Why did you choose the name "millencolin"? what is the meaning of it?
- Millencolin is just our name, it doesn't really mean anything (except for the name of our band). We came up with from the word "melancholy" and then we just re-spelled it so it’s just our name.
When did you found your band?
- We started the band oktober 1992. Back then Mathias used to play the drums but when I joined the band (early ’93) he grabbed a guitar and I took over the drums.
When did you begin to make music?
- Me and Erik started to play in different bands back in 1989-90 and Mathias and Nikola started about a year later. We pretty much knew eachother before we started the band from local punkshows and different local skate spots.
Can you give me some reasons why people start to make music?
- I really don't know…I guess it's because of the money and all the partying! I'm just kidding! I was just so amazed by all these bands I was listening to so I wanted to have a band too and do covers of their songs and have a great time playing music with my friends.
Who or what inspired you to make this kind of music?
- Bands like Bad Religion, Operation Ivy, NOFX, Circle Jerks, Pennywise, Misfits etc. influenced us alot when we started Millencolin. We heard these bands in skatevideos and stuff and it was a little hard to find their records at that time so we just thought it would be cool to play some covers and make some cool music we liked listen to. We all played in different punkbands before Millencolin and we all sang in swedish so we thought it would be fun to try to sing in another language.
Some people compare you with bands like Led Zepplin or the Doors? what's is your opinion about that?
- They do ?? I guess that's cool. They're both legendary bands so that's cool!
Are there any artists at the moment that you would appreciate to cooperate with?
- Don't know really, haven't thought much about that. We had punkstar Mårten from the band Bombshell Rocks come sing on one of the songs off our upcoming album and that was cool. We've also had the oppurtunity to play with a bunch of the bands that influenced us and that has been awesome.
What is your opinion of the current canadian music scene?
- It's totally great for us to go playing there, it's amazing how good they've been treating us over there. It has been really good for us since our first show there. We've also met some nice good bands from there for example SNFU, The Black Halos, Sum 41, Brand New Unit, Gob and some others. Cred to Canada.
The new album is called "Home From Home" does it have any meaning?
- Nikola came up with the albumtitle and it means kind of like that Millencolin is our second home and that both our homes and our band means ALOT to us. It’s kind of like From One Home To Another Home for us.
Who decide which songs will be released as singles?
- It's us basically. I guess the recordcompany (Burning Heart Rec.) have the final decision but they've always been cool about letting us decide which song's gonna be a single.
Do you have a favorite track on the new album?
- Yeah my favorite tracks are: ”Kemp”, ”Black Eye”, ”Home From Home” and ”Happiness For Dogs”.
Do you listen to your own cd's?
- I don't listen to our own records that often. I listen once in a while when it's newly recorded and then let it rest for a while before I listen again.
Where do you get your inspiration from to write songs and who is mainly responsible for the lyrics?
- Nikola wrote pretty much all the lyrics on ”Home From Home” except for the song ”Home From Home” where our guest Mårten wrote his parts. Mathias wrote some lyrics on our previous albums but not on this one. We get inspiration from stuff that happens and all the great music we hear.
What is first, the music or the lyrics?
- I guess we've always thought a little more about the music than the lyrics. We didn't have to worry that much about since we all think Nikola write great lyrics.
Do you prefer being on tour or working on new songs in a studio, or do you like both?
- I guess we like both but I definately prefer being on tour. Imagine being in the studio for a year or something, it would drive me insane. Being on tour, playing shows, meeting nice people, nothing beats that!
Do you write songs during a tour ?
- No we usually don’t write any new songs while we’re on tour.
Are you a little bit nervous when you're about to go on stage?
- Yeah sometimes you get really nervous and sometimes it’s cool. It’s kind of nice be a little nervous.
How do you like the venue here in mainz, as a place to perform? do you like to tour in germany? What did you think of the fans in europe, are there any differences to America?
- It's cool, we like Germany and of course the rest of Europe too. We did our first tour outside of Sweden in Germany and it has been great ever since that! You have lots of nice rockclubs in Germany and that's cool. It's no big difference with the people who go to our shows in Europe compared to America or Australia. It can be a little more violent in some parts of the States or South America but otherwise it's quite similar. We have a great crowd and that's cool. Cred to Germany.
Do you listen to your support band who are on stage ahead of you? What do you think of them? Did you choose all the bands?
- Yes, we try to get to see supportbands and mostly they’re really good and nice people. We didn’t choose all the supportbands but some. Usually we bring a band with us and then the local promoter picks one band.
Could you tell us if there are any aims you want to reach in you musical career or in life in general?
- There are no particular aims more then to keep on write songs we really like and feel good about and to have lots of fun.
Are there any other activities or projetcts that you are involved in besides the band?
- Mathias has a studio together with a guy from a band called Nasum and they’re recording lots of bands. Erik is doing all kinds of layout-stuff plus our website http://www.millencolin.com and albumcovers and stuff. Nikola’s hangin’ in Gothenburg and writing songs and taking it easy. I'm just lazy, but I'm trying to take care of all the mails we get.
What are your hobbies besides your musical life?
- Nikola likes to play chess and play golf. Mathias likes to cruise in his cars, hang out with friends and party and stuff. Erik likes to play golf, go fishing, hang out with friends and party. I kind of like all that stuff too.
Can you make a living of your music?
- Yes we can, we're really lucky!
|
