Interview: Terry Ericsson
To many people in Sweden, the name Terry Ericsson is not unfamiliar. He's long been synonymous with the indie scene over there, as you'll soon read. For us outside the country, know this: his influence cannot be understated. His curation of the compilation "Svensk indie 1988-2006 - En kärleks historia" is simply the latest of his endeavors. Terry was kind enough to answer a few questions about the project for us.
First off, tell us a little about yourself and your position in Swedish indierock history. What made you get interested in music in the first place and what is it about the indie scene that captures your attention?
I started the fanzine Sound Affects as far back as 1987. That zine did have quite a big influence on the Swedish indie scene, when we started there was absolutely no one that wrote about the kind of bands we liked. We started the zine with a trip to Great Britain and met all those bands we'd contact through letters, bands like McCarthy, Wedding Present, Pastels, etc. At that moment there really wasn't anything you can call a SWEDISH scene, the first band we put on the cover was Happydeadmen, which was the first band that actually sounded "indie", influnced as they were by bands like The Smiths.
A couple of years later some of us from that zine and all the best writers started POP Magazine which had an even bigger influence on just about every kind of music in Sweden, indie as well as R&B and you name it... That magazine lasted from 1993 til 1999. During that time I was also involed in the Lollipop festival, easily the best festival ever in Sweden if you ask me! Just three great years and besides that, I've promoted lots of clubs, the latest being called Indierave. We usually attract around 1500 people, it's a monthly club. Also, I have been editor for a couple of web magazines, Bomben.se & thecricket.se.
Why this comp and why now?
Cause it was time someone took a wider grip on the Swedish indie scene, from the beginning and up until now. There's been lots of good compilations throughout the years, but no compilation that has covered all the years. And I personally think the scene since 2000 has been the most vital ever here in Sweden, with the electronic scene in the foreground, more variety, more WOMEN nowadays, just more great music than ever.
How did the song selection process work? What criteria did you use for choosing these tracks?
No criteria whatsoever! Well, it's very diffult, almost impossible to say what's indie these days. Just a gut feeling you have, wether the actual artist release the records on a small label or a big multinational one, for instance Cardigans & Kent are extremely succesful but in the beginning, we've picked their debut singles, they were definitely indie, even if they released the records through a multi. The Knife is definitely indie, have released their records through their own label and are possibly the biggest succes story of them all. Ten years ago people shouted "sell out" when a small indie band got succesful, that attitude has changed quite a lot even if there still are some indie talibans, as we call them, out there.
So what the heck does "indie" mean anyways, in your mind? Do you think it's a different definition in Sweden than in the UK or US - especially when taken in context of bands like Kent and the Cardigans still being considered indie?
An almost impossible question to answer. Indie means so many different things just in Sweden so I really don't know how people think of the term in the UK or US. For me it means an attitude, how the music sounds, which label they release the records on, even if that said there are a couple of major lable artist that still feels like indie for me. The term has almost killed itself.
What is it about Swedish indie music that's so special?
Oh, you tell me! Just good musicans, songwriters, singers, etc that has something to say or make music that makes you happy and have a sound of their own. Nowadays I think more bands here have their own identity more than what was common in the nineties, when most bands copied British/American bands. And also, you don't here the booooring typically British attitude that goes like "we're better than The Beatles, we're the best thing that's happened since they invented sliced bread, etc.." That attitude don't stand a chance here, which is good of course. Just get on with creating good music.
Besides what you already mentioned, how has the scene changed over the years? Is it all good or is there some bad? Anything you miss from the olden days?
I think it's better these days all over. Easier to get hold of the music, a friendlier attitude towards sharing the music, more women musicians, more varied music, so no, I don't anything from the old days, that's just nostalgia.
How has the Internet changed indie music? Do you see blogs and webzines as a continuation of fanzine culture or is it something totally different?
A continuation, they have more or less taken over from the old paper fanzines. The Internet has of course totally changed the whole music scene, for the better if you ask me. Everyone can get hold of just about everything, the days when we journos had exclusive promotional records are over and I don't feel sorry for that at all. It's more fun to share your personal favorites!
Where do you see Swedish indie going next? What would you like to see happen?
Oh, that's impossible to answer. If someone had asked the same question 1971 noone had answered "I think there will be a revolution against the rock dinosaurs in five years time, young "punk" bands will take over!". But I hope all the good underground/indie bands have the chance to live on their music in some sort of way, even if it's not through selling loads of records, cause the risk is pretty obvious that the young generation of today won't buy records in five-ten years time in the same way as say my generation did.
Lastly, let me ask the same question I posed to Emelie and Per: What's your favorite song on the comp and why is it important to you?
"Wrong heaven" Eggstone. Best pop song ever in Sweden, simple as that!
And one you feel was left out?
Oh, HARD question but Le Sport (formerly Eurosport) "Tell no one
about tonight".