My Endless Wishes is a female fronted melodic rock band from Lindesberg, Sweden, their self titled debut album will be released in the end of this month via Doolittle Group AB [Christian Liljegren]. My Endless Wishes is bombastic, with a true sound & real strings for fans of Evanescence, HB, Nightwish, Within Temptation. An interview with My Endless Wishes follows below:
TMR: Hello guys this is´The Metal Resource’ from Holland, how are things going there in Sweden?
Hey! Things are great, a bit snowy and still cold, but apart from the we’re great! We’re so excited about the album release!
TMR: Will you Introduce yourself and the line-up please [name and instrument]
Frida Viberg – Vocals, Fredrik Pernros – Guitar, Martin Viberg – Guitar, Magnus Källström – Bass, Erik Ekestubbe – Drums.
TMR: Tell us the brief history of ‘My Endless Wishes’.
My endless Wishes started out as a project between Martin And Frida in 2005, they decided to record a few songs at a friends studio, after getting some gigs, and a brief Ukraine mini tour they decided to add some members, Magnus and Fredrik joined in 2009, Erik finally joined up a year later.
TMR: Are you guys full time musicians ? If not what kind of job or school do you do beside the band ?
Not full time yet, but hopefully we will be able to later on. Frida – Personal Assistant, Martin – Welder, Magnus – Industrial Technician, Fredrik – Programmer/IT Tech, Erik – Teacher Assistant.
TMR: What is your musical background ? [for everyone personal]
Frida has been singing since she was a kid, always loved to perform. Martin started out as a teenager playing Iron Maiden and Metallica mostly, Fredrik also started out as a teen, and was in his first band together with Martin at age 15, has also been playing in other signed bands as Death Metal band Relentless, and Azure. Magnus began playing bass at age 14, heavily inspired by Iron Maiden’s Steve Harris, and played for several years in the band Cube:ism, Erik started out with drums early in his life, as his father is a drummer aswell.
TMR: Why the name ‘My Endless Wishes’ ? Is there a story behind it ?
Martin Came up with it in the car on his way from the studio where they recorded a demo.
TMR: Who writes the music/lyrics in ‘My Endless Wishes’ ? … how do you get in the mood for writing music? And which bands/situations have influences you for writing music and lyrics ?
Martin and Frida writes most of the songs as they live together, and then the rest of the band add their own personal touch to it, there are a few songs written by the other members aswell though. The influences vary alot in the band, Frida – Within Temptation, Nightwish. Martin – Megadeth, Iron maiden, Helloween. Fredrik – Iced Earth, but also older band’s like Rainbow, Deep Purple, WASP and so on, Magnus – Steve Harris, Flea, RATM, Cliff Burton, Patrice Guers. Erik – Virgil Donati, Thomas Lang. The inspiration can come from anywhere, for example the song Angel, Frida woke up in the middle of the night and the melody was just there.
TMR: How do you describe the music of ‘My Endless Wishes’ the best ?
That’s quite difficult, we dont really try to stay in a certain genre, we just play anything that gives us the “right feeling”, we might not get as impulsive as System of a Down, but we try out most of the stuff that comes up. ) We do get compared alot to Evanescense, Within temptation and Nightwish, presumably mostly because of the female vocals.
TMR: How does ‘My Endless Wishes’ stands in life till events in the world, religion and politics and in which proportion stands that till your music and lyrics ?
Primarily, we deliver a positive message to the audience, we like people to get moved and feel good while listening to us. Politics is not something we take a stand in/for/against in the band. A couple of the members got a christian view and that is reflected in the songs.
TMR: For a lot of bands the lyrics are just a accidental circumstance, but for some bands they use them to communicate ! ..can you tell us how that is for ‘My Endless Wishes’ ?
The lyrics are absolutely meant to tell something, love, fate, feelings, anger, emotion, but there are also room for interpretation, everyone should be able to relate in one way or another.
TMR: Is there a highlight you will always remember, since the beginning of ‘My Endless Wishes’ ?
When we got to see the finished album as a whole, with inlays, cd print and everything finally complete. Will never forget that moment, all the hard work during those years were finally right there in front of us!
TMR: And the worst thing were ? [if there is one]
I dont think any of us really have had a bad experience with the band, we support eachother through good and bad and work as a family. But of course there’s stress and hard work sometimes which can get to you. But Frida in a good mood can’t really keep anyone grumpy.
TMR: The last album you bought? [for everyone personal]
Martin – Megadeath – End Game, Frida – Within Temptation – Unforgiven. Fredrik – Epysode- Obsessions, Magnus – Moonspell- Night Eternal, Erik – Soilwork- Figure #5.
TMR: What makes you laugh? [for everyone personal]
Fredrik – Jim Carrey, Pablo Francisco, Magnus Cat, Being silly, Magnus – Pablo Fransisco, Fredriks beard, wifies horsie, my cat, Erik – The guys in the band, friends, Martin – Old rewinds of Sienfield, Frida – Mr. Bean.
TMR: What are your rehearsals generally like? Do you have a set time each week in which you practice or are rehearsals more spontaneous?
We try to get 2 rehearsals every week, we usually set the time for the next rehearsal at the end of each session. We either rehearse the setlist for upcoming the upcoming gig or work on new songs.
TMR: Where have you performed recently? What are your favorite and least favorite venues?
