Mothugget is a band that just came up in my feed somewhere and I just loved them from the start. They sent their LP Gud's Vagina which is so good and that's the way it is. Now to the interview that was done in early April 2025.

Mothugget, a name that makes me think of the old prog group Motvind from Gothenburg, a damn good name, how did you come up with this eminent name?

-We played with a lot of different words back and forth, should we allude to sports, to middle age or all the messages we felt we were holding on to that had to get out? We felt that the songs were largely about fighting against injustice, those in society who are not so kind. It was simply a backlash!

Who are the members, what are you of age, what do you do when you don't play music and have you played in other bands before on the side?

-We are five in number, all 40+ and parents of small and medium-sized children. We do sports and bikes, run and ski a lot of cross-country and cross-country skis. By profession, we range from journalists, musicians, educators, government workers and TV presenters.

Elisabet Aagård

Sara Rönnberg

Hans Lundkvist

Johan Arveli

Johanna Ojala

You sound both punk and indie at the same time, some are pure punksongs, other songs I think of Terra and similar groups....maybe a little bit like Raymond and Maria on speed? How do you describe yourself?

-Haha, Raymond and Maria on Speed was the most creative description of us so far. What fun! But yes, as indie punk rock maybe? With elements of pop? And maybe other things too? We've been playing with the idea of both calm dancesongs and a cover of Kicki Danielsson so in a way we're probably pretty free, at least in thought. Then maybe we'll make a noise anyway, once it's on paper.

Do you think that you belong to the punk movement because it is some such bands that you play together with when you play live?

-Well there is a really big Swedish as well as melodic punkscene which we might jack in somewhere, but of course people stand somewhere and point and say that it is not punk at all what we are doing, that we are the establishment because of middle age and academics and median income etc. On the other hand, we are predominantly a group of women who defy a lot of ideas about how and what to behave as a mother of two children between 40-50 and we can probably think that is the punkiest thing of all. To straighten a lifelong crumpled middle finger at everything that norms about the female body and female expression are called. To send that object search that girls up to a certain age are pushing for fuckers. That's the right punk, right? To say fuck it to the norm.

What does punk mean to you, is it only a word or is it a lifestyle or just a style of music?

-It's words, lifestyle and a style of music, isn't it? The word is the description, but the lifestyle and the music style fertilize each other, right? We've gotten a lot, a lot straight into our own lifestyle from meeting, being inspired by and listening to other musicians in this world and it means so much. It's a very inclusive group of music people who so far are so damn kind! That's the nicest thing of all, please.

You played at Mimfest recently, how was it? How were you received?

-That's right! It was an incredibly nice festival that was very well arranged and nice. And we were received by the Borlänge (and the surrounding area!) audience with a lot of love! It was almost full in the room and the sing-along sounded through the crowd up to us on stage. It was powerful! Then Mimfest evolved into Mimpest, as it was also a super spreader event for one of this year's influenza, but together we stand! 

What is the strangest band you have played with at any concert?

-No idea. However, Lisa has an anecdote: I once played for maybe 20 non-denominational pensioners with another band. We immediately deleted "En hand på en röv" which was then in a completely different version from the playlist when we saw the walkers enter the room, but that's also a completely different story. And also about a strange audience, so not even an answer to the question.

You have lyrics that really touch? A lot of it is self-experienced, I understand?

-Yes, but that's probably how it works, when it works the easiest, that you take something out of life that has done something to you and convey it. And in the best case, it evokes recognition in the person who receives. When it comes to "Offer" it's a no brainer for most people who have been badly picked on. "Dör" probably evokes emotions in those who have struggled with mental illness. "Älska" in the person who has felt or heard that they cannot or should not fall in love with just anyone. It feels like easy cards to draw, in a way. But that's the nicest thing you can hear, that what you do, touches... 

Tell us a little about the following songs?

