At first glance Nad Sylvan might have little in common with WB Yeats, but appearances can be deceptive. On the Swedish vocalist’s latest release, Spiritus Mundi, he closes the coffin lid on his Vampirate trilogy and finds inspiration in the work of the celebrated Irish writer who was once awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature.

Words: Julian Marszalek Images: Nad Sylvan

Nad Sylvan is giving new, musical life to the works of WB Yeats.

HULTON ARCHIVE/GETTY IMAGES

“I don’t really feel I belong in this world, to be honest. Throughout 40 years I was trying to get somewhere with my music; I was always rejected and always overlooked.”

There’s a palpable sense of relaxation if not outright serenity emanating from Nad Sylvan. The Danes and Norwegians call it ‘hygge’ –a mood of domestic coziness and contentment – whereas over in Sweden, which is where we find Sylvan, the locals refer to this concept as ‘mysig’. But whichever of these Scandinavian notions of creature comforts you plump for, Nad Sylvan is radiating it.

“I’m about 30 miles south of Stockholm city out in the wilderness,” he explains from his home. “I’m out in the country and live in this 26-year-old log house that was imported from Finland by a Finnish couple who used to live here. They got divorced, the house came on the market and I fell in love with it. So I bought it.”

Sylvan is something of a country boy at heart: “My first 47 years I lived in the city. I lived in Malmö and Stockholm. We had a summer residence in Gothenburg and we also had a cottage in West Cork in Ireland and so I always loved the rural life. I was always drawn to that. After so many years in the city –I was approaching 50 –I thought this must be the time in my life where I settle down, so I bought this house. I’m happier than I’ve [ever] been.”