2017. But it took a few years to decide that enough was enough. Lights A.M is more uncertain. Something new might happen in the future, but right now it feels like it belongs to a period in my life where I needed to do something new, which in turn has led me to where I am today.