Swedish hard rock trio Supralunar returns with their electrifying new single, Bit By The Bug. This high-energy track introduces their upcoming album, Dead Come to Dance, and marks an exciting new chapter with drummer Akane Delle Fave.
1. Congratulations
on the release of "Bit By The Bug"! This single marks a fresh chapter
for Supralunar. What inspired the song, and how does it set the tone for your
upcoming album, Dead Come To Dance?
Thanks a
lot! Yes, it feels great to finally have the single out. It’s been quite a
while since we parted ways with our former drummer, Johann Enoksson.
Essentially, the last thing we did with him was record the basic tracks for the
album. After that, we were without a drummer for over a year, so the album was
put on a bit of a hiatus. There’s no point in releasing it if we don’t have a
drummer.
We first
met Akane in May this year, and it only took about 30 seconds into the first
song at rehearsal to realize we had found our drummer. Most of the drumming on
the album will still be Johann’s, but it feels great to have Akane contribute
to this fresh start.
2. You’ve recently welcomed Akane
Delle Fave as your new drummer. What has her addition brought to the band’s
dynamic, and how did her background influence the creation of "Bit By The
Bug"?
She has
definitely brought new energy to the band. There’s quite a back catalog of
songs for her to dive into, but rehearsals are so much fun now. Akane likes to
play double bass drums, which probably influenced the song. I tend to think a
lot about the drums when writing songs, and I put effort into programming drum
parts for the demos. This time, I had her playing style very much in mind while
writing.
3. Akane, you’ve had quite a
journey from playing in Japanese bands to joining a Swedish hard rock trio. How
has your experience in different genres shaped your approach to drumming for
Supralunar?
I’ve played
in various genres, but metal has always been a major influence on my style.
However, I’ve always wanted to be in a hard rock band, though I never had the
chance before (laughs). Joining Supralunar has probably brought a slightly
harder edge to the music, especially with the double bass pedals, which have
become an essential part of my playing.
4. The song was written and
recorded in just two months, which is a quick turnaround for Supralunar. What
was it about this track that allowed the process to flow so quickly?
Songwriters
have very different processes. Some record riffs on their phone, go back, and
use them in songs. For me, it almost always starts with a riff, melody, or
chord progression that comes together with a line of lyrics. If those elements
don’t appear together simultaneously, the idea rarely develops into a full
song, no matter how good the riff is.
A while
ago, I was listening to a podcast and heard the expression “bit by the bug.” I
wrote it down, though I almost never use my notes like that. A week later, I
happened to meet a musician friend and mentioned my poor work ethic when it
comes to finishing ideas. One hour after that conversation, I picked up my
guitar, started playing the intro riff, and it just felt like “Supralunar” and
the title fit the idea. The song practically wrote itself, which rarely
happens.
We tried it
in rehearsal a few days later, and both Akane and our bassist, Jojje, liked it.
My friend Kristin Nyberg, who recorded background vocals for the rest of the
album, also contributed to this track. She drove 50 kilometers to lay down her
parts just two hours before the distribution deadline. What a trooper!
5. The music video for "Bit By
The Bug" premieres alongside the single. Can you share any
behind-the-scenes stories from the video shoot or details about its concept?
Well, it
was freezing cold! Mind you, we live in Sweden, and we shot the video just a
couple of days before the first snow. We’ve made a few DIY videos now, and
every time it feels like a million things could go wrong—but they haven’t… so
far. I’ve probably jinxed our next shoot!
The video
was filmed at a really cool location where graffiti artists are allowed to
paint. With some assistance from family members, we wrapped it up in about five
hours. Our photographer, Markus Tälth, did a tremendous job, which made editing
the footage an absolute delight for me. The video turned out great! Actually, I
think most of our previous videos deserve more attention, so after reading
this, please head over to YouTube and check them out—haha!
6. Supralunar has performed at
iconic festivals like Sweden Rock Festival and The Malmö Festival. How do you
think "Bit By The Bug" will translate to your live performances?
I think
it’ll work out just fine. This album has a bit more production compared to our
previous releases, which means there are some elements we can’t fully replicate
live as a trio. That said, it usually sounds good anyway, and this song
definitely won’t be a problem. It’s high-energy and fits perfectly into our
live set.
7. Your
influences range from Foo Fighters to The Beatles. How do you balance those
diverse inspirations while maintaining Supralunar’s unique hard rock sound?
It’s true
we have a broad range of influences. I wouldn’t say the Foo Fighters are much
of an influence, though—they’re a great band, but aside from the songs I’ve
heard on the radio, I’ve never really listened to them. They’re just close
enough stylistically to reference when describing our music.
The
Beatles, on the other hand, have been a constant for me since I was about six
years old. Balancing these influences isn’t difficult—we just play what we
like. On this album, there’s a song called “Leviathan” that might be the
closest we’ve come to heavy metal. At first, we wondered if it was too much,
but after playing it for a while, it became "Suprafied". Also
Jojje’s melodic bass playing is a significant part of our songs overall.
8. With Dead Come To Dance on
the horizon, what can fans expect from the album compared to your previous
releases? Are there any recurring themes or experimental elements you’re
particularly excited about?
The album
might be a bit darker and heavier than Ghosts, but the difference
isn’t as pronounced as the shift from A New Hope to Ghosts.
The playfulness is still there though and it’s a very varied album.
9. What message do you hope
"Bit By The Bug" delivers to your fans, both long-time followers and
new listeners discovering Supralunar for the first time?
We hope it
gets people shaking their hips!
SUPRALUNAR (@supralunar) • Instagram photos and videos
SUPRALUNAR - For The Greater Good Of Rock'n'Roll - OFFICIAL VIDEO
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