Vetifan has really embraced the wisdomword of
punk, that everyone can play, etc. I love the
group and had to do an interview with them and
now it's here....March-2023
M = Micke, guitar & choir 29yrs
F = Fille, bass & choir(lead at Borgarvisan)
26yrs
K = Kevin, drums 21yrs
A = Alexander, vocals 27yrs T
Tell us a little bit about you, when you started
playing , age and do you have any other bands
besides Vetifan?
We are a bunch of happy moderately fluffy guys
of varying ages, Fille is 26, Kevin 21,
Alexander 27 and Micke 29.
M: Played guitar on and off since adolescence
with a bit of a hiatus every now and then, was
in slightly different bands even through
adolescence but took a break from that until the
idea of Vetifan came about. Have a bit of a side
project that's supposed to try to grab on going
forward is the plan. The band was started in the
spring/summer of 2021 during the pandemic by
Micke(guitar) & Fille(Bass), Kevin(drums) came
into the picture relatively shortly. We tested
with several singers but that did not work, Alex
(vocals) who is childhood friends with Micke got
in touch spontaneously when he moved back to
Linköping in December 2021 and the rest is
history.
F: Micke and I met in the fall of 2020 via
Musicians in Linköping, a group on the face
book, he wanted to start a left-wing punk band
with influences of Ebba Grön, Sex pistols and
Mimikry. Mike knew there was a guy named Kevin
who was pretty good so we talked to him and
started rehearsing in the summer of 2021. Then
we were not so fucking good at singing ourselves
so we needed someone on vocals, tried a little
different and then we found Alexander who had a
fucking energy the first test rehearsal, he
almost kicked a mic stand into my jaw and we all
felt that this will be perfect! That's the way
it is. I'm also pounding bass in system collapse
since about six months ago.
K: But I personally have been playing drums for
3 and a half years, since I was 18. But guitar
has been with me since 2012 when I got my first
guitar. I don't have a band alongside Vetifan
right now but I've previously played in a band
called Memory Parade and have a solo project on
the side.
A: I'll start playing with Vetifan in the fall
of 2021! I've been doing music for as long as I
can remember kind of in different bands or just
writing lyrics and playing myself. I am 27 years
old and have a solo project alongside Vetifan
but nothing else right now.
How come you guys got into the wonderful world
of punk? Parents, friends or what?
F: The brother came home one day when I was like
8 and started Ebba Grön, Pistols and Asta Kask,
from that day I was saved!
K: It's really always been close to me when my
mom was a punk in the 80's and has played punk
from time to time growing up and so I listened
and I've probably gotten into it the most now in
2022 when the band has kicked off properly.
M: I grew up with hard rock since childhood, but
I thought it was too tame but then found the
Ramones, Ebba Grön and Mimikry when I was 12-13
years old and was completely sold right away -
the frustration I felt was in the music.
A: Getting into punk I did at an early age with
my father listening to some Toy Dolls ! then
I've also hung out with dad's childhood friend
who is an early member of Zombiesuckers from
Linköping and his family. At the same time as
Zombiesuckers started, his son and I started a
band called Kafferep and would play Horror-punk.
From there, it's just paved the way.
You've really embraced the spirit of punk with
everyone being able to play, I mean you let this
go and you have a sound that feels very
authentic?
F: We play punk, no radio-friendly shit.
M: We do our own thing and want to get what we
think & feel, if we get something that sounds
the way we want and the message is clear, we
have achieved what we want. Why make it more
complicated?
A: Do we really have that?
You've listened a lot to trall punk, I think,
other punk styles you like?
F: I listen almost to all kinds of punk, a lot
of trall, it's a little mood-changing what's
right at the moment.
K: I like what sounds good, plain and simple!
Then I don't have a great grasp of punk genres,
personally.
M: I'm probably the one who listens the least to
trallpunk of everyone in the band, personally
punk rock is probably the biggest punk style I
gravitate towards as well as early HC punk.
A: HC and Crust are nice too!
Where are you from, some other bands in
Linköping, some good record stores?
F: LinkÖping with a big Ö! There are a bunch of
other bands, some worth mentioning: Järncell, TV
Eye, Grå Vardag, Adrestia. Crazy Records is a
nice record store!
K: I lived in Linköping until I was 5 years old
and then I moved to Tjällmo. Then I have lived
there until I moved from home to Örebro in the
autumn of 2022.
M: Linköping, unfortunately the scene is almost
dead in this city it is boring but some good
bands exist such as Järncell, Grå vardag,
Adrestia.
Regarding record stores, Crazy records is
probably the best!
A: We come from Linköping! But otherwise you
have Järncell who are a fantastic band from
here! Record stores so you have to visit Crazy
Records or Bengans
When you do songs, how does it work, is it
someone who does everything or is it something
you jam out in the rehearsal room?
