Ashen Sun’s debut single **“Faith’s Funeral”** is more than a return for former Tiamat and Sundown bassist and songwriter Johnny Hagel. It’s a meditation on mortality, change, and the fragile beliefs that define us. Emerging from Sweden’s rich gothic legacy, Ashen Sun embraces the melancholy and cinematic grandeur of classic dark rock while carving out a deeply personal vision. In this conversation with *KJAGRadio.com/The Mic*, Hagel discusses the meaning behind “Faith’s Funeral,” the freedom of working alone, and why even the darkest music should ultimately leave listeners with joy and a renewed desire to live.
*By KJAGRadio.com/The Mic*
Sweden has long been a breeding ground for atmospheric and emotionally charged music, and few names are more closely tied to that tradition than Johnny Hagel. Known for his foundational work with Tiamat and Sundown, Hagel has returned with a new creative vehicle, Ashen Sun. The project’s debut single, “Faith’s Funeral,” is a haunting blend of 90s gothic rock, cold-wave synths, and cinematic melancholy that feels both nostalgic and entirely its own.
Produced by Hagel and mixed and mastered by Ronnie Björnström, the single introduces listeners to a world where isolation, decay, and existential reflection become strangely beautiful. Yet despite its dark themes, Hagel insists the ultimate message is one of hope and embracing life.
### Burying Faith
For a song titled “Faith’s Funeral,” the meaning reaches beyond religion. Hagel says the track reflects how quickly beliefs and perceptions can change.
“The song is all about faith, thoughts about your future and how quick changes there are in life,” he explains. “Basically that the faith of a person can quickly change.”
That sense of uncertainty permeates the song, creating a mood that feels deeply personal while speaking to universal experiences.
### A Requiem for Dying Stars
Ashen Sun has been described as “a requiem for fading empires and dying stars,” but Hagel sees melancholy in many forms.
“Melancholy comes in many forms, could be a four-minute song, a ten-minute song or even an artwork,” he says. “I tried to express the dark side of life which I think is something we all have within us.”
The project balances intimate emotions with grand mythological imagery, allowing listeners to interpret the darkness in their own way.
### Freedom Through Solitude
Unlike his previous band experiences, Ashen Sun places all creative decisions squarely on Hagel’s shoulders.
“This time it is only me instead of working with others,” he says. “There is always a time for everything and I felt this time is now.”
For the first time, he controls every aspect of the music—from songwriting and artwork to videos and release schedules.
“I can decide everything myself. I have mixed feelings about that, but I trust myself and I think any musician should do that.”
### No Trends, Just Truth
Ashen Sun’s sound merges gothic rock melancholy with cold-wave electronics, but Hagel insists there was no calculated formula.
“I write and record music for me and if someone else likes it, it is a bonus,” he says. “I want to stay true to my music and not try to follow any trends.”
That authenticity extends to his collaboration with acclaimed engineer Ronnie Björnström.
“Ronnie is great and easy to work with and I think he understands things within the sound of a song that I don’t. I trust him a lot.”
### Post-Human Longing and Living Today
The themes explored in Ashen Sun often venture into mortality and what lies beyond.
“There will be an end for both you and me,” Hagel reflects. “It doesn’t scare me, but I hope it is not soon because I have many things I want to do in the future.”
As for what comes after death?
“I don’t know if there is something after death and is that important? I say live today instead of tomorrow.”
It’s a philosophy that transforms Ashen Sun’s darkness into something surprisingly uplifting.
### Building Cinematic Soundscapes
Hagel credits many influences, including film scores, when crafting Ashen Sun’s expansive atmosphere.
“I listen a lot to soundtracks and I have pictures in my head when I write music,” he says.
Asked to recommend one essential album that unlocks the spirit of Ashen Sun, Hagel points to a classic:
“Maybe Fields of the Nephilim’s ‘Elizium.’”
### Looking Ahead
“Faith’s Funeral” offers a glimpse into a full-length album expected in 2026, and possibly an EP before then.
“There is much more to come and if you like this song I think you will like the album as well.”
Although Ashen Sun’s themes are steeped in darkness, Hagel hopes listeners emerge with something unexpected.
“Strange to say when the music is dark,” he says, “but joy and the will to live every day.”
For an artist exploring decay and mortality, perhaps that’s the greatest paradox—and the greatest strength—of Ashen Sun.
### Connect With Ashen Sun
**Listen and Download “Faith’s Funeral”**
[https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/ashensun/faiths-funeral](https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/ashensun/faiths-funeral)
**Watch the Official Video**
[https://youtu.be/mcdZosEvVlk](https://youtu.be/mcdZosEvVlk)
**Website**
[https://www.ashen-sun.com](https://www.ashen-sun.com)
**Facebook**
[https://www.facebook.com/ashensundark](https://www.facebook.com/ashensundark)
**TikTok**
[https://www.tiktok.com/@ashen_sun_dark](https://www.tiktok.com/@ashen_sun_dark)
**YouTube**
[https://www.youtube.com/@Ashen-Sun-dark](https://www.youtube.com/@Ashen-Sun-dark)
**Contact**
[info@ashen-sun.com](mailto:info@ashen-sun.com)
**Media Contact**
[zach@metaldevastationradio.com](mailto:zach@metaldevastationradio.com)
For an artist whose music dwells among fading empires and dying stars, Johnny Hagel remains remarkably grounded. Ashen Sun may embrace darkness, but beneath the brooding atmosphere lies something profoundly human: the recognition that life is fleeting and should be lived fully. With a debut album on the horizon and perhaps an EP arriving beforehand, Ashen Sun appears poised to carry Sweden’s gothic tradition into a cinematic future—one where melancholy and hope coexist in equal measure.