Do you have that favourite band that nobody knows and seems to be your own little secret? That’s what Sweden’s Her Bright Skies is to me. After beginning in 2005, releasing two albums and various music videos, Her Bright Skies have gained themselves a nice fan base all around the world, but are still extremely underrated. So want to show up your friends and discover a new totally awesome band? Keep reading on. I decided it was time to catch up with the sexy young front man, Jaybee, about language, recording, music and well Her Bright Skies!
For someone who has never heard of you, how would you describe ‘Her Bright Skies’?
Her Bright Skies is a rock & roll band from Sweden.
What does the name ‘Her Bright Skies’ mean?
Nobody really knows what it means. But personally I believe it means nothing and everything that we’re about. It’s pretty much up to you.
How did the five of you come together to form Her Bright Skies?
Me and Pete met at a local HC/punk show in 2005, started talking about our individual bands and how we wanted to make something different. So we teamed up and wrote some songs, while we recruited various sexy bastards out of my old band and one from another band. We rehearsed and a month later we did our first show. It was really bad. I remember us doing an Underoath cover, and this girl comes up to me afterwards, looks me in the eye and says “Never piss on an Underoath song like that again”. But we did, at least a couple of times after that… Anyway, we started from bottom and it was all up from there.
You’re from Sweden, but you perform in English. How do you get around the language barrier of everything in the main music being English? Did you learn English in school?
Yes, they taught us English in school. But the most part and writing cool lyrics I think Pete (who writes most of the lyrics) got from other bands, reading preppy books, and watching American high school series. Pretty much. [Laughs]
Do you think where you’re from makes you different to other post hardcore/rock bands? What do you think makes you different compared to bands from the US?
I do think it makes us different that we’re Swedish. The way we write and play our music, there’s something kind of hidden inside the music. And when someone goes, “They’re from Sweden”, then everything falls into place. I think people that listen to a lot of alternative rock music can hear that there’s a different vibe to us. Or maybe that’s just me wishing… Apparently I have a funny accent when I say “fucker” (comment we got on the DJ cover), so maybe that’s all that differs…
Your latest single is a cover of Usher’s, DJ got us fallin’ in love, why did you decide to choose this song to cover?
Our guitarist, Nikki Snaxx, heard the song when he was zapping through the top charts on Spotify and thought “Hey, we could make a cool HBS-version of this one”. I was a bit “hmm..” at first, but when we started working with it and recorded it, I realised the songwriter is a genius. That guy really knows how to write a killer hook.
Along with the single, you’ve released an acoustic EP. But could we be expecting a follow up album to Causing A Scene anytime soon?
You can expect our third album to be out sometime after the summer. We have been writing for a long time now, still in the process of finishing up a lot of songs. We’re taking it slower this time, just so we can make the best record in the world for you guys. But we’re talking to producers around the world as of now, and are planning to hit the studio in June. So get excited cause this time we’re gonna blow the big Viking horns.
Who are the band’s musical influences, and what are some musical acts you personally enjoy listening to?
We have had (and still have) a lot of awesome bands in Sweden, The Hives, Millencolin, Refused etc. We grew up with those bands, as well as American bands like Brand New, Taking Back Sunday, Underoath, Paramore, lostprophets (UK) to name a few. We mix it all in a bowl and make a HBS-pie.
Personally, I listen to all the above mentioned still. But right now it’s a lot of Coldplay, Rival Sons, and house music.
What do you have planned for the rest of 2012?
Finish the record, release it, get on the road and tour for the rest of our lives. This year.
Where do you hope to see Her Bright Skies in 3 years?
On the main stage of every festival there is (including Aussielands), on every magazine’s front page, on every radio station, on the French Riviera, on a boat, and on everybody’s lips.
In other words, I hope we can make a decent living out of it and see the world and all our beautiful fans, and just live the dream (cheesy but true).
Lastly, you’re the first international band interviewed for this blog as I’m from Australia. Do you have anything to say to the Australian fans? Any chances you will be journeying out here soon?
I would like to thank all our Australian fans for their love and support and we would fucking die (not literally) to come see all of you! There’s always a chance we will, the question is when… I don’t really know how many people know of us in Australia, but the more fans we have the sooner we come!
DJ Got Us Fallin’ In Love
Just like to wish Her Bright Skies the best for the future, and hope to see them on our shores some time!
Tori Hyland
thanks a lot for this interview, I really enjoyed reading it! HBS are one of my favourite bands and it's cool to read about them in your blog :>
ReplyDeletegreat interview! keep on rocking HBS!
ReplyDelete<3
please come to japan:)
Thanks for this interview i am a big fan of HBS, i would like and i hope one day i could meet them. Greetings from Costa rica <3
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