A Final Warning (Chapter 1), Mustasch’s new record, is just released. David Johannesson (guitar) answered some of my questions about this new work.
A Final Warning (Chapter 1) review
Promotional pictures credits: Ted Lindén
Hello and first of all thanks a lot for your time! Would you mind introducing yourself and the band for someone who never heard about Mustasch please?
David Johannesson (guitar): Hi! I’m David Johannesson and I play guitar in Mustasch. The other guys are Ralf (Vox) Stam Johansson (bass) and Robban Bäck (drums).
You once stated that the band’s name came from the fact that a lot of guitar players you like have a mustache, is it true? Do you also have any opposite example?
David: Yes it’s true. But it was not just about guitar players, it could be anyone in the band. Yes I have. Dolly Parton doesn’t have a mustache.
Mustasch is about to celebrate its first release’s twentieth anniversary, how do you feel about that? Did you ever think the band will last this long?
David: It’s awesome that the band still exists. I joined the band 2008 and didn’t think we were going to exist this long. And still going…
To properly celebrate this anniversary, you will release two records this year: A Final Warning (Chapter 1) in April, and A Final Warning (Chapter 2) later this year. Why did you decide to release this album in two parts?
David: When you look at the development in music, you see that people listen more to songs than bands. I think it’s a shame but at the same time you can release music more often if you do an EP.
What does “A Final Warning” mean for you?
David: It means, take care of what you got, tomorrow it could be gone.
About songs, I feel like you stay true to the band’s universe made of heavy Hard Rock, groovy Stoner and pure energy, but with a touch of modernity. What are your influences to write music? About lyrics and/or instrumental parts.
David: We have very different tastes in the band. Some listen to 60s music and some listen to 70s and 80s. But the common denominator is that we all like Hard Rock. With all that mixture, it becomes Mustasch.
How do you choose topics to develop in your songs? Is it easy to talk about dark parts of people’s mind?
David: It is Ralf who writes the lyrics and for the most part he starts from himself.
You released two singles to promote this first part, Contagious and You Are Killing Me, what does those songs mean for you?
David: It means a lot. I wrote both of the songs 2 years ago and when Ralf heard them he just said, let’s finish them for the upcoming album.
How does the composition process happen for this album? Was it different from your previous releases?
David: We have our own record label, me and Ralf wrote the songs and we produced it ourself with Ted our tour manager and I mixed the album. All work is done within the family and I think that’s a sound nobody else could have done for us. And it’s fun.
What is your secret to inject pure energy to all your songs?
David: If I don’t feel a thing when I write them I write new stuff ’til I get the feeling like you are going to a party or something.
The last song is called To Be Continued, which of course calls for the second part, but chat can we expect about it?
David: Raw HeavyMetalHardrock!
There are only two original members left in Mustasch, how is it to welcome new members in a band?
David: Either they have it or they don’t. It may take some time to just figure it out
I know that Covid-19 fucked a lot of things up, but how did you deal with it as a band? Does it affect the new releases in any way? And how did you face this situation personally?
David: It has been very tough financially. We have run several live streams where we have been able to sell merchandise and reach out to people. We can not tour yet and do not know when so yes it affects the release. I have worked extra as a carpenter and the others have taken scattered jobs.
While we’re talking about you, what are your hobbies in life, aside from music? Does music provide you enough incomes, or do you still have to get a dayjob? How was it when the band began?
David: I also like to write music for other artists. But as a hobby I like motorcycles, fishing is a big interest and also to travel. We did but not in this times. In the beginning nobody could live on the music.
Can you please explain us your musical career? What was the first time you picked an instrument up, how did you realize you want to become a professional musician?
David: I started with drums when I was around 12-13 years old but wanted to write my own stuff so that’s why I picked up the guitar. I knew it quite early but it was not a real profession (people told me) so I doubted it for a very long time.
What would have been your dream career if it wasn’t music?
David: NHL Hockey player. I played hockey until I was 18 years old.
What was the very first Rock or Metal song you listened to?
David: I got a cassette from a friend with Metallica, Kill Em All, so it must have been Hit The Lights.
What if I ask you to compare Mustasch ’s music with a Swedish dish? Which one and why?
David: Meatballs with mashed potatoes and cream sauce. It always tastes good!
First (and unfortunately last for now) time I saw you on stage was at Motocultor Festival in France, back in 2019. Do you have a special memory of this festival? What about France?
David: Yes, that was the first time I ate oysters. Really weird taste… We have played in France a couple of times and it has been much better than I imagined. We didn’t not know the french rock scene and did not think there was as much Rock as you have.
What is your best and your worst experience as a musician ever?
David: I love to travel and see stuff but at the same time it’s always lot of waiting in a bus or airports and no sleep.
Last question: which bands would you love to tour with? I let you create a tour with Mustasch and three other bands!
David: Ohhh. I would say Black Sabbath, Metallica and WASP.
This was my last question, so thanks a lot for your time! I really hope to see you in Paris as soon as possible, and last words are yours!
David: Thank you! Lets kill this pandemic so we can grab a beer och Rock’n’Roll together!!! HeavyMetalHardRock!