CELLOUT
Questions asked by Jon Wilde, added to Rock Realms 2nd February 2011.
Swedish hard rock outfit CellOut - Percy Mejhagen on vocals and guitar, Robert Monegrim on guitar, Anders Sevebo on bass, and Martin Karlsson on drums - have a new album out on Nuerra Records entitled "Superstar Prototype".
We wanted to find out more, so roped Percy into answering some questions on behalf of the band...
Hi Percy, thanks for taking a moment to answer these questions. What’s the history behind CellOut? How did the band form and what’s the background of the various members?
Percy: It all started in late 2004 when Robert contacted me asking if I could lay down some vocals on a few songs he had written. I was in another band at that time and we did a gig at a radioshow and he happened to hear it and was impressed with what he heard. Even though we knew each other vaguely he didn't know I sang. Well I still don't consider myself a singer but you know what I mean. Anyway, he played me the songs and my jaw dropped.
I thought it would be cheesy AOR music but it was some hard stuff. We did the songs and they turned out great and we just looked at each other and it was like, we just have to form a band cause this is too good to just go to waste!
We found bassist Anders through an ad and he came down and he fitted perfectly. We have had a few drummers passing through the years unfortunately but with Martin Karlsson we feel that we have found the drummer we were always looking for. And with our debut CD "Superstar Prototype" out now on Nuerra Records, we feel that the sky is the limit, you know. It has already gotten some great reviews and we are still at the beginning of the ride. We have also teamed up with Finnish management Rocksam Agency who will represent us and handle all things concerning CellOut.
Who were the early influences? Do you all have similar listening tastes?
Percy: Well my first heroes were Iron Maiden. I had my whole room plastered with posters of Maiden. Also Mötley Crue and Motörhead were huge in my bedroom. And I think those bands go for all the members in CellOut. But when it comes to songwriting I would say that Dave Grohl is a huge Inspiration for me. When the first Foo Fighters CD came out I was like...fuck yeah!! He has this thing running in his blood that I would like some of. He is a genius if you ask me.
As for writing music for CellOut the first Korn CD really blew my mind and also the first Machine Head CD. They both helped me a lot in the beginning when I started to write heavier music. These days when I'm in a writing mode I don't listen to any music at all just to clear my mind. I want it to be a clean white canvas that I slowly colour with ideas. The ideas comes pretty fast and they usually work.
Did you know what sort of sound CellOut was destined to have at the start, or has it developed a lot since you began?
Percy: Well the style was really set with Robert's first songs he presented to me. Of course the style has changed over time but the foundation of the sound is still there. We don't write these super complicated songs. We want our music to be the kind of music that you can bang your head to and, most of all, sing along to. I love melodies and, like I have said before, I want CellOut's trademark to be our great melodies combined with heavy riffs. Not really a groundbreaking style but when you hear our songs you will know what I mean. I cant really scream so I don't. I sing. The new songs we are writing right now are somewhat different, a little more complex, but that's a natural progression for a band like ours.
How would you actually describe your sound to somebody who hadn’t heard you before?
Percy: That's a hard one. It's the only question that every musician in a band will have a hard time answering. You are often too close to your music to explain it. But I would describe it as a cotton ball drenched in gasoline. Or to make it more understandable, loud guitars and sing-a-long choruses.
Has the local (Stockholm) and national Swedish music scene helped or hindered the band’s development? Are there many clubs and venues around where you live?
Percy: The local music scene here in Stockholm sucks. There aren't many places to play for a band like ours. The few ones that do, we have already played a thousand times. You have to go to the small cities if you want to rock. So in a way you could say that it has hindered us but we have always believed in what we do so we haven`t let that get in our way. But when it comes to bands there are loads of them. Great bands too. Unfortunately Stockholm seems to be in a "glam" period were most bands wants to look like Mötley Crue, which is kinda sad.
How long did new album “Superstar Prototype” take to write and record, and how easily did it all come together?
Percy: I would say it took about 1 year. We didn't do it all at once though. We had some plans to go to the US to record but that didn't work out so we stayed in Sweden. We used a lot of different studios. I recorded my vocals in 2 different studios. The drums were recorded in another studio and the guitars were done at Fascination Street. (Jens Bogrens studio).
Next time we are gonna do it all at once. The way we did it this time was far from perfect. When Ulrich Wild (Pantera, White Zombie etc) sent us the first mixes of the album we couldn`t believe our ears. He really brought the songs to life. He did an excellent job with it and hopefully we can work with him again next time.
