Kardborrebandet is one of my favorite bands that has come out in recent years. They are releasing a new album in the next few days and I felt "forced" to do a new interview with their singer Johanna. August-2024

 

The new record, are you satisfied with it?

-Yes, we are very satisfied! It feels like we have once again grown as a band and taken ourselves another level up with the new songs.

 

What is the big difference if you compare with the previous ones?

-A little more straight lyrics and less "lulllull". But we still feel that we want to mix serious lyrics like "Bakom stängda dörrar" with a little more fun like "Äkta kärlek" just like before. I think this record is more personal in some way.

 

Have you had many member changes since the start?

-It is only me and Joacim who are original members who have been involved since the start in 2010. We have had a whole bunch of members. In the beginning we changed guitarists every rehearsal because no one could play. Kim then joined the band, so he's the oldest guitarist. Emil came later when a guy named Damien quit. The latest addition is Mattias, who started during the pandemic in 2021.

 

Krigsstigen sings about Stop my body....is there anything that you as a female singer have also noticed at concerts, this with disgusting men?

-Maybe I've just been lucky, but I haven't actually felt it at all. I probably thought (before the song "Stopp, min kropp" came out) that there was never such behavior at punk concerts. But of course there are rotten eggs everywhere.

 

How many concerts is there for the band approximately per year?

-Depends a little bit on whether we are in the studio or not. But we want to gig as much as possible. But if you knock it out, it will probably be 7-10 a year. But we are happy to play more!

 

You are a married couple who play together, is it only positive or are there negative things with this also to be a married couple in a band?

-It's mostly advantages! Nice to be able to bounce band ideas, and fun to be able to go out and gig together. The only disadvantage that exists is that we are dependent on getting a babysitter when we are going to gig. Luckily, we have kind grandparents who are happy to help!

 

Life changes when you have children, what does it mean for the band's existence that you have children, will it be less number of concerts or how is it?

-Of course, the puzzle of life becomes a little more complicated when you have children. But we usually get it together really well! Sometimes the children have to come along to the rehearsal room if there is a crisis. Gigs are usually no problem to solve. Our motto is probably that "anything goes if you want" We went to Sundsvall and gig when our daughter was 3 months. We packed the baby and babysitters in the car and it worked out nicely!

 

You're in Vänsternäven too, how do you have time?

-It's lucky that Vänsternäven is not the most serious band in the world, haha. No, but it works fine! I'm a control freak and need to be able to plan my time with work, 2 bands, family, horse farm, horses and dog. As I said – Anything goes if you want to!

 

Kardborrebandet, have you often regretted the name, what were the other suggestions when you named the band?

-Yes.. or maybe not regretted. But it might have helped to be called something tougher. But now we feel that it is a little too late to change. We are working in the abbreviation KBB more and more and it sounds a little cooler. The other band name suggestion when the band started was "Bulldeg" so it wouldn't have been much better...

 

How much does KBB sell of their records?

-Not much compared to what we printed! We have probably overestimated it a bit. But it will be cheaper per unit price if you print more and it's fun to have something physical, so it has to be worth it.

 

Do you buy a lot of records yourself or how do you enjoy music?

-No, I never buy records. Joacim can buy sometimes to support the bands but it is never played in the vinylplayer. We hang them on the wall... We almost only listen to playlists on Spotify.

 

Who does the lyrics?

-There, it's probably 90% me who writes them. But Emil is usually good at coming up with a line in the chorus that I then build on.

 

What is most important the lyrics or the music, what do you do first?

-Usually it is the music that is written first. But that's only because Mattias is such an idea generator and produces music faster than we can blink. I myself am pretty bad at listening to lyrics when I listen to music. Therefore, it doesn't feel as important as a catchy melody.

 

You have both serious lyrics, political lyrics and some funny lyrics, is it important to mix all these things do you think?

-Yes, I think it would have been boring in the long run to always write about the same thing. It depends a bit on what feeling I get for the music when I hear it for the first time and what mood you are in that determines whether it will be a serious lyric or not. As Emil once said: "There are so many other bands that are so much better at writing about politics than we are, so leave it to the professionals!"

