In this episode of The Rock Metal Podcast, we're chatting with The King of the band Märvel about their new album ‘Double Decade’ out now via The Sign Records.
During our chat we touch on a lot of great tips for musicians, such as what it's like to be an active band on the scene for 20 years.
The two new songs on 'Double Decade' were mixed by Robert Pehrsson (Dundertåget, Death Breath, Robert Pehrsson's Humbucker) and mastered by Magnus Lindberg (The Hellacopters, Imperial State Electric, Cult Of Luna, The Datsuns, Tribulation, Lucifer).
For fans of KISS, The Night Flight Orchestra, Bon Jovi, Cheap Trick, Thin Lizzy
Subscribe
Guest Resource
Marvel.nu - Connect with Märvel!
Guest Music Video
3 Heavy Hitters
1. Keep everything from notes to posters to guitars, so you can always dig into the history of your creative endeavours
2. Be inspired by your favourite artists, but always have your own way of approaching and creating your art
3. You could push harder at your career, but not at the expense of friends and family
Sponsors
Asher Media Relations: Doing PR for everything loud! For your band needs to be seen and heard in print, online and radio! Let Asher know Jon from The Rock Metal Podcast sent you.
Tue Madsen: Tue Madsen is responsible for producing, mixing, and mastering some of the best metal for over the last 20 years. Let Tue know Jon from The Rock Metal Podcast sent you.
Syndicol Music: A full service agency for musicians, offering record label services, marketing, branding, production and management. Let Charlie know Jon from The Rock Metal Podcast sent you.
Wormholedeath Records: WHD is a modern record label, publishing and film production company fit with global distribution, publishing and marketing using a roster of global partnerships. Let Carlo know The Rock Metal Podcast sent you.
Show Notes // Transcript
Jon Harris: All right. Well, The King. Welcome to The Rock Metal Podcast. Go ahead and say Hello to all of our beautiful listeners.
The King: Hello, beautiful listeners. How you doing?
Jon Harris: We are doing very well, and it's great to have you on because we have this Double Decade release going over the last 20 years of Märvel with two new songs. So my first question is, what was the greatest moment for you producing this compilation set? And that might even be just doing the two new songs as well. What was the greatest moment for you producing this compilation?
The King: I guess it was going back to a lot of memories and, I mean, looking back at our whole career. And it's a gatefold. And if you unfold it, you have big, beautiful picture of lots of marital, historical stuff. So we got lots of posters, we got masks, we got guitars, we got personal stuff, notes, everything. So it's just a big collection of stuff. And that was a lot of fun because we had to go through the archives and the. Yeah. Dig into the history and that was nice. And then, of course, we also have representation by our Märvel Army fan presidents from all over the world. So we have a big booklet where you get to read their stories like they each got one of their favorite albums to write about. And we have a long introduction by Ben Solseller from Germany who founded the the Fan Club, about his personal recollections of the band. So I guess it's a labour of love, this whole package.
Jon Harris: Yeah. I mean, a labour of love, definitely, indeed. But fun to go over the last 20 years with a lot of memories looking back on your career. Lots of posters, masks, guitars, personal stuff, personal notes going through the archives also as well, representatives. That Märvel army a fan club. But, I mean, what surprised you the most? I guess, going through a lot of these memories. Is it because after all these years, you're still here?
The King: Yeah. It takes stubbornness, I guess, and some kind of stupidity to keep at it for 20 years. But yeah, I can be surprised when going back to the early songs and I realized that, okay, we've gotten better at producing and playing and recording, but there's still a lot of energy in it that sometimes can be hard to do better when you're getting older. I mean, there's some kind of innocence or you have a certain outlook on life when you're younger and that's harder to copy or try to emulate. So I guess we're aging like a fine wine. Some of the old songs may sound bit more punk, but they still hold up in energy and eagerness. Yeah.
Jon Harris: Getting better at producing, playing and recording over the years, but the earlier stuff still has a certain energy to it, which The King, you've talked about that as punk. Take us through that.