-Offer

The classic bad pick-up line at the pub! By the guy who can't take no for an answer, by the guy who thinks he's the king of the world, by the guy who thinks the pick-up in the jack line will go home. We have been told that it has given power to others to speak up in the pub when men behave and behave.

-40

The Portal! Nothing will be the same, exactly everything will be better. Except that some get worse. Nothing to be afraid of, step in and step out as your extra self just to carpe diem and the carpe stress incontinence! 

- Drulen ballen uber allen. What is it about man and the notion of the superiority of his genitals? Why does the man think that this is the solution to all problems, that everyone wants to see it? K*ken wrote the song about herself, then we wrote a counterstrike in the form of the woman's response. A fun game with words!

-Gud's vagina

Yes the... We love it. As we were in the process of arguing the text, moving formulations around, wanting to give a kick in the scrotum to patriarchal religions that set the agenda for how women should live their lives and the entire repressive reproductive policy. And for how the man should live his life, of course, but that's another song. And the song's heavy touch and Sara's phenomenal performance, oh, it's simply great.

How did it feel when you held your LP in your hand for the first time? Because it's your first release or how is it? Was it not a record company that wantedk your music or why did you release it yourself?

-It was like standing there with your little newborn baby! A very nice feeling. There was never any question of record companies, but we fixed it together to release on our own. But with that said, we are 10 cm open to suggestions if anyone wants to collaborate on new releases in the future.

Have you got any reviews on the record, is it something you care about?

-Well, maybe we haven't read so many reviews? Maybe we are too small and slipped under the radar when it came? A few people, very kind in that case.

What is the strangest thing you have heard about your music?

-That it's not so political, see the question below, haha! No, I don't know if we've heard so many comments like that? It may be said more among those who dismiss us, and so far they have in a very nice way not shouted it straight at us.

If we go back to the lyrics, there is not so much politics in your lyrics, is that the intention or did it just turn out that way?

-We probably think that our texts wander between politics and life observations. Drulen, På det fjärde, Guds vagina, Offer, Invasiva as, Jag får älska vem jag vill are political to the highest degree, with a clear feminist perspectiveEn hand på en röv and Lär nog gå åt helvete snart are more light-hearted reflections perhaps? 40 too? But both Röven and 40 also bear political traces? Then we have some explicitly political songs on roll, which we just need to set the tone for. We as a band are probably otherwise very confident with where we stand politically. We also make our fanzine for every gig, no one probably reads it and thinks that we are apolitical. We think.

Politics and music belong together otherwise do you think?

-One hundred percent. It's all politics. It's just damn tiring to keep looking at yourself like that, but really important. To see that you have sprung from something, stop considering yourself as an individual. Yep, we have important decisions to make for the individual, but no matter how you twist yourself, you are a child of that collective. Music is also an invaluable way to create a sense of coherence and community around political issues. So it's a given combo.   

Best political band?

-No, it is a completely unmanageable question. It's a centuries-old tradition with people who pinch power in the ass and disguised it in squeezy songs. Hasse & Tage was not a band but a concept, their lyrics are fantastic. Vreeswijk too. Lena Nyman. All prog bands and old punk bands. Jacques Dutronc, French prog at its best! A lot of rap is socio-politically explosive and contains truths about class society that few beat. Then we have everything that revolves around Umeå, Dennis Lyxén and the music there. And Cleo, Airijoki, Maxida Märak and Sofia Jannok, such damn important music and struggle! Where do you start and where do you end? (Doctor Kosmos, but a little biased there)

You made a physical LP, was that obvious or do you think that you have made a record if you don't release it physically?

-Of course you have let go even if it is not physical. But for us, it was damn nice to be able to hold it and have such a devilishly nice illustration of the artist Lotta Blad on the cover!

Do you buy a lot of music yourself? How do you prefer to listen to music, is it on vinyl/CD, Spotify or what is best? Do you have any good record stores in your hometown?

