Interview: Det Vackra Livet

PopMatters talks to Junip, pans The Haunted

PopMatters interviews Junip: http://www.popmatters.com/pm/feature/139613-in-every-direction-an-interview-with-junip/
Also posted over there today, a scathing dismissal of The Haunted's new record: http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/138927-the-haunted-unseen/

I'm Kingfisher live recordings + new interview

I'm Kingfisher performing "Smile with your 1000 teeth" live from Södra Teatern's terrace. Check out a full live recording of his recent show there from Gimmie Indie: http://www.gimmeindie.se/live/konsert/imkingfisher/
There's also a new interview with him up at Jambase: http://www.jambase.com/Articles/49503/JamBase-Questionnaire-I’m-Kingfisher

Helsinki scene report via Rubik

Rubik contribute a Helsinki scene report for CMJ: http://www.cmj.com/homepage/2011/04/scene-report-rubik-on-helsinki-finland/

Svensk Musik interviews Britta Persson

Svensk Musik talks to Britta Persson about her upbringing and growth as a songwriter, among other subjects: http://svenskmusik.org/article/britta-persson/

The gangsta roots of black metal

The Quietus talks to Tony F Wilson aka DJ Spykidelic about the missing link between black metal and gangsta rap: http://thequietus.com/articles/06112-mayhem-vs-nwa

Victims, behind the music

Read all about the origins of the songs on Victims' new album "A dissident" via guitarist Gareth Smith's blog: http://punkrockandcoffee.blogspot.com/2011/04/working-titles.html
There's also a new, in-depth interview with the band here: http://blowthescene.com/interviews/victims-interview.html

MP3: Principe Valiente - In my arms

I am proud to present to you the premiere of the video for Principe Valiente's brand new single "In my arms", but that's not all -- I've also managed to get the band to answer a few questions as well. Read on!

So how'd you guys hook up with [video director] Henning Cronheim? I know he's worked on the Millennium trilogy, but is there any other work of his I should be aware of, aside from the previous video he did with you?

He actually found us through our myspace. We were just in the process of recording the album and he loved the songs we had done already at that time, "The night" was one of them. He mostly works with commercial films, but he has also been involved in other movies here in Sweden like "Änglavakt" and "Snabba Cash".

What's the concept for this new clip? Did you pick out the song and idea ahead of time or is it something you and Henning collaborated on?

This video is about a married couple who are trying to find each other again after a long time, on their silver wedding anniversary. They try with love and affection but also with imagination and fantasies, but still care for each other. The idea fits quite good with the song, which is both contestant and a bit frustrated, but still full of hope .

Of course, it can also be interpreted in different ways as well. Like the video for "The night".

We picked the song ourselves and the concept was Henning's idea, but we collaborated very well with the details and we are very satisfied with the result. Henning, his photographer Adrian Levander and the whole film team were very professional and great to work with.

How do you feel about the "goth" descriptor being applied to your music? Do you feel a kinship with the goth scene? How do you feel about other gothic-style bands like Zola Jesus and Cold Cave getting major hype in the indie world?

We are fine with those associations, but I think we have much more influences to connect with too.

We really are into some gothic acts from the 80's like The Sisters of Mercy, Siouxsie & The Banshees and early Cocteau Twins, but we are very fond of other styles too, like the shoegazer scene in the beginning of the 90's with My Bloody Valentine and Ride and even earlier with The Jesus & Mary Chain, so we think we have a good mixture.

Anyway, I think it's great that good underground bands are getting more listeners, I actually didn’t hear Zola Jesus until now and I really liked some of it...

Ok, so you have this new single... what's next?

Well, our next step is to promote the new album as much as we can, and do some more shows here in Sweden before we go to Germany for a small tour in the middle of June. There's also plans for London and Moscow, but not scheduled yet. We hope for some summer festivals too.

It seems like the album has been very well received, but we still do the booking ourselves, so actually we are looking for a booking agency as well.

Principe Valiente - In my arms

International Harvester doc (video)

Bummer about the lack of subtitles, but still pretty cool that someone took the time to put this online.

Dennis Lyxzén to write Refused autobio (video interview)

Per-Sinding Larsen of PSL interviewing Dennis Lyxzén about his plans to write an autobiography on his years with Refused, complete with English subtitles. Tack SVT!

Absolut Noise vs Allt det här

Absolut Noise talks about the new Pascal/Mattias Alkberg split and also interviews members of both bands: http://www.absolutnoise.com/2011/04/pascal-mattias-alkberg-split-album-allt-det-h%C3%A4r.html

Veronica Maggio - Jag kommer (video)

Aftonbladet has the video for the great new Veronica Maggio single "Jag kommer" along with her comment that Tommy Nilsson's "Vill du ha sex med mig" is the template for how not to write a sex song in Swedish: http://www.aftonbladet.se/nojesbladet/musik/article12872666.ab

Svensk Musik label of the month: Hoob Records

Jazz label Hoob Records is the Svensk Musik label of the month: http://svenskmusik.org/article/april-hoob-records/

PSL vs Sahara Hotnights

Part 1 of PSL interviewing Sahara Hotnights and previewing a few tunes off their upcoming album: http://psl.svt.se/psl/2011/04/01/lite-varldspremiar-sahara-hotnights-nya-ohs-vart-forsta-feta-rockriff-del-1/

Under the Radar talks to Niki and the Dove

Under the Radar interviews hyped Swedish pop duo Niki and the Dove: http://undertheradarmag.com/interviews/niki_and_the_dove