We recently talked with Swedish rock band Stew about their new EP HOT, their greatest rock hero and much more! - READ IT HERE

Interview with STEW
By: AJ

Bringing the sounds of classic rock and melding them into a place that completely rocks is what STEW has created. A time when the doors are wide open to create this trio has with their 4-track release 'Hot' and a new album on the way they are unstoppable!

How do you know as a band when a song is complete and ready? 
Markus Åsland: I think you´ve got a good feeling when the song is finished. Because you have probably tried it in different shapes back and forth a couple of times. So when the whole band has a good feeling about the song, nothing more to add, that's when the song is finished.

Why did the songs on this EP, 'HOT' make it to the final cut? 
Markus Åsland: I remember the first time I heard Jansson play the intro to "If this will be the end". I totally fell for it, had it in my head for so long, thinking this is a song we have to make good and record. All four songs on our EP I think are good rock songs, which we felt from the start. That's why they made it to the studio room. 

Where does inspiration come from? Can you talk about the development and structure your music? What is it you listen for? 
Markus Åsland: Our inspiration comes from the 60s and 70s rock, blues, and soul. Music that has that genuine raw vibe. Music that feels real. I believe a good song often starts with a good intro, which gets the listener interested. 

When playing live, what song of yours seems to get the crowd really involved? 
MÅ: We have this song called "Fruits" which has a lot of groove in it. That´s a good one.

What festivals have you played and what festivals would you like to perform at? 
Markus Åsland: We haven't played at any festivals yet which we of course really would love to do. Right now any festival would be interesting. 

Do you as a band prefer small venues where it is more intimate or huge festivals in wide open spaces? 
MÅ: The three of us really like to do small club venues which gets quite in time with the audience.

Each band member talk about the time you have taken to train yourselves on your own personal instruments? 
MÅ: I've always been interested in playing the guitar. I think I started to play guitar when I was around 15, learned a couple of chords and then wrote my first songs. Later on, I started to play bass which I thought was so much fun. 
Nicklas and Nicklas have played with each other for about 15 years in different bands. Jansson told me he remembers having a guitar hanging on the wall in his parents' house when he was just a kid. One day he took it down and was hooked immediately. 
Dahlgren: My parents have told me that when I was very little I used to drum on all couple of things, like pots and stuff in the kitchen etc. When I was 11-12 I started to take drum lessons. 


Do you play other instruments too? If so what else do you play? 
MÅ: I love to play instruments. Drums and piano are some things I find very stimulating and inspiring to play.

Is there another instrument you would like to learn? 
MÅ: Piano is something I would love to play a little bit better. It is a really good tool when you're writing songs. 

What else in the music industry would you all like to do or at least understand a bit better? 
MÅ: Can't figure something out at the moment.

Greatest rock hero to you each would be? 
Nicklas Dahlgren: John Bonham
Nicklas Jansson: Jimi Hendrix
Markus Åsland: Paul Rodgers


Sweden makes some really good music. Do you all have a favorite band from your country? 
MÅ: There was a band named November that played in the 70's. They were just awesome!

In each of your opinions best single/music video that came out in 2018? 
MÅ: Mitch Rivers - "Easy Way Out"
Nicklas Dahlgren: Rival Sons - "Do Your Worst"
Nicklas Jansson: I need to say Mitch Rivers as well love his new album and the song "Silver Lining" is really good! 


2019 is almost here- what can the fans of STEW expect to be coming? 
MÅ: In 2019 we will record our debut album, release it and take as many gigs as possible. That's pretty much our goals for now. 

Line up: 
Markus Åsland - Bass/Vocals
Nicklas Jansson - Guitar
Nicklas Dahlgren - Drums

Links: 
https://open.spotify.com/album/7rIe1uBdWC6DBYXWHFwDVS?si=rYMp9UaZSiaRy69ix-lBNA 

https://m.facebook.com/stewsweden/?locale2=sv_SE 

https://www.instagram.com/stew_band/ 

https://youtu.be/sV4Zne1cGcs

https://stew1.bandcamp.com/releases

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