Dement Sement from Norway is a really good
punkband and if you don´t have heard them before
it´s time now. This interview was done in
november 2024.
Tell me the whole story about the band, the name
, the members etc etc?
-Anders: We all know each other for various time
and some of us has worked together before
musically in different projects, and we`ve been
talking bout doing some punk sideproject that
was fun and easygoing as we all are committed to
other projects as musicians and sound/light
technicians and stuff so we dont have too much
time on hand. But I had some punk songs
demo written and we met up in Januar 2023 and
smashed together 4 songs the first session and
it just went on from there, we played our first
gig with only 5 songs in our bag so that was
over in 6 min haha then we recorded our album in
december the same year. The name Dement Sement I
think came from my cousin one day during
pandemic when we lived together trying to keep
entertained at home.
You only do songs in norwegian or?
-Kjetil: Yes in norwegian south-western
dialect.
Becomes the lyric more important when you song
in your on language do your think?
-Kjetil: Definetly a lot. But in the republic of
Bergen we have a strong music scene, local pride
and a very funny and natural slang in our
everyday language. We have a lot of bars and a
lot of people who like to speak their mind or
make an argument about anything with anyone at
any time of the day. There is a
storytelling-language there already. Anders
sings in a more south-western dialect but is
influenced a lot by Bergen as he has been living
here (too long haha) What do you think Anders?
Anders: For me the lyric is important either
way, but i guess it will feel closer in my own
language and you pick up on local slang and
words which is a nice thing. I always liked
using references and pick up on stuff from
history to put in, not too obvious but theyre
there. Ive written alot of songs on english too,
but mother language just feels the most natural
way to do it, at least with this band
I think I hear an early The Cure-bassline on
Sparke Hardt, do I hear right, is old Cure a
band you listens to?
-Kjetil: I dont know if its a conscious steal,
but certainly a conscious influence on the riff.
The bassline came naturally from the more easy
ground chords on Anders gitar. Jon follows me to
create something we think could be on an early
90- the Cure album, a Joy division record or
even early New Order or Siouxsie and the
Banshees. The vocals are definetly a reference
to old Norwegian Punk/NewWave bands.
I´m really into mid 80´s-The Cure. Head on The
Door, Disintegration, Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me,
but also the more dark ones like Pornography and
Seventeen Seconds. Wish is underestimated i
think, most likely because Friday I´m In love Is
such a silly tune. But there are some real
darkness elsewhere on that record. Love the new
one also, suits well into the before-mentioned
gang of records. Simon Gallup is a post punk
bass god, but I suspect Robert Smith is the real
father of many of those basslines.
Have you done anything more than Kognitiv
dissonans, if you have how can I get them?
-This is our first and only album/songs so far,
more too come
Tell me about the following songs?
Amygdala
-Kjetil: Its a RocknRoll-song, straight up,
Guitars with loose structures on a hefti boogie
beat. I dont remember what the fuck you sing
about on that one Anders
Anders: Song is about the systematic approach
and how people are so alike these days, less
room for individuality or something, fuck
normality haha
Sparke hardt
-Kjetil: Yeah post-punk ballad. I think thats
what it is. Its a post-punk/New Wave-ballad with
strong lyrics about a former life.
Anders: Muddy swamps and dark forest, the sun is
out now
La angsten leva
-Kjetil:
That´s a hybrid of Davids rocknroll/punk-riff
and me and Jons urge to fuck the song up and
make it become something else also, so we just
made that harmonic part to lift it a bit it in
the end and go on a little journey, without
losing the energy or the intention of punkrock
in the vibes. Made for a nice hook.
Is it important to do songs about something
important or can you do,lyrics about nothing?
-Kjetil:
We already made at least one lyric about
nothing. I think Anders plays with words and
sentences and recreates small moments or
stilebens of life from a very subjective and
hardcore angle.
Anders: I love a good song about nothing, and
it´s not a goal for me to say something
important really, but my lyrical universe comes
from things ive seen or dreamt and the i try to
abstract them so the lyrics doesn´t get to
obvious, I like to play with layers so each
person listening could think different about
what the song is about, and mostly only i would
know what it is really about. Kinda like
painting pictures
Politic in music?
-Kjetil:
Yes and no, I like it sometimes. Like, fuck the
police and legalize weed. I´m down with that.
Anders: Don´t mind it, but me personally don´t
aim to be a political artist, I´m doing it cause
i like to create and my head needs me to create
so it dont get too full.
Have fun and fuck it
How is the political stability in Norway right
now?
