The Mary Onettes

Tell us something about The Mary Onettes?

We are four guys that controls the soul of The Mary Onettes. It's almost like running a business together. We all have different tasks that we're supposed to fulfill. My task is to write all the songs and partly record them, I also have a strong will and sometimes Im a bit of a dictator. But I think the others are ok with that. I guess. We love what we do!

A brief history of how the band started?

It all started out in our hometown Jönköping in the year 2000. At that time we were the same four guys that we are today. To tell you the truth we haven't changed a bit. We still want to play our music to people all the time, as much as we wanted to do when we started the band.
We signed a record-deal with Sony/BMG in 2004 and released an EP in 2005. Called "Make Me Last". It only sold in 800 copies so the label wanted us to become more easy listening. We wanted to what we wanted to do so the there was a huge communication breakdown and we split with the label in 2006. The same year we signed with Labrador and we're still on the label.

I really love your sound. What do you say when somebody compares you to Echo & the Bunnymen, The Cure…?

I can see why people compare us. But we are more influenced by an era more than the bands. I love the epic dark sound of the eighties! But I would never try to steal melodies or songs from the era. We just have the same sound as all these 80s bands.
The Mary Onettes are totally unique when it comes to melodies, the songs are always well written and full of substance.
The sound is just the costume we wear. Describe your sound in 3 words?

Epic, true, serious, love

Are there any song that you would like to cover and any artist that you would like to play with?

Not really. We don't like to do covers. Never been a fan of learning songs written by other people ; ) Despite this we recorded a cover of the song "Watch Me Bleed" by Tears For Fears. They asked us if we wanted to contribute on a best of record from the group performed by other artists. We thought it could be cool, so we joined the project. The song is supposed to released in a couple of months.

Song/album that changed your life?

Well, many albums i think. Pet Sounds by Beach Boys, Disintigration by The Cure and Hounds of Love by Kate Bush.

Which do you prefer, cd, vinyl or mp3?

Vinyl is the most beautiful, and Mp3 is the easiest way to consume music.

What do you listen when you're at home, on tour, right now…?

Right now I listen a lot to Brian Eno. I like the atmospheres he was creating on his early stuff. On tour we only watch a lot of film.

ive us some hints about the Swedish music scene, apart from The Cardigans, Mando Diao…?

Well there's a lot of music going on here. A lot of really talented and creative people. I think we are becoming even better on making and discovering really unique and important bands and artists. Here in Gothenburg were I live there's a very vivid music scene. At the moment there's a lot o female musicians that are very good. El Perro Del Mar for example.
I get the feeling that many bands and artists from Sweden care more about the quality of the music rather than it should be successful and commercial. That is great! The new Radio Dept album is going to be great as well!!



Tell me something I would never guess about you?

I've got a huge collection of old Star Wars toys.

Thank you so much for your time. Is there anything else you'd like to say to our readers?

Discover The Mary Onettes, or walk around with the feeling that something's missing ; )

pedja // 03/04/2010