The King: Yeah, because we didn't know what we were doing, basically. So we were just trying to sound like our favourite bands or whatever. But then we have our way of playing and our way of writing songs and that comes through, I guess.
Jon Harris: Yeah. No, I would agree that that comes through. I mean, trying to sound like our favourite bands. I mean, who resonates with that? Raise your hand right now. Picking your favourite bands, trying to sound like them, but then having your own way of playing and writing, which is, I think, where it all comes together. Now, what was the biggest challenge putting this compilation together?
The King: I would say choosing the songs because we've made nine full albums and like, a bunch of singles. And we have a lot of cover songs that people like. We even did a full album of cover songs, Guilty Pleasures in 2019. So I guess choosing the right songs was the hard part, but we got some help from friends who helped us pick the list and Double Decade comes with. The first album is like our most well known songs or whatever you might say, and the second album is the hard to get ones and the deep cuts and the B Sides, et cetera, that has never been released on an album. So it made it easier in that sense that we knew that album two is going to be those songs that was that.
Jon Harris: Okay, all right, so choosing the songs was the challenge. Nine full albums, a bunch of singles, even a cover songs album from 2019, 1st album, most well known songs, so to say. Second album, hard to get stuff, the deep cuts, the B Sides, which you said was perhaps a little bit easier. Was there any kind of I don't know, because it wasn't released before. I'm sure there was a reason it wasn't released before. Any kind of nervousness about how that would hit it made it sound like it was actually easier to do than the well known songs, I guess. What's the challenge in the well known songs? People are going to argue like, no, that's not my favourite song.
The King: Yeah, people will always have their opinion, but we didn't have a lot more songs that are B Sides or deep cuts. So we basically put what we have on there and it's not like they were worse or not good enough. It's just that sometimes an album has to have a special vibe and if the song doesn't fit that vibe, you leave it out and sometimes you don't want too many songs because it doesn't make the album better. We always love bands to have a lot of stuff to find. So if you're a big fan or a collector, you can always find a single that no one else has. That's the beauty. So we always try to please the hardcore fans, record collectors. Because we are like that ourselves. We're music nerds. That's what we try to live up to.
Jon Harris: Yeah. Music fans and nerds. Loving those B Sides and those deep cuts and yeah, an album has to have a vibe, so there's some songs that are left out. But, I mean, how did you go through and pick the top songs? Was it like, what's hot on Spotify?
The King: No. We also tried to make it a nice mix. It should be pleasurable to listen to. Shouldn't just be one song after the other. And some people have argued, like, why didn't you include this song? I can't believe you didn't include this song. Well, you can't think too hard about it because you will get crazy. So it was just what we felt at the moment. And also, it was a conscious decision not to include any cover songs. Even though we've been famous for doing good covers or making them our own, we felt that this is the time for our own songs to shine and we shouldn't mess around with cover songs on this one.
Jon Harris: Yeah. Time for our own songs to shine. Very cool. Now, speaking of our own songs to shine, there are two new records, or two new, actually, two new records. Two new recordings on the album. Catch 22 and Turn The Page.
The King: Yes.
Jon Harris: How did you guys end up crafting those? Was the compilation set up? Because I know you mentioned you want to have a nice mix that's pleasurable to listen to and craft the whole experience, I guess. What went into the decision to make two new songs and did you work to make sure that those fit into the compilation?
The King: Like I said, we always like bands who who have some deep cuts and stuff to release outside of the normal albums. And when we recorded our latest album, Graces Came With Malice, we had two songs that we felt wasn't necessary for the album. They weren't bad or anything. We felt they were really strong. But we felt that if we put them on the album, it will just be two more songs. But if they end up on the on the Double Decade compilation that that we knew were coming, was coming, then we felt they would get more exposure and they would shine on their own. So it was a conscious decision from the start. They were recorded at the same time as the latest album.
