Interview with PETER TÄGTGREN: “I never really try to plan anything, I just write a shitload of songs and, when you put your hands on a new album, you can hear the differences between it and the previous ones.”

Swedish project PAIN started out as a hobby project for frontman Peter Tägtgren, whose idea was to fuse metal with 1980’s-inspired electro-industrial and techno influences. Tägtgren is also the vocalist/guitarist of Hypocrisy and producer of his own The Abyss studios. PAIN’s latest album “You Only Live Twice” was released on june 2011 via Nuclear Blast. MSFinland’s Andrea Rodella had a chance to meet Peter Tägtgren just before going on stage on PAIN’s first italian show october 13, in Mezzago.

Hi Peter, let’s begin with a question about the name of the band: what’s the Pain you refer to?

Well, I have to come back in time to remember the reason, ah ah! It’s referred to all the pain you can feel, good one and bad one, nothing else.

Pain exists since 1996. How did your approach to the music change during the years?

I don’t really know, I think it’s all about technology and new stuff. I like to do experiments with new things and new kind of equipments. To me it’s a way, as producer and songwriter, to try different things from Hypocrisy. It’s just a big experiment, I think.

Is the different approach you have to the music of Pain and Hypocrisy something planned or something natural?

No, it’s really natural to me. I never really try to plan anything, I just write a shitload of songs and, when you put your hands on a new album, you can hear the differences between it and the previous ones. It’s something natural, no plans!

And how do you choose the songs for Pain and Hypocrisy? I mean, they’re two different bands, but how does your mind “change” when you write songs for each project?

I don’t know! I think a little bit different when I start to write for Pain, just ’cause the music it’s different. Yeah, it’s not a different approach, but just something like think a different kind of stuff.

Now let’s talk about the new album, You Only Live Twice: tell me a good reason to buy it.

Because it’s the best one!

A very good reason, ah ah!

Yes, it is, ah ah! Seriously, I don’t know. Maybe if you like that kind of music you can like our new album, too. If you don’t, well, don’t buy it!

And what about the artwork? What does it represent?

Nothing special, really. It’s a kind of weird figure, but so it is the band, ah ah!

Comparing the previous Pain albums and the last one, I think there’s a more industrial approach…

Yeah, but it’s also darker and heavier than the previous ones.

…once again: was it natural?

Yeah, everything came out naturally. It’s really hard to say why the things are the way they are, you know. It’s something out of control.

The last question is about Hypocrisy and the live Dvd/Cd that just came out: why did you choose to record a live release?

It’s a release with a 90 minutes long documentary and 90 minutes long show with a lot of interesting stuff like interviews with the old members of the band and things like that. It was the right time and the right place (Sofia, Bulgaria) to record the concert and I think it’s all a great product to have if you’re an Hypocrisy fan.

Thank you so much, Peter. I know you gotta go now on stage, have a great concert!

You’re welcome, Andrea, and see you under the stage!

Interview by Andrea Rodella – Photos by Elsa Piazzini

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