(By our Norwegian correspondent Jan Ronald Stange / DJD press release) After 15 years of silence, Don Juan Dracula made a long-awaited comeback in February with the single ‘Burn’ and the excellent Sniffergod rework of the song. Now they’re following up with ‘Be The Same’, a synthpop track about self-destruction, change, and the need to start over.

The band, known for their energetic and theatrical mix of synthpop, rock, and indie, was once one of Norway’s most unique live acts. After many years in hibernation, they’re back, now with a new drummer and a renewed drive.

‘Be The Same’ was produced, mixed, and recorded by the band themselves, and marks the next chapter in a series of new releases throughout the year.

After firing of an e-mail to pick Henrik Lysell’s brain about about DJD’s second single and video I got this in return:

S-L: Tell us more about the song – one could almost speculate there’s a parallel to your own comeback here, as a comeback could include a lot of changes? “For us, for you, for me”?

Henrik Lysell: Haha, we see what you’re doing there – and fair enough, but truth is, the song isn’t really about our comeback. As always, it’s the personal stuff that fuels the fire – love, loss, obsession. We’ll leave space for interpretation, but it’s hard to hide that it’s about someone – a girl – who’s spiraled out. And at some point, she’s gotta start making the right choices. It’s not autobiographical, but there’s definitely a pulse of redemption in there.

S-L: … and the video – WOW – you really stepped up a notch or two! How many % AI this time?

HL: Appreciate that – thank you! Honestly, we’ve kind of become addicted to the possibilities of AI. Being able to create a whole visual universe where your imagination sets the rules? That’s insanely liberating. The tech is wild, but we’re still the ones steering the ship – mood, color, vibe, story. So maybe… 70% AI, 30% raw human obsession?

S-L: Any more releases before the concert?

HL: We might not make it in time for another drop before the show, but we’ve got 2-3 tracks that are nearly locked and loaded. We’re aiming to have a full album out before the year’s up. There’s just this creative flood going on right now – and it feels damn good to be riding it again!

Don Juan Dracula has been resurrected. Nothing will be the same.

On May 23, they’ll take the stage at Goldie, performing their first Oslo concert in 17 years.

Listen via Spotify | Tidal | Apple Music | Deezer | You Tube Music.

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Sometimes – when I’m not cooking, biking, listening to music or attending concerts, I write stuff for Side-Line.com. Mostly about Norwegian bands, but it’s been some Swedish, English, American, Danish, German and others too… 😉

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(By our Norwegian correspondent Jan Ronald Stange) A few weeks ago, we reported on the comeback of the Norwegian men in white, Don Juan Dracula, and their single ‘Burn’. Now, they’re complementing the track with the ‘SnifferGod Rework’, a techno remix by Alex Møklebust (Seigmen, Zeromancer, SnifferGod).

Henrik Lysell, the main vocalist, guitarist, composer, and AI video producer, reflects on the weeks following the comeback and the remix.

S-L: How have the weeks been since your comeback?

Henrik Lysell: It’s been absolutely amazing to finally have new material out after 17 years. Coming out of our basement studio and releasing a new track has been a surreal experience. The feedback has been incredible — we’re honestly overwhelmed by how many fans are still out there. Not to mention, playing an intimate, invite-only show was a blast. It really reminded us how important this band and these songs are to us.

S-L: Tell us about the ‘SnifferGod Rework’ of ‘Burn’ — it wasn’t a coincidence that you reached out to Alex for your first comeback track?

HL: Alex has an incredible musical ear and shares many of the same influences as us, so we reached out to him pretty quickly after finishing the track. When he sent us his remix, we cranked it up in the rehearsal space, and it completely blew us away. For a moment, it felt like we were transported to a dark club in Berlin. It was exactly the vibe we were hoping for.

S-L: Any updates on more releases, remixes, and events now that you’re back?

HL: We’ve got enough material for at least one, maybe even two full albums, so expect a steady flow of new tracks moving forward. We also have a few artists we’d love to see remix our songs, and one of them has already agreed to work on a remix of an upcoming single. Starting up Don Juan Dracula again has only made us more creative, so new songs are definitely in the works as well.

