Björn Dixgård and Mando Diao have had a predilection for the Swedish vis tradition, but the attraction to American music has not been expressed through the Borlänge band. In his souterrain studio in Traneberg, Dixgård is fishing out a country-inspired album with Swedish artists, and explains that he has always written such music.
I got this from our bassist and it's so "cheeseball". My grandmother used to play it when I was supposed to take a nap as a kid and I learned to like the music even though I didn't think it was good.
Later, he began to love the American original songs behind Alf Robertson and Kikki Danielsson's covers, but he has never made such an album.
We tried with Mando and it sounded awful, it's here in the catacombs.
More Personal
But Björn Dixgård's solo album will soon be released into the world, now the single "Fear of winning" is being released, and in February next year, "Shadowlands" will come, characterized by the melancholy he believes "is in his DNA".
I've always been fascinated by darkness, but more light in it, that's what's important. Hopefully, it can give people comfort.
The album is Björn Dixgård's most personal, with a focus on his voice. Band colleague Patrik Heikinpieti produced, and grilled him with comments like "now you sound a bit disconnected, like you're singing with Mando".
Mando has always been a bit of theater in some way, I think rock'n'roll is that, says Dixgård.
He appreciates taking on that role, but has also gotten new inspiration, not least from the performance "Infruset" performed by the Malmö Symphony Orchestra. Arja Saijonmaa, who participates there, stated: "You're like me, you sing with struggle and melancholy", says Björn Dixgård and laughs.
What would the 20-year-old Dixgård have thought about the new album?
I would have thought "what a bloody old fart".
Wholehearted
Mando Diao's chemistry is better than ever, thinks Björn Dixgård. But he appreciates working wholeheartedly on his album. Music has become increasingly important to him.
Since it just keeps going. Everything else dies, it sounds so bloody dark and gloomy, but that's just the way it is, and you should say goodbye to people. But music is not separation, and I'm dependent on it.
To feel good, he needs to create.
I don't have a diagnosis, but if I had, it would probably be called "ABBCDFGHB Elvis Presley goodbye". Because I easily get caught up in the next thing, but this I want to perfect.
Born: 1981
Career: Singer and guitarist in Mando Diao. Now releasing the single "Fear of winning" on October 25, from the first solo album "Shadowlands", which comes in February.
Family: "A wife named Emma and two children, 13 and 15. So I'm not so cool anymore, that time is over. But they're wonderful, I think, of course."
Lives: Bromma in Stockholm. "I'm a Bromma boy, I never thought I'd be, but I am. From Lego to pompadour."
Plans: Wants to do a performance based on the new album where a kind of music machine he has built is included. "Björn and the machine" is the working title.
About Mando Diao: "Not everyone has to pull in the same direction, we're a whole ocean storming. Now it's very good chemistry, I don't know what it is, but everyone contributes in a good way and everyone is involved. When it was just me and Gustaf (who has left the band, ed. note), it was a bit like Hitler and Mussolini side by side, it wasn't so fun for the others."
