MT: Well, basically it is the sum of our influences as an entity. We have never really planned it to be this or that, but I guess we take the aspects we like the most from different styles and mash them up. The music we write has to be interesting to ourselves and that's it. We're all pretty picky when it comes to what music we like, and our tastes range from Cat Stevens to Kraftwerk to Autopsy to Fugazi to Twisted Sister. It is hard to settle for the "biggest influences" since we have a hard time agreeing on one band that everybody likes.

SMP: The band originally went under the name Fingerspitzengefühl and released two acclaimed albums. Why did you feel you needed to change the name of the band when so much work was behind you?

MT: I guess you hadn't heard of us until we changed the name? The work we put into it was pretty much to deaf ears, apart from a bunch of people in Sweden. European distributors didn't want to work with us because of the name, not even in Germany, ha ha! And I understand them - try spelling out F-I-N-G-E-R-S-P-I-T-Z.....whatever... when you're talking about music late at night in the pub. And then try to google it. We really liked the meaning of the name though, and certainly wasn't an easy decision to change it.

SMP: Why the name Switch Opens? I detect a Soundgarden influence in some of the music, was it because of this?

MT: It was the only name we could agree on. We had a list of maybe 50 names... But I think it suits us. I like the meaning you can read into it, opening a switch for the energy that our music is all about. It is illustrated pretty clearly on the cover. The Soundgarden connection just happened - sure, it was picked from them, but wasn't meant first hand as a tribute. We simply liked the words. Soundgarden are great though and they have influenced us.

SMP: Is there a continuity in styles between Fingerspitzengefühl and Switch Opens, or are they completely separate entities?

MT: There is a continuity, no doubt about that. It's the same band. The name change coincided with a big leap forward musically for us, but that would have happened anyway.

SMP: You recorded the album with producer Martin Ehrencrona (Konie), was this your first time working with him, and if so how did the recording process differ than on the previous albums?

MT: Yes, this was the first time with Konie. The process didn't differ that much. We have always done much of the basic tracks live, at least drums and bass and sometimes the whole band. We always have a clear idea about what we want to accomplish arrangement wise when we go into the studio - laying down vocals is usually the most surprising part. What differed most this time around was the studio itself - Konie has loads of old analogue equipment and we wanted a good piece of that and his great knowledge about how to use it. It was stuff like space echoes, old amps and synths. Konie also did most of the mixing on his own with us coming in now and then to approve it. We actually tried that on the previous album as well, when we had Nico Elgstrand from Entombed mixing that one.

SMP: We’ve touched on the band’s musical influences, but not the non-musical influences - What are the songs on the album about and who/what inspired them?

MT: I can only give a background to the songs I wrote the words for. Pyramids is kind of dreamy, druggy thing about the space between life and death and it's a bit inspired by William S. Burroughs. The words for Paper Walls were written in my bedroom just off the top of my head in like, ten minutes. It deals with a lot of existential stuff I guess - about trying to live to the fullest while feeling totally claustrophobic and hostile at the same time. A theme song for the passive-aggressive. Terra Incognita was hugely inspired by Paul Auster's novel Mr. Vertigo and my interpretation of the theme of that book, which I think is about the conditions of making art. I also think it sums up what Switch Opens are aiming at - to levitate from the futile, everyday life. The Electric Hour is more about word play and creating a vibe than anything else. The rest of the lyrics were written by our drummer Anders, so I can't say that much about those songs, but Express Death and He Dives Down deals with religion and the punishment of God and Lucky Me, Lucky You and Super Globe Of Pain are about separation.

SMP: Where would you say Switch Opens fits into the Swedish music scene?

MT: I don't really know what the public's perception of us is like. I guess we're considered a kind of weird, heavy band which is a good live act. From our point of view, we don't really belong anywhere. The band members have played and are playing death metal, jazz, punk, pop, free improv, doom and electronic music and we like to hang with people from all those communities.

SMP: The legendary Neurosis took you on tour with them as a support act - how did this come about and what did you take away from the experience?

MT: Actually it was only one gig in Stockholm - I don't really know where the tour thing comes from, but I've heard it before. Anyway, it started with Scott Kelly playing us at his radio show on KMBT. I wrote an email and thanked him and asked if they needed a support act in Stockholm. So, Scott invited us to support for them and it was a great experience in every possible way. Neurosis were great guys, humble and down to earth.

SMP: You’ve not really ventured too far from Sweden on tour as of yet. Are there tour plans for across the rest of Europe?

MT: We are in planning mode right now, very DIY. Hopefully someone will be willing to book us even though we don't have much of a name yet. We are aiming at Sweden, Denmark, Northern Germany and Holland in April and hopefully the UK in May. We would love to tour more.

SMP: Your live reputation does precede you - What does the band bring to the live circuit?

MT: Hopefully some raw, edgy, heavy rock that hits you in the stomach and stimulates your brain at the same time. We don't hold back live, that's for sure.

SMP: You’ve recently been nominated for the P3 Guld, the Swedish national radio music awards, how does this feel for the guys in the band?

MT: It's great, what can I say? It feels good to get that kind of recognition after so many years of wandering around in obscurity.

SMP: The album has also received critical acclaim from different publications across Europe, how have you taken this recognition?

MT: Fantastic. We are very pleased with the album, but didn't expect this kind of unity among the critics.

SMP: Where do you see the band going in 2010, and will you be aiming for a follow up album sooner rather than later?

MT: We want to play live as much as possible of course. We have started writing new songs and our goal is to go back into the studio next Christmas. We never had a deadline before, so that's going to be a challange. We don't want it to take three years between albums next time around.

SMP: Is there anything you’d like to add?

MT: Peace.

For more on the band check out http://www.myspace.com/theswitchopens/a>
http://www.myspace.com/metalheavenrecords

Interviewed by Sean M. Palfrey

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