Interview: Dead By April

I got a chance to talk to a couple of the guys from Dead By April, a Swedish band who seamlessly blend the metal and pop genres. Hard to believe, right? Well, it works!

Take a look at what they had to say about touring, their new album, the Rock Cruise, and 30 Seconds to Mars!

First of all, thank you guys for taking the time to talk to us! You guys just released Let the World Know and have been on tour. How are the shows going? 

Christoffer “Stoffe” Andersson: Hi:) since were better than ever, more solid, tighter and all are on the same track, the live shows are going great, so now its time for us to hit the US market for real! Are you ready!!?

How was the Rock Cruise? Are cruise concerts entirely different than regular concerts? 

Stoffe:   Yes, they are very different. It’s like, as soon as people board that boat, every social rule/code that exists, is erased in an instant. People are drunk, but not drunk in a “common” way. They are laying passed out on the floor here and there, sometimes almost in heaps. I’ve seen people having sex out in the corridors. I guess you could compare it to the famous “What happens i Vegas, stays in Vegas.” With that being said, the shows themselves are usually great! Big crowds, good energy.

What is the hardest thing about touring for you?

Pontus: Firstly, I find it really hard to be away from my wife and our home for that long periods of time. Secondly, I have a hernia thing going on in my back which is really hard to travel with in general.

What is the best concert you’ve ever been to?

Stoffe: I’d say when I saw Fame in London. Even though that’s more of a musical. But that was amazing!

It’s clear that you guys don’t believe in sticking to a genre. I love the mix of catchy melodies and aggressive metal. How did you guys get that style? Did it come naturally?

Stoffe: Yes, it came very naturally. It simply reflects who we are. We like music from different kinds of genres. We have our favorite tracks from different kinds of genres. To me (Pontus) a good song is a good song. What’s important is that it touches you. What label it is, is completely irrelevant.

With such a unique sound, which bands do you guys find inspiration in?

Pontus: I take most of my inspiration from Michael Jackson. I love how you can find a beautiful ballad and an up tempo rock track, all on the same album!

He really was an amazing artist and songwriter.

What is the most meaningful song to you from your new album?

Pontus: As A Butterfly. It’s about the passing of my grand father. He meant the world to me. I guess you could say he was my father figure.

However, his passing was very sudden and we never had the chance to say our last goodbyes. In As A Butterfly the verses are written from my point of view. Whilst the chorus is written from my grand father’s point of view. But the way I write about the event never happened, it’s only how I imagine it would be.

Do you guys use a different approach to writing each album or does it depend more on each song?

Stoffe: It depends more on each song. The challenge is to characterize each song so that it becomes as unique as possible. So it becomes less repetitive to listen to and to perform.

What are your plans now that Let the World Know has been released?

Stoffe: We are currently planning a US mini-tour to try and establish Dead By April more in that market. We’ve missed USA a lot since our first show at Webster Hall on Manhattan and we can’t wait to come back!

Anything else you guys would like to say?

Stoffe: Lately we’ve been talking (or dreaming) about what it would be like supporting 30 Seconds To Mars on a world tour. We all love that band, and who knows – maybe Jared Leto will find out about Dead By April by reading this interview.

Dead By April’s new album, Let the World Know, is out now! Such an amazing album. Be sure to pick it up. You can keep up with the band on Facebook and their website.