Peter Bjorn and John to Perform at Bluebird Theater
It’s been a decade since Swedish music group Peter Bjorn and John (so named for their three members: Peter Morén, Björn Yttling and John Eriksson) broke through to the mainstream in the U.S. with the popular indie single Young Folks, and their special brand of pop rock has delighted audiences all over the world, who have stuck with the trio through the release of seven albums.
Their most recent, Breakin’ Point, was released this month, and you will hear a mix of selections from their current album as well as some of their greatest hits in a one-night-only performance at the Bluebird Theater in Denver on Wednesday, June 29 at 8 p.m. Doors open at 7. Tickets start at $20 per person and advance purchases can be made online by going to bluebirdtheater.net.
Björn Yttling has played a number of roles throughout his 17 years with the band, including singer, songwriter and producer. I talked to him about the current tour, what this album signifies, and even Sweden’s role in the U.S. music industry today in this special interview for OUT FRONT Colorado.
Are you excited about this tour?
Oh yes. For me, there’s something special about touring North America and visiting all the places and people here. Don’t get me wrong, I like touring elsewhere too, but there’s just something I really enjoy about the U.S. and about Canada.
What kind of show can audiences expect when they see you in Denver?
If anyone saw us before, I think people will enjoy this show because it’s going to be topped with “extra special sauce.” What I mean is that usually it’s just us three on stage, but this time we will have two extra people performing with us, so we can play more textured things and have a broader sound. Plus we’ll be performing a lot more music this time, because the last time we came, people basically only knew one album’s worth of songs. Now you’ll get to hear all of it, and of course since we just released our new album Breakin’ Point, there will be selections from that as well.
Please tell us about the title track and also about that awesome music video.
The record title is about us as a band working and reaching the point where we can fold or just go for it and make the best possible album that we know how to do. When you’re about to give up and you go the distance and make your dreams happen, to us that’s the “breaking point.” The song’s message is about major moments in our lives, like for example, having a child, for people who are parents. One day you live life one way without a kid, and the next you have this child, and your life is completely different.
When we planned the music video, we definitely wanted it to have a European look and feel. I think it’s interesting, because a lot of our breaking points aren’t necessarily outside influences. The breaking points can happen due to your own choices and the way you live your own life. And of course it’s natural to be scared during those times too.
After seven albums, does it get easier or does it get harder for all of you to put together an album? Why?
It depends on what you want. If someone decides they want to put together a one-note album for 40 minutes, then it’s easy to do. If you want your album to be the best you want it to be, and you want the songs to have nuance and the performances to be fantastic, then you need to work at things longer. With some bands there isn’t the luxury of time, especially if you’re a new band, because you just have to put the new material out on the market.
We had five years between this album and the last one, and we worked on it starting a year after the last tour we had, the Gimme Some Tour. We didn’t really have a deadline this time; we were just encouraged to make the record as good as we wanted it.
Many Swedish singers, music acts and DJs are becoming very popular draws in the U.S. music industry. Which Swedish music act, in your opinion, do you want to see break through the U.S. market who hasn’t yet?
The one I’m most impressed with is a singer/songwriter named Albin Lee Meldau. I think he’s great, and the best part is I think he will break through to this market. There are also bands that record on the label INGRID, that I helped start, that I think people should definitely listen to, such as Amason. People would really like them if they haven’t heard them.
You’re touring the U.S. at a very vulnerable time for our national LGBT community, after the tragedy that occurred in Orlando. Do you have any special words of encouragement for your LGBT fans?
The events have touched me deeply. I remember the events in Paris, which shook me, and it felt like it was occurring all over again. People won’t accept being pushed around for being who they are. I say the best thing is to live your life, be yourselves, and be happy, because love and happiness are always the answers.
What’s ahead for you and for the group?
We’re going to tour Australia for the first time in ten years, which is really exciting. I think we’re going to have a lot of fun. Then we’re going to Europe, and then back to the Americas. I’ll be very happy to come back. I never get tired of America.
