Whyte Seeds debut album appeared like a breath of fresh air on the Swedish rock scene three years ago. Already an acclaimed live act, they had the energy, talent and a heart that was beating for pop melodies.
Whyte Seeds’ second album, Bold As Love, was produced by three people from three different countries. Per Sunding is the guy from Eggstone who has also done some of the country’s best production work, including the Cardigans. The American Nathan Larson is also known from his work with The Cardigans/A Camp but is also a renowned film music composer. Thomas Troelsen comes from Denmark and is decribed by bassist Hank as ”an excentric Danish Willy Wonka who lives and works in his own little paradise”.
The new songs have been allowed to grow into an album during a long period of time. Some songs had found their true selves at an early demo stage, whereas others have been re-shaped during the collaboration with the producers.
It’s obvious that Whyte Seeds have taken a huge leap forward and have had an enormous well of songs to choose from. Their former garage sound has turned into something else – something just as life-affirming. The arrangements are richer, with more of a power pop punch than dirty rock’n’roll. It feels arrogant – but not the sort of arrogance that hides insecurity but the kind that’s based on great self-esteem.
The album can be seen as a journey through the history of rock. Influences that are PC and ones that are probably shockingly uncool can be detected throughout. These guys give the same amount of respect to Supertramp as to Supergrass… But Bold As Love isn’t a record-shaped pop quiz – it’s a bloody good album.
Old fans can rest assured that Whyte Seeds haven’t turned difficult, pretentious or started to indulge in solo workouts and long jams. What we find is a stream of lean and instant songs with no extra fat. They appear, immediately seduce the listener – and then they’re gone.
There is only one solution. The repeat button.
For their debut album, keyboard player Olle wrote most of the songs. This time, Björn dominates the album songwriting-wise.
”Axel also writes songs, and we haven’t even started to record them for albums yet. A lot of people thought that Depeche Mode wouldn’t survive without Vince Clarke and then Martin Gore stepped up and rose to the challenge. I have a feeling Axel’s songs will appear, too. Maybe he will write our fourth album”, Olle speculates.
Olle is the organiser. The one whose cell phone is always ringing. Together with bassist Hank, he is also the most talkative member. He is also the something of a ”conductor” on stage, playing less but always cheering the others on.
”I don’t care who wrote the songs. The great thing about having a band is being able to share the workload and the responsibility. Thanks to having so many writers in the band, we will always have great songs in store”.
Axel is the band’s enigmatic singer. Not unnecessarily humble, he readily admits to being perfect vocalist for Whyte Seeds, no matter if it’s pure pop, sad ballads, rascal rock or a combination of the above, like the cheeky ballad that’s not only the title track but also the first single off the album – Bold As Love.
Axel has never, ever been compared to any other on-stage personality, Maybe it’s because he never actually moves to the beat of the song.
– It’s more like I’m floating around. Bad sync, he admits.
Olle goes even further.
– Imagine the opposite of the typical ”in your face” frontman who’s relentlessly working his mike stand!
Instead, Axel sees it as his job to help the songs’ feel reach the listener undistorted.
”My job lies mainly in the interpretation of the other guys’ songs and I like having a lot to choose from. I have never sounded as good as in our new songs. As we speak, we’ve only performed them live twice, and it’s been a real experience, even for me, to actually get to hear them live”.
Hank describes Axel as the wild card of the band.
”You can never be sure where you have him. ”When will he arrive? What will he do?” His work has to do with feelings, making the songs come to life. He kind of saves himself until it really matters. That’s when he ignites. He adds the nerve that makes it all real”.
The fact that Björn, Olle and Hank look like a classic rock band only puts more emphasis on Axel’s visual originality.
The listener can sense a strange sense of longing throughout most songs.
”That’s why people write songs, says Axel. Because there’s stuff that can’t be expressed properly in conversation or books. It can be very deep and complex or very simple. Or both, at the same time.”
Whyte Seeds’ drummer, Nico is decribed by the others as part of a rare breed. He represents the band’s rock’n’roll side.
”Nico’s like the last guy in Santa Claus’ toy factory who has to give everything the stamp of approval before it is sent away. Nothing escapes him”.
Björn is Björn. At least that’s how several of the other members initially decribe the band’s soft spoken (provided he speaks at all!) guitarist who has contributed most songs to the new album.
– He’s some kind of… creature, says Olle, desperately trying to pinpoint what characterizes his colleague.
At the same time, the reason for the sense of mystique that surrounds Björn is not hard to see:
– What can you expect? The guy never says anything! We have known each other for a very long time and he is still something of a mystery to me. I don’t think he does it consciously, though”, says Olle.
”I’m not really sure what goes on in his head, and he never tells me what his lyrics are about,” Axel explains. ”I have to find my own angle, my own way in. Sometimes I have to make him change the lyrics until they mean something to me as well”.
Whyte Seeds’ bass player, Hank, is the joker of the band. His playing grooves in a way that you imagine musicians used to back in the old days. It doesn’t matter what he plays – he is a natural, rooted in older musical forms of expression, like classic soul, country and blues. That his nickname is Hank is certainly no coincidence. He can’t wait to sink his teeth into new songs. Other than that, he’s really work-shy.
The perfect rock star, in other words.
So how does the band want to make an impression on people?
– Our record company wants us to boast and be cocky”, Olle reveals in confidence, ”but it feels like a misunderstanding. One would hope that having written and recorded one of the best Swedish albums in recent years would be enough”.
Somehow, it doesn’t sound like bragging.
It sounds matter-of-factly.
(THE WHYTE SEEDS QUOTE COLLECTION):
”Imagine the opposite of James Brown” (Olle speaks of Axel as frontman)
”There’s probably a deeper reason behind why Björn’s started writing all these great songs, but I don’t want to speculate about that” (Axel)
”Nico is steady, calm – and hard. He likes Formula 1 and sharks”. (Olle)
”Even if I could, I wouldn’t want to” ” (Axel on analyzing the band’s lyrics)
”It’s easy to see if you’re watching a solo artist with a bunch of session musicians, and not a band. We really look like a band, or a football team. Even if it’s FCZ - a team of losers and nerds.” (Olle)
”Nico is the band’s saviour” (Hank) |
