Budapest-based duo Weekend Vikings blend jazz, prog rock, and cinematic soundscapes with bold imagination. In this interview, they discuss their Viking spirit, creative process, and reinventing Twin Peaks through music.
1. Weekend Vikings is quite an evocative name! How did you come up with it, and does it reflect something about your music or creative approach?
We chose the name because we believe there’s a bit of a Viking spirit in everyone — that longing for adventure, for endless sea voyages, and for a life that’s free and honest. But here we are, in 21st-century Budapest, and we mostly get to live that out on weekends, in the rehearsal room. We do our jobs, take care of our families, and then on Saturday we sit down with our instruments — and the world is ours!
And the best part? In music, we don’t have to chop anyone’s head off — that’s one thing about the Viking era we’re happy to leave behind. 🙂
2. Your sound blends jazz, modern genres, and progressive rock — a rare combination. How do you balance improvisation with structure when composing and performing?
Luckily, we share a very similar taste in music. We both love the big musical territories you mentioned — that’s our common ground, our roots. The songs are always born out of improvisation, from free jam sessions. Of course, we argue about proportions: I’m Gábor, the pianist, so naturally I’d throw in way more improvised parts — but Viktor, our drummer, has a good head on his shoulders and always brings me back down to earth. Thanks to that, we end up with compositions that are both expressive and quite compact.
3. Your new release, “Pin Tweaks,” reimagines the world of Twin Peaks in a truly original way. What inspired you to reinterpret such an iconic theme, and how did you approach transforming its familiar soundscape?
What fascinates us about Twin Peaks is not only its music but also its entire atmosphere — that magical blend of eeriness and calm, just like life itself sometimes. It’s an iconic film and soundtrack for both of us. The theme Falling is mesmerizing, but most covers tend to stay very close to the original mood.
We decided to take a deep breath and completely reimagine it — change the rhythm, shift the key, deconstruct and rebuild its sections. We added some wild synth textures and even slipped in some psychedelic elements, like a repetitive harmony reminiscent of a phone ringing. We felt it was a worthy tribute to Lynch and Badalamenti’s fantastic creation.
5. You mentioned you’re currently compiling your previous singles into a debut album. What can listeners expect from this record, both musically and emotionally?
We’re putting together a very eclectic album from our previously released tracks and some new material. The musical freedom we set as our goal is right there in these songs — each one tells its own story, its own little world, pulling listeners into different atmospheres and narratives.
6. As a duo from Budapest now seeking international label partners, what’s your vision for the future of Weekend Vikings — collaborations, touring, or new musical directions?
Our big dream is to play at major festivals, to share our music with audiences who are open to this kind of sound, and to meet amazing musicians — even our idols — to learn from them and hang out after the shows. We’re always up for traveling; after all, we’re a duo, and for now all our gear still fits in the back of my trusty Astra wagon.
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