F & M: Usually it starts with a line of lyrics,
usually chorus or a riff/loop on the guitar or
bass that we then build on. Micke usually writes
a rough idea. The choruses are usually left but
Micke's verses are a disaster so the rest of us
write about them then haha!
K: It varies but everyone contributes to song
ideas, both instrumentally and lyrically.
Sometimes someone comes and sends a text in the
group chat. Sometimes someone sends a clip with
their instrument and text and sometimes we run
some random stuff in the scratch that sounds
good.
A: It's a little different how songs come out!
We have some in the band who are diligent in
writing lyrics and then we all have some kind of
melody in our heads when we write.. Humming it
to the comrades and then they put some turns of
their own on it and then it comes out half-good.
The lyrics seem quite important to you? What is
your most political song?
F: Texts for me are everything. If you have any
message you want to get across, there is quite a
lot of time spent on text, even if they are not
always good haha! Oops, the most political I
would say is Landets stora skam
K: Yes, it's important that the lyrics can both
be sung and that they are about things we care
about and are passionate about. I think Landets
stora Skam or Hycklarkärring is our most
political song at the moment.
M: Oooh difficult question, it now depends on
how you see it but the one I myself think is the
Borgarvisan to show how people's boundaries with
right & wrong are blurring more and more.
A: Landets stora skam. It was rewritten when it
was called Skyddsjakt på statsminister before.
But after some rethinking and that it may not be
100% legal, it was called that and the chorus
etc was rewritten a bit.
What do you think about living in Sweden today,
politically with SD-KD-M etc? What's the worst
thing about this government?
F: That's crap! The new government's policies
are only for wealthy white middle-aged men. The
world belongs to everyone and everyone should
have the same rights and opportunities. I hope
this is not a new beginning in 30s Germany....
K: In general, it's very good to live in Sweden.
It is tragic that SD, KD and M get so many
votes, but I think many people forget that it is
very good to live in Sweden. This does not mean
that Sweden is a perfect country. There are many
things that can be fixed but there are other
First-world countries where it is much worse.
M: Hell is probably the only word that can
describe it.
A: People have been thinking about a one-way
ticket to Norway.
I've noticed through all the years in punk that
when it's right-wing governments, there are more
and more punk bands? Is punk a good way to
express their contempt for them?
F: Punk is a very good way to say what you think
and think without any complicated detours,
straight to the point!
K: Yes, I'd say so. It may also be that it is
something that is more noticeable during
right-wing government because you need a place
as a voter to put your feelings in.
M: The only positive thing about the sad thing
is that new punk bands are born or older ones
are being resurrected. Punk is probably one of
the few who dares to say what they think and
dares to take their place in the dialogue.
A: You're absolutely right that there's more and
more music coming, yes! But it's not just in
punk! Many other styles of music write about
this as well. But I think punk itself is good
because you don't mask the truth in punk. Punks
say what the hell we think! Do you have a
problem with that? Throw yourself in the wall
type.
What does the word punk mean to you , is it just
a word, style of music or lifestyle?
F: Punk to me means everything! It's a fat
fucking kick in the ass to the whole community
and a good way to dare to question things that
others might just take for granted and that I
myself might not have done without punk. And of
course a great community and damn good music!
K: I'd say punk is an attitude. To be completely
against oppression and do everything in his
power to work against it.
M: As a philosophy that becomes lifestyle, that
everyone is accepted for the one you are with
zero tolerance in making a difference between
people. That for me is the most important part
about punk and that has made me end up there
since it started.
A: Punk for me is home, community and the finest
thing we have. Punk for me is not just a style
of music. This is where I start my music journey
and this is where I will stay.
You release the album yourself, not any record
company that is interested?
F: We want to own our own music, if there is a
company that suits us and that is interested, we
are always open to discussion, but the music is
ours!
K: We've talked to different people a little bit
but we still wanted to release the album
ourselves to keep that DIY feel.
M: We've had several people show interest, but
we want to do it our way and this time it was
like this - we'll see what happens in the future
but we're open to it.
A: It sure is! But nothing that interests us
right now. When we release the music ourselves,
we also own our own music. Not anyone else.
Is it important to get your record out in
physical format do you think?
F: It feels more authentic to release in
physical format while digital is a great way to
reach out to more people.
K: I personally think it's more important to
push music digitally but I've noticed that a lot
of punks like to have record collections and I
love collecting everything possible so it's fun
to be able to offer the same to our listeners.
M: We thought it was a fun idea ourselves so why
not? Then there are several who are often at our
gigs who asked for it so then it was a bit
obvious to give back.
