A Dirty Dozen with DAVID MYHR – October 2026

According to a recent press release: “Swedish power-pop songwriter and former The Merrymakers frontman David Myhr releases his third solo album, Everything Is All About You, digitally today via Oglio Entertainment. Previously released on physical formats September 18, the 10-track album is now available across all major streaming platforms. Myhr first earned international recognition as the frontman and principal songwriter of celebrated Swedish power-pop band The Merrymakers. The group’s 1997 album, Bubblegun, featured extensive collaboration with Jellyfish’s Andy Sturmer and became a favorite among power-pop fans, helping the band achieve college-radio success, tour the United States and sell more than 100,000 records in Japan.” We get David 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?

It’s my third solo album and it’s an album I’m very proud of. It’s been in the making for five years, although of course not full-time. It’s a mix of songs that begins with a few upbeat, hopefully catchy and hooky power pop tracks, but on the B-side (yes, I made LPs as well!), it becomes a bit more reflective, and I’m mixing up the styles a little bit. I’ve even included my attempt at writing an American songbook standard(!), which is a song called ”Continental Drifter.” Couldn’t be further away from power pop! But I love it! One hidden nugget, I would say, is my daughter singing and giggling a little bit at the very end of the father-daughter ditty ”Doodlebug.”

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

I was fascinated by the piano at home when I grew up. I had three elder brothers who played the piano and I loved playing it. When John Lennon died, and I was 10, a wave of Beatles-nostalgia swept over the world and I was swept into my own Beatlemania period during my teens in the 80s. I guess they are the reason for me wanting to be a musician. Same story as pretty much every artist I look up to whether it’s Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne, Benny Andersson or… well everyone, ha ha…!

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

There are so many! But if I have to pick the best song ever, I usually say ”Life On Mars?” by David Bowie. But then again, ”Bridge Over Troubled Water” probably also is the best song ever written… and so on…

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

My biggest house now living household gods are Paul McCartney and Jeff Lynne. So if one of them would suggest a co-write, I wouldn’t say no. And had they been alive, I would have included John Lennon, George Harrison, David Bowie, and Tom Petty in that dream scenario list. But there are many other great ones too. I’d be very happy to write with, like Neil Finn, Nick Lowe and Ben Folds just to name a few. But not to forget, I’m incredibly proud of having written songs on this record together with, among others, Bill DeMain, Brad Jones, and Linus of Hollywood. I’d be more than happy to write with any of them any given day!

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

I love to be with my wife and my six-year-old daughter and our ragdoll cat Majsi. Especially to be out traveling with them. For instance to Japan. Well, without the cat that is. I also do love to sit and drink beer with good friends and talk about things like if Ram or Band On the Run is the best 70’s Macca album.

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?

For people who know what powerpop is, I would call it power pop, but without too much actual power. But for those who don’t understand I’ll just say ”Beatles-inspired” pop. Although I guess McCartney-inspired melodic pop with lush harmony vocals might be more to the point.

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?

Well, since I’m a solo artist I do all of that except cook. I love leaving that to the professionals.

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

In 2014 I shook Paul McCartney’s hand in Liverpool, which I wrote a 4000 word long blog post about. After that I’ve never been starstruck. It can’t get bigger than that.

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?

The joy of making and playing music together with other people. However, releasing my own music costs me far more than I earn from it, so I have to have a ”real job” as well. And I guess it’s sort of a dream job. I’m a program director for a university degree in music making, at a school called BEMU.se. There, I can work with, and hopefully guide,  young creative people with similar dreams. Hard to beat!

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?

Question I’ve always wanted: What inspired the crunchy sounding, arpeggio electric guitars on your song ”You Spin My World Around” from your 2021 EP And Now This? Answer: I’m not sure. A mix of all kinds of good stuff, like Del Amitri, Matthew Sweet and Teenage Fanclub I guess…? Question I’m tired of: None, really. I haven’t done enough interviews to become tired of one. A common one is ”how was it working with Andy Sturmer of Jellyfish?”. The problem is I like answering it!

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?

Yes, I think we dissolved The Merrymakers a few years too late. As much as I loved being in the band in the 90’s, we didn’t seem to inspire each other that much in the 00’s. So I should probably have gone solo and worked with various other people earlier.

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?

I’d say Spilt Milk by Jellyfish just because it’s an absolute masterpiece. Both Jellyfish albums meant the world to us in The Merrymakers, and I keep calling them the second best band ever. But just to say something less expected, I also must admit, it would have been an absolute kick to be part of the recording of Deep Purple’s Machine Head. Incredible energy!

DAVID MYHR LINKS:

OFFICIAL SITE

FACEBOOK

INSTAGRAM

Category: Interviews