A Dirty Dozen with PATRIK WIREN from MISERY LOVES CO – November 2019

According to a recent press release: “After four self-released singles the classic industrial metal-pioneers Misery Loves Co have teamed up with Black Lodge Records. Later this year will see the release of a new album – the band’s first full length since the critically acclaimed Your Vision was Never Mine To Share, unveiled 19 (!) years ago.  We get singer Patrik 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 truly work with wall of sounds, layer on layer with melodies, rhythms and noises. It sometimes take years for people to find that specific melody hidden somewhere under all them noises.

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

I was probably about 5 years old, seeing a picture of Kiss and thinking WOW! After that punk rock followed and I just knew… This is something I want to do. No, this is something I have to do!

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

My musical taste was put together by several different songs and artists. David Bowie was probably someone that guided me, the way he experimented in the studio and his never-ending curiosity when it came to new musical expressions. But also bands like The Clash, Ramones etc.

4. Who would be your main five musical influences?

The Cramps, Billie Eilish, Viagra Boys, Nick Cave and Fever Ray.

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

Oh, don’t know… That would probably be to do a duet with Joey Ramone, since he was such a great singer, but that’s too late now. Maybe improvising a song together with Om somewhere out in the desert. I’d like that. Just because it would be such a different experience + I always felt that songs like “Addis” and “Haqq al-aqin” where meant to be heard in the desert.

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?

Melancholic, aggressive yet very beautiful. Eh… Someone called us the most brutal band on the planet. I disagree. We are the most beautiful band on the planet.

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

People actually applaud what you do (if you’re lucky), that’s something that is not part of most people’s everyday routine.

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?

We never hang out like that. NEVER. No one cooks and no one cracks out the acoustic guitar – but all of us gets the drinks in.

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

Oh, I truly don’t now… Perhaps meeting Lemmy in Manchester. Or meeting Lemmy in Los Angeles. Or meeting Lemmy in Gothenburg.

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

There’s a 1,000 things I want to do. I’d like to write another book and spend more time being a writer. But I also love being on stage so… an actor? Standup comedian?

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?

I have a very bad memory, so.. No, I don’t really remember any missteps. But I’m sure there are a few…

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?

Sandinistia by The Clash. I’m sure it would be a fun and inspiring recording. I don’t like all of the songs, definitely not, but I like the idea of trying out different things the way they did and I like the idea of making a triple album. And I like albums where not every song is great, where there’s room for mistakes.

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Category: Interviews