▶ Tell us the interesting story behind the bands moniker.
Mondegreen means misheard lyrics, and well, a Dylan mondegreen refers to misheard Bob Dylan lyrics. It wasn’t my intention that people should believe it’s a person’s name, but it seems like most do. I think the name says something about the beauty of pop music; that it doesn’t need to be understood or analyzed.
▶ When did the band form and how long did it take to find the bands own sound?
I started making demos for this project in 2005, and recorded my debut album during 2006 and 2007. I’ve been in several bands before that, and felt pretty sure about how I wanted Dylan Mondegreen to sound. I wanted to make melodic indie-pop and flavour it with my favorite elements from every decade: the freshness from the 60s, the smoothness from the 70s, the cheesiness from the 80s, but without it sounding unmodern or retro.
▶ What releases have you put out thus far, and which would be the one to listen to for the uninitiated?
My debut album, While I Walk You Home, was released in 2007. The follow-up, The World Spins On, came in 2009. And now, the third and self-titled album is here. I actually do think the newest one would be a good start.
▶ Is there a particular live show that stands out amongst all the rest?
Perhaps not so much one show, but the whole experience of touring Japan in 2009. That’s something I’ll always remember. They are the most polite audience, and sadly, due to jet-lag, I think I let them down big-time with my first concert in Tokyo. Couldn’t perfectly rememember a single song. I hope to repair the damage when I’ll be playing there again in October.
▶ Can you talk about a Highlight and a Lowlight of the journey so far?
The obvious highlight would be when I completed my debut album and soon after the first single was put on heavy rotation on National radio. Hearing your own song on the radio for the first time is a very special feeling, indeed.
The lowlight would our first show at The Great Escape in Brighton in 2008. The soundcheck went well and the band and I felt well-prepared. But when we went on stage, the band before us had broken down the drum set, removed all amps and re-arranged the microphones. I think it took us one hour before we were able to play. There were only ten people in the audience, but they were all A&Rs from the big companys. When we finally started to play, we played every song way too fast, and couldn’t hear anything in the monitors. The A&Rs started sneaking out one by one, and I can’t really blame them.
▶ What does ‘success’ mean to the band?
Success is to have the time and resources to record new music, and feel that it means something to someone. Every penny I earn on music is spent on studio time or studio equipment. My biggest fear is that one day, I can no longer afford to make a proper sounding record.
▶ You are in control of forming a 4 piece ‘supergroup’ – who is in it and what do they do?
That’s a tricky one. I don’t really have a favorite guitar player or favorite drummer etc. But it would be interesting to hear this band: Johnny Marr on guitars, Ulrich Schnauss on synthesizers, Chet Baker on vocals and trumpet and Kate St John on oboe.
▶ If you and 3 bands of your choosing were to do a world tour; who would the other 3 bands be? (Active or not)
Coldplay to attract a huge audience, Billy Bragg to entertain them and then Nickelback would play before me, ’cause after their performance everything would sound exciting.
▶ What will be the strangest thing on your rider when you’re able to make any demand?
To have an Eames lounge chair to relax in, because I could never justify spending so much money on a piece of furniture.
▶ Finally, in a climate saturated with bands vying for listener attention; why should the good old folks at home listen to you guys?
Because it would make them feel better!
