A Handstamp Interview with Dag och Natt
Pearl Jam, Stockholm, height politics and the beauty of flaws
I was feeling a little under the weather when I spoke to Elia Mårtensson of dreamy Swedish indie quartet Dag och Natt. Connecting from London to Stockholm, it began as a masking operation, as I attempted to appear a functioning human being through the screen. Despite the lethargy, I was quickly boosted by the natural warmth of Elia’s character.
As one of the band’s many voices, she keenly took me back to her childhood in the Swedish capital, where she and her band members discovered their feverish enthusiasm for music.
Elia Mårtensson Almegård: “Yeah, three of us, the female band members are from Stockholm. I grew up here.”
Handstamp: Did you have a lot of music playing around the house?
Elia Mårtensson Almegård: “Definitely. Both of my parents were huge music fans, even music nerds. All four of the band are nerds about music and it’s definitely what brought us together.”
Handstamp: With your parents being music nerds, I’d guess you were exposed to live shows quite early?
Elia: “Yeah. When you lived in Stockholm, in the city centre, you had MTV and cable quite early, so I was REALLY into 120 Minutes and other shows, so would find out about Pearl Jam and bands like that. I saw Pearl Jam in Stockholm, in a small garden outside Moderna Museet, it was probably their first tour outside of the U.S.’
“It was in the middle of the Swedish summer and the sun goes down REALLY late. Eddie Vedder was like '“we’re going to play until it gets dark” and we thought “ok, good luck!” But they actually played their whole set twice and actually DID play until it got dark! It was such a happy atmosphere.”
Handstamp: Such a great experience. How old were you?
Elia: “I was only about 13, 14? It was mind blowing.”
Handstamp: I’d bet! What were some of the most notable venues in Stockholm?
Elia: “Well for this type of music, only small clubs really. But we felt lucky living in Stockholm, because anywhere else in Sweden and bands weren’t visiting. We saw Ride, Blur, The Stone Roses and other brilliant bands we were into.”
Handstamp: Can you remember a show that made you believe you could pursue music?
Elia: “Well, I went to music school and at the time, I had an indie pop band. I remember going to a guitar shop and wanted a phaser pedal. The guys there just said no and explained to me that they were not cool. So, I left empty-handed. It was such a different atmosphere in the ‘90s, as a girl.’ I remember most of the bands I would see would just be guys.’
“When I saw The Stone Roses, Ian Brown was there physically, but not spiritually.”
Handstamp: I think that applies to a lot of his shows.
Elia: “[laughs] Probably! Well, you know how he waves his arm around when he dances? He did that but with his microphone moving up and down, while he was supposed to be singing, so you could only hear him as the mic passed his face. I remember thinking, I couldn’t do that, as a girl. I was disappointed by that reality, but it probably did make us start a band, as close friends.”
Handstamp: So, you didn’t see any female performers at that time that served as a beacon of hope?
Elia: “Not live, no. On MTV, I’d see Salt N Pepa, Neneh Cherry, just ANY woman would make me feel inspired. Maybe the others did, but not me. It’s weird.”
Handstamp: Did it feel like an act of resistance at the time then, starting a band?
Elia: “It was! Even if it we weren’t mindful, we definitely felt determined for that reason.”
Handstamp: What were some of the lessons you learned early?
Elia: “I definitely learned not to be self-critical. Nobody is interested in seeing a performer in a bad mood because the sound isn’t good. It’s more important to just play, have fun and be inspired. The best shows are when the artist is flawed and they show that.”
Handstamp: I agree. Sometimes, when a band fucks up and starts again, it’s the best part of the show, seeing how they react and own it. It can be charming.
Elia: “I know. Even when it’s super established bands, even they make mistakes.”
Handstamp: It’s especially good in the current climate, where any reminder that the person on stage is human is welcome.
Elia: “[laughs] Yes, that’s good. While AI is making everything.”
Handstamp: It sounds like you were really keen and that shows huge a positive impact on your enthusiasm to perform. Has that enthusiasm sustained?
Elia: “I actually might be more enthusiastic now. I enjoy looking into the technical aspect, the gear the artist is using, the relationship with the audience. It’s super interesting to me, how people build a great show.”
Handstamp: Has that impacted your ability to emotionally connect though?
Elia: “You know, I’ve never really thought about that. That might be the case.”
Handstamp: Well, I guess most people think back nostalgically at those early shows because they were young and green, which lends itself to a more all-consuming experience.
Elia: “That may be the case. But I’ve been to so many shows that have blown my mind in adulthood as well. I can’t put my finger on why. It’s magic sometimes.”
Handstamp: Is there anything that you’d like to put an end to, when it comes to audience behaviour?
Elia: “Yeah. Why is there always a tall guy in front of you? It’s like a law of nature. I don’t know how tall you are?”
Handstamp: Well, that’s the interesting thing. I’m somewhere between 6’4 and 6’5, so this is a great topic for both of us. Share your perspective!
Elia: “[laughs] No way! Well, my perspective is that guys don’t seem to realise how much they’re blocking everybody and we can only see their back. Sometimes I just think they could go to the back and still see the show.”
Handstamp: Can I play devil’s advocate?
Elia: “Yes! Yeah, of course.”
Handstamp: Thank you. Well, I’ve been to a lot of shows, have been going to gigs for years. Generally, I will go to shows with friends who aren’t my height and do want to be a little bit closer. So, if I were to stand near the back and be further away, I wouldn’t be able to share the memories with friends.
However, if you’re a decent human being, you ARE conscious of it and you do try to create little gaps for those behind you. It’s a constant consideration. I HAVE had some interesting conversations with people, who have told me to move to the back.
The fortunate thing is, as I’ve gotten older, everybody I know is less bothered about being close to the front and in fact, usually prefer sitting.
Elia: “I LOVE sitting.”
Handstamp: Absolutely. Big up sitting.
Elia: “I used to go in high heels, so I could see more. But I don’t want to do that to my back anymore.”
Handstamp: What is your attitude toward going to shows alone?
Elia: “I love it. Mainly because I don’t like talking during shows, so when you aren’t with friends, you’re usually more… in the space.”
Handstamp: Yes. I love the shared experience, I like talking about the show with friends afterwards, but I do think it removes social pressure to go alone. I recently saw Neil Young and left early when I had seen him play the songs I wanted to see.
Elia: “Yes, you can do that when you’re alone. It’s great.”
Handstamp: Do you have a shortlist of shows that have made the biggest impact on you?
Elia: “That’s a horrible question. Mainly because my memory is so bad.”
Handstamp: I can wait.
Elia: “I remember seeing Built to Spill, when they released Keep It Like a Secret. They had maybe four guitar players. It was such a massive sound. It was so, so, so nice. It was in Malmo, in the south of Sweden’
“I wish I had more band members here, because I can’t remember much. Oh, we went to see Orbital once. We were really into British dance music for a while and after that we were really into raves. It was a massive experience and it made us go dancing in the woods.’
“Lately, I haven’t seen much that I can think of. I can’t remember much more.”
Handstamp: You’ve given me more than enough. So, the new album is here. How do you feel about sharing it with the world.
Elia: “I am beyond excited, I want to cry. We worked on the record for so long, literally years and years. It’s almost surreal that it exists now. It’s so amazing."
Dag och Natt released the studio album Years and Years in August. Subscribe to Handstamp Substack for future interviews, follow @itshandstamp on social media and just bloody listen to Chief Springs on your chosen platform, will you? Illustrations by the excellent Alice Bowsher.