Band Interview: Leading Light
Games, Brrraaains & A Head-Banging Life are pleased to bring you an interview with Rasmus Weström (vocals/guitars) of Swedish metal band, Leading Light.
1. Hello! Thanks for taking the time to speak with us. How are you all doing during such worldwide disruption?
Rasmus: Thanks for having me! We’re doing pretty good other than having to cancel shows and things like that. Trying to just focus on writing new material.
2. You have been on blistering roll since you first came to life in 2012. What’s the motivation?
Rasmus: Just our love for music, basically. We’ve also received messages from people telling us that our music have helped them through rough times and that just means the world to us and is really motivational.
3. You’re about to drop a brand-new song in a matter of days. Can you tell us a little about it?
Rasmus: It was recorded in the legendary studio Fredman, with producer Rob Kukla. It’s the best and most collaborative studio session we’ve ever had and I think the song it self really represent all elements of our band and we couldn’t be happier with it.
4. What about the video? From the images you’ve posted on social media. It looks like it takes place on a beach and their might be some religious connotations!
Rasmus: Due to the Corona crisis, we couldn’t all the members of the band together, so it’s a lyric video. In the video I’m dragging a big cross on the beach and then I begin to dig my own grave. It basically symbolises a person holding on to everything bad that has ever happened in their life and being your own worst enemy.
5. Is it coming off an album? If so, how is that going?
Rasmus: It’s just this one single, for now. It really doesn’t make sense for us to release album anymore with the way the music business is going. We do plan to release more singles later this year.
6. Interestingly we just reviewed an EP by Reboot the System where Rasmus guested on the track, Drenched in My Fears. How did that come about?
Rasmus: We meet in a Facebook group. Mattias was looking for singers, sent me the song to try out and decided I was the man for the job. It was really fun to try something different.
7. Where do you stand on the rise of streaming and YouTube? Helping or hindering you as a band?
Rasmus: I think it has helped us a lot. I don’t nearly as many people would’ve heard of us without Youtube, Spotify etc. It’s also a lot easier to get your music out, yourselves. We don’t really a label with a budget anymore, because don’t need to print CD’s, which can be pretty expensive.
8. What does Leading light like to do when music isn’t the focus?
Rasmus: Some of us play sports, video games and things like that. Other than that, just hanging out and having some ( a lot) of beers!
9. What is the plan for the remainder of 2020? Obviously live has been halted in its tracks but are hoping to get out at the end of the year if possible?
Rasmus: We have some live shows in the works, but it’s really hard to confirm anything, with the situation in the world. But yeah, we really hope to get back out on the road later this year. We miss it a lot.
10. Finally, when you reflect on your careers so far. What has been the highlight for you?
Rasmus: Definitely playing the Sweden Rock Festival and getting to tour Europe. That’s something we have always wanted to do and it’s really cool that this band gets to do that.
