I got Västerljung's new record from Dala Destroi records, what an experience it was, had no idea at all about the group and that's why I did this interview....May-2026

Tell us the long or short version about how you met and decided to play together?

-Band Members:

Mäsk-Per Liewenborg - guitar/vocals

Elias "Pjäff Krämbül" Bergh - drums/vocals

TigerpissJimmy Eriksson - bass/vocals

Felix "Stefan" Wengelin - lead guitar/vocals

Elias and Jimmy have known each other since childhood. Felix and Per have fallen into their world in recent years. We have shared a rehearsal room for about 10 years and played with each other in different constellations. Three of us had a band that started to level out on the ice and it hurt like hell. One day, Per found Jimmy by chance in the rehearsal room. He said he would write punk. Per was there for the same reason and already had a bunch of songs with him from home. So they put their bags together and got started. There and then the band was formed. We called Elias who was in Thailand and told him that he now has a band to hammer away at the drums in. He had no choice. From the beginning, we thought that we would do a classic point trio. We recorded an album that we released digitally in 2024 and after that we felt that we wanted to add another guitar to develop our sound, so we called Felix, who came in immediately and it was a perfect match.

Tell us a little about each member and band before and if you have bands next to Västerljung?

-Elias and Jimmy have grown up together and have played in different projects. Everyone except Felix has been in the punk style in different periods. Per is from Nyköping, Elias and Jimmy grew up in Västerljung and Felix is from Stockholm. We rehearse and live in Stockholm, except for Elias who has managed to make it all the way to Trosa. No active bands on the side right now. The time that is left over in everyday life goes to Västerljung.

Västerljung, odd name, it doesn't say anything but so does your music, how did you come up with the name?

-Originally, the first name was Döden i Hälarna. Per's idea that he then got tired of himself. It felt like the name gave the impression of a harder music when the songs started to take shape. There are also many bands with "death" in the name so it felt like another one in the crowd. So Per started throwing suggestions at the wall and Jimmy and Elias hated everything. So when it was time for release and first gig, Per got tired and threw out Västerljung. It went down well with the villagers.

You play a type of punk, was it this style that was meant from the beginning or did it emerge?

-It grew, Jimmy is more from the crust side stylistically while Per more classic punkrock. We had different thoughts in the beginning before Elias came home from his trip. Jimmy wanted a lot of d-beat and rock hard while Per something more toned down. The token fell down when we started to play. Everything just happened. Since Per sings lead, it was a bit of a natural weight to the not so rock hard.

Now you have released your LP Stulna Nätter, how does it feel?

-Good. Wonderful. It feels like it's growing on you all the time. I think all of us in the band feel pretty proud of it. And it doesn't happen very often.

Dala Destroi Records, how did you meet them?

-Tips from a friend when we recorded the album so we took some songs on a chance and they took it. Which we are extremely grateful for. All love to Dala.

Is this your first physical release?

-Oh yes.

Is it a dream to release a vinyl LP?

-Yes, we can all agree that it is a milestone. The feeling of having the physical copy at home on the shelf is a nice feeling.

What do you think about music that is only released digitally?

-We don't love the streaming platforms. But with that said, the music has to go out. I understand the financial part for many who do not get any help or can afford it themselves. You have been there yourself. But basically, music should be in physical format. It's something completely different to hold a record, watch, read, put it on the player.

Is there any really good bands in your home area (where is it by the way?) and some really good Swedish bands that you like and can recommend?

-We are housed in Stockholm. So from here Adam Nilsson's all the different bands over the years. Good Swedish bands and artists in general are Daniel Norgren, Hellacopters, Den stora vilan, Allvaret, Thåström, Ebba Forsberg. From the area of Trosa and Västerljung we have to say Adept.

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

-Besides different forms of punk being damn good music, it is also a community, a point of view and a forum where you can be yourself for real. You can escape the harsh reality and know that you are meeting your best friends and other people who genuinely want you well.

 Your lyrics are not so political, is this a conscious choice?

