Infected Brain

Hello friends !
We will discover the universe of HIGHRIDE but especially their new album.

What’s the story for EXCELLENCE & DECADENCE ?

Like all good rock albums it started out with a bunch of demos, and when Kriss & Mille joined the band 2017 things really fell into place, and the album took another direction than what’s been previously heard from Highride. ‘Excellence & Decadence’ is our second album (out May 29). It’s been almost 7 years since the self-titled debut album, produced by Tomas Skogsberg (Backyard Babies, The Hellacopters, Entombed). A long time, but the album turned out really well and the response has been overwhelming.

Who composes ?...How does it work in the band ?

I do most of the song-writing, in the sense of coming up with a song core, but Mille, Kriss and Nicke always contribute and make us sound the way we sound. I could for example never play a solo half as good as Mille even if my life depended on it.

Who writes the texts ?..What are they talking about ?..How does inspiration come ?

I usually write most of the lyrics, but Mille sometimes throws in a couple of rows here and there. Songs just tend to pop up in my twisted head when I least expect it, and it usually takes some time just playing around with words before even I know what the hell I’m trying to say. It’s just some kind of rock poetry, I guess. Sometimes I sing out of my own perspective and sometimes out of someone else, so nothing is to be taken very serious.

What's your best live memory ? And why ?

It’s super hard to pick one single memory. We actually started playing live back in 2008, five years before the debut album, and always considered ourselves a live-band first and recording act second. But the whole European tour called Idiots On Tour with Crashdïet and The Cruel Intentions last year was fantastic. Two weeks of total mayhem in a big nightliner bus. It was like a never-ending rolling party and all three bands did great shows every night. A total blast!

In studio, what was the atmosphere for your new album ?...etc.…

‘Excellence & Decadence’ is actually the first album ever (not just a Highride record) produced by me. It was recorded a bit here and a bit there between 2017 and 2019, and then mixed by Svein Jensen at Grand Recordings in Gothenburg. The atmosphere has been a bit tense from time to time, to say the least. But in the end we’re happy with how the recordings turned out.

How does it work for the design of the CD ? and why this title ?

The album name, and thereby artwork, is supposed to symbolize the good and evil and ups and downs that comes with a classic rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle. A king of decadence in all his excellence, with a crown on his head and a bottle of champagne in his hand. Clichés we love to play around lyrically and musically.

Why this choice for the clip SUPERSTARBLIND ?

Most of the clips are from Idiots On Tour we did together with Crashdïet and The Cruel Intentions in October -19. We tried to do a video showing the essence of Highride and what we’re all about.

What would you have chosen as a job outside of music ?

Playing in a rock band is probably one of the most expensive hobbies one can have in 2020 (for 99% of all bands). With that said, I will keep my day job a secret. I would do almost any job though, just to be able to keep playing in the band.

What are your projects ?

If you mean musically, we don’t really have much time for anything else than Highride.

What's your motto ?

“First one to the party and the last one to leave!”, haha!

Website to remember

www.highride.se and www.pornhub.com

What would you like to say to the readers ?

If you haven’t already heard us; Highride is on all digital platforms and the new album ‘Excellence & Decadence’ can be purchased on our website. And to all our fans: thanks for the support and enjoying our music!