Lisa Lystam & Matte Gustafsson

Heavy Feather

Kebnekaise, or Cauldron Crest, located way up past the Arctic Circle, is the highest elevation in Sweden. But as of April 2021, the highest thing in Sweden just might be "Mountain Of Sugar", the second album by retro rockers HEAVY FEATHER. By the time you're done listening to it, you might pick up some altitude yourself. The band was nice enough to answer a few questions from Metal Temple writer Matt Bozenda.

By Matt Bozenda

• March 22, 2021

HEAVY FEATHER's Lisa Lystam: "When songwriting is simple it's often because I believe the music (arrangement & melody etc…) speaks for itself. When it's personal I believe the lyrics are the source of the song." interview

When and how did HEAVY FEATHER first come together? Was it a long time coming or did it start up fast?

(MATTE) Me, Lisa and Morgan have talked a long time creating a real rock band like Free and Cream. But we needed a drummer and then Ola joined the band after jamming together. The band was created and I think this was in early 2017. We began to write songs at our first session. And after like one and a half year we officially presented the band with our first single "Where did we go" and shortly afterwards the debut album was released. So it was some kind of preparatory work. It needed to be in the right time.

With the pending revival of the live music circuit, what can audiences expect from a HEAVY FEATHER live show? Is any kind of tour in the works?

(LISA) If you want to listen to organic, raw rock music you should go to a Heavy Feather concert. We believe in the music we perform and we're giving everything on stage. We want to combine our generation's experiences with the old sound that we've grown up to. We've got some tours planned for this year but right now everything feels a bit shaky. Hopefully this pandemic will get better soon so we can continue spreading our music.

Can you tell us a bit about the process you took to make "Mountain Of Sugar"? Though "Mountain Of Sugar" has barely seen daylight, have any thoughts been put into the third album, even if just some lyrics on the proverbial bar napkin?

(MATTE) We started the process in fall 2019 with me recorded demos here in Stockholm, then Lisa wrote her lyrics to it and then we rehearsed it a few weeks before we hit the studio. Quite fast way to work and it absolutely worked out. Some of the songs are actually from the first album recording sessions, ideas we didn't have time to develop back then. I think we will start to work on the third album after the summer. We have some material left from the "Mountain of Sugar" session that we will continue to work on.

Our review made note of some recent work done with SIENA ROOT. How important do you think it is to maintain close collaborative relationships in an era where musicians and their music are more accessible to each other than ever?

(LISA) For me its been necessary to try different thing musically. I learned so much during my time in Siena Root and both me and Matte are still very close to all the members. Both of us wouldn't say no to do another tour with them again. It feels like a bond that will last forever. Sweden is small and I think that's why musicians work together in different bands. I love that climate and I believe in working together rather than competing against each other.

Do you try to separate the work you do for HEAVY FEATHER from what you do with other bands or is there bound to be some overlap?

(LISA) When I write songs I have a specific band in mind for it. Creatively I separate the bands but practically it is great to be able to help each other out. If Heavy Feather needs a rehearsing room or a car for touring, we can ask the members in our other bands and vice versa.

What part (if any) have current events (international political strife, social upheaval, COVID-19, etc) played in your song writing?

(LISA) I don't write political songs in that sense. I can write about struggles of being a woman but for me that's just facts. Sometimes my songwriting can be trivial and sometimes it's deeper in an abstract way. For me song writing is either very personal or very simple. When its simple its often because I believe the music (arrangement & melody etc…) speaks for itself. When it's personal I believe the lyrics are the source of the song.

The new album is already garnering rave reviews and is being regarded as highly as the debut. Can you offer your perspective on how it feels to be where you are now with HEAVY FEATHER?

(LISA) It's such a great boost to get these great reviews. I'm so humble and grateful to all the peoples who take their time to analyse our music and share their thought about it. It is the same with interviews; we don't take it for granted. Right now the situation is very complex. We have a new album but we don't know when we can start touring with it.. But for us it was important to release it anyhow. We believe that now is the time to give people new music. Hopefully that can keep their hopes up for a lighter future. It's also a way for us to keep the ball rolling, even though we are very limited due to the situation.

Do you have any preferred musical equipment or manufacturers? Do you have your own setup down to a science or do you have a less rigid approach?

(MATTE) For me personally I really have my preferred amps, guitars and pedals but I have also no problem with the "festival" gear or when you have to borrow someone else's amp. I have my own sound and it's 90 % in the fingers. But of course I prefer my own Marshall JMP 79' or my Bluesbreaker Marshall. I think Morgan and Ola have the same attitude with their Bass and Drum gear. But there is a degree in hell; of course it's not so inspiring with a really shitty amp… Sometimes the gear sucks, but you have to deal with it. Most important is your playing…

Your musical influences have been previously stated (if they're not plain to hear), but what about the non-musical influences? Does any other sort of artist affect what you do on stage and/or in the studio?

(MATTE) Spontaneously I would say no, but of course there is more to be influenced of than just other music you hear. I get influenced of my own experience, life on the road or just the real life at home. Maybe boring answer but that how it is.

What sort of hobbies do you all have when you aren't making music?

(LISA) – I'm studying to become a teacher and that takes up a lot of my time right now. We'll se how it goes when the tours starts again haha.. I also love to grow plants and right now our little cabin is more like a jungle.

(MATTE) – I'm still looking for a hobby, haha. I think a maybe need one. But it's take a lot of time just struggling with the music and all what comes with that.

Does "Mountain Of Sugar" have any unsung heroes you'd like to thank?

On behalf of Metal Temple, I thank you for answering our questions. Any final thoughts or parting shots you'd like to share with our readers?

(MATTE) On both albums we have our producer "Errka" Petersson and Ola's wife LoEmma who is a photographer and an "all round doer". They are heroes for us with their work, like band members. And of course those who had been involved in the album like our record company "The Sign" for example.