 She is absolutely one of the sweetest and most impressive women in modern heavy metal. But she is also only 22 years old, with a great attitude onstage, things to say about music and, in my opinion, a great taste as far as bass players are concerned. Let’s hear to what Karin had to tell us about her band’s, Sonic Syndicate from Sweden, new disc, after honestly having admitted that we personally envy her for the fact that at this time she is touring with In Flames… Solid Rock: Congratulations for your new cd. Are you satisfied by the overall outcome of the recordings? Is there something that you would change now if you could?
 Karin: Thanks! We are all very satisfied with the outcome of the album, this feels like a good follower to "Only inhuman". Personally, there is nothing I would like to change at all, not with my bass lines or any other instruments. But there is a thing that always happens and that I think many musicians will recognize, is that the more you listen to something you yourself have done you always feel you can make something better even if it's already good enough. But to really answer your question: We are very satisfied with "love and other disasters" and we wouldn't change anything if you would give us the opportunity.
Solid Rock: In which ways has the sound of Sonic Syndicate evolved through these years?
Karin: I think we have become more mature and really found the Sonic Syndicate sound. The first album we released "Eden fire" contained to more than 50 % old songs that neither I, John or Roland had been involved in the writing process of. It to me feels old and not really the way I know Sonic anymore. Of course I am very proud that we released that album and it was an important step for us. However "Only Inhuman" felt like a first album to me and also a start of a good career. On "Only inhuman" we had been working for a long time writing the songs with the full line-up we have now, with the ideas we all share. From there on it has been a natural evolution of our sound. We don't ever plan the way we want the songs like, we simply jam together and what you hear is a mix of six different people’s ideas.
Solid Rock: Melody, sharp riffs, keyboards, aggressive and clean vocals are some of the things that make your music. Can all of these be combined? Which do you prefer personally, the heavier or the more melodic parts?
 Karin: Personally I think the melodies are one of the most important thing in any music. I like very heavy metal of course, I am a fan of black metal for example, BUT if there are no melodies it doesn't really interest me that much. I am very open-minded when it comes to music and I want to give everything a chance before I decided if I like it or not. When it comes to Sonic Syndicate we all write music together and I wouldn't be here if I didn't like everything. I like our heavier parts as well as the more melodic.
Solid Rock: The band has three members who are brothers. How does that work for you?
Karin: I see that as a really positive thing! Robin, Roger and Richard are very close and honest to each other. Something that has brought us all closer and made the six of us like a big family. The relationship between them is no different from the relationship I have with them. We have a lot of fun together and since you have to live 24 hours a day with the same people and sometimes sleep all in the same room you become like a family. It's great!  Solid Rock: “Love And Other Disasters” is the title of your new cd. Is love often a disaster for you? Is it that hard or you approach the matter differently?
Karin: Well the way I see it love doesn’t have to be a disaster, but at some point in everybody’s life it will be. Even if its not a big thing but at that moment you think it is. And it doesn’t have to be love, it could be anything that goes wrong in your life. No matter what it is as long as its important for you. I am engaged and happy with my boyfriend so at the moment love isn't a disaster for me haha. But of course like any other person I have a history where it has been. It's not that we want to be all negative and sad about love, it's just a fact that sometimes it love can be a disaster.
Solid Rock: If I tried to name some of your influences, I would say In Flames, Soilwork, Killswitch Engage and various metalcore bands, am I right? Any other bands influential for your music?
Karin: We get inspired by so many different bands and music genres I would take me ages to name them all but the ones you mentioned is of course some of them. We all listen alot to Swedish metal and also a lot of American bands. In a way we would like to combine the Swedish metal scene with the American hardcore metal scene. When we write music we get inspired by everything around us: music, people, bands we play with, friends, family and the world. It would be anything and we are very open-minded when we write.  Solid Rock: You are a quite good looking female bassist in a metal band with guys! How does the audience react during the gigs? Do you grab all of their attention?
Karin: I think our audience is very mixed, we have just as many girls as guys coming to our shows. I think the boys get just as much attention as I do. They are young and good-looking as well, then have just as many girls screaming as I have guys! It's not something I give much thought to really. To get attention only because I'm a girl is not my plan, I wanna be recognized and respected as a musician and artist not because I'm a girl.
Solid Rock: You are going to tour with In Flames. What does this mean for you? What is your opinion about the new cd of In Flames?
Karin: In Flames is a band we all have been listening to for quite some time, they have been a great inspiration for us and we all respect them a lot. To go on tour with them is going to be alot of fun and since it's only a few days left I'm starting to get really excited! We played with them a couple of times on festivals and met them here and there. It's a nice bunch of guys and I think this tour will be great!
Solid Rock: Your favorite bands and bass players at the moment?
Karin: I have so many favorite bands and artists it's hard to choose. But at the moment I listen a lot to Dimmu Borgir, Anouk, Evanescence, Pink and Papa Roach. I know it sounds like a weird mix but I listen to everything from classic music to black metal. My favorite bass players are Twiggy Ramirez from when he was a part of the Marilyn Manson team, I'm a big fan of Marilyn Manson and I thought Twiggy was so cool on s tage and totally like no one else. Christopher Wolstenholme in Muse is an amazing bass player and Muse is at the moment probably the best live-act out there. Last one of my top three favorite bass players is Steve Harris from Iron Maiden. Do I have to tell you why? =)
Solid Rock: Would you like to visit Greece to play live? Do you know anything about the Greek metal audience?
Karin: Of course we would like to visit Greece! I've been to Greece many times personally on vacation and I totally love Greece! The food is excellent and the people are always so sweet and nice. I really hope we can come and play soon and I hope our fans in Greece will enjoy our new album. Copyright © 2008-2009 solidrock.gr. |
