Before their tour of Australia in April this year, I chatted to Mathias Farm from Millencolin about their relationship with our great southern land and what twenty years of success as a punk rock band looks like.
What’s Millencolin’s relationship with Australia like?
It’s always kind of special for us. Back in 1996, Australia was the first place we ever went outside of Europe, so it’s always nice for us to come to Australia. We usually come this time of year so we get the summer, but this time it’s a bit later so I don’t know what the weather’s going to be like! I think April is still OK in Australia?
I think you should be safe. Can be still quite nice in April.
I hope so, otherwise we won’t come…
Fair enough. I wouldn’t come to Adelaide in winter and I live here!
(Laughs)
You’re coming out as a follow up to last year’s True Brew. It had been about seven years since you’d done a studio album. Was it just a really long time in the making or were there reasons which stopped you writing songs for that period?
We released Machine 15 in 2008 and we basically toured on that album for two years. Then in 2010, we did a ten year reunion of the release of Pennybridge Pioneers and we toured on that for two years. Then we did some other touring as well.
So I guess that coupled with the greatest hits release in 2012 kept you too busy to write new stuff?
Well, basically. I mean, you always write. You’re always writing new stuff, but it’s just getting to time sit down and you know (record it).
This might sound like a stupid question, but is it still satisfying when an album comes out? Or has it become just a normal part of life for you?
This time was a big deal. I mean, it’s always a big deal to release an album. You put so much work into it. I actually worked on this album for one and half years. So it’s a long and process and when you’re done with it, hopefully you’re very satisfied with it. And it’s been such a long time since the last album, it’s kind of a comeback in a way, you know?
In terms of Millencolin song writing, is it mainly you and Nikola, or do the other guys get involved?
No, Nikola and I have been doing all the song writing since ’98. We produced this last album ourselves too. I mean, I’ve known Nikola since we were six years old so we know each other pretty well,, you know?
Is it true that you actually run your own studio there in Sweden?
Yeah we have our own studio, Soundlab Studios. I’ve been doing that since 1996. Sometimes I produce and record other bands as well, when I have the time.
I think one of Millencolin’s truest characteristics is that the content of your songs was just as profound in 1998 as it is now. Has anything really changed over the years in the way you write?
Of course it changes, in a way. But I guess back then, we had some really serious stuff mixed in with a lot of goofy stuff as well. Nowadays, I guess it is a little bit more serious. And also you know, [it’s] much more about song writing now, so maybe you can create more interesting stuff. There’s some stuff that we did back in ’95 that when I hear it today, I’m wondering how we could do that? Because we were so young, it’s kind of amazing, in a way. It’s cool to look back on the old stuff. I’m proud of everything we’ve done.
You’ve also just announced an EP of the same name as True Brew?
That’s right. It’s actually for the song “True Brew” that’s on the album, that’s going to be the next single. There’s going to be some new tracks and there’s going to be a Swedish version of “True Brew”. The new songs are really good I think, so it should be a cool release.
I remember I did a lyrical analysis of “Highway Donkey” for a senior year English project and that song became like an anthem for me. Whenever I need inspiration, I pull it out. Do you get tired of hearing stories like that?
Of course not, it’s truly amazing. I think it’s important that band members reflect and look back on what you’ve done. And also what it means to people. Because without the fans listening to our music we’re nothing, you know? The fans are very important to us and it’s very nice to hear stories like that. It makes you proud and it amazes me that someone on the other side of the world could be listening to my music and get feelings out of it.
When you come to Adelaide this year, you’re going to be playing at a venue called HQ. Which is the same venue you played at when I saw you here in 2002. Do you find that the crowd has grown up with you, or does your music still reach the younger generations?
No, it is reaching younger generations definitely. We’ve been around for a long time but people that discover punk rock (at any age) probably are going to bump into us in one way or another. But it’s very refreshing too because it would be very sad if the crowd just got older and older! You need new blood, that’s how our career has developed, you know?
20 years now and I still can’t get “The Story of My Life” from Life On A Plate out of my head. How does it feel to know you’ve had a twenty plus year career in the music industry?
It’s crazy. Nikola and I quit school in 1993 and we haven’t done anything else in our lives except be in this band. I never worked a regular job, I’ve just been doing this. It’s very amazing to think about and I’m very grateful to be able to do this. It’s kind of scary to think about sometimes, that that’s all I’ve been doing, but I’m blessed to be able to do it.
Does touring still make you excited?
I think touring is what you make it. And for me, touring is the most rewarding thing you can do. I love that life and I will probably do it for as long as I can.
Joey Cape answered that question exactly the same way. And punk rock fans the world over thank you for it because it means we still get to enjoy the live shows!
That’s awesome man, see you in April.
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Tickets for Millencolin’s April shows in Australia available through Destroy All Lines.
Tour dates:
Apr 26 Metropolis Fremantle / Australia
Apr 28 HQ Adelaide / Australia
Apr 29 Roundhouse Sydney / Australia
Apr 30 Coolangatta Hotel Coolangatta / Australia
May 01 Tivoli Brisbane / Australia
May 03 170 Russel Melbourne / Australia
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