SOURCE – The world has changed quite a bit since the release of “Deaf Dumb Blind” in 1993. It’s a highly expressive and still relevant album. One of the tracks, a band hit, “Nigger,” still sparks controversy. How do you assess all the criticism this song has received?
Zak Tell (Vocals) – It’s been more good than bad; it’s been more understood than misunderstood. Without that song igniting our career, we may not have gotten to where we are. We’re proud of the song, and we know where we stand and that we’re not a racist band. It’s a very different political climate 33 years later; people are a lot more aware, and there is a new wokeness. Therefore, we have respectfully decided that it is no longer our place to play the song or be the carriers of that message — it probably never was our place, to be honest.
SOURCE – “Before We All Die” is a new album, released after an 18-year hiatus. How did you keep the band alive and kicking during that time, and how would you describe the production process of the new album?
Zak Tell (Vocals) – We are a highly dysfunctional band, so that is a very good question. But the simple answer is that there was only one year when we stopped playing entirely. Beyond that, we have always done at least a few festivals and a gig here and there. It is no longer our main source of income, so I guess in a lot of ways it is more like a very luxurious hobby that we have a lot of fun with. The production process involves a lot of sharing riffs, beats, and lyrical ideas, sending files back and forth, and creating songs in bits and pieces until we have a song we feel is good enough. That’s pretty much how we have always done it. The difference now is that we record our parts in different home studios, and then Jocke takes care of most of the editing and the mixing. A song has to start with an idea that we all like, and I have to come up with some kind of lyric I am happy with, or else there will not be a song!
SOURCE – With the release of “Before We All Die,” how do you reflect on and evaluate the band’s evolution throughout its career?
Zak Tell (Vocals) – I don’t really reflect or evaluate much; we just do our thing because we are who we are, and it turns out the way it does. We’ve been pretty consistent from day one, and we found our style very early on. In all honesty, we’ve never really changed that much, apart from the occasional musical experimentation here and there. We have our own way of writing songs, and regardless of whether it’s an uptempo banger or a mid-paced song, it always ends up sounding like us. We’re pretty happy with that.
SOURCE – In recent years, the music industry has become an environment that increasingly demands visibility through the frequent release of music videos and singles. How do you see these expectations shaping the music scene today?
Zak Tell (Vocals) – It’s just different. In the old days, you would release one single before the album, record a video for it, and then after release there would be a few more singles and videos. These days, you need to continuously release singles and videos to keep people’s attention. Well, I guess you don’t have to do it that way, but that seems to be how most younger bands do it. We’re not dumb — we listen to what people tell us, and if it seems to make sense, we say OK. That doesn’t necessarily mean that we understand the procedure entirely, but that’s because we come from the old-fashioned way of doing it.
SOURCE – A modern band has to operate on multiple fronts, far beyond just composing, performing, and recording. Even with dedicated teams supporting its various activities, how do you view the daily life of a musician who is navigating so many responsibilities to make their music accessible to a growing audience?
Zak Tell (Vocals) – We just try to learn as we go along. A lot has changed in the 19 years since we last released an album. It’s all about social media, streaming, and digital platforms these days — that’s just something you have to accept and try to adapt to. At the same time, we don’t want to forget who we are, where we come from, and how we do things, so we just try to balance it out. Luckily for us, we’ve always enjoyed staying in touch with our fans and posting silly stuff anyway, so it’s not a big leap and it doesn’t feel totally weird. Last but not least, many of us have other jobs, so being in a band isn’t always our main focus, even if there is a lot to do right now before the release of Before We All Die.
SOURCE – How has the rise of streaming platforms like Spotify changed your perception of what it means to release an album, particularly regarding pacing, song arrangement, and listener retention?
Zak Tell (Vocals) – It hasn’t changed anything at all when it comes to writing music. Pacing, song arrangements, and all that stuff have nothing to do with it. What it has changed is how the music gets listened to and how people find or buy our music. These days, only the most enthusiastic and devoted people buy physical products, while most people are more than happy with just listening on their chosen streaming platforms.
SOURCE – In the “Before We All Die” press release, you mention the Monsters of Rock festival in Brazil, where you delivered an electrifying performance. Are there any plans to include South America in this new tour?
Zak Tell (Vocals) – If we get an offer that covers all our expenses and then some, we would love to. But the simple truth is probably that we are not big enough, and there is no promoter out there willing to take that risk with a band at our level.
SOURCE – Do you have a special message for the fans eagerly awaiting the release of “Before We All Die”?
Zak Tell (Vocals) – Just hang in there. The album release is just around the corner, and the 19-year wait is finally over. It’s been a long time coming for a number of different reasons — life just got in the way in loads of different ways. Our simple message is: Thank you all for hanging in there. While we have not released an album in many years, we have kept on playing and enjoying live performances with you all, and that is what has kept us going, because nothing beats playing live and partying with you all!
Photo Credit: Peter Bjöns
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