Jon Harris: Wow. Okay. Now I guess I'm curious because you guys have a bit of a vintagey sound. Is there any gear that you use that attributes to that sound or any gear that maybe you used on the most recent recordings that surprised you?
The King: I don't know. We're not necessarily the biggest gear heads. I mean, we love retro sound, but at the same time we want it to be modern and punchy and stand up to any recording that you hear on the radio. It's in your DNA, it's in the way you play and when you mix things, you want it to sound retro but still have a punch. And I guess retro means not too harsh or too heavy or too metal. I don't know. Like I said, it's in our DNA. We have the bands that we grew up listening to and that gives you a path or gives you a direction, I guess it's a tricky question, but there's no special gear, I would say. I mean, we have some old amplifiers for sure. And Robert Pehrsson from Death Breath. And Robert Pehrsson 'Humbucker' is mixing the album. He's a big fan of vintage sounding music as well. So I guess it it's imprinted in every part of the process, but it's nothing we think too much about and it's nothing we strive for in terms of using certain gear or whatever.
Jon Harris: Yeah, having a couple of classic amps or whatever. But as the old saying goes, it just comes out of the fingers. And you'd mentioned Robert Pehrsson, which is fantastic. We're going to chat about him more in a little bit. How would you define success at this stage of your career? And maybe even what would you tell that young punk version of yourself 20 years ago if you had the chance?
The King: Enjoy the ride. No, but I would say the greatest accomplishment for us is getting to know a lot of people through our music. And I'm mean, it's still being fun and us still being friends and having a lot of fun making music together. I guess it's our biggest accomplishment. We have never been in an arena band or sold a million albums or anything. We've always been underground. And I don't know, sometimes if I would tell my younger self, something would maybe be, oh, you should really jump on that tour or do more gigs, because because that will get you onto the circuit. I don't know, whatever. But we made the choices we made and if we would have been on the road for 200 dates a year, maybe we wouldn't be around or be friends anymore. So I don't know if that's worth it. We have. We still have fun and people appreciate our music. I guess that's all you can ask for. That's a politically correct answer and the true answer, I guess, at the same time.
Jon Harris: Well, enjoy the ride. Getting to know a lot of people still having fun and being friends as a band. I mean, how many bands out there can say that they're still friends? Raise your hand. Which is cool. And something else you mentioned there was we could have pushed harder as a band, but should we have? Would we still be friends to this day?
The King: You know what's even more cool than us meeting a lot of people is that people becoming friends because they love our music. That's even better, I guess. People traveling across country, even to other countries, to go to gigs and getting new friends because they meet through our music. That really does something to us. We've always been astounded by that. Yeah, I think you just mentioned it. You're astounded by that. But I mean, take us through that experience. What was like that like the first time you found out that people had traveled a distance to see, I'm imagining some little band.
Jon Harris: Yeah, it's amazing. I mean, the whole process of sitting in your sofa with your guitar, writing song and then recording it and then getting it on vinyl for the first time and then going out playing and meeting people who have traveled, like, 1000 km to see you. Yeah. It never gets old. And that happened from the early days, so we've always had fans like that. And now even we even meet young kids who say, oh, my dad listened a lot to you when I was young, so I'm a fan. I've been listening to your music my whole life. And that really knocks you out of your shoes because then you realize you're not getting any younger yourself. But. It's still a big compliment.
The King: Yeah. What do they call that? A grandfathered fan base. Like, you've hit that point now where the kids of your fans are bringing new fans into the roster.
Jon Harris: Yeah, it's really cool. Humbles you.
The King: Yes, of course. Let's go ahead and jump back to Robert Pehrsson that Magnus Lindbergh did some mastering on the record. So these two gentlemen, what was the choice in going with them and what was it like working with them? We've worked with them for several records, and it's total easy ride. Easy going. Very easy. I would say, if I should try to summarize it, they both add a lot to the final product, and we always feel that we're in good hands. Robert and us has the same tasty music, so it makes it very easy to work with him. Very professional and really nice guy.