We recently performed in Germany at Promikon, it was great fun, got to meet alot of people and hang out with those attending the show afterwards. Sadly we live in a small town, where people dont get out much, regardless of the events avaliable, so unfortunately there’s alot more fun playing outside of town.
TMR: How do you promote your band and shows ?
Posters, Web Site, Facebook, and word of mouth, our manager also does a big job making sure people know we’re playing.
TMR: How do you prepare for a show? [for everyone personal]
Fredrik – Warming up with the guitar is essential, drinking lots of water, it gets hot on stage! Magnus – Warming up fingers on Bass, Erik – Gets there as early as he can, he really wants to know the stage inside out. Frida – Drinking water, reading the setlist. Martin – having a snack.
TMR: Describe your show, visual and musically ? And tell us about your next shows and why we should be there.
We try to deliver energy and prescence to the audience. If you show us support at the gig you will notice the response back without a doubt!
TMR: Which songs do you perform most frequently? Do you ever play any covers? Do you have a set play list?
We try to vary the setlist as much as we can, but we love trying out new songs aswell, so we usually play 2-3 quite new songs, and rest older. We dont really wanna get stuck with covers, but we are rehearsing a few right now for a rock bar gig in March. Everything from Black Sabbath to Nightwish.
TMR: Name some of your favorite bands to play with live [past and future] and tell us why ?
Diamondog, Smash Into Pieces and Motherlode. All those bands are great guys and fun to hang out with aswell as sounding great!
TMR: What is the dumbest question you have ever been asked? [for everyone personal]
Fredrik – This one, nah. Just kidding, “Why doesnt the screen work? (computer was off). Erik: “Did your acting career end after shrek?” Magnus – “Is that a vacuum cleaner or your girlfriend? You spend more time with that.“ Martin – “This one”, Frida – “This one D”
TMR: Do you have a life philosophy / favorite quote ? [for everyone personal]
Fredrik – “Knowledge is power, arm yourself”, Magnus – “Past, Present, Future”, Erik: “Follow your heart”, Martin – “Don´t eat yellow snow – It could be beer”, Frida – “Follow your dream”
TMR: Are you visiting many gigs and what do you listen to these days? [for everyone personal]
Not really visiting many gigs nowadays any of us, not enough time, we do listen to alot of music though. Current top bands for each member: Fredrik – Epysode: obsessions (i just love anything with Magali Luyten on vocals), Martin – Iron Maiden, seen all shows in Sweden since mid -90´s, Paradise Lost in the ears, Erik – Soilwork, Frida –Within Tempation, Nightwish, Magnus – At Ahe Gates, The Birthday Massacre and Sabaton.
TMR: Tell us about the hardrock/metal scene in your area please?
There have been quite an active metal scene since the 80’s really, but not that many big bands. A few friends that we enjoyed through the years locally is Mar Amon, Avocation, The Project Hate, Relentless, My Endless Wishes )
TMR: What’s your outlook on the record industry today?
It’s a difficult business, and it’s hard work to get there, but we feel really comfortable with the guys at Dolittle/Dot Music AB, we had our manager Christian with us to promikon in germany, and had a great time hanging out with him outside the “official” world aswell. But even though we got the chance to actually get our music out there, it’s important as an artist to stay humble, and show dedication to the fans. We will give everything we got at a gig regardless if there’s 1 or 20000 people.
TMR: What can you tell us about your upcoming album[such as the recording proces, the songs, who did the artwork, album title, label?]
We’ve been working on the album for a year, there has been some delays too as the producer decided to go the extra mile and replace the keyboards with live strings, and it was an awesome desicion, we love it! We had a great time in the studio! We recorded 15 songs total, and chose 12 of those for the album that we thought was the best. It’s difficult to anticipate before the production how the songs will sound, the best song in rehearsal is not the best on the album.
TMR: The album will be released on March 29 by ‘Liljegren Records’ how did you get signed by them ?
We actually got recommended by Simon Ledstam at “Bilda Music”, which is an association for bands that helps out with gigs, promotion and so on. We then had a meeting with Christian, Frippe and Niklas at Dot Music AB and we got a deal!
TMR: Do you have any upcoming shows?
Absolutely, We are currently rehearsing for a gig at the Rock Bar in Karlstad (Sweden) March 22, and our release party for the album, there’s also quite a few gigs coming up after.
TMR: What are your plans for this year/near future?
As of now we’re rehearsing for the upcoming gigs, but the plans this year is to play wherever and whenever we can, we love being on stage and connecting with the audience!
TMR: What advice would you give to fellow bands?
Work hard, always do your best, it will pay off in the long run, and try to be somewhat original in some way.
TMR: Guys thanks for your time and the interview, we wish ‘My Endless Wishes’ all the best … Is there anything you wanna say at last? [any final statement ?]
Thank you so much for the interview! Hopefully we’ll get a gig in your country soon and meet you there. And that goes for the rest of the readers too! Rock on!
Upcoming shows:
March 22 Rock Bar, Karlstad, Sweden
March 29 [Album Release], Sweden
Aug. 2-3 Rockviken 2013, Frövi, Sweden
Band members:
Frida Viberg – Vocals
Fredrik Pernros – Guitars
Martin Viberg – Guitars
Magnus Källström – Bass
Erik Ekestubbe – Drums
Discography:
Never Walk Alone, demo [2009]
My Endless Wishes [2013]
Weblinks: Website / Facebook / Myspace
Video below: Album teaser