Today we speak to Swedish hard rock metal band Pressure, who tells us how their band name highlights what their music is about and how they hope their sound will leave a legacy.
Band Name: Pressure
Members: Olof (Lead vocals), Simon (Lead guitars, backing vocals) & Emil (Rhythm guitar)
Genre: Hard rock/Metal
Founded: March 2018
Originated From: Stockholm, Sweden
Discography: Osårbar (2020), Ännu Mer (2020), Skuggan / The Shadow (2020), Beaten But Not Dead / Nere Men Inte Död (2020) & Julstress (2020)
How would you describe your music?
Our music is pure hard rock with a tough and strong sound and meaningful lyrics. We strive to write music that is very catchy but hard hitting and insightful. There is a very melodic sound to the music.
What is your musical creative process like?
The process is that Simon usually writes the draft of the songs. He writes out of his own experiences and feelings. He collects stories and writes about and from them. One of his things that he says is that you cannot write about life if you have not experienced life. Dare to live!
After Simon has recorded the draft, he hands the song and the lyrics to our lead vocalist Olof who rewrites the lyrics to fit him and sometimes changes the melody and the phrasing a bit. They work back and forth a bit and works out a new working draft.
Then they take it to the band and shows them. And it can go around like this for some time until everyone is satisfied. When this is all done the recording of the song starts for real. So, it’s a quite long and complicated process, but we are very proud of the sound and the songs.
How did the band form?
The band formed when Emil became Simon’s guitar student back in 2008. After this Emil joined a band that Simon was in and they toured together with a lot of other skilled and great musicians.
After this they realised that they wanted to do their own music. The bands they were in before were all party/cover bands and now they wanted to do their own thing. They looked around for a long time for a fitting vocalist and they found Olof who really was the last piece of the puzzle to be Pressure.
How did you come up with your band name?
The name of the band is really what its all about. Pressure is what we sing and do music about. All our songs are about different kinds of pressures. It can be good, and it can be bad, every story has at least two sides depending who is telling it. All our songs have the same way of telling a story from different angles. So, the name came kind of its own.
Who influenced you within the music industry?
There have been many people influencing us. Hard to mention them all but all true and strong musicians who plays about their own experiences and are giving of themselves. That’s a true influence.
I would also like to say that we are so influenced by people around us. There is so many stories just walking around out there wanting to be told. Without them we and a lot of other skilled musicians couldn’t play or write good songs.
Have you performed live much and what was your favourite gig to play at?
We have been working on our own sound for the last two years now, and was ready to start playing out as the pandemic struck. We do hope everything goes back to normal soon so we can get back out on the road. We miss the shows so much!
What is the best thing about being in a band?
We would say it’s the possibility to write the songs and to be able to play out and to do shows. Plus, to record and work with skilled musicians to develop and explore new ground. We are also very good friends and its just great to be musicians – especially if you are in Pressure!
What’s the biggest problem you’ve had to overcome so far as a musician(s)?
There are a lot of things that causes problems for musicians. For example, as we cannot play shows there is an economic problem as we were depending on the gage from shows to develop the band. You can also meet people that doesn’t think that music and being a musician is a “real work”. But I can assure you it is!
What plans have you got coming up this year?
In 2021 will be a great year, we have a couple of singles coming out and then we have our first full album coming out as well. Perhaps even an EP in German as well…. stay tuned!
What is your ultimate dream as a band?
To leave a legacy and write songs that make you immortal!
You can find out more about Pressure by following them on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Spotify.
If you’re in a band or a musician and would like to appear on this blog, please contact me and I’ll forward you an interview template.
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