From
their beginnings as a side project of Swedish stoner rock royalty
Dozer and Demon Cleaner to their incarnation today as a fully fledged
concern to the band members, Greenleaf have always been masters of
the riff and this is demonstrated to stunning effect on their
excellent new album Rise Above The Meadow. We caught up with vocalist
Arvid Jonsson to talk about the album, what inspires their lyrics,
touring with Clutch and classic rock.
Q-
Your new album Rise Above The Meadow is out in a couple of weeks.
What can you tell us about the new album?
You
could in some ways say that it is the heaviest Greenleaf album yet,
but still in some songs also the softest one. So yeah, we really
worked on the dynamics of the songs, trying to squeeze out as much as
possible. I also think it has much more of a live-feel then the
previous album Trails and Passes.
Q-
How does the album differ from Trails & Passes?
As
said the live-feel and maybe a little bit more truthfulness and
roughness. On Trails And Passes we we're kind of finding "the
new Greenleaf sound" and on the new album we explore it.
Q-
Was it important to start the album with a track like A Million
Fireflies, a track that is heavy but catchy and a perfect example of
the Greenleaf sound?
Yeah
we decided in a pretty early stage that Fireflies would be a great
opener for the album. You know in a "-just hit the gas hard"
kind of way. An eye opener. Also it is a pretty good track to sum up
the album. Heavy but melodic, and soft in the middle. Like a good
candy bar.
Q-
There seems to be more of a classic rock element to the new album.
Were you listening to any of that classic stuff while making the
album?
We
always do... Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, King Crimson and so on. It's
our bread and butter. And then we mix it up we other stuff we like...
Kyuss for the heavy. Freddie King and Johnny Lee Hooker for the blues
and stuff like Fleet Foxes and The Black Keys for a more pop-side of
things.
Q-
Golden Throne has to be my favorite song on the album. Do you have a
favorite yet?
I'm
not sure but I really like Howl and Levitate And Bow Pt. 1&2. It
think it's because both song bring a bit of drama. And I like that
sort of thing.
Q-
You have made a brilliant video for A Million Fireflies. Can you tell
us about the video and the concept behind it?
Free
falling through life in very peculiar way surrounded by UV-glowing
naked ladies and festival lavatories. It's the Greenleaf way of life
sort of.
Q-
The artwork for the album is stunning. Can you tell us a bit about
it?
Well
I guess Sebastian Jerke should have most of the credit. He's and
amazing artist! But we had an original idea with a bear rising above
a meadow and then Sebastian came up with the planet idea and we
instantly loved it! The whole booklet looks like an old kids-book
almost, with all the these forest creatures inside. It's really cool!
Q-
Does the albums title have any significance?
Yeah
it's a title that sort of reflects on the theme of the lyrics. But
it's also sort of a statement on we're Greenleaf are now as a band.
Ready to "Rise Above The Meadow" haha.
Q-
Where does your lyrical inspiration come from?
I'm
very inspired by song writers who tell a tale but still leaves a lot
to the imagination. Guys like Nick Cave, Tom Waits and Jim Morrison
are a huge inspiration. The songs are often about strange
relationships and outcasts seeking a new path.
Q-
This is your second album on Napalm Records. How are things working
out on the label?
This
our first album on Napalm Records and so far it's been great haha.
Q-
Are you still as big purveyors of stoner rock as you when you started
out?
That's
probably a question for Tommi. But I don't think we look at ourselves
as a typical "stoner rock band". We play a sort of heavy
rock which sometimes takes us to a very hazy stoned out place and
sometimes let's us sit on a wooden porch sipping filthy bootlegged
whisky. It all depends on the mood for the day, we try not to have to
many boundaries. Tommi's favorite all time band is still KISS so...
Q-
Obviously the band are part of a great lineage that includes Dozer,
Demon Cleaner, Lowrider etc, is the Swedish scene that you were all a
part of still as close nowadays?
Well
people are getting older and are more busy nowadays with grown-up
jobs and so on, but yeah we're all still good friends.
Q-
How did your latest European tour go?
Very
good indeed! We just good home from Spain and Portugal and all shows
we're great... It's still such a fucking rush to come to a place
where you haven't been before, start playing and noticing that you
have a audience of 200 people who kind of knows your songs and are
singing along. It's pretty magical.
Q-
Have you been playing much new material?
So
far we have been doing 3 songs from the new album and people seem to
really dig them. Now this year we will do a lot more of new material
of course.
Q-
How would you describe a Greenleaf live show?
Well
we try to be as explosive as possible and really try involve people
in the show. At end the goal is that people feel included almost like
they all played in the band rather then just standing there watching.
I'm very influenced by guys like Otis Redding and James Brown who did
everything in there power to make people move.
Q-
You're about to head out on the road on the Up In Smoke 6 tour with
My Sleeping Karma and Mammoth Mammoth. Are you excited about that?
Yeah
of course! It's a great line-up. And I think we're going to have lots
of fun together.
Q-
Have you got any plans to do any festivals this summer?
Yes
we'll be playing a lot of festivals year. But we will announce them a
bit later..
Q-
How did the recent tour with Clutch go?
Very
well! It was great opportunity for us and we are very grateful to
Clutch for giving us the chance to tour with them. Now it's always
though to support a mighty live-act like clutch... But I think we did
alright
Q-
Have you got any memorable tales from the road?
Well
on the Up In Smoke-Festival two years ago Bengt Bäcke our former
blind bass-player lost both he's shoes in a muddy ditch due to some
strange drunken circumstances and had to walk around barefooted for
the rest of the day before we found him a couple of new sneakers. It
was pretty funny seeing him standing there blind, hungover and in
very muddy socks haha.
Q-
What does the rest of the year have in store for Greenleaf?
Touring.
It's not much time for for anything else.
Words
by Gavin Brown and Arvid Jonsson
Links
Thanks to Mona and Claudia at Napalm
Records for helping put this interview together. Thanks to Arvid for
taking the time out to talking to us. Rise Above The Meadow will be released on CD/DD/Vinyl from Napalm Records on Feb 26th 2016.
