Interview with Martin Olsson of Inzoule

Author

Jarod Smith
January 25, 2025

What got you into music, and if you had not gotten into music what would you be doing today?

Music has been a part of my whole life. Mom sang a lot when I was in her belly and once I got born I would always stop doing what ever I was doing when she sang the same songs as when I was in her belly. I have played several instruments, started recording on my home computer in the middle of the 90s. I have been in choirs and I was also leading them. It was natural for me to start study music, which I did 2005-2009 in the university of Skövde in Sweden. It was a wide spectra of different things like songwriting, music production, playing instruments, singing, arranging and also mixing/mastering. I now have my own studio and make my own music, but I also produce for others as well as recording and mixing.

What do you like to do when you are not playing music and how does that influence your creativity?

I am a creative person, so I do anything from wood carving to paint. I also appreciate all kinds of arts and mostly moving pictures. Movies and series is something I truly love as well. I also do a lot of video editing on my own business, mostly for youtube. I also have an ordinary job which I love, cause it is about love and social parts of my love. I Work at a nursing home for people with Dementia, and it has a big meaning and impact in my life and creativity. As a creative person I spend a lot of energy in all my projects, so I really appreciate my down time.

How long has your band been around?

Also, please tell me about the dynamic of the band of what brought you all together. We started in 2010ish slowly and we were verry active around 2012-2014 and then we split up. Band members moved to far away, so it was hard to keep up as a band so far apart. In late 2024 we decided to start up again, and do a reunion and create music that we love together again. So Worthy Of Honor is our first single since the reunion and we are so excited to hear what people will think about our song.

Where are you based and how did that influence your music?

We’re based in a small town of Skara in Sweden. Sweden has a lot of history with music over all, anything from Abba, Max Martin, u know pop to a lot of big rock bands like Europe, the guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen, and a lot of big Metal bands. Sweden has also for many years been looking towards USA and its culture. So as a kid I grew up with anything from Little Richard, Elvis, Beachboys to Metallica, Michael Jackson, Bruce Springsteen (Which Swedes love and call “The Boss”) and Eddie Van Halen. I listened to so many different genres in me teens, but some of my “house gods” were, Foo Fighters, Queen, MEW, Sigur Ros, The Prodigy, Devin Townsend and Coldplay. I have also always loved Hans Zimmer as he composes the most epic soundscapes for movies, and I am really drawn towards the big sounds, the wall of sound if you will.

How did you come up with the name of your band and what does it mean to you?

It started as a bit of a joke like, an inner sole for a shoe, because we sounded like crap in the beginning. But we always liked the sound of the name and that it also has another meaning pointing towards to your soul, Inside your soul = Inzoule.

Tell me about your most memorable shows.

It was 2012 when a Swedish artist won the whole Eurovision song contest show, Loreen with the song Euphoria. The songwriter for that song is kind of a local hero here, and Inzoule did a version of the song that got popular and we got to play it in Skövde in front of cameras and a big audience celebrating the songwriter Thomas G:son.

What is your favorite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play that you have not already?

I do prefer small and more intimate concerts. A local nice place with good sound is Vara concert house. I love the concerts at the Cemetery Gates and have always wanted to play there.

If you could play any show with any lineup, who would be on the ticket?

I would love to play at the natural formation of the Red Rocks Park, and what a joy it would be to play there the same night as The Foo Fighters.

What is some advice that you would give to someone who is just getting into playing in a band and some advice that you would give to your younger self?

To newcomers: stay true to your musical vision, remain patient, and embrace the learning process. To my younger self: focus on building strong relationships within the band and prioritize open communication to navigate challenges effectively.

Of your songs which one means the most to you and why?

I have written so many songs with deep and personal meaning, but if we keep it to Inzoule it would be the song Another Life on Inzoule’s first album VIE. I wrote that song after a good friend died very young, he died from a vein in the brain that busted. It was something no one knew that he had a weak vein in the brain and was a ticking bomb to go off, so his death was shocking and hard for a lot of people. A big part for me to move on from it was to write that song.

Which songs are your favorite to play and which get requested the most?

My favorite song to play with Inzoule is a song called Arrow of time. That is a song we have not recorded (only demo) or released. We wrote it 2014 and played it a lot, and just starting to play the intro got the crowd crazy.

What is the creative process for the band, and what inspires you to write your music?

Our creative process is collaborative, often starting with individual ideas that we develop together. Inspiration comes from personal experiences, societal observations, and a desire to evoke emotions through our music.

What kinds of messages do you like to get across in your music?

We aim to convey messages of resilience, hope, and introspection, encouraging listeners to reflect on their own experiences and find strength through our songs.

Do you have any new singles, videos, or albums out that you would like to tell me and your fans about?

We are currently working on a whole lot of new material. New music and videos to come with it and we are so excited to show you guys more of it when it’s ready.

What are your plans for the future, and do you have anything that you want to spotlight that is coming up?

Following the release of "Worthy Of Honor," we plan to work on more new music and look forward to find new sounds. We aim to reconnect with our audience and share our evolved sound. We really hope to be able to reach a wider audience.

How can your fans best keep up to date with you, any socials you want people to check out?

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