Henrik Bjornsson of Singapore Sling

Since the dawn of the 21st century Iceland's own Singapore Sling has been leading and fuzz-droning the Rock and Roll faithful from Reykjavík to Reno. They believe in the Rock like others believe in Jesus and get their cool on proper. I asked singer Henrik Bjornsson some questions.

Taste The Blood is your third album, how did it's recording go?

We had gone through some line up changes and a fair amount of bullshit, when we decided it was time to record and release something, and so we did. It was recorded in our practice space on an 8 track and a 16
track last fall/winter. I recorded it mostly myself, with the help of guitarist Hákon and a cheapo drum
machine. It sounds damn good. An other record is in the making these next few months and an EP is ready
for mixing... I´m hoping for a US release of Taste the Blood early next year.

What do you think about the Icelandic music scene and all the attention it's been getting lately?

I find thinking about music scenes utterly pointless. Also, I don´t think it´s as much attention now as it was a few years ago. But who really cares? Not me!

Elvis or Gene Vincent?

I´ll take them both.
 
You can hear the garage spirit in The Slings, who do you count as influences?

Among garage bands? I´m very influenced by simple and effective things. Like The Sonics, Suicide, The Seeds, Eddie Cochran, Bo Diddley, The Gories.. I really like surf and rockabilly. And of course stuff like The
Jesus and Mary Chain, Velvet Underground and Spacemen 3. And a bunch of other stuff too.
 
What are you listening to these days?

The above. And Saul by Haendel, Tom Waits, Evil Madness and the Brian Jonestown Massacre.
 
How is it playing with The Brian Jonestown Massacre?

It´s great. They are a great band and great people.  We´re hoping to tour with them again soon.
 
You've toured quite a bit in the States to good reviews. How important is it to "make it" in America?

I don´t know. People tell me it makes a big difference... It´s probably most important to have a big label to push you into people´s faces and say "This is good." Then people will buy your records. I hate people. 
 
God gave you Rock and Roll?

No, I found it myself.

Downloads

01 Sunday Club.mp3
02 Curse Curse Curse.mp3
03 Saul.mp3