Interviews: Smash Into Pieces

On this new occasion, we had the opportunity to interview the Modern Rock band, Smash Into Pieces, from Sweden. Check out the interview and follow this band on their FACEBOOK PAGE. All the answers have been answered by Benjamin Jennebo, guitarist of Smash Into Pieces.

1. ARMAHEAVEN continues the dystopian storyline from your previous album. What inspired you to expand this cinematic universe, and how do you approach storytelling through music?

The story behind ARMAHEAVEN is inspired by how fast the world around us is changing. Humanity is giving in to digitalization and handing over all control. Music, combined with visuals, is the perfect way for us to deliver that message. Apoc comes from a world called Arcadia, where computers rule everything. He broke free into our world, only to see the same thing happening here.

2. Many of your singles mix rock, metal, and electronica with a futuristic edge. How do you strike that balance without losing the raw energy of rock?

We always write for the sake of the song itself and rarely hold onto any element just for the sake of it. We love combining modern synths with heavy riffs; it’s all about what serves the song best.

3. The album features collaborations with Elize Ryd, LIAMOO, and LiLiCo. How did those partnerships come about, and what did each artist bring to the project?

⁠The collaboration with LIAMOO on Flame came from our time together at Melodifestivalen. We connected as friends and shared the same ambition for creating a powerful track. I wrote the foundation for Flame, and after a session with Dino and LIAMOO, the song came to life. Elize Ryd reached out wanting to do a session with us in Smash, which led to Paradise. With LiLiCo, she heard a bunch of my songs and instantly connected with First Time, so I finished that track for her.

4. You’ve performed over 1,000 shows worldwide—how has life on the road shaped the band’s identity and sound today?

Doing all this together, through highs and lows, thick and thin, has shaped us not only as a band but also as people. That unity naturally translates into our music. 

5. “A Sky Full of Stars” shows you reinterpreting a Coldplay classic. What made you choose that song, and how did you make it your own?

A Sky Full of Stars isn’t a reinterpretation of Coldplay, it’s our own original song that just happens to share the same title. Hopefully, that’s clear when you listen to it.

6. Ghostis, the AI-driven entity in the new storyline, mirrors current conversations about AI and technology. Was this intentional commentary on our present-day world?

Ghostis has conquered Arcadia, the world where Apoc comes from. Now Apoc sees the same thing happening here, our world being taken over as we digitalize at a frightening pace.

7. Your fanbase has grown massively across TikTok, YouTube, and other platforms. How important is digital culture to your music and the way you connect with fans? 

The digital world, ironically, is the most important one for us. It’s a tricky balance—being critical of digitalization while still relying on technology to grow. But the beauty of it is that people from every corner of the world can find each other through our music.

8. Looking back at supporting Evanescence and Within Temptation, how did those experiences influence your trajectory toward becoming a headlining act?

Touring with giants like Evanescence and Within Temptation was incredibly inspiring. They also started from nothing and proved that anything is possible. That experience gave us a lot of belief and drive to push forward with our own band.

9. Your music videos are known for their high production value and cinematic style. How important is the visual side of ARMAHEAVEN in bringing the album to life? 

The video side has always been the hardest part since we don’t create films ourselves. We’ve had to find the right partners to tell our story visually. We’ve mixed a lot of our digital approach with green screens and animation; it’s a big part of our identity and storytelling.

10. If listeners could walk away with one central message or emotion from ARMAHEAVEN, what would you want it to be?

ARMAHEAVEN represents the idea of taking something beautiful way too far, the notion that constant evolution isn’t always for the better. Sometimes, we evolve so fast that we lose touch with ourselves.