-It is not a conscious choice, but purely creatively, it will not come naturally to write purely political texts. Jimmy initially leaned more towards political texts as an idea, but Per, who writes the lyrics, did not have that as a basis. Instead, the idea was to write more about life and everyday life, relationships, too much of a good thing. Then it can come more subtly and sometimes some texts have two faces. We write a lot about emotions, and that's what governs it. It is everything from within that comes out, which in itself is often based somewhere in the political climate and our time.

But do you think that music and politics can be connected?

 -Yes, absolutely. Music for us is to make your voice heard and say what you want and need. So it can definitely be connected.

What inspires you to write lyrics?

-Life. What happens on the trip. How to feel. How everything is. Everything that we hear and see. The people you meet and the ones who disappear.

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

-It's piss. It's hard to relate to Sweden today. The gaps are increasing, politicians are making careers and we are footing the bill. They sow division in society and reap the fruits of their filth. Being a politician today is not a vocation, it is a career. That has nothing to do with the well-being of the people. A damn cold social climate.

If you were given the chance to be prime minister for two weeks, what is the first thing you would change?

-Fire everyone. Get more rehearsal rooms. Lower the price of folk beer. Reintroducing democracy and ensuring that everyone has what they need to survive.

Ten favorite records all time?

-Without order

The Clash - From Here to Eternity

Neil Young - Decade

Norma Jean - Bless the martyr and kiss the child

Bob Dylan - The Rolling Thunder Revue Live 1975

The Black Keys - Attack & Release

All Them Witches - Nothing As The Ideal

Imperiet - Tiggarens tal

Jethro Tull - Aqualung

Mikael Wiehe & Ebba Forsberg - Dylan På Svenska

Lackarmé - Last days of disco

The first record you bought, the last one and the record you're ashamed of?

Per - Dia Psalma – Efter Allt. First record for own cash.

The latest was probably The Black Keys - Thickfreakness. Gyllene Tider EP possibly. But it has a good song, Billy.

Jimmy - System of a Down - Mesmerize, Hypnotize and Steal this album! The latest is probably an album with Blind Blake from 1926. I'm ashamed of some old single maybe from some flea market.

Elias - The first record for his own pesetas was either the Atreyus Suicide notes and butterfly kisses album or possibly Iron Maiden's Powerslave. Latest: Third World - Journey to Addis vinyl at a flea market. Shame on: Chocolate starfish and the hot dog flavored water because of Fred Durst

Felix - Sum 41 - Does This Look Infected, because I thought the cover was cool. Jeremie Albino - Our Time In The Sun. Backstreet Boys' record there sometime in the early 2000s...

Do you buy a lot of physical music yourself?

-Yes, it goes in periods. I buy more now from other bands when we go out and play. Damn fun to bring home from gigs.

What is the best thing about playing live and what is the hardest?

-It's a kick. It's a mixture of anticipation, excitement and nervousness.

For Per, the best thing is the whole journey, new cities. The worst thing is the stomach.

Many visits to the toilet just before the stage.

For Felix, the best thing is to simply play music and the worst thing is that you have to think about the beer intake.

Tiger- The best thing is to drink beer. The worst thing is when I have to drink liquor because the beer is not gluten-free.

Elias - The best thing is to get out and play, meet new people and adventure. The hardest thing is nervousness that can bubble up when you least expect it.

Which is the biggest band you have played with?

-Fiendens Musik.

Will there be a lot of concerts or is it difficult to get gigs?

-It will be once or twice a month. It goes on. About 15 a year. We love to go out and play and therefore have the goal of never saying no to a gig.

What kind of people come to your concerts?

-Punks and men with hats.

Futureplans with the band?

-Play gigs as much as possible and see new cities. In the fall of 2026, record a new album with a small tour on it.

For yourself?

-For Per, it's to read more, fill up with inspiration.

For Felix, it's to keep finding new things to get into, to find a way to develop the music and of course to get better.

Jimmy is going to emigrate.

Elias is going to clean the garage. .

Words of wisdom?

-Don't be an idiot.

 Something to add?

-Go to local gigs, buy records or a t-shirt and support all the bands that are out playing. Have a beer in the sun and be happy.