After a little break, I'm back with more interviews and the first one is with Kalle Hallqvist of Balance.
I asked him some questions about collecting records and about their forthcoming LP release.
Here's what he had to say...
Kalle, please give a summary of how Balance came alive, and tell a little about the changes during the lifespan of the band and the current state of affairs.
Balance came alive after me and Ulf moved to Lund right after the summer 2007. We moved into Johans parents house since they both were going to Malaysia to work for at least a year. Since we all were straight edge, into the same kind of hardcore and without bands for the moment, it just felt natural to form something together. Max who used to play guitar in the band Castaway (Johan used to sing in that band too) wanted to play drums, so he was in right away.
We started rehearsing alot and recorded a demo maybe two months after forming. We did a show with Sinking Ships and a few others at that time. We did a short tour with Anchor a couple of months later and recorded a 7" after that tour. We didn't have any changes at all during our lifespan, it has always been the four of us and we never wanted it any other way. As for now we are no longer a band. Johan didn't want to do it anymore, his heart wasn't in it. He is studying really hard with something really serious, so he didn't have the time for everything we wanted to do with the band.
You mentioned that Balance is no longer a band and yet you're still about to record your first (and last) LP this summer, right?
Do you think that will be affected by that fact that you're all aware of this being the last thing you're gonna do, before you d it?
We are no longer a band, but we still wana do this LP as the last thing we do. The last thing is gonna be the best shit we've ever done. The reason why we wanted to do it in the first place was that we had so many great songs that we had spent hours and hours in the rehearsalroom perfecting and polishing. And we have evolved so much since the first 7", so we felt that it would suck if we wouldn't get this on tape before we quit. The new songs are so much harder and so much more New York than we have ever sounded before. Johan has never sounded so furious, Ulf plays some sick guitar and Max fucking shreds man. I'm so proud of this and we still have some hours left in the studio until we're done.
I know some of you broke edge, which there's nothing wrong with. However, Balance was kind of a vocal straight edge band to me, how is this gonna affect the message of Balance and the lyrics on your forthcoming LP?
Yeah, both Max and Johan broke edge, but I don't really care since they are still the same people for me, still the same good friends. And I know that some of the lyrics were pretty vocal about straight edge, I mean, we were a straight edge band with a clear standpoint, but that's not what all the songs were about. Just a few. I think the songs on the LP are gonna deal with the same kind of variety as the ones on the 7" and the split.
Are you currently involved in any other bands? Or thinking about starting something new up?
I have just started a new band together with two of the dudes from FY FAN and a dude called Alex, who look like the perfect mix between Henry Rollins and a heavy fucking tank from world war II. The band is called Self Abuse and it sounds like a couple of good years in Boston around 81-85. We have 8 songs that we are going to record in like 2 weeks. Expect a demo and a shitload of shows all over the place after that.
I know you've started your own label Jaguar Trust Records. Was it with the intention of releasing the LP on your own label? Or will Not Just Words Records or another label put it out?
Yeah I just did, and it has been fucking awesome so far. I put out the Fuckyoufingers - World Domination LP and have a few more releases coming up as well. I'm not gonna do the Balance LP though, another label is going to do it I think. I don't really know actually, haha. Hopefully Not Just Words Records will do it because those dudes are awesome and did such a good job with the "In Like A Lion" 7".
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I have just started a new band together with two of the dudes from FY FAN and a dude called Alex, who look like the perfect mix between Henry Rollins and a heavy fucking tank from world war II. The band is called Self Abuse and it sounds like a couple of good years in Boston around 81-85. We have 8 songs that we are going to record in like 2 weeks. Expect a demo and a shitload of shows all over the place after that.
I know you've started your own label Jaguar Trust Records. Was it with the intention of releasing the LP on your own label? Or will Not Just Words Records or another label put it out?