A: Absolutely! If you get it physically, it's
also a collector's item. That's also why there
are 2 bonus tracks on the disc you can't find
otherwise today.
Do you buy records yourself or is it only
Spotify that applies to you?
F: I collect vinyl records, punk of course!
K: I don't buy a lot of records myself. I've had
Spotify since 2012 so it's a no-brainer for me
to listen to music there.
M: Rarely but after an ex threw my collection,
you're not as motivated.
A: Buying LP records and all the other fun you
can access from bands I like with! You can never
have too much.
If you had the chance to choose five bands (both
living and dead) to have a concert with you,
what five would the dream bands be then?
F: Asta Kask, Mimikry, The Adicts, Moderate
Likvidation, Psykbryt
K: Kardborrebandet, Björnarna, Paramore, The
Offspring, ?
M: Ramones, N:A hospitalet, Mimikry, Rövsvett
and Sex pistols.
A: Toy dolls! Always number 1 and always will
be! Mimikry had been fun! Playing with our dear
friends in Järncell is always amazing so I want
to do more shit with them. Matriarkatet is a
shame they don't play anymore though! Really
good band. Ett dödens maskineri would have been
a dream too!
When you play live, do you just draw young
audiences or do old men like me come along?
F: It comes mixed with people, that's what's so
fucking fun!
K: We see all sorts of different people in our
audience, young and old, feminine as masculine,
tall, short. The only sad thing is that there
are noticeably a lot of white people in our
audience and I hope it's not because non-white
people are deterred by us who are a punk band
made up of white men.
M: All ages which is shit funny! Even ordinary
people!
A: We have very mixed audiences! It's great to
see that we can reach out to both younger and
older people! That everyone feels that it is
something they can listen to and want to see.
Getting the young into punk and all the old
foxes who live back to youth with the help of
our music is probably one of the better things
about playing live.
Living in Sweden, what is best and what is
worst? What about living in Linköping?
F: Surely the best part is that we don't have a
war here, not yet anyway.... The worst thing is
that right now we have a right-wing government
and the people are just getting more and more
blue-eyed and selfish. Linköping is good.
K: The best thing about living in Sweden is that
we have free education that falls in quite well
in most subjects and we are a country that is
generally respectful of HBTQ+ people. The worst
is the systemic oppression that non-whites,
women and other minorities are subjected to and
the lack of mental health care we have in
Sweden. Now I don't live in Linköping anymore so
the others have to speak for it.
M: The worst thing is politics, but thankfully
we have a reasonably functioning welfare system.
Linköping has started to come to life now after
the pandemic but a lot of live music and above
all - punk is starting to live in the city
slowly for sure!
A: To live in Sweden... I don´t really know. But
living in Linköping is quite nice! Close to
everything, folks, good beer and it's starting
to happen more in the punk scene here which is
so sick nice!
Do you have any young new bands to recommend
otherwise?' Any old bands that you like a lot?
F: Young: Prinsessan Pissluder, Anal Kallsup,
Ärkepucko, Ztereotyperna, Skräp, Småjävlafötter
Old: Världen Brinner, Lastkaj 14, The Adicts,
Asta Kask, Civil Olydnad
K: I would highly recommend the ZtereotypernA,
Skräp,, Revive and Gaarmr!
M: Järncell is not super new, but can be highly
recommended from someone who is not very keen on
trallpunk haha! Unfortunately, there will be few
new bands from our city or they are not visible
which is sad. ZtereotyprnA
are also a sickly good band not to be
missed.
A: Would recommend listening to Hesa Fredrik!
Otherwise, if you haven't heard Toy Dolls, it's
time to listen now.
Playing music, is it a good way to get
frustration out or what do you say?
F:So into hell! Sometimes, read often, you are
pissed about something but after a gig or a
rehearsal you feel so damn good again! Music is
the best therapy!
K: It's a great way to get all sorts of emotions
out. One can be angry, sad, happy. Everything
can be expressed through the music.
M: Really, and also get their opinions across.
A: Not just frustration. You let go of all the
fucking misery for the hours you stand and
rehearse!
Tell us a little about the following songs and
lyrics
a)Knark i min öl
A: Yes, it's about our guitarist who got a
spiked beer when he and I were out at the pub.
M: Simply put, a bad tavern night for me, the
beer was meant for a girlfriend but happened to
be me who took it but clearly worth it than she
was drugged.
The lyrics are simply the story of how the whole
day went, don't recommend.
b) Ludde som egentligen heter Oliver men handlar
om Adam
F: This one is about white Offended Men Who
Swine.
K: Is a song about tough white macho men that
I've met in my life. Ludde is an old childhood
bully, Adam is precisely because I have never
met an Adam that I have liked, Oliver refers to
someone who was interested in singing with us
but got very upset when we sent him one of our
then lyrics.
