The Confusions
Mikael Andersson-Knut - Vocals, Guitars
Zarah Edstrom - Keyboards, Piano, Organ, Vocals
Mattias Lofstrom - Drums & Rhythm, Machines
Henrik Svensson - Guitars
Magnus Thorsell - Bass
Tell me about your history? How did you get where you are now?
THE CONFUSIONS have now established a reputation as one of Sweden's cleverest pop exports. A fistful of fine albums has more than convinced any doubters.
The band's album "Everyone's Invited" was perhaps their breakthrough, acclaimed throughout the pop press as one of the very best albums of the year. With its quirky ideas, strong melodies and inventive playing, the album is a delight: check out "Steroid hearts" or "Cornflake King", both of which did well as singles. The latter was rotated on the French equivalent to MTV, MCM International.
The album wasn't short of fans around Europe. Several of Britain's notoriously fussy music magazines praised The Confusions. Melody Maker put them above Ocean Colour Scene and other domestic bands, Record Collector called the album a "wondrous debut", while Dis-Connected said they deserved to be "bigger than ABBA".
That album was followed up by "Six-0-Seven", once again produced by Peter Svensson of the Cardigans.
The songs are about the usual hang-ups that haunt young life: love, repressed emotions, jealousy and hope.
Their "Trampoline" is an outstanding album. It features the stunning single "The Pilot", which hit number one on MTV's Up North chart and the song got a lot of attention from outside Scandinavia. The album was released in Japan, Taiwan and "The Pilot" was released in France.
The Evening Telegraph wrote "Add these guys to the list of superb Swedish bands. They Borrow from the past (60s Britpop, Bowie) without the self consciousness of their Anglo Saxon peers".
The Confusions are great fun, but thoughtful at the same time. Not confusing at all, when you think about it.
Have you performed live in front of an audience? Any special memories?
Always play live, enjoy it very much.
Your musical influences
David Bowie, Wilco, The Beatles, Radiohead, The Who, Smashing Pumpkins, Abba, Depehe Mode, Interpool, Björk, Mazzy Star, New Order, Lloyd Cole, Nick Drake, Iggy Pop...
