What is the bands name? My heart is a metronome
How did you come up with the bands name?
“My heart is a metronome” is kind of like a reminder too keep going, to never give up on your goals, especially musically. If you give the name some thought you’ll get it.
What is your genre of music?
Alternative rock, maybe?
Give us a little bio about you as individuals and as a band.
We started out as a band about 4 years ago. Well, actually, it all started with Mattis Malinen (vocals and guitar) who wrote a whole lot of music on his own and then busked the streets throughout Europe. When he came back home to Sweden he felt the songs lacked a rhythm section. This is where Gustaf Simonsson (bass) and Felix Carlsten (drums) joined the band. Mattis used to collect live videos on his harddrive when he was around 15. One day he found a video of the band System of a down playing a show at Big day out festival. The guitarist Daron Malakian was acting crazy, running around stage, spinning around, throwing himself on the ground to play a solo. This is what got Mattis into playing guitar. The rest is history.
Gustaf had been interested in music for his whole life. Growing up in i family with his mother who was an opera singer and grandpa who was a cantor, it was no coincidence Gustaf started to play music at a young age. He did his first live performance as a new born baby, representing “the new year” on stage at a big gala party. He then used to perform on every big family occasion singin’ funny songs alone on stage. When he was 9 years old he was learning how to play the guitar. He was really focused to learn how to play a clean barré chord. He tried and tried, but did not succeed. He got so disappointed and sad that he climbed into a closet, held the door shut from the inside and refused to get out. That is what you call a real musician! Legend says he still walks into his closet when he can’t figure out the right chord for a song.
When it comes to Felix he literally started playing the drums on ice cream boxes, saucepan lids and plastic toys when he was 14 years old. He also liked to go to the kitchen, open the pantry and oven and hit everything that would make a sound. At last, his parents got so annoyed (impressed?) that they finally bought him a drum kit. However, we want to believe that they bought him the drumkit due to that they thought he had talent. Funny thing is that it is the same drumkit as he plays on, on the song ”Feel Think”.
What made you go in to music?
Music made us!
Are you a signed?
Yes! We’re on the fantastic indie label Soul City Enterprise, a label started by our beloved friend and manager Tobias “Pitbull” Rosén.
Your brand new Single is out ‘Tierp’, what can you tell us about it?
it’s the place where Mattis grew up and spent his first 18 years. It’s a song about memories and friendship and how to hold on to that.
What was the recording process like?
We recorded the EP in our rehearsal space with the help of our good friends Jakob Jakobsson Blom and Axel Tovedal. It felt a lot more like “home” compared to expensive recording studios and it also meant that we could put more time into playing around with sounds and ideas. And to go and take a swim in the river when we had to.
What was the writing process like?
Fantastic and fun. We love writing music together and we hope that reflects in our songs. We write together by jamming in the rehearsal space.
Who did you let listen to the single before it was released?
Close friends and family.
You have released your EP’ Tierp’, tell us more about that.
It consists of 4 tracks which we’ve put our heart and soul into and are really proud of. The songs are quite different from one another, but they’re still held together in some weird way.
It was written and produced by ourselves, recorded by the above mentioned friends and mixed by grammy award winner Pelle Gunnerfeldt (The Hives, Refused).
Describe each track in three words.
Tierp – Disco, melodic, alternative.
Pick it up – Rhythmic, playful, technical.
Queen – Groovy, groovy, morecowbell
Bubble – Energetic, fast, bubbly
Do you play any instruments?
Thank god we do. Mattis plays guitar, Felix drums and Gustaf is slappin’ da bass.
Who are your influences?
The list is long! Anything from soul classics to fast metal.
How do you get inspiration to write songs?
Life and what comes with it.
Where do you see yourself now in 5 Years?
Hopefully playing bigger stages, touring worldwide and making a living off of our music.
When you’re not doing music, what do you do?
We all have dayjobs. Mattis works at a home for people with disabilities, Felix is a management consultant and Gustaf is a building construction engineer.
What was the song you listened to most that influenced you to go more in to the music scene?
I think it all varies for the three of us. For Mattis it was “Psycho” by System of a down. For Felix it was “Drain You” with Nirvana. Gustaf’s first own album he bought himself was Michael Jackson – Thriller. Memories are vague, but that album probably had a big influence.
What’s the best advice you have ever been given?
Can’t think of one given straight to us, but a good quote from the legend Jeff Buckley is:
“Be the best. No negativity. No weakness. No acquiescence to fear or disaster. No errors of ignorance. No evasion to reality”
What advice would you give to aspiring musicians not about the industry and just as an artist?
Do your own thing, work hard and trust no one. The most important thing is to have fun though and try to hold on to why you started playing music in the first place!
What quote or saying do you always stick by?
Life’s a bitch and then you die.
You get off a plane in your hometown,
1/ where is the first place you visit
Bäverns rehearsal space.
2/ where is the first place you see
You see an awesome church/cathedral #hotforchurches
3/ where is the first food place you go and what do you get
Jappi – red curry!
When you are at a gig, what are 5 things you cannot forget?
Our instruments, merch, backdrop, fresh ginger aaaand… a setlist for Mattis.
You work with Quite Great PR how did that come about?
We found them through googling around for UK PR agencies.
Do you have social media accounts so your fans can follow you?
First of all we have our own webpage www.myheartisametronome.com
where you can read more about us and get direct links to all of our social media platforms.
If you are a lazy one, here you go:
Facebook: facebook.com/myheartisametronome
Instagram: @myheartisametronome
Twitter: @MHIAMband
Snapchat @MHIAMband
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ_sirsd9qo6wFKnBVv0pHQ
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4aaBqtuCgkgQce4h3lZKDc
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/myheartisametronome-1
