Interview by Kpwebben
Hi guys, what have you been up to since last time? John: A lot of planning and practice for our summer tour. It’s going to be really fun. We're going in a minibus with "JTR" on it. Tom: With our faces on!!! John: So anyone who sees the minibus must honk!
It's going to be the first Sweden tour? John: Yes! We're looking forward to tour around, play and have fun! Robin: It's going to be fun to play the new single and see the response on it. It's fun to play Building it up when everyone's singing along. Everyone knows it!! Even my dad sings it every time he hears it.
Tell us about the new single Centre of everywhere. John: There's a line in the song that goes: “To the middle of nowhere, centre of everywhere”, which means that nowhere can be everywhere. Tom: ... If you're with the right person. You're in the centre if you're with the right person. Robin: It can be love related to a relationship or to a friendship. John: We've tried to get 'arena feelings' with the song, it's pop, but also indie. Robin: We want to show people what you can do with a band, Building it up is a pop song, but in Centre of everywhere we're able to show something more genuine.
Does people recognize you on streets nowadays? Tom: Yes, sometimes. It's mostly when we're all together. Robin: But most of them are standing a bit away from us, they don't dare say "hi". Tom: In Australia, fans were further forward, they were coming to take pictures and stuffs. Fans here in Sweden are a bit more careful.
Which kind of kids were you? John: I was a very calm kid, Robin and Tom were overactive. My mom had to check on me to be sure there was nothing wrong with me (laugh). She thought I was too calm, too normal, to say the least. Now, Robin and Tom are quiet. They are still active, but they won't throw pastries everywhere now.
How was it growing up together? John: I can explain you exactly how a afternoon looked like. I was in the room with my friends, I'm a lot older than Tom and Robin, so we wanted to hang out just between us, but they tried to get into my room. Then, I saw them put an arrow in the keyhole and shoot it with a bow which hit a guitar I had on my wall, it fell down and it broke. That's how it was growing up with them. Robin: Tom and I were always beating each other. We had pillow fights and it ended when Tom and I were crying. John and his friends were much bigger than us, I always had a headache after our pillow fights. Tom: But it was also fun. We were always playing together.
Can you describe each other with one word? Robin: John is delightful! And Tom is clean, he always wants to be neat and clean around himself. Tom: John is soft, and Robin is crazy. John: Robin is “nice-crazy”, and Tom is someone between calm and crazy. We need a word to describe himself!
Do you have a celebrity crush? Tom: Selena Gomez! I can't believe we were close to be her opening act, and then she canceled the whole tour. John: I like John Meyer. I would like to have a dinner with him and talk about guitars and clocks. Robin: I have a girlfriend since 6 years so I don't really have a celebrity crush, but we can say I have a man crush on Justin Bieber, he has a cool style!
Describe the perfect summer holiday. John: There's sun every day and all our friends are at home. Robin: Yes! It's so difficult when you call a friend and someone's like "No, Isak is in Spain" and you're like: "Ok, what should I do now?". Tom: When you eat ice cream and you hang out with your friends. Robin: I have a good summer memories! My friend and I bought a small inflatable pool and then we bought a 2 liters soda. We placed the pool in the sea like a boat, and then we sat there drinking the soda and we were enjoying ourselves! Tom: But don't do that without life jackets!
If you only could bring just one thing on your tour, what would it be? Robin: My computer! Tom: A nintendo Wii. John: Then, I'll bring the car to be able to drive them when they are playing.
If you only could eat one type of food during your whole life, what would it be? Tom: Easy! Tacos. John: I chose pasta, I never get tired of it. Robin: Meatballs with potatoes, sauce and cowberry. It's always good.
If you could choose to be an animal, which one would you be? John: A dolphin! I love to surf and I had sick moments in my life when I was surfing and dolphins were jumping next to me. Robin: I would be a fox. It's like a wolf but not as dangerous and not as angry... But it's fast, smooth, and it knows how to fit in the nature. Tom: I would have totally been a wolf. Wolves are super cool. Robin: It's just because you want to eat me up. Tom: Haha, yes maybe!
What do you want to tell everyone out there that has a dream, but are too scared to make it comes true? John: A lot of people will say you shouldn't do it and that you should choose something easier.. But you won't go anywhere without trying! If you give 1 or 2 years on something and it isn't working, you've always tried! Robin: Don't listen to what everyone else says, you have to follow your own heart. Tom: If it doesn't hurt you, go for it!!
(JTR's summer tour starts June 23th, Halmstad is their first stop)
Interview translated from Swedish to English by @annaeriicsson.