Les Beat #4

Popundret - The Smiths of the 90’s

 Sometimes you have to exaggerate, to make the reader really understand. Popundret isn’t just another one of those average bands from Skellefteå, they are a brilliant band that has made one of the best Swedish albums of the year. Les Beat phoned Magnus Nilsson, Popundrets author of text.

 In 1991 Popundret started out as an acoustic project, but was cancelled the following year, beacuse the singer left the band. In 1993 the members decided that it was time for a revival, and Magnus Nilsson was chosen as their new singer. Three years later, their debutalbum Montmartre 15 40 was released. The music is influenced from many different sources. Red House Painters, Sundays and Stone Roses are big influences, as well as The Smiths and similar eightiespop, and lately they have taken a lot from jazz and soul.
– You could call it a compilation really, because it’s everything from our first material to the latest ones.
– The record is quite gloomy, it was mostly disappointed love, mostly about one specific person, an ex girlfriend. It was much about bitter feelings and excuses.

When not writing for Popundret, Magnus is also writing poetry. But it’s not the best verses that ends up as poplyrics.
– The song material is a bit more banal, more catchy, but you do that on purpose.

How important are the lyrics in a popsong?
– I think it’s most important for the one that writes the lyrics. I don’t know if it’s important for the one that listens, more to the author, I think.

That almost sounds a bit egoistic?
- Well, not egoistic, the lyrics can be important for the listener also, of course, because you want to tell them something, but I think the lyrics are important to build up your voice, that’s what I mean. It’s a bit more like supporting words when you want to scream out your passion. The lyrics are more like a frame of reference, maybe a more obvious message.

So it’s really the music that you want to get out?
– The music and the voice, I think the voice is quite a big message in itself. The lyrics are just some supporting words for your feelings.
– Poplyrics are mostly about very newly awakened feelings. I think that if you look at jazz and soul you will find more mature feelings. Pop is more interesting because it’s more young feelings.

From Skellefteå, we have got many bands, some of them are good, most of them aren’t that very good. The name Popundret was much of a protest, a spit in the eye for those that was annoyed by the popwave from Skellefteå that came across Sweden in the early 90’s. At least the name sounds good, and that’s probably the most important thing. And thanks to the albumtitle, Montmartre 15 40, that sounds extra good in heads that wear berets, the record has sold very good in France.
Except for Kent, that by this time is well is a quite established name, Magnus Nilsson recommends A Shrine, Stardog, Backfisch and Bear Quartet if you want to hear groups that are good and has something new to bring us.

DAVID JONSTAD