As for live shows, we can’t wait for the concert at Goldie. Oslo was our home base when we started the band, and we’ve played at most venues in the city over the years. Goldie looks like an awesome space, and we can guarantee that catwalk will be put to good use!

I also checked in with the remixer himself about this project and his relationship with Don Juan Dracula.

Side-Line: How did you like ‘Burn’ as the comeback track for DJD?

Alex Møklebust: I met Henning one afternoon at our local vinyl record store in Tønsberg.
We started talking about how much fun we had DJ’ing at the Depeche Mode parties in Tønsberg back in 2011-2012. He said that the band (DJD) was back together and working on a new album. He asked me if I could do a remix. I was in the middle of recording a new Seigmen album, but remixing is always fun, so of course, I said yes. Any excuse to play around with my modular setup is a good one.

He sent me some stems of their single Burn. That was the first time I had ever heard the track. It was the perfect song to remix as a techno track. Great fun!

S-L: I presume DJD contacted you for this remix due to your history with the band?

AM: Maybe, but first of all, because they knew I had done remixes for other artists.
Our connection goes back to 2004-2005 when I produced their album ‘Young Debutantes II’. I had a blast doing that. We recorded most of it at their rehearsal studio back then. That album did well, and the single ‘Take Me Home’ hit the charts in Norway 20 years ago.

I went to their release party for ‘Burn’, and to my surprise, they played my remix, including an AI video that Henrik made. I had no clue they were going to do that, but it was amazing to hear the remix on a big sound system. Lovely guys!

S-L: How did you approach this remix?

AM: I always start by playing around with my modular system and seeing what happens. Sending stems through it, programming synth parts, making drones — whatever I find fun to do that day. Then, I add drums and percussion and see how it makes me feel. Just experimenting with sounds.

My love for electronic music has been there since I discovered Skinny Puppy’s ‘Smothered Hope’ in the ’80s.

As a singer, the pressure is always high, and the expectations even higher. SnifferGod is more techno, and it’s my little “safe place”—pure fun with absolutely no pressure!

S-L: Any more remixes in the works?

AM: No remixes in the works as we speak. As I mentioned earlier, I’m busy recording the new Seigmen album. But I always play around with my modular synths whenever I have some spare time.

SnifferGod is not about being unique, game-changing, or distinctive. It’s about the love for electronic music.

Listen to the remix on Spotify | Apple Music | Tidal | YouTube Music

jrstange

Sometimes – when I’m not cooking, biking, listening to music or attending concerts, I write stuff for Side-Line.com. Mostly about Norwegian bands, but it’s been some Swedish, English, American, Danish, German and others too… 😉

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(By our Norwegian correspondent Jan Ronald Stange / Don Juan Dracula press release. Photo: Tom Lund)
Don Juan Dracula is back! Once hailed as one of Norway’s most electrifying and boundary-pushing bands, they took the country’s biggest festivals by storm, captivated audiences in New York, and left their mark on stages in Beijing. After 15 long years in the shadows, the band is finally reunited to write the next chapter in their legendary story.

With their unique sound – an explosive blend of energy, catchy melodies, and theatrical presence – Don Juan Dracula was never just a band; they were an experience. Their unforgettable live performances and powerful songs created a cult status that lived on long after they stepped away.

Now, with a new drummer, the band from Åsgårdstrand is ready to reclaim the stage. This isn’t just a comeback. It’s a rebirth.

The reunion not only marks a long-awaited return but also the launch of new music that promises to reignite the same passion they left behind 15 years ago. Don Juan Dracula isn’t here to reminisce – they’re here to remind the world of what it has been missing.
‘Burn’, their first release since 2008, dropped on Friday, February 14th, and is the first of several singles to be released throughout the year.

Where the band previously had production and mixing assistance from the likes of Alex Møklebust (Seigmen, Zeromancer), Stephen Hague (New Order, A-ha, Pet Shop Boys), and Ed Buller (Suede, Pulp), ‘Burn’ has been recorded, mixed, and produced by the band themselves.

