Pontus Snibb – vocals, guitarist and Mikael Fässberg – guitarist from Swedish Hard Rock band Bonafide. Interview July 10, 2012
Bonafide Interview
Mikael Fässberg: The whole thing was done live for a change. For the previous record we used an outside producer, but this time we decided to let Pontus do the job. He wrote the songs, and he had a clear vision. It is a very live sounding record I believe. It was written on tour, and rehearsed during soundchecks, in airport lounges and in dressing rooms all over Europe… The actual recording went very quick. I think we spent about 2 weeks in the studio recording.
Pontus Snibb: I had fully recorded demos of the songs made with my home studio, so preproduction was easy.
I had a clear thought of how I wanted the songs to sound beforehand and we nailed it almost live in the studio,
just adding vocals, solos and the icing on the cake afterwards. We wanted to capture how we sound live and not go through the never ending overdubs routine.
2. Tell me a little bit about your promo video Too Fired Up and where the idea came from to make?
Mikael Fässberg: It really was Martin´s (our bass players) idea. He had done something similar before with another band, and since there´s no longer record companies around throwing money at you to make a classy video (thank God), we decided to take the piss out of it all, doing something with the very limited budget we had to our disposal… we also asked some friends to bring their videocams to our show at Sweden Rock Festival earlier this year, to get a feel of what a Bonafide show is like.
3. Where will you be touring this summer?
Mikael Fässberg: We are very lucky to have gotten several quite big festival slots in Sweden this summer, as well as some in the UK, which is really cool. Once the new record is out we will continue down continental Europe and hopefully further when the right time comes.
4. Life on the road should be an interesting way to live. How do you manage your time?
Mikael Fässberg: We are pretty good at entertaining each other. The longer the tour, Jokes might become a bit strange and for invites only after a while. It´s always nice to find something to do that brakes away from the soundcheck-show-party routine… Maybe find some historical sites, or just go for a long nice walk. There´s also quite alot of Skype going on, since we have families back home.
Pontus Snibb: watching movies in the tour bus, trying to stay quiet to rest my vocal chords during the day, since I´m not wise enough to go to bed early on tour.
Taking walks, checking out the scenery, meeting friends and fans. It´s all good fun.
5. What are your current endorsements?
Mikael Fässberg: Pontus and I both use Blackstar Amplifiers and Rotosound strings. Great sounding stuff.
Pontus Snibb: Yeah, every guitar on Ultimate Rebel is recorded through a 100 watt Blackstar amp, sounds fantastic!
6. Without Social Media could bands today manage to survive?
Mikael Fässberg: Probably, depending on what level of popularity and recognition they are aiming at, of course. But I do think it´s a shame that a lot of very talented musicians don´t see and take advantage of the amount of recognition Social Media can generate.
7. What’s your vision of the internet for musicians in the future?
Mikael Fässberg: I am all for the freedom of choice. If you want to stay disconnected, then that should be your absolute Right to do so. But sadly then you´re probably destined to play your parents wedding anniversary´s for the rest of your career…
Pontus Snibb: I think more and more bands will do special online shows to reach fans all over the world.
8. What could we find interesting in your Music collection in 2012?
Mikael Fässberg: Adele´s new album is a masterpiece. Wonderful voice, and an artist that writes and performs from the heart.
Pontus Snibb: All the great classic rock, blues and Rock´n´Roll albums never gets old. I always come back to those.
Being the Zep lover I am I really dig Rival Sons, and the new progressive Swedish bands like Graveyard and Horizont.
9. Could you describe what goes on in a day in your life?
Mikael Fässberg: On the road there´s a lot of sleeping (you take every chance you get) and worrying about if everything is going to work during the show… Guitars, pedals, sound, getting enough sleep… While home I´m a very domestic kind of guy… You tend to be when you have two children. Oh btw: There´s a lot of emails that need to get written on a daily basis as well…. Usually management stuff and arguments over T-shirt designs and other worldly stuff…
Pontus Snibb: I wake up when I wake up and start my day with a strong cup of coffee and a one hour power walk, if I´m not to hung over that is.
Got to keep in shape to be able to perform and sing at a 100%. And then some hours of emails while noodling the SG at the same time.
If I stumble on to something good I record it in my home studio for later use.
10. Where do you see Rock Music in 100 years from now?
Mikael Fässberg: Alive and Well! Man needs to Rock!
Pontus Snibb: And we´re still kicking it “old style” because they found the formula for eternal life, ha ha
Check out Bonafide Online http://www.bonafiderocks.com/