WE are a very interesting band from Norway who released their third album "Wooferwheels" some time ago. As you can expect from a band signed on Voices Of Wonder; the band has very poor distribution and marketing outside Norway. Lord Loch Lomond took time of from his corpses and contacted WE for an update. Our wonderful questions was answered by Krisvaag/drums.



1. When and where was WE started ?? Could you give us a biography ?

WE was started back in 91. WE then had another bassplayer. Most of the time was spent on local giggings in and around Oslo. This line up released nothing, except for a four track demo entitled "Surreal Opportuneties and Penguins". It was printed in some 50 ex and is today unavailable of course.
In 1993 Geir A.Jensen (Goshie)joined in on bass, and he is our current bass player. WE have released three long players entitled:
"IN A FIELD OF MOOSE" (nun 001 cd) released september 94.(sold out and today unavailable)
"VIOLENTLY COLOURED SNEAKERS (vow 056cd) released september 96
"WOOFERWHEELS" (vow 063 cd/vow 063 dbl.lp)

2. Who are currently playing in WE ?

The members of WE today are:
Don A. Dons – guitars and fx/backing vocals
Goshie-bassguitars/fx/backing vocals
Felby-vocals/devices
Krisvaag-drums/percussion/backing vocals

3. Could you please describe your first two albums for us ?

Our first; "In a Field of Moose" was our debut, and as the amateurs we were we went in all possible traps.
It was recorded in a shitty studio downtown Oslo called Endless Sound. If you listen careful to this with headphones you can hear the citytrains rolling by in several songs. This album did almost nothing but to teach us things. It had an unofficial release in june 94. WE released it on our own label; NUN MUSIC.
The same autumn Voices of Wonder picked it up for distribution.
In the beginning of 96 WE was signed to Voices of Wonder. The same spring we went to a very good studio located in southeast of Norway, very close to Sweden, in a town called Halden.
WE recorded "Violently.." in eight days, and to mix our album WE brought down Helge Sten aka. Deathprod. He mixed it in four days. This album very much settled the direction and musical style for us. "VIOLENTLY.." also made us playing our first foreign shows in Denmark and Germany.

4. You have released a new album called "Wooferwheels". Could you just give us a presentation of this album in your own words ?

"WOOFERWHEELS" was released in Scandinavia sept 97, and in the rest of Europe january 98. It is our best album to date, written and produced all by ourselves in our own studio in Oslo. It is way more dirty and heavy, and the songs are better. This release gained massive reviews all over Europe, some of course also bad, but shit that’s the way it works. On this album the listener will defenitively find all aspects of WE; from pure nonsense to real metal. Find out for yourself..

5. Have you done any gigs in Norway and abroad ? Please tell us more....

WE have always been a live-band. As to playing live, I think it is what WE are best on. From 1993 WE played live more or less seriously. Every year since has been progressing regarding the amount of concerts.
Only in 1998 WE have been on two German tours (Feb and June) and inbetween a leg two in Norway. In Autumn 97 we did the first leg of the Norwegian Tour.
Our web- site has all dates WE remember from 1993 and up till date. Our current live situation is very good. On our last tour in Germany WE were picked up by a major booking agency, and plans are being made for a major tour to emerge when our next record comes out. WE really hope to get to Scotland, which I think not is to unrealistic. WE have actually gotten a lot of response from you - our brothers in the west. There are also plans for a tour this October to(hopefully , we don’t choose..) include Sweden, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, England and Scotland. But what do we know? We are waiting to play for any territory who want metal. Definitely, playing live is the most important thing to do, I believe that still is the way to capture new listeners. You have to show yourself in front of an audience. To us that’s rule number one.

6. I would put it to you that WE are a part of a part of a scene in Norway that is ignored outside Norway. This scene include Seigmenn, NoPlaceToHide, WE, Red Harvest, Motorpsycho and Minas Tirith. What is your view on my theory and the bands involved ?

Norway has no tradition in exporting their homegrown music except for some tasteless pop music now and then (well; Black Metal....ed). WE have worked very hard to make things happen. And things are starting to move in our direction these days. Still I think bands from Norway with small companies backing them has to be willing to work even harder to make things happen. WE have always worked like that.
I know the European Underground scene is very open for acts from the whole of Scandinavia. But I think Scotland and England (in particular) are very hard markets to break into. But reality to us is working even harder to get something going. One of our biggest goals for the near future are playing live in England and Scotland.

7. What is the advantages and disadvantages for WE being located in Norway ?

Well, I think the disadvantages are many. WE are not located in the actual centre of the universe, and therefore WE have to be very updated. Still it seems like coming from Scandinavia these days playing rock is a good combination. I can’t see any advantages living in Norway doing the things WE do. WE are just born here.

8. You are signed on the maverick label Voices Of Wonder. I have heard from other bands signed on this label that they do not trust Voices Of Wonder when it comes to marketing and promotion outside Norway. What is your impression of this situation ?