Yeah I just did, and it has been fucking awesome so far. I put out the Fuckyoufingers - World Domination LP and have a few more releases coming up as well. I'm not gonna do the Balance LP though, another label is going to do it I think. I don't really know actually, haha. Hopefully Not Just Words Records will do it because those dudes are awesome and did such a good job with the "In Like A Lion" 7".
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Since Balance is set to release this final record at some point, I guess talking about some "final shows" is relevant, or is it?
Yeah absolutely! We will play a last show, or some last shows for sure. We have just been talking a bit about it, but one thing is sure; we are gonna go out with a bang...!
Draw me a picture of the hardcore scene in Sweden. I've been to shows in Lund a couple of times and I got the impression that the scene is relatively well supported? At least compared to Copenhagen, haha....
The scene in Sweden is amazing right now. There are so many good bands and so many cities with good venues and good local support. People travel a whole lot from allover the country to attend shows. People does fanzines again and it seems like a lot of young people are here to stay. One thing that I really see as a good sign is that swedish bands gets better support and more stagedives than american bands that come here on tour. I think it's fucking awesome that we take care of what we have in such a good way. Everytime I cross the bridge and go to shows in Copenhagen it's always super crowded and fun. A bit different atmosphere than in Sweden, but still good!
You should always take care of what you have and keep building on the scene, that's how you make it last.
Let's talk about records Kalle. Tell me a bit about your favorite records and where you go record hunting in Sweden.
Haha, I do love records and love buying them. The thing is that I don't really like buying expensive records all that much. No overpriced Ebay shit! Everyone could buy whatever on there, you just need money and I'm not a fan of that. I'd much rather scope 2nd hand stores and fairs and shit, and occasionally bumping in to someone that has some gnarly shit, and when that happens I get more excited than ever, haha. When the amphetamine-user tries to sell a huge pile of record to a 2nd hand store and gets refused and I see that he carries a few Battery CD's, I ask to buy them from him and ask what else he has. A few weeks later I end up buying demo tapes and 7"s from loads of old swedish punk and hardcore bands in perfect condition really really cheap. That's what I love about record hunting!
Some of my favorite finds include Citizens Arrest - Collosus (1st press on Wardance), Absolution 7" on Combined Effort and loads of other shit. I'm not home right now, but this is the stuff I found dirt cheap and love to death, haha.
Are you the kind of nerd like me who is obsessed with collecting every variation of all releases from a handful of bands?
I don't collect that way at all! I do have some "must haves" in my mind, a lot actually, but I never spend large amounts on records. I know what I like and I have a rather unfocused taste in music, so I dig pretty much everything from the most neanderthal punk to youth crew to black metal and early emo etc. I do collect everything and have almost everything from Scholastic and Millencolin (first band I really really got into when I was younger).
Pick 1 band from the 80s era - Uniform Choice
Pick 1 band from the 90s era - Lifetime
Pick 1 band from the 2000s era - The First Step
Pick 1 current band - Hårda Tider
Pick 1 reunion show you'd love to attend - Judge (but I hope it never happens!)
Pick 1 record you'd kill to own - Uniform Choice - Screaming For Change (Wishingwell Rec.)
Any last comments?
Thanks for the interview Rune and sorry for taking so long to answer it!
Please check out jaguartrustrecords.wordspress.com and buy the LP! Keep an eye out for Self Abuse, we are gonna bust the house down.
Pressing info for Balance - In Like A Lion 7":
Black vinyl (TYF Demo rip-off cover for Edge Day 2008) /30
Black vinyl Test Press (with blank handnumbered labels - sold on tour) /50
Black vinyl (Pre-order sleeve) /75
Dark blue vinyl /100
Black vinyl /825
Pressing info for Balance/Hårda Tider split 7":
Black vinyl Test Press (no cover) /3
Black vinyl Friends Press (blue cover) /20
Black vinyl (black/white cover with different inner sleeve) /100
Black vinyl (colored cover) /900
Next up is (hopefully) my long awaited Timm MacIntosh interview, Interview with Common Cause and an interview with female collector Kelly.
Your truely,
Rune.