M: Mike: The song Kevin wrote from the beginning
and the message is probably clear but at some
point we talked about what it should be called
and then we came up with more people behaving
the same there by Ludde, Oliver and Adam.
c) Håll käft
K: Håll käft is a pretty simple song really.
It's about people who think they're so smart and
special can just shut up.
A: Yeah.. Shut up ? No, but it's about people
who can't think really clearly. Think Kevin has
some things to say about this song.
You sing in Swedish – never in English?
F: Not yet, whoever is alive will see.
K: That's right! I don't have a good answer on
why. For me, it's because I want to challenge
myself by writing in Swedish. There are
limitations in both writing in Swedish and
English
M: So... None of us are a really good in
English, although ideas have existed and there
is a lot about what is happening in today's
Sweden we want to bring out.
A: That's fine. No English..... than!
Do you play any covers when playing live? If so,
which ones?
F: Freaks and Orginal by Loke Nyberg and
Krymplings - Dunken, always go home!
K: Yes, we do a
little differently but what has appeared on live
shows has been Alla Vill Till Himmelen,
specifically Mimikry's version, Dunken, and
Freaks and Orginal by Loke Nyberg.
M: We have two that we have actually play on
several gigs, one is Krymplings - Dunken but
also our own interpretation of Loke Nyberg -
Freaks and Orginal that we will release
digitally shortly!
A: We usually end with a song of Krymplings
called Dunken. Then we have a remade version of
Freaks and Orginal by Loke Nyberg
Vetifan is a really good band name, were you
surprised that no one else had named a band to
it before?
F: Haha I think it's a bad band name but that's
still a bit funny, but yes a little surprised
that no one came up with the idea, in and of
itself there is a band from Finspång called No
Idea but we didn't come up with anything better.
K: Yes, actually. But at the same time, it's
such a stupid name that we understand why no one
else wants it.
M: In all honesty, we didn't come up with
anything better after a month and run with it
because we kept saying Vetifan when we talked
about it.
A: Yes, but maybe you are! But then you also
feel, the name is so stupid. So both surprised
and happy that we were able to take it. It's
always so hard to come up with a name otherwise.
Do you have anything to say to other young bands
that want to record a record etc, something they
should think about?
F: It will be easier to record if you have
played the songs so they sit like an abscess in
the ass. Our recorded songs sat pretty well
before the studio but we had to replay some
guitar & bass at home a number of times for it
to be good.
K: It doesn't have to be perfect and polished
but it shouldn't be so that you don't hear what
you're listening to.
M: Just do it, dare to take the chance to lira
and do your own thing!
A: Just do it! Stop thinking, just have run.
Five favorite records right now?
F: Kardborrebandet-Helt inkompetent,
Slaveriet-Skuldfri, Skrammel-Under Jord, Sista
sekunden-Skyll inte på oss, Zombiesuckers-From
Ashes
K: SHAMELESS $UICIDE av $uicideBoy$, Cirkelns
Mitt av CNIDARIEL, Delirium av Sadistik, Natt
Klockan Tolv På Dagen av PST/Q and Lifa av
Heilung.
M: Järncell - Skymninglandet
A: Det Svenska Hatet - Ett Dödens Maskineri,
Dystopisk Utsikt - Fredag den 13:de,
Är Du Nöjd Nu – Järncell, S/T – Käpprätt, Svea
Rikes Hjärtinfarkt – Ztrerotyperna
What was the first punk record you acquired?
F: Oh, should I remember that? But think it was
Toy Dolls-Ten years of toy
K: I think it was Svearikes Hjärtinfarkt by
Ztereotyperna
M: Mimikry – Alderland
A: Dig that Groove Baby - Toy dolls
Future plans for the band
F: Play, write more songs in the spring and
hopefully record this fall again!
K: Continue to write, keep writing
M: Getting out and playing in new places, doing
some music videos we've also talked about,
writing more songs which we're up and running
with as well.
A: Record more material for a full-length, then
play as much live as we can!
For yourself?
F: Snuggle up with the cat!
K: Keep playing drums, work a little bit more on
my solo project
M: Well... Time will tell!
A: Write more music both for myself and the
band! Otherwise, acquire more records, merch and
just have a good time.
Words of wisdom?
F: Come on it'll be fun!
K: It's not easy when it's hard.
M: Come on, it'll be fun! (My bandmates probably
panic the most from hearing me say those
words...)
A: It works out
Anything to add?
F: Don't be an idiot, be a nice idiot.
M: Take care of each other, accept each other.
K: "I can't, don't want to, do anything but just
this. The ugliest man, he's ruined unless his
voice carries" – Organismen