-It's very different, some of us buy records that we never tear up and have on display in the living room, others looking at flea markets, someone else always has headphones in their ears and keeps up with the latest, some have sore ears and are tired in the head and rest on old merits. So it's very different! 

Is there any really good bands in Sweden you can't miss? Abroad?

-Yes, what tips do we have? Dödskällan, Hyrda knektar, Matriarkören. And our big hometown favorites Röd Relik who bomb on with nerve, anger, heat and roar here in Östersund. They are magical and everything we wish we had been when we were in high school (and that we might be trying to make up for in our middle-aged way now!).

How do you think it is to live in Sweden today, politically, high food prices, electricity prices etc?

-It's a fucking mess right now, you don't know where to turn your eyes. What we can be sure of is that we are not an island and that we must mobilize if we do not want to become the right-wing nationalist nations we like to be horrified by. Our socialist-built society is not immune at all, democracy is cast in wax, a few billions and a couple, three hot-tempered right-wing idiots is all it takes and it is melted and dissolved. But perhaps one can sense that more people than before actually dare to say "enough is enough", i.e. those who have previously been the most routine.
There is a lot that is about the world around us right now. As in how international humanity will ever be able to look at Gaza without collapsing with collective shame that we didn't make a piss during the genocide, for example. It's not so damn easy to be human right now. When you are going to renovate your kitchen and realize yourself and counteract wrinkles on your face while trying to be humane.

Is there any music that you listen to that you really don't think you would listen to?

-Good music is good music. And it feels like "omnivore" has gone from being an insult in some music circles to being kind of the norm? At least that's what it is in our quintet that daily consumes everything from skate punk to country and Americana with not insignificant elements of Billie Eilish, Taylor Swift and Kelly Clarkson for example. 

What's the best thing about playing live? What type of people come to your gigs?

-First and foremost, it's to be able to do this together! It's special to sync five people on a stage to perform songs and messages. Then there's the love from the audience! It's old and young, men and women. Old punks who resurrected when they discovered us, to new fans who happened to see us for the first time at this particular gig.

Which songs are the audience's favorites? What is the most fun song to play live right now?

-Many sing along in the calm part, the answer, on Drulen. It invites you to a little arena rock feeling! But then Offer with its talk part is very audience-friendly. We get a lot of feedback there!  But 40 IS a banger! It's the song most people screamed "One more time!" after!

What is the strangest thing that has happened during a gig with you?

-The absolute coolest thing was when we at our very first official gig at Storsjöyran in 2022 were visited by the Republic of Jämtland's own president Eva Röse! We had wished and hoped that she would come to our gig, and just what it was, we asked if she could give a little incendiary speech before our newly released song "Invasiva as" Said and done, it happened and via and the audience was ecstatic!

Five most important records of all time?

 -But stop. That is not possible! But okay, here are a few.

PJ Harvey - Stories from the city, stories from the sea

Baboon show - Radio Rebelde

Judas Priest - Painkiller

Carola - Främling

Alanis Morissette - Jagged little pill

You may have already played with the dream bands but if you could choose five bands, both living and dead, to have a mini-gala with you, which five would choose?

-The Baboon show

PJ Harvey

The Donnas

The Cure 

Nirvana

You have made a new song now På det fjärde smäller det... What is it about?

-That enough is enough now. That when the patriarchy has roared out its last primal scream (is that what we are hearing now?) we change systems. And that we are happy to give the process a push along the way by gathering the masses and signing the death certificate of the empire. Something like that. 

What is the idea now going forward with the album release, what comes next? What is the next thing in turn with the band?

-We write and file some new songs and wonder when we will get the opportunity to record. Then we have some gigs in the future, we're going to shout on a punk boat soon and then there are some things happening this summer too that we can't go out with quite yet. Ah, but it's fun anyway! 

Words of wisdom?

-Just go for it! Dare to say yes to things in life. It will be so much more fun then!

Something to add?

-Yes! Be Nice!