A Dirty Dozen with MARKUS ÅSLAND of STEW – October 2018

According to a recent press release: “Swedish Rock Band STEW has released their 4 track EP, HOT, a gritty and nostalgic fusion of classic rock and blues inspirations. “This EP is a mix of classic rock, blues and soul! The four songs are heavy influenced by the late 60’s and 70’s era. With groovy riffs, strong vocals and swinging drums! Classic yet modern..” – STEW” We get singer / bassist Markus to discuss new music, influences, and much more…

1. Tell us a little about your latest release.  What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through?  Are there any hidden nuggets the band put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

We’ve just released our EP HOT that I think defines the band very well. We all love the old genuine Rock/Soul and Blues from the late 60´s and 70´s which I believe this EP shows. If the listener also is into that kind of music I think they´ll hear our influences quite soon. We try to keep the music-atmosphere in a modern touch even though all our influences are quite old.

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

I think we’ve all been playing some kind of music since we were kids, may not in a serious way but just for fun. I have always been interested in playing and singing, and when I became old enough to go and see live bands I wanted to be the one standing up on the stage with a band.

3. Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that guided your musical taste?

I love this old band called Free, their simplicity is just awesome. They had so much feeling in their live shows and Paul Rodgers is one of my favourite singers. 1970 they played this festival gig at the Isle Of Wight and I think it’s just amazing! Free has been a big inspiration for me.

4. Who would be your main five musical influences?

Our main influences I believe is Free, Jimi Hendrix, Rory Gallagher, Humble Pie and Deep Purple.

5. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be, and why?

I would love to write a song with Tim Bogert who´s my favourite bass player, he’s also a really good singer.

6. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before? What is the one comparison a reviewer or fan has made that made you cringe or you disagreed with?

Stew takes inspiration from the late 60’s and 70’s rock, soul and blues and from there we create our own style which has been described as “old yet modern”.

7. What’s the best thing about being a musician?

The best thing about being a musician is to jam and make music with people you like, in that way you can express your emotions.

8. When the band are all hanging out together, who cooks; who gets the drinks in; and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

Haha, Nicklas Jansson is the first man to boil up a good stew while Nicklas Dahlgren pour up some good beer. I am hanging in the sofa with the acoustic guitar.

9. When was the last time you were star struck and who was it?

Hmm, starstruck… I believe it might have been when I saw Glenn Hughes in a small club venue in my hometown Örebro. It was quite surrealistic.

10. If you weren’t a musician, what would be your dream job?

That’s not a hard question, a job were you did as less as possible and earned as much as possible, haha. No, I’m just kidding… A dream job for me would probably be a job were you made some difference. Like helping vulnerable people or stuff like that.

11. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over”, even if it didn’t change your current situation?

We’re quite in the beginning of our “journey” so I think we have the best (and worst) yet to come.

12. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

Exile On Main Street with Rolling Stones must have been so much fun to record, the inspiration must have been in the air everywhere. That’s a record I would have loved to been a part of in some kind of way. I bet no record today is made in that kind of way.

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Category: Interviews