Jon Harris: Does his humbucker ever show up in your guitar? Is that why it's a different color in your guitar? Because it's his humbucker?
The King: No, he hasn't played anything on the album, but maybe that's something to try for the future. We did like the Live All Star band gig a few years ago with Robert Pehrsson. And then we also had the Nicki boy from Backyard Babies and Ships Kiss from Soto, who produced Hellacopters, of course. And Ken from Saturday, the singer. So we have played with him, but he's not on the album. Okay, so you have played with him, but he's not on the album.
Jon Harris: And that, of course, was a reference that I had made there to his band, Robert Pehrsson Humbucker. Is that his humbucker in your guitar? But very cool. Now, kind of a silly question, but was there any thought to maybe having a theme to the compilation, or is it just simple fact these are the best songs over the last 20 years?
The King: Yeah, I would say. Ah. I mean, it's not like an ordinary album where you have might have some thought about the songs, but, I mean, we thought about the order of the songs, of course, and the. We chose the ones that we thought best represented our 20 years. But other than that, I consider there's a real theme to it.
Jon Harris: Left out the ones that do not best represent the last 20 years.
The King: Yeah, if something then it would be the covers. That has been our kind of how do you call it, brand or signature thing. We always include a couple of one or two cover songs on the albums. But maybe we should do a compilation of the cover songs.
Jon Harris: Maybe. I mean, it feels like we should bring up the Märvel Army because they're obviously a large part of the experience. Is that something that maybe making a compilation album specifically for the Märvel Army songs that they choose?
The King: Yeah. You mean it could be some kind of voting system and you could, I suppose, let them duke it out like mud wrestling or something? Let them just go spaghetti wrestling, maybe? Yeah, that's a good idea. Very cool. But we'll probably take it up 20 years before we put up the next compilation.
Jon Harris: Makes sense. Can't have too many 20 year compilations.
The King: And then we can have the Grandfather Generation choose the song.
Jon Harris: The grandfather generation. There's the title right there.
The King: The Offspring of the Grandfathers, whatever you called it.
Jon Harris: Yes. Okay. Beautiful. Yeah. Success at this stage of the career is just getting to know a lot of people through the music. People traveling 1000 km to see, you having the fan base now. Grandfathered in. And what you would say to your older self is basically, enjoy the ride.
The King: Yeah.
Jon Harris: Younger selves are often in a hurry to get somewhere. Where we're in a hurry to get to? We don't know.
The King: But you'll find out eventually.
Jon Harris: Very true. Very true. Yeah. Robert Pehrsson and Magnus Lindbergh worked with them for several records. Very easy going. They both add a lot to the final product and feels like you're in good hands. And Robert has the same taste in music, which makes it a collaborative environment.
The King: Yeah. Good summary.
Jon Harris: What's the number one thing that you would like people listening to the podcast to do is that listen to the record, hit up your socials, join the Märvel Army. It could even be something spiritual like,
I don't know, eat less, give peace a chance.
The King: Yeah. Give peace a chance. Yeah. And after you've given peace a chance, you can go to Marvelband.com and join the Märvel Army, and then you can go buy the album. I think that's enough for one day's work. If you fix peace and then you buy the album and join the army, then we're a peace army. A peace loving army. The love of rock and roll. That's basically it.
Jon Harris: Yeah, absolutely. Okay, so give peace a chance. Go to the Marveltheband.com, join the Märvel Army, buy the record, listen to said record, bring your kids so we can have more grandfathered fan base in.
The King: And grandmothers.
Jon Harris: And grandmothers, yes. We don't want it to be a sausage fest.
The King: We would like more GILFs.
Jon Harris: Yeah, more GILFs. Exactly. Travel 1000 km – Speaking of which, go ahead and head over to TheRockMetalPodcast.ca and you can go and get the show notes for today. And that will include include music videos and ways to connect with Märvel if you are completely unaware. So The King, thank you so much for coming on to The Rock Metal Podcast today.
The King: Thanks for having me.
Subscribe
No comments:
Post a Comment