Peter, Bjorn and John - A Chat with The Whistling Swede
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Argh! I have writer’s block ... Coincidentally, that’s the name of Peter, Bjorn and John’s new album – Writer’s Block. Love it or hate it, the infectious 'Young Folks', which features the vocals of The Concrete's Victoria Bergsman, has been the song which has catapulted this Swedish pop group into the international spotlight. They’ve released their third album and are coming to Australia to play at the Laneway Festivals in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane in the new year and to celebrate, The Dwarf had a chat with the effervescent Peter Morén at home in Stockholm.
The Dwarf: Whistling is a bit of a forgotten instrument, isn’t it? What made you turn to the whistle on your new album Writer’s Block?
Peter Morén: It was just to help remember the melody of the song and then we were supposed to put in some keyboards.
The Dwarf: Did you expect ‘Young Folks’ to be as popular as it has been?
PM: No, not really. It’s been quite a big surprise. We’re not the sort of band who plans to have hits.
The Dwarf: ‘Young Folks’ has been the real break-through song for the group internationally – how has that success changed things for you as individuals?
PM: The only thing at the moment is being able to play music. I’ve always had different jobs or been studying. Now I can just play music for a living. We haven’t changed as people. If anything, we have become more humble because we are happier due to our success.
The Dwarf: The song is being played everywhere. Do you ever get sick of it yourselves and of playing it live?
PM: Occasionally. It differs from night to night. You always have songs which you tire of. It just feels like a tiny part of the show.
The Dwarf: Are you scared that you’ll be known only for that track?
PM: Yes…we won’t be writing any more songs with whistling.
The Dwarf: Sweden has a history of producing great pop music, from back in the ABBA days to more contemporary bands like The Knife and the Shout Out Louds who Bjorn is working with to produce their new album. What is it about Sweden that enables it to churn out so many catchy tunes?
PM: I’m not sure … For us it was when we grew up it was a case of boredom and living in a village and not having a lot to do.
The Dwarf: How was the group formed?
PM: Bjorn and I met in high school fifteen years ago and we met John when we moved to Stokholm in 1999. We’d been in bands and started recording demo’s and needed a drummer and met him at a party. We played our first gig to 5 or 6 people on a boat called Patricia.
The Dwarf: What about the group’s musical influences?
PM: We’ve all been into different music when we were kids. John was into heavy metal, Bjorn was into 80’s synthesiser music and I was obsessed with the Beach Boys and The Birds. When we came together in the late 90’s/early 2000’s, we’d been through the Manchester sound and low-fi and, at this stage, everything we listened to and what we listen to now goes into the mix.
The Dwarf: How would you describe the difference between your first two albums and Writer’s Block?
PM:Writer’s Block is more positive than Falling Out. It has happier lyrics and hints of melancholy – more a product of happy love.
The Dwarf: What do you hope people get from Writer’s Block?
PM: Hopefully a lot of different things. Firstly that people find it catchy – hopefully it will get under their skin.
Let Peter Bjorn and John get under your skin when they visit us to play the St Jeromes Laneway Festival along with Yo Le Tengo, Camera Obscura and Midnight Juggernaughts in Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney in Feb/March 2007. Check out www.lanewayfestival.com.au for all the details. Tix on sale now.