Kjetil: Rich get richer, the poor gets poorer.
It´s stabile but its leaning towards more
polarization, and a stronger right
wing/capitalist government. I dont really think
anybody knows what they are doing, and when they
find out some time, then it´s too late anyway.
Is there any good norwegian bands right now you
will tell is about, Any good old bands that you
like?
-Kjetil:
The Real Jobs is weird and entertaining,
I like the dark wave of Boilotion.
The new experimental and minimalistic album of
black metal legends Trelldom.
Legendary mini-album”Negative, Negative,
Negative” by Girl Army
Anders: Slomosa is really smashing it with their
songs and shows all around the world so big up
too them.
Brutal kuk and old punk bands like Kjøtt,
Wannskrækk and Anal Babes i like
Any swedish bands you like?
-Kjetil:
Early Entombed, Refused, Shitkid, Les Big Byrd,
Veronica Maggio, Björn Afzelius.
I hate ABBA, sorry guys. Roxette too. Cant stand
it.
Anders: Refused, Backyard Babies, Ebba Grön,
Broder Daniel and more
Was it important to get out the record physical
or can you feel that you have done a record if
you only release it digital?
-Anders: We got the chance too do a physical
release so then we went for it, it is very nice
too have your first album in a physical version
off course, but it would feel just as much like
album only digital, and I guess not every
release will be physical, but time will show.
Do you buy much record yourself?
-Kjetil:
I have a small collection of LPs. What I buy
physically don´t reflect what I listen to online
on spotify and such. It´s like another thing,
another person. Old pop music and new
experimental/avantgarde rock.
Anders: I buy some LP every now and then from
bands I like or if I find some good local or
rarities when im out touring, but far from a
vinyl collector
First, last and the most expensive record ever
bought?
-Kjetil: 1.Among The Living - Anthrax, ,
2. Norges Vaapen- Taake,
3. Disintegration The Cure
Anders: 1. ACDC - Ballbreaker
2. Slomosa - Thundra Rock
3. The Libertines - Up the bracket
20th Anniversary Box
Is Fucking North Pole RECORDS a good label?
-Kjetil
: They have been brilliant to us, shoutout to
them!
Anders: Yeah, Robert been awesome since we made
contact and they also release alot of good bands
and music. Big up to FNPR
Is there any good recordstores in your town?
-One
very good, which is also a bar. And we have a
lot of second hand-shops with vinyl. A fair
share of dj-ing on vinyl here too. To a degree
Do play much live,,what is the best of playing
live?
-Kjetil:
We have other commitments and projects, so
whenever we get to be in the same city at the
same time we are always down with gigs. Even
gigs for beers. We love playing live and we
always try to make it a very loud, sweaty and
intense experience.
Anders: We will play live every chance we get,
big or small doesn´t matter. We are here for
making noise and drink beer so give us a call
haha
Do you do any covers when you play live, if you
do, which?
-Kjetil:
We might do a Vilde Tuv cover or Åse Kleveland.
They are both Norwegian treasures, if you don´t
know.
If someone paid you to do four covers on a
record, which four songs have you done?
-Kjetil:
Ballad Of Jimi Hendrix - S.O.D
You Suffer - Napalm Death
Ensom Cowboy - Vilde Tuv
Kan vi tro på Glasnost- Jahn Teigen
Anders: Teddybears ft. Iggy Pop - Punkrocker
Vikingarna - Blue Hawaii
rOlfFa - Gulatgo Mu?
Sonic Youth - Kool Thing
Have you ever done a song to a football team,
Some political movement or something like that
and if you
haven´t can you imagine yourself to do it?
-Kjetil:
Depends. Has to be something different then. I´m
a football-person soIi kinda did that with my
other band the notorious Fjorden Baby! and SK
Brann. Dement played at a refugee fundraiser
once. That was a nice event.
What is the Futureplans for the band?
-Kjetil:
Basically to make another record, get drunk,
play some gigs, get drunk again, regret it all,
then do it again.
Anders: What Kjetil said
For yourself ?
-Kjetil: Grow up or get married.
Anders: Work, create and have a good life
Wisdomword?
-Kjetil:
Fuck racism
If Dement Sement would do an own beer, what have
it been called and which sort would it be, or
maybe you´re straight edge?
-Kjetil: It would be a lager, definitely a lager
pushing 5%
Anders: It would be called: Ses i Hverdagen or
La Angsten Leve
Something you want to say to my readers?
-Kjetil: Book us in your city and we wont disappoint you.