Getting to know bands from other countries is one of my favorite parts of this job. I love how, although we live on opposite sides of the world, music is a common thread so when Blessed By Iron emailed me about their new song “Voodoo Baby”, I knew I just had to ask this Pitea, Sweden based band some more questions and get to know them a little bit better!
What’s a new hobby you have taken up during quarantine? If no hobby, is there a random TV show that you binged/ have a very strong opinion on?
Simone: Painting canvas is an old hobby I began to do again.
Viktor: no nothing new I just continued with what I already had going on from before C19 and that is writing and playing music, playing some magic the gathering, and D&D.
Daniel: Didn’t find any new hobbies but I did put more time into fine-tuning my musical abilities and D&D writing.
Johan: NO nothing new.
What’s your go-to coffee order?
Simone: Pumpkin latte when it’s the season, otherwise just a simply vanilla latte, mostly an ice latte.
Viktor: Salted caramel Latte.
Daniel: Don’t drink coffee, but a Roiboss is always nice.
Johan: just coffee
Have you ever been able to finish a Rubik’s Cube?
Simone: No haha
Viktor: a few times and probably by accident, since I can never remember what did right the next time I try.
Daniel: I’ve solved the standard 3×3 in just shy of 30 seconds. My personal collection ranges from the 2×2 to the 7×7. I also have cuboids like the pyraminx, megaminx, skweb and more. My personal favourites are the 2×2 and pyraminx, that I’ve solved in 5 seconds and less than 10 seconds respectively.
Johan: No xD
What’s the worst concert you’ve ever been to and why?
Simone: We had a tour with me and Johan’s old band in 2019, one of the bands that opened the show was… real rookies. Long story short: it was a chaotic tour and we and the third band had to babysit them. And the last show ended with their bass player rage quitting out of stage midst one of their songs. And then the singer came, and the drummer was left alone on stage… continuing playing…alone.. we were embarrassed for them.
Viktor: Megadeth, in Stockholm a couple of years ago, and trust me I almost never have the feeling of “Cringe” but when a supposed to be very seasoned musician obviously had a paper in front of the microphone on the floor and as he looked down at the lyrics and away from the microphone it became obvious that he was reading of lyrics since we could not hear him.
Daniel: Can’t really point out the worst, have been to a few bad ones.
Johan: Can’t remember.
What kind of pizza is your favorite? (i.e. what kind of toppings)
Simone: Blame me, but my favorite is Hawaiian one.. those with pineapples on. ham, cheese, tomato, pineapple with bearniasauce on the side.
Viktor: my favorite pizza is a pizza I ate in London at a place called Sofia’s where they had this amazing pizza called Carnivora “it had so much meat” and they had this amazing homemade habanero hot sauce.
Daniel: I’ve only eaten my favorite pizza once. In Milano I ate a prosciutto pizza that also had slices of fried potato on it.
If you could compare yourself to a bird, what bird would it be and why?
Simone: A raven. there’s a reason I have two of them tattooed. I think they are really beautiful creatures.
Viktor: Not to repeat the answer Simone gave but I have to be honest and I would say a raven as well, there is something special about these birds that always seems to put me in a good mood.
Daniel: a peregrine falcon.
Johan: Eagle
Are you okay with unconventional interview questions? (too late!)
Simone: HEKK YEAH! its really fun!
Viktor: OFC, if you are ok with unconventional answers.
Daniel: Sure
Johan: Sure
How did you come up with the band name ‘Blessed By Iron’?
Viktor: In the really early days of Blessed by Iron we had a different lineup, and at that point, we had no actual name. This was way before Johan, Simone, and Daniel Joined. We had a small gig coming up, this was at an old communal house at a village that could be rented for parties and gatherings, this village committee was about to have an annual meeting and wanted some entertainment. So the days before the gig we went out there to see the place for ourselves and set up some gear in advance. When we got there they showed us around, the host told us how they planned the seating arrangements, and then she told us “I thought that you could set up there” and pointed to a place that was right beneath a huge painting of Jesus, crying.
We kind of had our setlist at the time and amongst many covers, we planned to play Hotel California and our drummer at the time said right then and there “Did you know that there is a theory that the Eagles put hidden satanic messages in the song Hotel California” We laughed about it a lot since that rumor has probably gone around most famous rockstars and just continued, then we started to think about the band name.
There were many ideas that we were considering but at that point for just a joke the name “Blessed by Irony” was brought up and we laughed yet again in memory of playing right beneath a crying Jesus painting, none of us of that lineup were particularly religious so that is why we found it hilarious. But some time went and then at the next practice session we kind of just dropped the Y in Irony and we all thought that this was the name, Blessed by iron.
Favorite lyrics of all time? (it can be a full song, a phrase, etc. just please let me know who it is and what song!)
Simone: I think it will be Five Finger Death Punch – “Brighter Side Of Grey”
Viktor: Shinedown – Sound of madness
Daniel: Hard to choose, but Right in two by TOOL is probably the one I have to choose.
Johan: God was never on your side – motörhead
What’s your go to pick-up line or a pick-up line that has worked for you?
Simone: “Hi pudding, are you standing here and trembling?” it’s hilarious in Swedish. But if I am going to be serious, I do not think I have one. I cant barely remember how to flirt anymore.
Viktor: Since I am engaged, and going to get married the old pick-up lines have been locked away. I have used pick up lines but never seriously only to break the ice to just have a laugh and start a conversation.
Daniel: Don’t use pick-up lines.
Johan: …
What’s an old school fad that you wish would come back (i.e. jnco jeans; butterfly clips; etc.)
Simone: Hard question… I think the grunge style on shirts. You know when you had a long sleeve underneath a t-shirt. I had that back in the days when I thought I was a rocker girl – hahahah.
Viktor: Uhm not sure actually, my old school fad is already back and made popular “again” in a way and that is Dnd and games in the same category.
Daniel: None, I want things to evolve.
Johan: Not sure…
Favorite method of listening to music (i.e. vinyl, cassette, 8-track, etc.)
Simone: Spotify, its the easiest way to listen IMO
Viktor: Spotify, but I would of course love to have a small collection of Vinyl to frame.
Daniel: I use Spotify a lot. But can’t argue with CD or vinyl
Johan: Vinyl!
If you were to rob a bank, what would be the song playing in the getaway car as you escape?
Simone: I will not – Corroded
Viktor: Back in black – ACDC
Daniel: In circles by Raised fist
Johan: Run to the hills – Iron maiden
What’s the best concert you’ve ever been to?
Simone: When I saw my childhood idols, Rammstein. It was amazing <3
Viktor: Hands down it is Alice Cooper, it was the best show ever. I can not get enough of that over-the-top stage performance it just was an amazing experience.
Daniel: I got to see Opeth and Iron maiden at the same concert during the book of souls tour, that was amazing.
Johan: Iron Maiden
What’s one thing I should know before listening to “Voodoo Baby”?
Be prepared for some Swedish heavy groove. It also might get stuck on your head, depending on how many times you listen to it 😉
I understand that this is your first single! That’s so exciting! Are you going to be doing a full album/ EP or will it just remain a standalone single for now?
Voodoo Baby will be just a single. But there are more singles to come and we also planning to release an EP in 2022 if everything goes as planned.
So clearly some members of Blessed By Iron were into my quirky questions while others were not but, regardless, this band is absolutely worth your attention. If “Voodoo Baby” is just a single and there are more singles to come, well, make sure to follow these guys on their socials so you don’t miss a single track!
Blessed By Iron on Instagram
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