Twenty five years almost added to their name sake, In Flames
keeps moving forward going onto their eleventh album entitled "Sirens
Charm", touring to follow suit with no plans on stopping in regards to
touring and making music to further their musical careers. Drummer Daniel
Svensson discusses that eleventh album, touring plans, and some back story on
the fiery flames that can only be called In Flames.
1. First of all, who are you, and what do you do in the
band?
Daniel: My name is Daniel Svensson and I am the drummer for
In Flames.
2. What do you think has changed most about In Flames since
1990?
Daniel: Everything has changed. It the beginning we were
just a small band just starting out like any other band, now it's a big machinery
we play shows all over the world. I think it's still the same things that keeps
us going and it's the love for the music and playing together is the same but
everything else has changed. It's very different nowadays than back in 1990.
3. Can you tell me the story as to how and why the band
wanted to be called In Flames?
Daniel: That I don't know and I don't think anyone else in
the band knows because the guy that came up with the name is no longer in the
band. It doesn't really have a particular meaning to it, it just sounded cool.
4. A lot of bands have seen the misfortune of line-up
changes but you guys have foresee this, what has been the secret to longevity
for the band?
Daniel: We did have a lot of line-up changes in the
beginning but it wasn't until I joined in 1998 that our line-up has been a
stable one. But before that a lot of members were coming in and out of the band
and just all over the place. But as of 1998 only 1 member has left which was Jesper
Strömblad who was replaced by Niclas Engelin who was in the band originally
then he came back in it's a bit complicated to explain. But since 1998 the
line-up has been stable since, because we know each other and have been doing
this for so long that we know how to treat each other good or bad. We have a
deep respect for one another when out on the road or in the studio, everyone
has their own saying and feelings that are needed that no one is ever left out.
5. Why do you think Anders Friden made the decision to chop
the locks, what was this change of pace put into place? Will we see the revival
of the locks?
Daniel: He just felt like it, it's not a big deal. Some people think the music is within the
hair but it's within the fingers and vocals not what's on top of the head.
6. Over the span of your music career as far as releases,
you have yet to release something that has been Self-Titled, will you guys ever
take this direction and do so?
Daniel: We never talked about it. I don't know it's nothing
we've never thought about it either. We
don't have any plans for it. Usually our albums have titles from different
songs but you never know a Self-Titled release could happen we will see.
7. Do you think we will ever see an all acoustic release
from you guys?
Daniel: It's not impossible we like doing different stuff
and don't like repeating ourselves so it might work. But we're an aggressive
band so our songs sound best the way we originally play them but acoustically
but you never know. It's not something we've never talked about either, we're
into different things so we'll see.
8. You've run your course of labels so why not take the DIY
approach to getting your music out there? How has the relationship and
transition between labels been?
Daniel: We've talked about it several times. But that means
a lot of hard work and we wanted to concentrate on playing music and touring as
much as possible. I don't know if we're ready to do it ourselves yet. It feels
safe to do it with a label, doing it the old fashioned way. A lot of bands are
doing the DIY thing nowadays and we've been discussing it back and forth
several times but you never know we'll see.
9. You have eleven albums to your name, do you think it's safe
to say, that you've come a long way and accomplished so much?
Daniel: Yeah if someone had told me when I had joined this
band in 1998, that I would still be doing this by 2014, I wouldn't believe it.
We're really grateful for what we've achieved and it's gone beyond our
expectations. We can still do this and gain new fans writing songs that we
enjoy, having a lot of fans being loyal while still enjoying the music even to
the new fans and kids. If the band were to breakup today, I would be so happy
with what the band has achieved so far.
10. It's been three years since the release of "Sounds
of a Playground Fading". Why such a long time period between albums?
Daniel: First off, the touring cycle was a little bit longer
than previous tours. After the tour we had felt we needed a few more months to
take off. Usually right after a tour we'd jump right back into the studio, but
felt we needed to recharge our batteries this time needing a little bit more
time.
11. Would you say that there's a story or concept to be said
about this album or its title?
Daniel: I don't know much about it lyrically. I think it's
about addiction and temptations that are out there. That's what the title means
at least. Otherwise I don't know much about the lyrics, Anders wrote all of the
lyrics while we were recording, he didn't have any lyrics before the recording,
he wrote them on sight inspired by Berlin and by watching documentaries about
drug abuse and addiction.
12. How does the album art relate to the music on the album?
Daniel: I don't know. I think it relates more to the lyrics
than the music. It's more of a stronger link between the artwork and the lyrics,
than it is in between the music and the artwork, that's my feeling at least.
13. Can you give us a bit of a summary behind the tracks on
"Siren Charms"?
Daniel: That's tough, We wanted to write an interesting
album that had a lot of diverse songs. We have a few fast and heavy songs and
even a song that's almost a ballad. It's hard to explain all of the songs, but
we tried to make an interesting album that allowed all of our songs to work
together as a setlist would. We did have more songs that were recorded but left
those out because they didn't flow together with these selected. But I think
this is the most interesting album, because it has more of everything, it's a
more matured album in a good way.
14. Do you think there is an element of the band’s sound
that you would like to push out further on the next release? With so much going
on in your sound, obviously there are elements that might get further explored?
Daniel: It's hard to talk about the next release this one is
still fresh to us. We haven't played the songs live yet so before we discuss
any new songs we have to play these new songs a few times to see how they work
and see where we should continue on the next album. By the end of the day, we
write songs with how they sound live because we're a live band. I know a lot of
bands write while on tour and we tried that but it's hard for us to do that, we
want to start thinking of new songs while we're in the middle of the current
song's finishing up that chapter before starting the new chapter. It's hard for
me to talk about the next release but we'll see.
15. Are any of you currently involved with any other bands
or projects outside In Flames?
Daniel: It's only Niclas Engelin whose involved in 2 other
bands one is called Engel and the other one is called Drömriket. He's very
creative and needs to write music to put out on different channels. He is the
only one to put out music on the side that I know. Not sure if anyone else has
any secret bands they're working on.
16. As you may or may not be aware several of your releases
have hit certain mile stones, your debut "Lunar Strain" is at 20
years, "Colony" at 15 and "Soundtrack to Your Escape" at
10. Will any of these or any other release be considered of being played in its
entirety?
Daniel: We did it once with "Soundtrack to Your
Escape" where we did 2 shows one in Sweden and one in Los Angeles,
California playing it from the first track to the last track, then playing
another set afterwards of all the old classics. So we did do it once before,
not sure if we will be doing it on a tour but perhaps a special show we will do
it again.
17. What does the band have planned for the rest of the year
aside from "Siren Charms"?
Daniel: We have the release then right after we'll be going
on tour in Europe that will go into November then hopefully have another tour
before Christmas, somewhere maybe North America if not the latest touring there
early next year. But we will tour as much as possible all over the world.
18. Where hasn't In Flames been as far as touring and
playing shows? Do you think there's been a band that has been to all parts of
the world?
Daniel: We've played everywhere you name it. But there have
been continents and countries that we have not played. But we'll grateful that
we have such a large fan base that we will play everywhere eventually.
19. You guys have been together for going on almost 25 years, how do you react when hearing such a thing.
Daniel: First off, it makes me feel old. As I said before, I
am just grateful that people still enjoy what we do and that the fans are still
around because it's all due to them. It still works for us and we're able and
allowed to write music that we enjoy writing and playing and so do the people
that still enjoy it. We're really happy for that.
20. Anything else you'd like to say or want to add to the
fans?
Daniel: Not really, we're looking forward to getting back on
the road and touring, meeting all of the new and old fans so see you on the
road!
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