In the beginning, you would travel from your home country of Sweden to London, eventually meeting Alberta Cross co-founder Terry Wolfers. Then you two crossed the Atlantic and landed in Brooklyn, New York. What were your thoughts the first time you arrived in America? Did you ever think you would be as successful as you’ve now become?
Well, we were just feeling like we needed a break from our London life. We were in desperate need of a change and some new inspiration. So we weren’t really thinking long term, but we always thought that the music we had would work in America. I think it’s since been received really well on both sides of the pond at the moment. In places like Australia we’re doing really well. We get play on the radio a lot there, so it feels really good. America is definitely a place we were focusing on this year. Then we’re going to Europe for a little bit, and then we’re coming back here, so we’re touring throughout the entire year really. We’re giving it an honest crack [laughs].
It seems that in music Brooklyn has become a new Mecca for production, similar to what we’ve seen historically in Chicago, Memphis, Nashville, etc. Why do you think so many artists are residing in Brooklyn and recording their music there?
Ah, I mean I definitely think that Brooklyn feels like home now. We’ve been there for two, two and a half years or something and it feels like I can definitely call it home. We are always away though; I’m never really like here or there. I’m home for a couple days and then I’m gone for a few weeks and then home for a month [laughs], so you know it’s really back and forth. I feel like a lot of inspiration comes from there and a lot of the bands that I love like Yeasayer, MGMT, all of those bands are also very inspired being there. I don’t know if we’re part of that scene, but all that music being around you, especially smaller bands that aren’t quite known yet, is real inspirational.
Why exactly is this so? I would think if there were too many bands surrounding your work space it would cause a musical crash or creative cluster.
Well it’s important for a songwriter to be in a place or around people that do things similar to what he or she does. I think the good thing with Brooklyn as far as people, in a lot of places in America really, is that they create music that many artists haven’t done before. It’s not like one band comes out and everyone wants to sound like them. I feel like in Brooklyn people are doing really different things. No one is following anyone else; they’re just all doing their own thing. I think that’s extremely important if you want to create and do something unique; it’s kind of the way you have to roll it.
I have heard a lot of artist comparisons to your music by various critics. Some will say you guys sound like Kings of Leon, some say Neil Young; do you think these judgments are accurate?
Well, I don’t know. I’m trying to single something out, but I’m really into so much stuff I don’t know what to compare. When people used to say that we sounded like Neil Young and stuff it used to piss me off a bit when we started up four years ago. But recently, we played a show with him at Hyde Park in London and got to meet him backstage…he was the COOLEST dude ever. His set was the best fucking set I’ve ever seen in my life. Now when people compare us to Neil Young I just say cheers dude, that’s the best compliment ever. We are inspired by lots of soul stuff and southern influences. We are listening to so much music; I can’t just get into one thing, you know, like there are so many other things.
Speaking about influences, you have stated in prior interviews and press releases that A Broken Side of Time was brewed up from external hardships and adversities throughout up until its conception. What were these hardships and how did they influence the record?
It definitely takes something special to get you inspired and ready to write. I think we were definitely going through a struggle, but I think a lot—A LOT—of bands go through the same thing [laughs]. It’s hard for a new band to get by these days because you don’t really make any money. It’s really hard to make money. But I think everything really inspired us, moving to the states and living in Brooklyn. We needed a good change. I’m actually quite positive at the moment, however. Trying to lead the positive movement [laughs].
You are currently on a nationwide tour. Are there specific destinations you’re particularly looking forward to visiting or venues you are eager to perform at?
Yes well for the west coast we already played Portland and Seattle which was unbelievable. Seattle was a place I always wanted to go to. The venue (Chop Suey) we played at was insane. I find all the cities really different. I love Chicago; I think that’s one of the best places, EVER. Everything’s different in their own way. L.A is great, New York is great and San Francisco is always amazing. There are a lot of places I want to see, but last night we played in Seattle and it was a big thing for me in my life. There is so much good music coming from there. We were down by the public market and just stood there looking outwards and it was just beautiful and awesome.
Last year the band performed at festivals, Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza. Have any festivals been scheduled as of yet for 2010?
We have some stuff coming up, yet to be named. We will do festivals; some in Europe, a few in America. We did a lot last year. I think we’re focusing mainly on touring this year. It’s like our first very own headline tour. We’re just going to go out and do some cool shows. However, festivals are always a bonus ‘cause it’s like a celebration, you know? We did so many last year, and a lot of them you can’t do two years in a row. So I guess we’ll do a few that we didn’t do last year and then we’ll come back the next year and do them all again.
Besides touring, what else is Alberta Cross aiming to accomplish in 2010?
I think you can expect quite a lot. We have a good year ahead us. We’re going to get out there and get people into the Alberta Cross experience man [laughs]. I think it’s going to be a really good year, I’m feeling it. We will tour and do the yet to be named festivals and keep on moving.
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