Band Interview: Pressure

Games, Brrraaains & A Head-Banging Life are pleased to bring you an interview with folk/rock/metal crossover band, Pressure.

1. How did you get started as a band?

Me and Simon has played together in different cover band configurations for about 10 years.
How we meet are kind of fun though. Before we meet, my main instrument was a saxophone and I played jazz. After finishing school however, I started playing guitar. I actually met Simon as he became my guitar teacher(!) After playing with him for about 6 months, he invited me to one of his famous bbq’s. We got to be really close friends, as you know what weird behaviour and alcohol can do. Anyhow Simon started bringing me out on gigs. We went through many different band configurations over the years. At some gigs, at this time, Simon had the lead singing on his table. However, he, being a lead guitar player, we also had played covers for so long, he thought that “´why don’t we write our own lyrics to a few selected songs?”.

In this way I can connect better to the lyrics when I sing. Simon did complete new arrangements of a few popular songs. Daft punks get lucky to name one of them. When finally testing these versions of songs live, we found that the songs that was altered the most, in our own fashion, were the ones that we got the best response from the audience with. This response conveyed us that this new direction was the way to go and start writing our own original pieces. It was musically also much more inspiring. To free Simons guitar, and up the lead vocals, we started to search for new lead vocals. After much search and try outs, we found Olof. We very fast found each other, both musically and socially.

2. How would you describe your sound?

It’s like a crossover between heavy metal, folk music and good old rock n roll.

3. What bands/artists would you say have influenced your style of music?

This is kinda hard to explain, we have worked a lot to build our own wound, but, If you take the Vocals from Rammstein or Volbeat, and the backing vocals from Queen or Aerosmtih mix it with he guitars of Bon Jovi, Guns ´n Roses and Motley Crue and add the drums of DIO or Whitesnake and the lyrics of Skid row or Bob Dylan and add the bass of Metallica or Korn.

4. Has the rise of YouTube & music streaming helped or hindered you as a band?

I think it has helped us to be seen. Sure, the competition is immense these days, the daily releases on Spotify reaches tens of thousands of new titles every day. It is hard to break through. But on the other hand, the tools are there and it is up to you to break through. We are still learning, and we hope we can make a mark.

5. What do you enjoy doing when you’re not making music?

Haha, ok. Me myself I really enjoy fixing with my boat and going to sea. I also really love programming (nerd as I am). As a band we all have our own perks. Olof is the house fixer always improving his house and garden. Simon is music all the way. Always experimenting.

6. What are your future plans musically? Tours?

We would love to go back out on the road, but the situation now don’t let us do that! We are currently writing new songs. Working on a great an outstanding live act and are preparing to release some new material, perhaps some Christmas rock for the holidays!

Links

Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube