Much like THE CHANGE's music, here's a short and fast intro that cuts right to the point. THE CHANGE are from Sweden. They have just released a debut full-length on Fight Fire with Fire Records in the US. I think they sound exactly like what would happen if you crossed IN MY EYES with YOUTH OF TODAY and cranked out the quality of guitar-play up a few notices. These guys fucking rip and their music will set your stereo ablaze, so be prepared to buy another stereo. I did this interview by email with their lead guitarist, Peter Bader in March of 2004.
Pastepunk: I know it's somewhat stereotypical to ask a question about how you got hooked up with your record label, but THE CHANGE aren't on any ordinary label - you guys are on FIGHT FIRE WITH FIRE Records, run by the legendary hardcore man, Porcell. How did you meet up with Porcell and what kind of feeling was it to know that someone so influential in hardcore wanted to put out your music?
Peter: I met Porcell during the SHELTER tours in 2000 when I toured with them as a roadie. After touring together for three months it was natural to keep in touch, and when we recorded a demo in 2002, I sent it over to him. It started out with him wanting us on some compilations, which at the time was a pretty big deal for us. And then we started to record a couple of songs in 2003, not really knowing who would to put them out. We had some contact with a couple of different labels (FFWF being one of them) and the plan was to record for a 7"/MCD. Porcell was the first one I sent the stuff to and after hearing it he got right back to me and asked us to record a couple of more songs to do a full-length. We were really excited about this because, number one, it's Porcell asking us to do a full-length on his label, and that seemed like a big deal, since YOUTH OF TODAY was one of the first HC bands I got into (after Bad religion), and number two, they were the main reason why I started playing HC in the first place. So being on his label was pretty much a HC kid's dream come true. Also, to be on a US label opens a lot of opportunities for a Swedish band like us since it seems pretty hard to get American kids into European hardcore bands.
Pastepunk: Sweden has a pretty kickin' modern array of hardcore bands at the moment, the biggest that comes to my mind is RAISED FIST and MISCONDUCT. A few of these bands have a decent fanbase in North America. How important to you is it to break away from Sweden and try to build fans over here?
Peter: Since we are on an American label it seems really important to go over to the States and try to build something. It's always been a dream to be able to go over and tour. And if we can get American kids to like us, I think opportunities to tour and to grow as a band get bigger since HC seems to be a lot bigger in the states than over here. And as they say, "if you can make it there you can make it anywhere." Or is that what they say?. I don't know. But to us it's really important to reach out to as many people as possible all over the world. And you guys are next in line.
Pastepunk: I was tipped off that someone in the band is a guitar tech for THE SOUNDS. What's that role like, and how at all does it help THE CHANGE?
Peter: I used to guitar tech for The Sounds pretty much the whole year in 2003. It was a really awesome experience and I got to go to the US two times with them. But it came to a point where I had to choose between touring with them, have alot of fun and fill my pockets with money, or playing with my own band, have even more fun but with empty pockets. So naturally I had to choose poverty. The fact that I used to tour with them has definitely been a great help for our band, especially since I was able to scam several sets of guitar and bass strings before I left them. No, but seriously, I don't know if it really does help us very much. I learned a lot from touring with them both about stuff concerning playing shows and stuff around that and also about the music industry, how it works and how fucked up things really are. If you don't watch your back business people can really kill the soul of your band and tear apart what you've built up, maybe for years. So your best bet is to keep things small and work with people you trust and respect. I guess that's what (usually) is good about HC and underground movements. Maybe you don't make any money, but you get to keep your soul.
Pastepunk: If I'm not mistaken, THE CHANGE are a straight-edge band. Is there a strong sXe scene in Sweden? Has the band run into any trouble at shows in dealing with bands that don't have the same beliefs?
Peter: Actually, THE CHANGE isn't a straight-edge band - everyone except Jockum (our other guitarist) is edge though. So the only one who runs into trouble is he, for not sharing the same beliefs as the rest of us in the band. The sXe scene in Sweden isn't very big at all, but if I'm not completely wrong there might be an up going trend right now. There's actually some new edge kids around, but then again I guess some of the older kids are starting to fall off the edge wagon. So I guess that equals it out.
Pastepunk: I saw on your website that you guys are off shortly for a month long tour around much of Europe. How vital is touring to your band? Is it something that makes you anxious to get on the road when you're home? What are some American bands you've played with and enjoy?
Peter: Touring means everything for us. That's the whole reason why we're doing what we do. All I do when I'm home is wait to get on the road and play shows. For a HC/Punk band, touring is always vital, it's really hard to sell records if people don't get to see the band play live. Actually it's only three days now until we leave to go on this tour. I've actually booked all the shows myself, trough friends and connections. If I wouldn't have been unemployed I don't know if I ever would have made it. I started booking the tour only about one and a half months before we were set to leave, which was a big mistake. So this tour is gonna be extra sweet since I worked really hard to get things together.
Pastepunk: As a law student studying copyright issues in the US right now, I've become fascinated with how other countries have dealt with the issues of unlawful copying of music. As a musician, how concerned are you about the ability to sell cds while on tour or in stores?
Peter: When you go on tour you are a poor bastard without any money, so every penny you can get from selling records and merch is really important. So for the band it always sucks when people copy your record instead of buying it. Who cares if you copy the new Justin Timberlake or 50 cent album that sells several million copies, but for a punk or hardcore band that only sell a couple of thousand records it's a big difference.
Pastepunk: Name a few bands that our readers should check out, besides yours, and give a short reason why.
Peter: Ok, so I think I'll promote some Scandinavian bands then. Everyone who likes fast, melodic HC should check out DAMAGE CONTROL from Oslo, Norway. Espen, who used to play guitar in SPORTSWEAR and for a while in HANDS TIED is singing for this band. And they actually kind of sound like a mix between those two bands. They are on Live Wire records and have a full-length album coming out within the next month. They will be on tour in the states in April with THE FIRST STEP. The best Swedish act these days is a band called BETWEEN US. They play really fast emotional HC with plenty of melodies and a screaming voice. They are really doing their own thing with a lot of open guitar chords and melodies that really stick to you. They are on Burning Heart records in Europe but unfortunately they don't have a label in the States yet. Check these bands out and you'll make me happy.
Pastepunk: I really enjoy the last song on your new disc, "This Is It," especially because its pure rock n' roll vibe is a fresh break from the non-stop hardcore aggression that fills the first nine songs. Was there any specific reason why you guys mixed it up a bit on that track? Was there just a feeling to have a huge sing-along like that one?
Peter: It was no specific reason why we did the song, it's not like we sat down and thought that "yeah we need something a bit more rocked out." It was a natural thing, and it seemed like a good idea to have a more down tempo song to wrap things up with. And it's still a pretty hard song and I really think it fits on the album. I'm really happy that most people seem to like the song and I'm happy with the way it came out.
Pastepunk: I did an interview recently with Mean Pete from the band REMEMBERING NEVER, questioning his assertion that "hardcore is rapidly dying," due to the huge patch of bands whose lyrics are exclusively devoid of any political or social commentary. Do you think there's enough room under the "hardcore" tag to contain both, bands that focus mainly on lyrics around personal relationships and those that stick to more traditional leanings? Or is this just a bullshit question with no proper answer?
Peter: I think that the lyrics are mabye the most essential part in HC. So writing lyrics that don't really mean anything would definitely contribute to the death of HC. When HC stopps being a threat and an alternative to the mainstream music, it will definitely die (which doesn't mean that there's no room for lyrics concerning personal matters).
Pastepunk: No doubt, I'm sure that you've noticed that American bands have picked up on the "Swedish Metal" sound like there's no tomorrow. Do you have any thoughts about that? Perhaps the most well-known of these in the US is DARKEST HOUR. Why do you suppose bands like IN FLAMES or SOILWORK have become bigger fixtures in the US?
Peter: I really don't know why anyone who have anything to do with HC would be interested in any of those bands, 'cause to me, almost all of those bands are like a big fucking joke. AT THE GATES was a cool band, but those you mentioned are really nothing but geeks trying to play hard music.
Pastepunk: Any final comments?
Peter: Check out The Change on tour, give our record a chance!
- photos by Henrick Jansson, courtesy of THE CHANGE website.
Pastepunk: I know it's somewhat stereotypical to ask a question about how you got hooked up with your record label, but THE CHANGE aren't on any ordinary label - you guys are on FIGHT FIRE WITH FIRE Records, run by the legendary hardcore man, Porcell. How did you meet up with Porcell and what kind of feeling was it to know that someone so influential in hardcore wanted to put out your music?
Pastepunk: Name a few bands that our readers should check out, besides yours, and give a short reason why.
