In today’s A-Z challenge, we find out all about AGABAS as guitarist Oskar Myrseth takes on our famed 26 questions!
A song that made you want to make music?
Mjød by Kvelertak! This one proved to a lot of Norwegian bands at the time that singing in Norwegian is cool
Best rider you’ve had?
Probably Glasgow last year on our UK tour. This was the first time we actually got everything on our rider. Nothing fancy, just some snacks and beers haha! But you’d be surprised how often the rider is overlooked. Shoutout to John for being a sick artist host
Craziest moment you’ve had in the band?
When we got the call to support Kvelertak on tour! That’s the moment we realized this might turn into something big.
Deepest lyric one of your songs features?
“Agabas! Agabas! Agabas! Agabas!” from the song Agabas.
Easiest song you wrote?
KILL. This one was done in about an hour
Favourite song in your set?
Steg etter steg is always our favorite to play live. People start dancing, we get to mosh with the crowd, it’s just simple enough to play to not have to think too much about it, but just challenging enough to where it’s fun instrumentally.
Guest you’d most like to feature on your record?
Oli Sykes would go hard.
Hardest thing about being in a band?
Having to run a business gaah, we just wanna play music haha! Everything else is awesome though, so it evens out.
Interesting fact about one of your members?
Sondre wrote his master thesis on mosh pits. You can read it online, it’s called Kjøtt i bevegelse
Jokes you have in the band?
That we all kiss and get naked when we’re backstage and nobody’s watching but it’s just a joke, it’s not true!!!
Key to writing a song?
Don’t think about it! Follow your insticts, and write waaay more songs than you think you need. Your biggest banger won’t come when you try to write it, it will be a random one in a pile of one hundred songs you wrote.
Longest distance you’ve travelled to play a show?
From Oslo to Slovenia is our longest one so far! We played at the MENT festival in Ljubljana, it was fun!
Most inspiring musician you’ve experienced?
Nils Nilsen, the drummer in Honningbarna. That guy LIVES the drums (and plays them really well)
New band you’d recommend?
Orbits. Norwegian neo-soul ish, very jazzy and chill but at the same time kind of intense. Check them out!
Opening for this band would be ideal?
MESHUGGAH
Place you’d most like to tour?
A US tour would be really fun
Quote you’d like to pass on to our readers?
“The fuck is yet to come” – Bjørn André Syverinsen
Reason for the title of your recent/forthcoming release?
It was recorded in Hardanger, Norway! Hard Anger, Hardanger, get it?
See us live at?
We are currently on tour with Avatar, come check it out!
The old days of music were better than the current, do you agree?
No, this is a false dichotomy. Some things were better before, some things are better now. We don’t have to choose one, and even if we did, it would still be the present, so there’s no use in getting stuck in the past. Learn what you can from the good old days, try to keep up with how things work today, and maybe you’ll end up making something amazing.
Unusual merchandise?
We don’t have any spicy merch ourselves, but I think I remember Rammstein launching their own brand of dildos that were molded after the band member’s… members. We couldn’t do that though, it would be very embarrassing.
Variations you’d like to do on any of your songs?
We should do a full-on jazz album. Just cover our own songs but do them like full on elevator music. That would really suck!
What do your fans mean to you?
Everything! We are still building, this band is still a far wayfrom us being able to make a living from it, and the people who are supporting us on this journey are SO important to us. Early adopters deserve the world.
X-rays or any treatments needed for band related injuries?
We’ve been lucky. Some bruises and minor wounds, but that’s about it. Or maybe we are indestructible!!
You’re late for a show, whose fault is it?
Sondre, if you’re reading this, I’m sorry but… it’s you
Zoo animal that next describes the personality of your band?
Monke
Picture credit: Terje Frostad