A week ago I attended the release event with several friends. It started off with a Q&A session and a screening of the music video for ‘Burn’ at the local cinema. We then headed to a local club, Knut, for more music: first, the premiere of the Snifferdog Rework remix of the single (also with video), followed by a frantic and sweaty concert! A few days later, the vocalist Henrik Lysell had landed again, and we exchanged some emails.

Interview with Henrik Lysell

Side-Line: What brought on this comeback after 16–17 years?
HL: Even though life took us in different directions—families, jobs, and everything in between—music never stopped. I’ve been producing in my basement studio all these years, and at some point, I played some tracks for the rest of the band. The reaction was unanimous: these songs deserved to be heard. There’s always something to write about, something to express—life keeps happening. And no, it’s not about diaper changes. It’s about everything else that fuels creativity. The passion for synth-driven anthems is still alive, and we felt like Don Juan Dracula wasn’t done yet. So here we are, ready to bring new music into the world.

S-L: You had a screening of the video (twice!) and a concert/release party for the single. What reactions have you received from the audience afterward? How did the band experience the evening?
HL: It was an absolutely fantastic evening. The energy in the room was incredible, and we could really feel the love from everyone who showed up. The reaction to the video screening was overwhelming—people seemed genuinely excited, and seeing their response made all the hard work worth it. And playing live again… wow. It just reminded us why we do this in the first place. This is what we love the most, what we were meant to do. No matter how much time passes, performing in front of an audience is where we truly belong. We are, first and foremost, artists, and this night proved that Don Juan Dracula still has more to give.

S-L: The music video, which is heavily AI-produced, is a visual feast for the eyes! It must have been a comprehensive project—how was it created?
HL: ‘Burn’ is about a world moving in the wrong direction—and maybe too fast. Social media is brainwashing people, fueling division, and feeding egos through algorithms that reinforce extremes. It’s deeply concerning when you look at the rise of the far right, nationalism, and protectionism.

So using AI for the music video felt like the right choice—it’s both fascinating and terrifying, just like the forces shaping our world today.

We have a love-hate relationship with AI. It’s unsettling, but at the same time, creatively, it feels like the early days of synthesizers in music. When something this groundbreaking comes along, you can either fear it or explore its potential. The video is our way of doing both—embracing new technology while reflecting on its impact. And visually, AI allowed us to create something that feels as intense and surreal as the times we’re living in.

S-L: We heard the excellent Snifferdog remix of Burn last Friday. Are there more singles or remixes in the pipeline?
HL: Alex Møklebust’s remix turned out fantastic! It’s always exciting to hear how other musicians interpret a track, bringing out different elements and reshaping it into something new. We love that part of the process—handing over a song and seeing it take on a new life.

There have already been requests for remixes of upcoming singles, so it’ll be interesting to see who ends up putting their spin on them. As true music nerds, we get a huge kick out of having artists we respect reimagine our work and create entirely new sonic universes. So yes, more remixes are definitely in the pipeline—stay tuned.

S-L: Any upcoming plans—gigs, releases, etc.?
HL: Yes! We’re playing at Goldie in Oslo on May 23rd, and there will be more singles dropping before summer. The plan is to release a full album—because even though albums might not be the trend anymore, we’re pushing 50, so we’re sticking to that format.

We’re also looking into making a vinyl release, because there’s something special about having music in a tangible, physical form. And playing in Oslo again is going to be amazing—it’s where Don Juan Dracula started and where we played the most back in the day. It feels like coming home.

The wait is over. Don Juan Dracula has risen again.

Don Juan Dracula consists of:

• Henrik Lysell (vocals and guitar)
• Henning Krane (synth)
• Ola Eriksen (bass)
• Fredrik Fagerli Dahle (drums)

Listen to ‘Burn’ right here, or at Spotify | Tidal | Deezer | Apple Music | YouTube Music |

jrstange

Sometimes – when I’m not cooking, biking, listening to music or attending concerts, I write stuff for Side-Line.com. Mostly about Norwegian bands, but it’s been some Swedish, English, American, Danish, German and others too… 😉

www.facebook.com/jrstange