SOURCE WEBZINE

SOURCEWEBZINE - The production of the “Overworld” must be commented on as it very good. Where was it recorded and what time-scales were you operating in ? Did you enjoy the recording process ?
Robert Stjärnström (vocals) – Most of the album was recorded in a “home” studio setting. We’ve got various resources for recording drums and such, but all the guitars and vocals, for instance, were recorded at home. We asked Spinefarm to provide us with gear rather than studio time because we enjoy doing things on our own timeframe. The recorded album was later mixed in Studio Fredman in Gothenborg, an experience which is always a pleasure.

SOURCEWEBZINE - “Overworld” combines a number of different elements and sounds, some of which are more straightforward than others. How and where do you see these elements coming together from ?
Robert Stjärnström (vocals) – The combination of aggression, melody and playfulness has always been fairly obvious to us. It’s not something we try hard to achieve, it’s just the way it turns out when we make music. The metal and punk stuff comes from everyday life I suppose, while the video game influences comes from the other world, the one we escaped into as kids, and still do. These elements converge in our creative output. When playing metal, a lot of bands are probably afraid to experiment due to fear of not being “true”, but we don’t really have that problem.

SOURCEWEBZINE - Have you read any reviews of the album, what does the media think of it ?
Robert Stjärnström (vocals) – Yes, but only a few so far. It’s hard to tell this early, but it’s looking good. Maybe people are starting to get used to our sound now, hehe.

SOURCEWEBZINE - Since you’re a band with such a strong presence on the Internet, and the album did well anyway, does it bother you when people “illegally” download your music?
Robert Stjärnström (vocals) – No it doesn’t.

SOURCEWEBZINE - Machinae Supremacy is one of many bands that has greatly benefited from the internet music-sharing and social networking scene, long before the advent of Last.fm and MySpace. Do you think the buzz that these sites are perceived to generate among fans translates into genuine exposure for up and coming bands - or is it just more invasive advertising for bands on the rosters of major label players?
Robert Stjärnström (vocals) – Probably both. The advantage is that it’s easier for the public to look up what they choose for themselves, as opposed to music television for instance, where you’ll only see major label acts. Exploring your own taste in music was hard 10 years ago. It isn’t anymore. In other words, people who only listen to mainstream music these days have no legitimate excuse for doing so.

SOURCEWEBZINE - I’m always on the hunt for quality music within the Metal genre, and therefore I would like to ask you if there are any bands you would like to recommend…
Robert Stjärnström (vocals) - Sure. My personal favorite band is Otep, which is NOT to be confused with Opeth. But looking among less known bands, I can recommend Raised Fist (another band from our home town), The Crown (rockish black metal), Zeromancer (synth-metal, sort of – “Eurotrash” is the album if you want to try them out), After Forever (an alternative to Nightwish and Within Temptation – even though I love Within Temptation too), Auf der Maur and finally Guano Apes (rock/metal with female vocals, but still not “power” metal). I bet there’s a lot, but those are some tips, at least.

SOURCEWEBZINE - A lot of newcomer band are releasing DVDs nowadays. Do you already have plans in this direction or are you going to release some more studio material first?
Robert Stjärnström (vocals) - Well we don’t really have all that much video material yet. Maybe when we get more (and more up to date) live video recordings, or rock videos for that matter, we might consider it, but it’s not really something we’re looking at right now.

SOURCEWEBZINE - How much of an influence has the band had in the song selections on “Overworld” ?
Robert Stjärnström (vocals) – Total. Spinefarm barely got to hear any of the material until we’d finished mixing them at Studio Fredman. We let Spinefarm select the track order, only stating that we wanted “Overworld” first, and “Stand” last. We also let hem decide which song to make the first video for.

SOURCEWEBZINE - Do you feel that your band and your music is a way of communication and relating with people?
Robert Stjärnström (vocals) – Well… I definitely feel like putting my mind’s eye out there when I write lyrics, but I also try to restrain myself from pushing it too much down people’s throats. Having played a lot of punk (political) music I knew when we formed Machinae Supremacy that I didn’t want this band to be another one about preaching my or the other band members’ social and political views. But sometimes I just can’t help myself. “Overworld”, especially, is a sign of that.

SOURCEWEBZINE - How’s the metal/rock scene in Sweden doing at the moment in your opinion?
Robert Stjärnström (vocals) – It’s ok. We got some awesome bands in Sweden, but I feel like I can count them on one hand. Even so, those bands by themselves make up for their lack of numbers. I might have a distorted perspective living as far north as I do, but from where I’m sitting Sweden in general seems preoccupied with soft singer&songwriter and pop-rock music right now.

SOURCEWEBZINE - In June 2007, MACHINAE SUPREMACY performed live with the Swedish Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and a 60 piece choir in two sold-out concerts in the grand Stockholm Concert Hall. Please, tell me about this experience…
Robert Stjärnström (vocals) – Words really can’t describe it… Imagine the finest concert hall in the country, and among the finest classical musicians in this part of the world (without question the best in Scandinavia). Then add to that an amazing conductor, Arnie Roth, and the basic fact that you get to play METAL with a symphony orchestra backing you up, in front of 1700 people (two times in one day), with encore and everything. And then we went and did the same thing in Norway.

SOURCEWEBZINE - Now we have come to the end of this long interview, I’d like to thank you for taking the time to answer my questions and to end it all is, there anything you would like to say to the readers out there ?
Robert Stjärnström (vocals) – Indiscriminate murder is counter-productive.

Machinae Supremacy
Machinae Supremacy - Myspace
Spinefarm Records