A Dirty Dozen with DEJAN ROSIC of SCREAMER – January 2023

According to a recent press release: “SCREAMER, one of Sweden’s most ambitious heavy metal acts, have released their third single from their upcoming full length today, entitled “The Traveler.” SCREAMER’s latest offering, Kingmaker, is scheduled for release on January 13, 2023 via Steamhammer/SPV. Screamer came together in Ljungby in 2009, a small town between Malmö and Gothenburg. Screamer have played well over three hundred concerts, including acclaimed shows at renowned festivals such as Headbangers Open Air, Rock Hard Open Air, Summer Breeze, Bang Your Head and Muskelrock.” We get guitarist Dejan to discuss new music, influences, and 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 you put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

Our latest album Kingmaker is our fifth studio album and the first one with our new guitar player Jon Morheim. It’s our strongest and biggest sounding album to date and it will be released with Steamhammer/Spv. I think the biggest thing that will grab the listeners is the diversity in songwriting and catchiness across the album that will hopefully keep the listener hooked for Moore than one or two spins. The additional Hammond and keyboards is something new we tried and I feel it fits really well without being overpowering.

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

Growing up in Sweden we had cable early on in our household so MTV and old Swedish Channel ZTV was popular. My dad showed me Pink Floyd and Deep Purple early on and when me and my friends started getting into music Nu Metal was very popular but we ditched that and searched for heavier and heavier music. Then when we started listening to classic heavy metal as well and playing in a band it looked so fun and seemed so cool so the urge to start playing just grew and grew until I finally picked up the guitar and started.

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

Speaking of MTV I remember staying up later when I was 8-9 maybe to catch MTV Headbangers Ball and the first video that came on was Sepultura – “Roots Bloody Roots” and I thought holy shit what is this. When I started playing guitar I remember I was totally into The Misfits and tried to learn all their songs. Then of course getting into Iron Maiden and both the early Swedish death metal and the melodic Gothenburg sound Heavy metal was a big guiding star.

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

Kyle McNeil from Seven Sister mainly because he worked with us on our song “The Traveler” on Kingmaker. He did all the synths and keyboards for that song and it gave the song such a boost!

5. What is your favorite activity when out of the studio and/or not on tour?  What do you like to do to unwind?

Rehearsing and writing new music so we can record and tour haha. No, I do enjoy a good football game and a beer. Photography is another thing.

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?

Catchy and hooky melodic heavy metal with big choruses and twin guitar power. There’s something for every fan of heavy metal and hard rock on our new album. It does get tiresome to get compared with all the old bands but that is some sometimes a huge honour.

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

Henrik the drummer is the one who, his Isterband (a sausage from the region Småland where the band is from) with dill stew potatoes and pickled beets is always a hit. Drinks would be me or maybe Andreas. The acoustic guitar is dangerous haha but probably Jon.

8. When was the last time you were starstruck and who was it?

I don’t usually get that starstruck, but I have to admit when we toured the US in April 2022 we met Mike Amott from Arch Enemy and I got a little starstruck since I grew up listening to his music both Arch Enemy and Carcass.

9. What is the best part of being a musician? If you could no longer be a musician for whatever reason, what would be your dream job?

Being able to tour and make records and having people sing along to your songs is definitely the most important thing for me being a musician. I don’t know really, maybe a photographer would be cool.

10. What is one question you have always wanted an interviewer to ask – and what is the answer? Conversely, what question are you tired of answering?

I’m no journalist so I’ll leave that job to the pros.

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?

Of course there are a few but I don’t like to see it that way. I prefer to see it as a learning curve and to use it to make the band better.

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?

The first Dio album for sure. Looks like it was a blast making that album at Sound City from what I’ve read or seen. I don’t know if it really means anything special to me but whenever I listen to it it fill me with energy and makes me happy.

SCREAMER LINKS:

OFFICIAL SITE

FACEBOOK

INSTAGRAM

Category: Interviews