The Greek Theatre
Sven Fröberg
The Greek Theatre is a really great psych-folk duo consisting of Sven Fröberg and Fredrik Persson, hailing from Sweden. We firstly came across their music last Autumn, when we listened to their beautiful EP The Sunniest Day, which was released a couple of months ago (Aug.2016). We were absolutely amazed with their music and lyrics, magically crafted gem Paper Moon haunted our ears and souls for months. Obviously, we dug into the band's past work, that is their 2013 debut Lost Out At Sea. And a month ago, in February, we had the pleasure to welcome their sophomore effort: Broken Circle is an unbelievable record, 9 mesmerizing psych songs (beloved Paper Moon is in there, too!), that -with their folk and prog aura being all over and their engaging words- slowly absorbe your existence to the Greek Theatre world... Their latest release (March 5), Don't Throw Your Love Away single, is an equal beauty, a lifting tune for the Spring. Sven Fröberg talked to the Basement and we are more than happy and proud about that. No more talking from us, here's the interview.
The Basement: Hello Sven, so happy to have you here for an interview. Stunning new LP from your band, but let's suppose that we just met each other. Please, introduce yourself to us.
Hi Michael please to meet you! I would say I´m a hardworking guy with three lovely daughters and wife I love very much. Trying to be a good person and kind to everyone I meet. Love good music, good literature and going to the movies.
The Basement: Sven as a child. How did you start playing music ? When did you start your band ?
In Sweden every kid had to play flute at the age of eight. I was horrible, totally worthless, much more interested in playing football or just hang out with my friends. I think I was maybe 12 or 13 years old when I began to get into music. One of my elder sisters friend, a mod, made mixtapes for her filled with Kinks, Who, Creation and 80´s mod bands whose name I can´t remember. I used to tell her that I thought the music was shit, but secretly I found it oddly compelling. It sort of opened up the world, made me realize there was something more out there. I got my first guitar at the age of 15 and couldn´t really figure out how to play the modern music made by the bands of the day. On the other hand, the stuff from my sister's mixtapes and U.S garage rock was much more easy to get a grip of. So I started a band with some classmates and we did covers of Lyres, Kinks, Them and many others. It wasn´t long after that that I heard The Byrds for the first time, which for me was the closest i´ve come to a religious experience. It changed everything over night. There was something elusive and at the same time cosmic about them. It made me realize how beautiful music can be, how it can be about bliss and not aggression but still much more powerful.
The Basement: How did you pick the name of your band ? Have you ever been to Greece ? Is this really has to do with the ancient Greek theatres or is it just a play of words ?
Our name, to me, sounds like a third rate LA soft rock band from the late 60´s. I was´t thinking of Greek theatre per se, though I´m aware of it´s cultural significance and how much we owe to your forefathers when it comes to how we perceive storytelling and drama today. Yes I´ve been to Greece twice. Once to Spetses and the other to Poros. Loved it. Very beautiful. I want to get back soon.
The Basement: We can’t pigeonhole your sound, it’s really impossible. The thing that we know for sure, is that your record seems to be a pack made out of really hard work and concentration. Let us know about the process of making this album.
Well, we always start with a fully formed composition and let the song decide what it needs/demands. There is no band formula that has to be implemented. If there is drums on the song we start with recording them and build the song from the feel they convey. Sometimes everything falls together easily other times we have to experiment and try different ideas until it feels right. Every song is a mountain that has to be climbed, always higher than we initially fooled ourselves it would be.
The Basement: Was there a central idea behind the new record before making it or you just had some songs written that you wanted to release?
It was a reaction to the first one. We didn't want to make the same record again. This time we were searching for something that sounded a little heavier and grander. Still we had to do with the songs we´d written and make them into a functioning whole. Also of great importance is that we used a different drummer, Tomas Eriksson, and that changed a lot of how this Lp turned out.
The Basement: I don’t want to talk about similarities with Pink Floyd or Nick Drake, but all this is sounding like a whole new discovery ! When acoustic guitars start to lead us somewhere, progressive rock elements take over and guide to a totally different sound territory. So what do you pick ? Psych Rock or Folk ?
I think psych folk is a pretty good label for what we do.
Is this an one man show project ? Do you work with other musicians too ? Who are they ? What about the production and all the arrangements, who did them ?
It´s a two man show. Me and Fredrik Persson. Yes when the song needs something we can´t play ourselves we have to ask for help. Luckily we´we had some great musicians to help us out. Always great when someone from outside can come in and blow your mind with their contributions. Ken Stringfellow from the Posies played keyboard on the first album. Lisa Isaksson and David Svedmyr from Me and My Kites plays on the second. Andreas Ralsgård Plays clarinet, sax, flutes and boudran on both albums. Mathias Danielsson from My Brother the Wind plays pedal steel on both albums. Also from My Brother the Wind, Tomas Eriksson, plays drums on the second. Andreas Sjögren plays drums and saxes mostly on the first.
The Basement: What were your influences all those years before you composed your first album “Lost Out at Sea” and what differences can you spot between the two albums ?
Mostly West Coast rock from the late 60´s early 70´s. But if you keep doing this after a while you tend to realize what you can and can not do, which if you´re lucky gives you focus and direction. The second album´s a bit heavier though there are soft songs too. If the first album sounds LA the second has a bit more of San Fransisco to it.
The Basement: Who is that girl singing with you in “Stray Dog Blues”? She's got a lovely voice...
Agree! That is Lisa Isaksson who also play flute and harp on the same song. She is amazing. I idolize her. She used to have her own group called Lisa o Piu who made a fantastic album called When this was the future. Every greek should have a copy of it I think.
The Basement: Do you think you stepped to the next music level of yours with “Broken Circle” ? Mission accomplished in some way for you ?
Yes definitely. Time to move and keep changing, don´t repeat yourself. Look at the Byrds 65-68. Thats the way to do it.
The Basement: How’s your life in Sweden ? Do you make a living out of your music ? How do you spend your free time ?
Life in Sweden is as you might know good. We´we not been as struck by the economic recession as many other parts of Europe. Still we got, as many others, problem with growing right wing/fascist sympathy that has a lot of people here worried. Hopefully people look at the Trump administration and realize that we don´t need that kind scene here.
I wish I could make a living out of my music but it´s not even close and it´s never going happen either I´m afraid. Most of my free time is spent with my family, helping and supporting the kids with whatever they are up to. If I get the chance to do something on my own I usually go hunting for records or read.
The Basement: Do you listen to new music ? Propose us any artists you think we must have a listen to.
Unfortunately, I´m not easily impressed. Not a lot of the new music is to my liking. Devendra Barnhart used to be great. What Will We Be and Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon are marvelous albums. I hope Michael Head's new album will be as good as he can be too. Dungen of course! Love them. Daniel Rossen is another favourite.
The Basement: Are you going to play any gigs in your country or abroad ?
No, we are mainly a studio group. But if someone comes up with a fantastic offer...
The Basement: What are your long term plans ? What are your ambitions for your band ?
To keep improving. To keep releasing more albums at a faster rate. To keep changing. To reach more and more people.To play with fantastic musicians and to meet new friends along the way.
