Interviews: Mondo Bear

On this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the Rock band Mondo Bear from Norway. Check out the interview and follow the band on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name, you planned it or came out just like that?

Like most bands we really struggled finding a cool name. So we were for a period called Take Us Up. Luckily we had the insight to ditch that moniker and go for something “cooler”. Mondo, is a California surf term, meaning big or huge. It’s also used by a couple of stoner/psych bands. So the Calfornia connection made sense because our lyrics at the time seemed to orbit around the ideas of fame, death and crime. Concepts that are very present in the Calefornia/Hollywood mythos, as well as having a song on the album called Hollywood. Bear.. because bears are cool. And our sound is sort of huge and sluggish at times, and while often steady and calm, carries the potential for some violent outbursts.

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

Just a thing that fell natural I guess. We’re all into different stuff, but this is where we ended up with this project. An amalgam of the tastes the people in the band have. It’s functioning as a good vessel to channel the songs and musical ideas we have.

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?

Yeah, Erik and I (Vebjorn) attended the same school for a year, and we built the project after we both ended up in Trondheim. Sondre is a friend of Erik from way back and I met Anders through some student friends.

4. Each band member favorite band?

Sondre – Gåte

Anders – King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard

Vebjorn – Motorpsycho

Erik – lana Del Rey or Pink Floyd

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

Anything from people around us, to musical contemporaries and different kinds of art, film, etc. Most of the stuff you think about and get inspired by, often comes out in random conversations with people you meet. That, and the world being a bit screwed. Great art in difficult times or something like that

6. Where would you like to perform?

Everywhere there’s people who want to listen to the music, shack or castle.

7. Whom would you like to perform with?

Touring with bands like King Gizzard and The Lizzard Wizzard, Pond or any big psych rock band would be a blast.

8. What do you think of our site?

Cool site with a cool name, great you’re doing some work for the underground!