Interviewed by: Jenny Francois
Date Published: 07.06.05

With a name as Shout Out Louds one would expect massive a showcase where each member yells or plays their respective instruments very loud. This is not the case with Shout Out Louds. The Swedish band, fronted by Adam Olenius, describes themselves as four boys and a girl from Stockholm. Their music is an indie-popsters dream and is highly infectious but does not border into saccharine territory.

The North American debut is a mix of songs previously released in Sweden and five new songs. Howl Howl Gaff Gaff, the debut album from Shout Out Louds, was released in the U.S. on May 24th. Adam took the time to talk to us on sunny June day where he discussed about the music of Sweden, New York, his broken iPod and David Letterman.

Shout Out Louds is Adam Olenius (singer), Carl von Arbin (guitarist), Ted Malmros (bass guitar), Bebban Stenborg (keybordist, accordion and various other instruments) and Eric Edman (drummer).

Aeki Tuesday: Hi Adam.

Adam Olenius: Hello Jenny. How are you doing?

Aeki Tuesday: Very well thank you. And you?

I’m fine.

AT: Let me get started with my questions. How did the Shout Out Louds come about?

We…wait just one second. [background noise] I just got home a couple of hours ago. It came about all of us in the band, we all are friends. We’ve been friends for a couple of years before the band. It’s actually me and Ted, the bass player, we found out that we really enjoyed being in a band. And the way a band should just work. We shared the same ideas. We met at parties and clubs and just ended up sitting and talking about bands and who we love. I’ve been playing a couple of years before that. We just got off from the beginning. I learned to write songs and I thought him the bass. It went on from there.

Aeki Tuesday: Was there a reason why you chose to sing in English rather than your native tongue?

Because of…Actually I started to write something in Swedish recently. We wanted to have our albums released in the U.S. and the UK or in other countries.

Aeki Tuesday: To be more accessible to people?

Yeah. When I was growing up my dad always played Beatles, Chicago, Creedence Clearwater Revival. I think I’ve always been brought up with it.

Aeki Tuesday: Americans seem to have embraced a lot of Swedish bands such as The Soundtrack of Our Lives, The Hellacopters, do you think there’s something in the water about them making great music with great pop sensibility?

Well I don’t know. In this country? Sure there is something. I don’t know what it is. People ask me that and I just know that there are great small labels and that gives everyone a chance to form a band and there’s not a really big struggle to do that. I think the music is a very big tradition. Music is very important in the country - important in Sweden.

Aeki Tuesday: You had mentioned listening to The Beatles growing up. What other types of music and which musicians/groups influenced you growing up?

I listened to a lot of different kind of music. When I was 11 years old I loved George Michael, Pet Shop Boys and all that stuff. Then I listened to harder stuff. I always liked to buy and find out about these bands. I like listening to all kinds of music. I think it’s good that you should do that so you don’t get caught up or you know what I mean?

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Aeki Tuesday: You’ve toured with The Futureheads and now you’re touring with The Dears. What do you think of those bands? Have you heard of them before?

I haven’t heard of The Futureheads before we toured with them. I listened to a couple of songs before we got on tour. I like especially they sound like The Jam. Early British punk sound. I like the Dears and have heard their music. I like them as well they are all right I guess.

Aeki Tuesday: You were in New York about 4 weeks ago and played some shows. Did you enjoy your stay there?

I did yeah. I really liked the city. We started the tour in LA and got to New York after that. It was really nice. I’ve been there a lot. I know where to get my records. I know to get my food.

Aeki Tuesday: Did you find yourself a dive bar to call home?

A bar or a nightclub?

Aeki Tuesday: A bar.

I do remember when I went to a bar; it was in the middle of the night. It was called Black & White bar?

Aeki Tuesday: Yes, I know of it.

But it was very late. Yeah I really liked that bar

Aeki Tuesday: I caught your performance on David Letterman. What do you think of all the national exposure you’re getting in the US?

From the US?

Aeki Tuesday: From the US.

Hold on please. [background noise sounds like a fax or a cellphone] Could you repeat that please?

Aeki Tuesday: I caught your performance on David Letterman, which is really big for you. What do you think of all the national exposure you’re getting in the US?

I’m really happy with it. We seem to be getting some great reviews from great magazines. It’s really nice. It’s something that’s really scary big thing. We always try to work very slowly with our music. I like his TV show and he’s a decent guy. He was very nice in doing that. Everything is a little bit bigger and we’re not used to that but we will be.

Aeki Tuesday: What kind of music are you listening to right now? What’s in your iPod?

My iPod is broken. I bought some records. I really like the new Teenage Fanclub Record. I love Yo La Tengo. I bought Yo La Tengo. I bought Yo La Tengo and an old EP of Arcade Fire. Do you know about that?

Aeki Tuesday: Yeah.

I bought the album. I found out when I was in London yesterday and bought the re-release of the EP. That’s the sort of music I like to listen to.

Aeki Tuesday: Have you heard of The Radio Dept?

Yes! They are actually one of my favorite band. Yeah.

Aeki Tuesday: They are amazing. I caught on to them about 1 year and 1/2 ago.

I think they are the best Swedish band. They are the best pop band. They are great people. We’ve played with them a couple of times. We tried to convince them to come through.

Aeki Tuesday: You have to convince them if you can.

Yeah I will. We tried to get them to tour with us.

Aeki Tuesday: That would be excellent. A lot of people in New York are really feeling that band. That would be great if you tow could play together.

Yeah absolutely.

Aeki Tuesday: What is your favorite track off “Howl Howl Gaff Gaff”?

I think the song that came out. I like The Seagull. That’s the latest song and that’s the recent song we wrote. I like “A Track and A Train.” Those songs are songs that came out of the EP. Our sound really came through well on that.

Aeki Tuesday: You’re going to be touring with the Kings of Leon and The Secret Machines this summer for some west coast dates. That should be exciting for you guys. Are you coming back to the East coast?

Yes. We’re going to do a headline show on the east coast. We’re going to do Montreal and then we’re going to go down to New York. I think around the 8th of August and do more shows around that area. Maybe Maine actually.

Aeki Tuesday: Everyone is looking forward to you coming back.

Thank you and I’ll maybe see you in August.

Site: www.shoutoutlouds.com