Words With: Quit Your Day Job

The number of Freaks in the world is ever increasing. Gigwise is full of Freaks, (you knew that already) and you too will be a Freak very soon, because a Freak (like you needed to ask?!) is what Swedish electro punk maniacs Quit Your Day Job call their ever growing legions of fans. With their 8 track EP 'Quit Your Day Job' out now, Mark E Smith-esque singer Jonass, synth genius Andreass and compelling drummer Marcass talk to Gigwise about their troublemaking ways -including imagining their audience with no pants on, deep-seated urges to be obnoxious to old ladies, and visits from the police.

Gigwise: You’re here on your first London gig: what are your impressions of London so far?
Jonass: "It’s big and there are lots of cars."
Marcass: "We’re quite exhausted by the tempo."
J: "Also the police paid us a visit today. I don’t want to go into why. They were nice. English policemen are very nice."

G: Some people might disagree with you on that one?
J: "Bobbies, right?"

G: Yes, bobbies. Don’t try to divert my attention, why are the police after you then?
J: "There was a murder next door."

G: Nothing to do with you?
J: "Oh no. But we can make something up for a good story."

G: Well, why not. All publicity is good publicity…But moving on, would you say that punk is one of your primary influences?Andreass: "We draw from a wide range of different music: old music from the 30s, 40s, and anyone who had the will to do something out of the ordinary, not to live by the common rules, before punk and new wave it was blues. Me and Jonass grew up in a small town, where there were lots of older punks, and that’s how we got in touch with the music."
M: "I was not really into punk, but my way of doing things is punk, like playing the drums…I can’t play drums. But that brings out the punk in me."

G: (He can so play the drums, the little liar) You use a lot of humour in your work which really comes across?
J: "Humour is a weapon! And we also imagine the audience with their pants down."

G: Ding Dong! Well, whatever gets you through.  Who does the writing? Is it a joint thing?
A: "Yes, we jam, we practice and then melt everything down. It’s quite an extended process, it takes a long time to make one song."

G: How long did it take to produce your album?
J: We did the latest album all by ourselves. We have a little digital machine, but it took a long time. We didn’t have a lot of money. Now we do, but back then we didn’t!

G: And with untold fame and riches just around the corner, do you think it will change you?
A: Yes, completely!

G: Will you become totally obnoxious?
A: Yes. The inner obnoxious man will come out. We’ve been suppressing that little guy forever, but it’s time for him to come out! I look forward to being an asshole in every day life, even with my mum and dad, old women…

G: Quite right too. What’s next for Quit Yout Day Job in the meantime?
J: We’ll be touring as much as possible. This summer we are playing at the Download festival, a heavy metal festival actually. We have a very diverse fanbase - we have the heavy metal fans and then we have the old ladies…

G: Those old ladies get in everywhere.
J: We’re also going to record a new full-length album as well. It’s hard to describe what it will sound like, the same, but harder, faster, deeper!

G: I say!

Quit Your Day Job’s mini album – ‘Quit Your Day Job’ is out now on Swedish label I Made This.