Rising stars Tussilago are as much a family as a band. And like any clan, they have grown and evolved since their initial incarnation in 2011, taking their trademark spontaneous creativity and psychedelic sounds and merging them with knowledge picked up along the way.

Tussilago’s studio and rehearsal space is in the centre of Stockholm. It is made up of two small rooms and filled with musical equipment of any kind imaginable. There are synthesisers and guitars everywhere, ready to be picked up and played at any given moment. The air is thick with creativity that flows through the room during the jams that spark most Tussilago songs. Four of the five members are present and the relaxed vibe makes it feel like you’re in someone’s living room.

Guitarist Samuel Lundin explains how interviews with the entire group tend to be confusing, since another of their talents seems to be changing the subject without realising. That is why, this time, only bassist Pierre Riddez and singer/guitarist Rickard Renström will take part in our interview. So, we leave Lundin and keyboard master Andreas Sjöqvist dealing with studio business and head out to the quiet Sunday streets. On our way out, we run into the most recent Tussilago recruit heading to the studio, drummer Karl “Hovis” Hovmark, who is sporting a relaxed retro look. All five band members have individual styles that are unified by their fashionable yet laid-back wardrobes, making them a natural choice for dressing up in Lee’s wares. Autumn has begun to make itself known in Stockholm and Riddez and Renström draw their long black coats closer round them as we step out into the cold of the September evening.

Tussilago finished recording an EP with renowned producer Petter Winberg before the summer; it’s due to be released at the beginning of next year. At the moment they are in the middle of projects that are taking their concept further and challenging them in new ways.

“Right now we’re recording a full-length album all on our own, which is a big thing for us,” says Riddez, before going on to talk about the two videos they’ve recently made. “The first one we shot with Bell & Light, two friends of ours who have filmed us before. We styled ourselves and made a performance video with them, taking artistic input from them. I find it interesting to let people in and to let them bring their own ideas.”

“We’ve only worked with people that we know, our friends,” says Renström.

“Our friends reflect us and vice versa,” continues Riddez. “It’s nice to work together because you like each other, not just because someone is popular. Both parties benefit from it.”

Tussilago choose to collaborate with people close to their hearts in all aspects of their music, hence the earlier reference to family and the way they all work together towards a common goal. Starting out as a quartet they have come a long way from learning their instruments together. The original drummer, Zacharias Zachrisson, who graced the cover of The Forumist Issue 6, was replaced by Hovmark six months ago, about one year after Sjöqvist joined on synthesiser. This new formation of Tussilago is moving forward together, towards musical endeavours that may be different from the way they used to do things when the band started out. Part of the change is new family members Howmark and Sjöqvist bringing a new harmony and a replenished humbleness to the group, as Riddez sees it. Also, the original members have learned more about making music without losing their original outlook, meaning they’ve been able to turn the limitations of Tussilago’s musical knowledge at the start into an advantage, making a new sound for a new age. “We didn’t know how you were supposed to make songs, so we did it our own way. Now we can work with a larger spectrum and choose what to do,” says Renström.

“I like to see change in a band,” says Riddez. “People change all the time and so does their taste in music. There has been an organic development, even though it will always be Tussilago. We just keep on being ourselves, making music we like, doing what we want to do. I’m curious about how far we can take that.”

Credits:

Words by Filip Lindström
Photography by Oskar Gyllenswärd
Styling by Emma Thorstrand at LinkDetails
Special thanks to Lee

Instagram: @tussilagoband

Fashion Credits:

Lee, all available at Brothers.se

1. Rickard wears Raglan T-shirt, Pierre wears Button Down Shirt

2-3. Rickard wears Bib and Shirt

4. Rickard wears Raglan T-shirt and Jeans

5. Pierre wears Raglan T-shirt

6. Pierre wears Overshirt