What do you think Ulrich brought to the project that would have otherwise been missing?
Percy: Oh I would say everything! We tried other "big name" mixers who sent us tests but Ulrich was, hands down, the best of the best. He understood pretty much from the start what kind of sound we wanted so it was just a matter of getting our heads together and speaking the same language. Also to our surprise, he didn't have an attitude. I mean he has worked with some pretty big names. He was very open to our ideas winch was great. I think that without him the drums and bass would not have been anywhere near as phat as they are now.
How do you typically go about writing a song? Are you a jamming band or more methodical?
Percy: Usually I record at home in my studio and then send the file to the other guys so they can listen to it and they give it thumbs up or thumbs down. If it passes then they learn it and we then play it at rehearsal. However with the new songs I have written there are no drums or bass. Just guitars and overdubs. Just to try to make it more loose and also because, when it comes to the drums, his approach to the songs is new and fresh. He hears things that I probably wouldn`t and its also easy for me to fall into the typical "drum mode" and it will sound all the same in the end. I think you will hear the difference on our next album.
Where do you look for your lyrical and musical writing ideas?
Percy: Most of my lyrics are about love or relations. In some shape or form. I like to write about feelings or situations that most people can relate to. We all know the feeling of having your heart broken and the tail of emotions that follows it. The pain can be black but it can also be colourful. No one knows you better than you do. A failure isn't a failure until you decide it is. Until then its just an attempt to explore new horizons within yourself.
Is there a story running through the songs or is it more a collection of standalone moments?
Percy: There is definitely a theme. But each song is a story of its own. I try not to be to personal but sometimes it is hard not to relate to my own life. That's the beauty of life. It changes.
Do you do anything special or unusual in the studio to get your sound?
Percy: No not really. We know what we like and what we want. I use my Hughes&Kettner TriAmp MkII. On the next album however we would like to try different heads and cabinets for different songs. Its an idea that we have but if it works? Who knows. I'm all for trying it. It can bring some variations to each song.
Do you have a favourite track or moment on the LP?
Percy: Hard to choose, but right now 'All My Demons Inside' and 'The Gift' are my favourites. Demons because of the attitude and The Gift because of its dynamics.
Do you enjoy the whole studio/creative experience, or do you prefer getting up on the live stage?
Percy: Both. I cant really choose one or the other. I love writing songs. It's in my songs that I can grow and discover myself. I know it sounds corny but that's how it is and how I feel. But being on stage is such a rush and it's hard to explain to someone who hasn`t experienced it. To see the head banging, and the smiling faces is what it's all about. But you know what they say, you can't have one without the other.
What is one of your live shows like? What should fans expect from one of your performances?
Percy: I would say intense. We give you all we got onstage. Not because we feel that we have to but because we can't do anything else. What you see is real. We usually have a few drinks before we go on and then sing a swedish folk song together. The set list is pretty much the same night after night. Since we only have one album out so far we only have so many songs. Personally I hate when bands play a "new" song live. Fuck, I want to hear the ones I love and know from heart. Not a new one that I probably wont remember tomorrow. But I guarantee you wont be disappointed after leaving one of our shows.
What have been the highlights and lowlights of your musical lives so far?
Percy: Of course when we signed to Nuerra Records was a huge highlight. And when we got to play Sweden Rock Festival in Sweden last summer. Oh, and when we got the support slot for Ill Nino on their Swedish tour. That was great too. Lows? Hmm, the thing that comes into my mind is...TIME. Things have not gone as smoothly as I wish things would have gone. It's been a lot of waiting for no reason and the reason wasn`t our fault. At some point the whole band pretty much dissolved and died because of the fuckin' waiting. I won't go into details though...
What are you up to once you’ve finished answering these questions?
Percy: Its actually 06.15 in the morning so I will head off to work soon. Also it's Friday so I will probably go out and have a few drinks later tonight.
Anything else you would like to mention?
Percy: We wanna thank you for taking your time with us and please go out and get our debut CD "Superstar Prototype" on Nuerra Records. If you wanna book us or you have any questions regarding the business side of things you can do so by contacting our Management: Rocksam Agency / Contact: sanna@rocksam.fi
Also check us out on these sites:
http://www.facebook.com/celloutband
http://www.myspace.com/cellout
http://www.twitter.com/celloutband
Oh, and make love not war...
Thanks again to Percy for his time. And do as he says. Get CellOut's new album!.