 

If you were to describe your music to someone who has never heard before, what would you say that you play?

-We play what we think is good. We don't want to put ourselves in any box. But melodious punk with good drive is probably a good and short summary.

 

Any new punkbands that you can really recommend?

-I'm the worst in the world at discovering new music. It's always Joacim who adds new songs to the playlist. But I hope that the band Menudå will come out and play again. They are really good so it would be fun to hear them live.

 

You have probably done some interviews, which is the most boring question you can get and the most weird question you have ever received?

- Yes, this question is probably the strangest. I actually don't remember specifically. I don't think there is a boring question, it's always fun to be noticed.

 

How do you see the political situation in Sweden right now? What would you most like to change?

-Oh, I'm probably the one who is least politically interested! But as usual, there is always something to complain about.

 

What does everyone in the group do when you are not playing music, work and interests?

-I work as a personal assistant and am also an acupuncturist. I have two horses of my own and a daughter of 1.5 years and married to Joacim. Joacim has music as his main interest and takes care of most things with KBB. He play a little golf, computer games and work as a chimney sweeping technician. Mattias lives between Mariestad and Skövde and works as a salesman. He and his partner have their children from previous relationships every other week so then it's high life with 5 kids. Kim works as a workshop mechanic and repairs cars all day. Has two children and a partner at home in Stenstorp. Emil works as a carpenter and is a fitness freak. Running marathons and other weird things. He like to do carpentry on the house at home in Floby and have a son of almost 1 year with his wife who is also named Johanna. But she was added later than me so at Emil's own suggestion we call her Jonna, so there are no misunderstandings.

 

It was a shame that there were no unreleased songs on Tolv Tum Punk when it came, do you have many songs that are unreleased?

-There are many that are unfinished that we more or less throwed away. But no unpublished ones that we sit and press on what I know.

 

I think you have nice covers on your records, who makes them? The new album Kravaller & Skoskav, where does that picture come from?

-Joacim is the one who does everything graphic in the band. We changed the logo now and felt that we wanted to emphasize it more on this record. The background image is from the Gothenburg riots.

 

I've seen pictures of people doing KBB tattoos, this is where such a thing feels?

-That is probably the ultimate compliment you can get! Very fun when you get to see things like that!

 

When you play gigs what are the ages of those who come to the gigs? Is it very mixed or how is it?

-Yes, the ages are very mixed. Usually you play in places that are 18+ and it feels a bit sad as I think we go home among a younger audience as well. That's why it's extra fun that there is no age limit at the release party in Skövde on October 19th!

 

If you could choose five bands, any, living and dead to have a concert together with Kardborrebandet... Which ones would you have chosen then?

-Oh how hard! I have such a bad grasp of bands. But if I had to decide, it would have been: Ebba Grön, the Baboon show, Trubbel, Nomy and Dropkick

 

Do you play any covers, why or why not? If you do, which songs do you play if so?

-We played some covers before. We have played everything from "En rosa helikopter" to "Drogbåg". It's always fun for the audience to hear something they recognize. Now we have such a hard time choosing between our own songs so it has not been a priority to play a cover. But maybe it will come later.

 

Do you think music can change someone's life, I mean lyrics etc? Do you have any song that has made you change your mindset?

-Yes, I absolutely think so. I think you can find a lot of comfort in songs when you feel like you're not alone. That there is someone who feels the same as me. And that you apply your own life in a specific song.

 

Futureplans in the near future for the band?

-Now it's full focus on the release party October 19 in Skövde with Pastoratet and Ramona's Tea Party!

 

For yourself? -We are going on vacation with the family in September so it will be very nice with sun and swimming! Otherwise, it's to try to play as much as possible with both bands. Maybe write some new material and cuddle with the family and the animals!

 

Words of wisdom?

-You can never have too much kebab sauce

 

Something to add?

-Come to the Release Party October 19th!

#komigendetblirkul