bi·as ( n ): 2a: A preference or an inclination, especially one that inhibits impartial judgment.

Oh Martin Gustafsson - what the hell is left for me to say about you? First I hear you on TRACT's tribute to Will Oldham (with "A Sucker's Evening"), and my heart relocates to the spine of infinite welcoming. Then further research finds what was my core listening of 2004 in I Name You Isolation - an album that still gets complete rotations bi-monthly.

Flash to the summer of 2005 (after you dearly contributed to meaningless... with "Papa Was A Rodeo" [MP3]), and I'm hearing the start of what would eventually become your second album, The Black Tango - over twenty tracks at the time. Now as 2006 sweeps through our weathered hearts, it comes as no surprise that the same little music review webspot that wrote nice things about your music decides it might just be a great idea to release your record.

Fucking brilliant. Your discography, that is.. .

America, meet Gothenburg's Martin Gustafsson. Boy Omega meet America.

+ As for the area you are from in Sweden, there seems to be quite a bit of music coming from that area that is getting some exposure [think catbird's mentions of Magnus Larsson, BomBom...]. Has the "scene" been alive for awhile or do you feel there is something more coming to life now (like the Montreal scene now: Arcade Fire, Wolf Parade)?

I guess "the scene" has been alive for a while, but that it's maybe getting more attention nowadays. It probably/hopefully also has to do with the artists getting better and more interesting as well. I actually haven't heard of Magnus Larsson or BomBom though... but I would gladly recommend Lassus, The Book of Daniel, Audrey, Björn Kleinhenz, Midaircondo, Erik De Vahl, Alarma Man, El Perro Del Mar and Patrik Torsson. They're all Gothenburg-based acts. Some of them sometimes play in the Boy Omega-orchestra as well.

+ And The Book of Daniel is your brother, correct? Does he play an active / touring role in Boy Omega? I am aware of the 7" split you two did together.

Yes, he's my brother, and we are very close. I play bass and sing some backing vocals on his forthcoming debut album, but he's not active in Boy Omega. We've just started a new project together though. Very different sounding compared to our main projects. Kind of experimental and ambient.. . some of our songs will hopefully end up in a Swedish movie in the future. We don't have a name yet though.

+ What's your songwriting process like - I'd imagine it takes a special mindset to A] constantly create new songs and B] have them be so consistently good. Do you wake up in the morning with songs in your head, or are you inspired by events of that hour/day/week (or maybe those around you?) and need to get them out? Do you have to sit and work for the songs to make themselves known, or is it an almost natural-feeling process?

Well... I guess I'm just lucky. It's a very natural-feeling process. The songs just come to me, and that's the way it's always been. I write songs all the time, and I've always done so, since I started playing music. There's always a lot of stuff going on in my head, so there's always things to write about. I try not to think about it too much. The only bad thing about it is that I'm always some steps ahead of my release schedule. Like for the moment I'm already working on album number 3 (which is almost finished) and album number 4 (which I'm thinking of making a double-album) - and my second album (The Black Tango) hasn't even been released yet.. .ha ha. I have some side projects to keep me busy as well. The bands Kubot, Monsters of Kattegatt and Hell is in Hello. I just can't push the stop button. It's kind of like a drug I guess. Some people ice-skate everyday - I write and record songs. I also really enjoy the recording process, and I'm not too picky. Almost all of the songs I record I use the first or second take. I like to get things done fast, and I truly believe that you lose some sort of feeling if you were to record like say the same vocals 20 times in a row. I also always strive to push myself into doing new things. I think that's really important. I don't believe in doing the same thing twice.

+ You grew up listening to stuff that's nothing like the music you're making today. So, how did you get from point A to point B--influences and stuff. And is one ever capable of leaving that musical stuff behind (kinda like people I know today that will always have a soft spot for hair metal)---like does KISS pop up somehow in your compositions?

I still love the old KISS albums, and I still listen to them from time to time, especially Creatures of The Night. They were the reason why I started playing drums (my first main instrument), so I'm eternally greatful to them. And as for influences... that's a bit of a tricky question, cause I still listen to so many different genres in music. I also find a lot of influences in everyday life, in movies, books etc. I guess my all-time-favorite bands would be The Cure, New Order and Depeche Mode. They've released some amazing stuff throughout the years, and I've been listening to them since I was 12.

+ Are you planning to ever tour in the US? This place is a trap - have any pre-conceived notions about our tarnished Country?

I'd love to come and tour the US. It's just a money-issue I guess. Any pre-conceived notions? Well - If the questions is: do I think George W Bush is an a*shole? Then yes I do.

+ What if we aren't real - and this all IS a dream.. .? (thinking "We might not be real" - from 2004's I Name You Isolation)

Yep - what if.. .?

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