Voices of Wonder is still a small label, with limited resources. They have been fairly good in promoting WOOFERWHEELS. But to gain a push from them you have to show hard work and the will to go touring abroad. Of course our albums could have been better promoted, but to date WE are fairly happy. This game involves more partners than just a record company. In order to be seen and heard you gotta have the right people promoting your product. To us it is important that these people at first like music, and that they make the right impact on people in the business.

9. What is your view on politics, philosophy and religion ?

Both WE (as a group) and me as a person are not heavily involved in neither of these. Norway still is a country with minimal problems compared to central Europe and other territories. I can assure you that WE are in this game to rock. Though, politics in Norway these days allows us to laugh a lot. The parties ruling in Norway these days are total nutcases. They have only made the whole of Norway look more stupid than ever. These politicians are too stupid to get angry with. They are just immensely irritating sometimes, but as a whole we see them as B- comedians trying to tell people how to think and live. WE are just laughing. No one listens to them anyway..

10. Norway is currently ruled by a political party called Kristent Rodt Faenskap. What is your view on living in a country run by christian paedofiles ? Have these paedofile christian communists put any restrictions on your activities ?

KRF is in a ruling position these days.. but for how long ? As mentioned above these people are stupid trying to predict a certain way of living. I think 9 out of 10 give a shit in what they are saying. Their main goal is to get Norway back on track (?) with healthy views and believing in God. But they have forgot that Norwegians mainly stay outside churches and similar places. What irritates us though, is that everybody in Norway still pays taxes to maintain the Church of State. I think these people should be able to pay their own expenses, not relying on the same amount to be cashed in every year in due to uphold their position. All they do nowadays is fighting towards each other. They still haven’t managed to make life shitty for us. No restrictions yet either. If they try, WE`ll fuck èm bad.

11. When I want a bottle of single malt whisky for a nice evening together with the rest of the Infested Graveyard cult; I can walk down to my newspaper agent and buy a bottle for £ 15. How is the situation in Norway when you want a bottle of "the water of life" (Single Malt) ?

Well you are lucky. Norway and Sweden is probably on of the most strict countries when it comes to selling alcohol. All spirits and wines are sold in special shops, and translated to English it would be: "The Vinemonopoly". This is a government ruled shop, which has monopoly in Norway selling all sorts of alcohol except beer. If WE should buy a bottle of whisky I presume it would cost the double as in Scotland. Horrible isn’t it ? And there are strict rules for opening hours. You cant buy booze after 5 pm. Sad, but reality sometimes sucks…

12. The business for my funeral agency has been far from good. It seems like people refuse to die these days. Is it also your experience that people has other things to do in Europe than die ?

Yes. I have plans for some more years on this planet before dying. Have to play more metal first..

13. What is your plans for the coming months and year ? Any upcoming tours ?

We are in the middle of writing new material. Hopefully a tour will happen during October. Then recording the album. A European release is scheduled for January 99, with a major tour to back it up. Then WE hit for the summer festivals of 99. If WE don’t get to Scotland in October I think it will happen in early 99. WE can’t wait to play there.

14. What is Nun Music ?

NUN MUSIC is our own company. WE book the Norwegian tours through NUN MUSIC. All of our merchandise is available here. WE put all our money and fees into NUN MUSIC in order to pay as little tax as possible. NUN MUSIC also released our first album, and has all rights to it. It is our own production company so to speak.

15. Do you have a merchandise list ? From what address can the band be contacted ?

I know our previous albums are available in Scotland through Plastic Head distribution.. I know they have it, and I also know they don’t do their work properly. But if you ask in a good record shop they will manage to get them for you. WE can be contacted at the following addresses:

WE’s home page

There is a lot about the band, tours, articles, facts, pictures, the story of WE, future plans and so on.

or write to:

NUN MUSIC DA
att:WE
P.O.Box 5268 Maj.
0303 Oslo
Norway

We wish WE good luck and we will follow their progress with interest in the coming months and years.


Press release from WE/Nun Music 25. August 1998:



WE are currently working on their third official album due to be released in Europe in the beginning of jan 98.
The present title is set to be "SHADES WE WEAR".
According to the band this album will be harder than the previous albums and containing more songs. But the WE sound will not be forgotten. The album will be released in both cd and a double vinyl edition, the vinyl hopefully to include som bonustracks and rare recordings.
THE ALBUM WILL AS IT STANDS TODAY BE RELEASED ON VOICES OF WONDER WORLDWIDE with some exceptions for some countries, where licensing deals will commerce. WE states this album will surprise the fans around.

For WE updates look to our home page (a link is placed somewhere else on this page):

THE RELEASE WILL BE FOLLOWED UP BY A FULL EUROPEAN TOUR HOPEFULLY TO INCLUDE:
SWEDEN, DENMARK, GERMANY, SWITSERLAND, ITALY, HOLLAND, BELGIUM, ENGLAND AND SCOTLAND.
A full Norwegian Tour will commerce right after the European Tour is finished. WE will then hit the summerfestivals, both in Scandinavia and Europe.