Interviews: Oxidize

On this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the Melodic Metal band, Oxidize, from Sweden. 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?

That’s a good question. It is not easy to find a name that’s short, not too hard to pronounce and it should be easy to remember. I thought about metal, or something around it, ... rust, so what is rust, OXIDIZE...

2.Why did you want to play this genre?

We compose songs with no special genre in thought. Melodic metal is our thing. Me for instance, I write harmonies, set the chords, make a riff, later on that becomes our music when drums been set together with bass, what genre decides the listener. But for us is the genre melodic metal, and it could be placed inside a lot of sub-genres, not a specific one, a metal/Hard rock band yes, with melodic influences.

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

I and Niclas have been friends since the 90:ies, He asked me to join Fierce conviction in 96, in that moment I didn’t join up was busy. Mika I learned to know though a photo session that I had with Mrs.Hippie in 2000 somewhere, and we connected, Kaj I learned to know 2016 when I photographed their band Jaggernout at Sweden rock, became friends. And finally Anton, I wanted a singer that is capable to sing high notes and at the same time had a good metal voice. I found him through Powerprog same Record company as my old band Arctic Void. He was at their web page with Darusso. He looked cool so I clicked and started to listen to his voice, was amazed and contacted him and asked him to join. We also had another bass player Tommy Larsson, may he rest in peace, he unfortunately died in may this year, one week before our digital release, it messed thing up, but it solved it self with Kaj, a better friend to Tommy and the former bass player of the same band Jaggernaut.

4. Each band member favourite band?

I (Per) listen to everything. Don’t have any special favorite, changes from day to day, there is so mutch good music to listen to, so I just choose a mixed playlist on spotify or pic up some of my old vinylrecords or cd.

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

For me, it has with the mood happy or sad. The best things when I’m sad. Something can come up when I’m out walking the dog. A melody that pops up, a movie, someone says something got me thinking, life situation in generell, I don’t sit in the studio trying to find my riff’s. When I take the acoustic guitar come up with something I record it on my phone and when I have opportunity I pic it up and go through the ideas, and when I find what I’m looking for, the rest comes flowing.

6. Where was your last gig?

We haven’t got any gigs yet, we was ready with the album I’m march 2020, then the Corona came.

7. Where would you like to act?

Where ever our fans are. That’s the best place. If I could wish, Royal Albert hall. 

8. Whom would you like to feature with?

A Swedish metal band like InFlames, Dream Evil, Cyhra, Nocturnal rites, Evergrey etc.

9. Whom not?

Håkan Hellström (Swedish act) or Rap.

10. Any of you has ever suffered from stage fright? Any tip for beginners on how to beat that?

I was in the beginning but learned that, it’s good. I’m always nervous. Thats good. The adrenaline makes you sharp. They audience are there because they like your music. Do your best, try to get eye contact with a few and do the concert for them. Rehearse! If you rehearsed you’ll remember what to play! No#1 First of all enjoy the moment!!! No#2 don’t use alcohol as a calming thing, it’s not respectful again your fans, you get sloppy and play wrong and forget.

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

It depends on the mood, to mention a few. Judas Priest, Inflames, Alter bridge, Scar Symmetry, Ozzy, Pink Floyd, Black sabbath, Dio, Van Halen, Rammstein. etc. 

12. What's the weirdest thing a fan has ever asked you for? 

There is a few, a mild one is: A fan downloaded our album at Amazon and came back to me and said it was not a good quality of the mp3, very disappointed, he didn’t believe that we could publish songs with that low bitrate, and he couldn’t buy the CD, he was not happy at all. SO... I mailed him new mp3-files in 320-bitrate and guess what, he was happy. :) Not weird moment, happy!

13. What do you think of your fans?

The best! We love our fans!

14. What do you think of our site?

Really nice site!

15. Something add?

Hope you readers had the chance to listen to our album and that you love it. If you want to buy a cd, the wait is soon over it will be released the 23 of October together with a new video. See you out there in the white noice!