Draconian Fredrick: Bass Guitar
interview By Matt Hill
Draconian is a gothic/doom metal band from Saffle, Sweden formed in 1994. The band consists of Anders Jacobsson (vocals, writing), Lisa Johansson (vocals), Johan Ericson (guitars, writing), Jerry Torstensson (drums, percussion), Daniel Arvidsson (guitars), Fredrik Johansson (bass), and Andreas Karlsson (keyboards, programming.
What with their latest album 'A Rose For The Apocalypse' being released this year and a storming set at this years 'Brutal Assault' festival, Matt Hill from Metal Gods TV managed to put a few questions forward to bass player Frederik Johansson, here's what he had to say:
MG: When and why did you start playing?
FREDRICK: Jerry, our drummer, asked me back in 1997 if I wanted to play bass in a band he had with some friends.
I never played the bass before that but I joined in and found that it was pretty damn fun so I bought my first bass and amp
and started to practice.
MG: Which instruments do you play?
FREDRICK: Electric Bass is pretty much the only instrument I play. I can play a little acoustic guitar though but hardly ever do so.
I'm not very skilled at it but I love to play the upright once in a while. I dont have one of my own so I don't get to play it that often.
MG: Which bands would you say inspired or influenced you ?
FREDRICK: It's hard to say any specific band but I tend to be slightly nerdie when I listen to music or go to a concert.
I pay very much attention to what and how the bassplayers play. I listen to almost everything from death metal to jazz, I try to keep an open mind and not just listen to one
style or genre.
MG: You have a new album out 'A Rose For The Apocalypse' can you tell me about it ?
FREDRICK: It's like a combination of TSW and our older stuf. Soundwise Jens Bogren at Fascination Street Studio in Örebro did a great job once again.
I love the way he lets all instruments have it's place in the sound landscape that is our music.
It's not really a concept album but a red thread is the fact that we, the worlds population, through the way we treat the planet with polution,
over consumption, war etc etc. eliminates up our posibilities to live here. The Apocalypse mentioned in the tittle isn't really about the end of the
world but more the end of mankind. The planet will recover but we will be screwed.....by our selves.
MG: Do you feel the album has been received well in the 'live' performances of it ?
FREDRICK: Yes, we have only played 2 or 3 songs from the latest album on our gigs since the release but the audience seem to like it.
We've been getting great reviews from both fans, magazines and websites as well so it feels great.
MG: Since joining Draconian, what has been your most memorable show or moment ?
FREDRICK: Hard to pick one but our first show in Moscow in the Tochka Club was pretty awesome. We were the only band playing and still the place was packed.
After close to 2 hours of playing we had played our encore for the night, Death come near me, but the crowd wanted more so we had to take an old
tune and just wing it. It was actually one of the few times we played A slumber did my spirit seal live.
We had a improvised signing session after the show that lasted about 2,5 hrs. It was crazy.
Our gig on Brutal Assault in Prague was also very special given the fact that our laptop got lost and we had to play without any backtracks at all.
...and for me it was in front of the biggest audience I ever faced.
We did pull it off though. Everyone in the band pushed it a little bit harder just to make it work you know. I don't think I'll ever forgett that gig. Ha ha!
MG: I see you have some live shows coming up in the Autumn/Fall, do you have any plans to come to the UK ?
FREDRICK: Unfortunately no. We haven't been geeting any offers from the UK so...get somone to book us and we'll swing by and share a pint or two with you. ; )
...and perhaps play a bunch of our songs to.
MG: What is your track of the moment, the song you have to keep on playing?
FREDRICK: Right now we are trying to come up with a awesome setlist for Doom over Kiev and for MFVF so I play as many Draconian songs I can.
It differs wich song I like best live but every now and then i get shivers down my spine and the tears come running down. Then that's the one. ; )
Last time it happened was at DBE3 in Alba Julia while playing Bloodflower.
MG: Finally, How long have you been growing that amazing beard ?
FREDRICK: I had no beard and was totally bald in 2007 so it's been growing since then. In december 2008 I cut it so I had about 3 inches left but after that I just
let it grow and here we are now. ; )
Thanks for a great interview!
Hails, Fredrik.
