Nära Döden is a group that Septembernatt sent to me and I got hooked on their music pretty quickly. Pretty calm but really nice... April 2025.

Hello to you and welcome to my home with your album Villkorslöst? Tell us a little about the band? When did you start, members etc etc?

-Hello and thank you! We started playing together almost five years ago, it will probably be. Hanna and David had written some songs that they wanted to try to play for fun, and it was all fun so then it just rolled on. We have all played, and play in, other bands so Nära Döden becomes a context where we get an outlet for Swedish indie.

The name Nära Döden makes me think more of a harder band, At least if it had been in English, how did you come up with the name?

-There were many turns with many especially lousy names. Band names are one of the hardest things to come up with. We had decided on a name that we called ourselves for a month or so and which was also on the theme of death, but which turned out to be taken. So we continued to brainstorm band names based on that and finally landed in Nära Döden. We thought it could represent the music we wanted to write, not necessarily in terms of sound but rather in terms of theme.

You have done a record before I understand, tell me a little about it and how do you get hold of it?

-Right now you can only get hold of it digitally but we are doing some DIY version on CD that you can buy at gigs. It goes in line with the whole album which is very DIY and which was recorded with Staffan Tengnér from Century (which by the way is absolutely incredible). We tore off all the songs in one weekend and then there wasn't much more to it. The album is about some kind of step away from youth life and all the changes that come with it.

Is it important to release physical records do you think? Would it feel like you've made a record for real if it only existed digitally?

-It is absolutely important! It's a special feeling to be able to hold a physical record and not just listen on the phone. And then of course it feels like we have released our first album even though it is only available digitally. And you have to remember that it's damn expensive to print records. But to release the new record physically is so fucking wonderful! It gets a completely different life both musically but also with the cover and insert that our friend Simon Åslund has designed.

Now your record was released on 7/3 on the record label Septembernnatt, how did you get in touch with them?

-Filip who runs and is Septembernatt has been a friend for many years so to check with him about releasing our first record was obvious. And that he wanted to do that too, we are so happy!

What do you like the other bands on the label?

 -We love them!

Other good bands in Sweden?

-Saw Buffalo play in Stockholm a few weeks ago and was completely floored.

It feels like there has been a new music style with groups like Division 7, Terra, Sjuk Hus, Agitator, Klotter etc etc and now you too, how would you describe your music in three words?

-Guitar, fast, good

When you play live, what kind of people come to the concerts?

-A short, a tall, an old and a kid (mom and dad) — very mixed. A memorable concert memory is when we played at the small hotel bar and a hard rock couple with leatherjackets, long hair and boots heard us playing from the street and stood at the front and started headbanging.

Your lyrics, who does them and why in Swedish? (thanks for that by the way)

-Hanna and David have so far been responsible for the lyrics. Above all, Swedish is what comes naturally to us if you want to express something that you actually mean. Then we have been inspired a lot by Swedish music and have probably always thought that good lyrics in Swedish are one of the best things there is.

Tell us a little about the following songs

-Missar tåg

A song about mistakes and consequences.

-En privat död

 It started with us brainstorming ideas for an outro to another song. We wanted to try to put on a large piano that cut through the mess. But once we started to unravel how it should be played, our producer started recording and when we heard it, we thought it should be an intro to side B instead! -Kom ikapp oss

We wrote it in the hope of feeling more hope about things. To be reminded of the youthful glow you had.

Politics and music, do they belong together? Or is it just for others to do it?

-It definitely belongs together and can reinforce each other. What is political in music does not always have to be obvious. An expression or message can be political by only existing as itself in a certain context, without commenting on a current event.

Best political group/artist?

-Nationalteatern.

So here will my review read, feel free to comment about it?

"I grew up in the early 70's and listened to a lot of music (and still do) in the 80's and then I think about that there wasn't so much good but the only thing that was good then was really the groups that came after the first punkwave and then I mean early 80's and then there came a lot of good new wave groups like Tant Strul, Pink Champagne and that kind of band. Why do I mention these bands you can wonder but Nära Döden has a female singer and the music is not so far from how these groups sounded but this sounds more modern and professional of course. But there is so much melodies, melancholy, good vocals and above all good musicianship on this record. I can imagine that you who are into Agitator, Terra, Dalaplan and that type of music are the target group for this group and all of us who love all kinds of music that is good. It is fast paced sometimes in a kinder way but there is punky things and in Hell there is a nice guitar sound like what you find on Wedding Presents records. A band that will surely be nominated for something when the year is summed up. Remember where you read it"

-Damn it was nice of you! It's always fun to be referred to some of your favorite bands. David was very happy by the reference to Wedding Present.

Do you care about reviews? Would you anyone change anything after a bad review?

-We would probably think it would have been fun to be really sawn sometime, then you have made an impression anyway. We wouldn't be able to write something that we ourselves don't think is good, so we wouldn't change just for the sake of it.

What is the strangest thing something has said about your music?

-Wow.. I don't know if we've been talked about enough for someone to have said something strange. However, I hope that it will happen in the near future.

Do you play a lot live? Where is best? Do you only play in Sweden?

-Life is live. Only Sweden so far, but hopefully we'll make it over to both Denmark and Norway this year. Playing live is the absolute most fun thing about doing music and we do it as often as we can!

Which is the most odd band you have played with and which is the biggest band you have played with?

-Umeå-based Top 10 babies were odd in the most positive way. Division 7 is probably the biggest.

Which is the band you would really like to play with?

-Mattias Alkberg.

Where do you come from, do you have any good record store there?

-No record stores in Salem unfortunately, Melodifestivalens compilation records + the best with Ulf Lundell on Statoil at most.

Do you buy a lot of records yourself? The last one you bought?

-There will be a lot of LPs. The last LP that was bought was Fritt Fram - Lill Lindfors. Not so much CDs these days. When I had a car, I bought some CDs used to play when I was out driving. A classic there was the Bridget Jones soundtrack.

Tell us a little about the following albums and what you think about it today.

-First record you bought or got?

Gorillaz's debut album.

-The album that changed your life?

Gorillaz's debut album.

-Last album you bought?

Fritt fall - Lill Lindfors

-The album you are ashamed of?

We are probably not so ashamed of any music.

-The album that makes Nära Döden. sounds like you do?

Svart katgts debut album När allt är över was a big reason why we started the band.

-The album that always has to be on the tour bus?

Wichita Lineman.

-The album that you would have liked to have played on?

Related to Lotta Svärd, Vasa's Flora and Fauna. Should have recorded drums but sprained my right arm a few days before.

What do you think about living in Sweden today, what can be better?

-Spring is on its way, then Sweden is beautiful and we enjoy it. Politically, there is a lot to be desired and public transport is expensive.

The futureplans for the band?

-Go out and play as much as possible now and then it's just to get started on the next record!

For yourself?

-To get by in everyday life. Go to a lot of live gigs. Have a beer.

Words of wisdom?

-Carpe Diem

Something to add?

-Thank you and bow. See you on the roads!