Exposed Vocals Interviews Richard from VINDRA
The Melodic atmospheric rock band VINDRA was founded in Linköping, Sweden 2004. First demo EP “Reunification” came 2005. 2007 the second EP “VINDRA” was recorded. The coming year 2008 the band found gear sponsorship and released tracks on both Swedish and American compilation albums with other artists. They also made a name for themselves on internet, going to the finals in competitions such as MTV Nordic-unsigned and Miller Fresh Sounds with thousands of bands from the beginning. The same year in November VINDRA signed with Blue Topaz Records, the debut album ”Heroes of the unfinished symphony” was released worldwide in June 2009. A small iTunes success followed in Sweden with the song Dreamer as the 6th most downloaded song for a while. 2010 the music-video “my old hometown” came out. In June 2011 the bands second Digital album was released worldwide thru Record Union, a VINDRA compilation from period 2005-2007 called “The beginning”. VINDRA is a solid live act and have played on festivals, clubs, bars, restaurants and television all over Sweden. The writing process for the album Mournful Boy started back in 2011 at first it sounded like the old VINDRA. Later 2011 the band decided to throw away the songs that had been written for the album so far, to go into a more atmospheric and more heavier/rockier approach.
Here starts a new era of VINDRA! During this period 2010-2014 three of the four members also became parents. Of course this had a big impact on the writing process, but they continued and this also made it natural for Cliff, the only one without kids to take a step in as the main lyricist and lead song harmonic writer. This relieved both Richard & Daniel and they could focus more on the music. They recorded it during five months in 2014. VINDRA found a suitable companionship with the German label Dust On The Tracks Records in the late 2014 for a worldwide release in spring 2015 named “Mournful Boy”.
Then sadly the label got into financial difficulties so the album was never released thru D.O.T.T and the members discussed on what to do next, they decided to release the album by themselves thru record union digitally and also to produce a physical version in a limited run, sold in Sweden only so far.
The digital version of Mournful Boy was released in December 2015 and the physical came out in January 2016. VINDRA believes that this album really stands out as their best work so far and together with producer Jörgen Wärnström they have created some really great tunes in melodic & classic rock sounds and here we are.
VINDRA is :
Cliff Ljung – Vocals
Richard Sundström – Bass
Daniel Castman – Guitars
Andreas Nederfeldt – Drums
Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story? Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?
Richard Sundström original member since 2004, also songwriter and bassist of VINDRA:
We all come from different backgrounds in the band. I personally come from a working class home
In the city of Linkoping, Sweden I see myself as a musician more than an artist, I turned 30 and that’s when I started to do things seriously, I felt that I had a lot of music-dreams unfulfilled, things that I have dreamt about doing ever since I picked up a guitar at the age of 8.
Exposed Vocals: How did you come up with that name? What was your inspiration behind it?
Richard (VINDRA): We talked in the band sort of brainstormed a bit, didn’t want anything that was usual sort of. The inspiration behind VINDRA is something mythical from the old days, it also has something to do with nature and trees.
Exposed Vocals: What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?
Richard (VINDRA): It´s great if you as an artist want to spread your songs widely etc. Personally I feel that if I like a band or an artist I want to buy the album or the songs from them, not download them sort of steal from them. Listen on a stream from sites such as Soundcloud or Spotify instead I would say, even that the artists really don´t get much it is legal. We in VINDRA have given tracks to some music-blogs for free downloading but it´s not common, also to media for reviews and PR, also the people involved in the makings of an album gets copies usually.
Exposed Vocals: Since everyone was a start-up once, can you give any smaller or local bands or artists looking to get gigs and airplay some tips?
Richard (VINDRA): Get good on what you do, rehearse a lot together and have fun, if you don’t have fun it might as well be, and if you want to go far; find your own thing or expression, something unique.
Today there is so many ways with the internet etc. that was not the case before, even thou the competition is higher these days, that’s where the unique thing comes in.
Exposed Vocals: Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual songwriting process?
Richard (VINDRA): I would say from the world, from life, sometimes just from the guitar itself thru playing. Our songwriting process have changed a bit thru the years, now usually me or Daniel (guitar) comes to the rehearsal studio with a riff or bridge or a part of a song, then we try it all together and sort of jam until it feels good.
Exposed Vocals: Do you have a band website? What online platforms do you use to share your music?
Richard (VINDRA): vindra.se is our official homepage and we also use Facebook, Twitter, Soundcloud & Youtube today.
https://soundcloud.com/vindratheband/11-escape-into-darkness
Exposed Vocals: If you were given half a million dollars and a year off, what would you do? How would you spend it?
Richard (VINDRA): I personally would hire someone like Dave Grohl to go on a US tour with us as a special guest, he can do it all; sing, play guitar and drums. He seems to be a great person but also for publicity, it would be a blast. And book a really good studio and do something with kickass producers & gear, maybe a couple of new music videos as well, we need more money! Hehe.
Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?
Richard (VINDRA): Family and friends, also thru our facebook page and other online platforms.
Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?
Richard (VINDRA): We have just released our new album Mournful Boy, it´s a massive amount of good music in 11 songs we feel, hopefully someone take a listen and listens long enough to discover this.
Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?
Richard (VINDRA): I would just be a family father, drinking beer and watching hockey-games on the TV. Cliff (vocals) would be a gamer, Andreas (drums) would be a biker and Daniel (guitar) I guess he would do the same as me. All of us would of course still listen to music.
Exposed Vocals: How do you juggle the rest of your responsibilities while trying to stay ahead in your music life?
Richard (VINDRA): I would say that it goes in different periods, sometimes things are slow and then it´s not an issue, when recording or writing a song my mind is set to that, so it might feel as if I´m not really there. Personally I have a great spouse that lets me do these things even if I turned 40.
Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in 2016?
Richard (VINDRA): Our new album is out and it´s great, check it out! If not already
Hopefully we will make a music-video when our budget allows this since we are independent we pay for everything ourselves but hopefully this year.
On the most near agenda we are going to have a release-gig here in Linköping.