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Many modern bands have issues with their record labels, but The Sounds have found the easiest way out: create your own label. After releasing two records on New Line Records, The Sounds left and started Arnioki Records. Now they have the freedom to make their own decisions concerning every aspect of their career, both creatively and professionally. Appropriately enough, Crossing the Rubicon is the band’s first album released on Arnioki.  TNG Chicago Editor Adam caught up with The Sounds’ drummer Fredrik Nilsson to find out more about one the world’s most independent bands. Also, below is the video for their infectious new single “No One Sleeps When I’m Awake.”

The New Gay: What was the band’s motivation for Crossing the Rubicon or “the point of no return?”

Fredrik Nilsson: Our motivation was to take even more control of everything that is happening to our band – how we wanted the songs to sound, what kind of people we wanted to work with, what kind of studio we wanted to use and how we wanted to mix the album. Stuff like that. We wanted this album to be as much of “The Sounds” as possible.

TNG: What made the band decide to fund your own label, Arnioki Records?

FN: We were sick of the label interfering in the creative stuff. I don’t want the label guys to say, “You should make a song like this,” or, “You should work with this guy.” It should be more up to the band. The label’s job is to sell records, and, the way I see it, our job is to make records. I don’t think they should interfere too much with that.

TNG: How does a typical songwriting session go?

FN: Some songs are only one or two people writing [them]. Some have [everyone involved]. One song could just be written by Felix (guitarist) or maybe Jesper (keyboardist, pianist and guitarist). Those are our two main songwriters. Sometimes it’s three or four of us. It’s very different [for each song].

TNG: Who are some of the band’s influences, past and present?

FN: That’s a hard question because even thought we all kind of like the same kinds of music, we all listen to different bands. Sometimes its metal or jazz or country. We try not to limit our sound too much. Part of our sound is incorporating different genres. I like to be very open minded when writing music.

TNG: Your sounds vary from Rock to Pop to New Wave to Alternative. Are there any new sounds you might experiment with in the future?

FN: Yea, I think so. It’s kind of a hard question because its not really the sound, even though the sound is important, but if the song in general is good or not. If it’s a good song you can do a rock version, a punk version or any version if the song is good. If the song is not there, it doesn’t really matter what sound it has.

TNG: Very true. How do you feel about comparisons to not only female lead singer bands such as Blondie, or No Doubt but also other Nordic bands such as The Cardigans?

FN: They’re all great bands, but I wouldn’t say they were bands that influenced me personally. I think journalists or music critics make it really easy for themselves by comparing us to those bands. The biggest thing is the visuals. You have a female blonde and four guys and they must play the same music. But I don’t think the music is the same at all. If you look at a band photo, you can see the resemblance, but journalists make it easier on themselves that way.

TNG: How was it touring with No Doubt?

FN: That was an awesome, awesome tour. They were really nice people, really down-to-earth, genuine people. We had a great crew. Everyone treated us really well and we got a lot of new fans, which was the point of the tour. It was just a great, great, great tour and I would do it again in a heartbeat.

TNG: How important do you think is it for the band to tour as much as your band has?

FN: We tour a bit much. I try to keep focus on a week or a few weeks forward because if I look at the schedule, I’m just gonna get busy. I think for our band it is really important to tour a lot because that’s how most of our fans have found out about our band. For some bands, you sell a lot of records if you have a lot of play on the radio and TV and you don’t have to do 200 shows a year. You can do less and have a lot of exposure. But for us, playing live is how we got where we are and we’ll keep doing that.

TNG: Most of the band’s members have worked with artists separately from the band. Have you thought about collaborating with other bands or artist for a new record?

FN: Anything is possible, I guess but we haven’t really sat down and discussed anything like that. Right now, we’re focused on the three-month tour ahead of us. We try not to discuss studio stuff and songwriting stuff as much as when we’re on tour because it gets confusing. But like I said, I’m open to everything. The one thing I like about making music is being able to be open to everything and at least try new things. We’ll see what happens in the future. I really don’t know yet.

TNG: Where are some of your favorite places to tour?

FN: I guess the United States is a really nice country to tour in. It is really comfortable. It’s one of our favorite places to tour.

TNG: Do you guys believe you have a huge gay fan base?

FN: I don’t know. I haven’t really thought about it like that. They’re just seen as an audience. I don’t categorize them in that way. I’m just happy that we have fans. I haven’t really thought about it.

TNG: Have you experienced any extreme fans or have they asked you for weird things?

FN: They can ask you for anything. They’ve asked for the clothes you are wearing, instrument stuff, and whatever. I don’t know. It’s great having all these fans. We seem to have all these fans that go to all these shows. They drive around and follow us everywhere. I think that’s’ pretty cool.

TNG: Have you met any weird fans?

FN: There’s always weird people. I’m just the drummer so I don’t get a lot of them. I bet Maja (vocalist) gets a lot of strange stuff.

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