For the viewers that don’t know about you, please introduce yourself.
We are a four piece metalband from the small town of Eksjö in the southern parts of Sweden, located roughly in between the cities of Stockholm and Gothenburg.
What first got you into music?
It varies for each member of the band. Everyone has their own childhood heroes, from Slipknot to Iron Maiden, Korn to Metallica, and KISS. As we dive deeper into it, though, everything starts to blend together!
Who inspired you to make music?
[Niklas] It’s a mix of influences ranging from classic bands like KISS and Metallica to heavier, more extreme acts like Behemoth, Humanity’s Last Breath, and Meshuggah. That said, I don’t listen to much metal these days. I find myself drawing a lot of inspiration from movies and their soundtracks, composers like Hans Zimmer, for example. I always aim to incorporate those cinematic elements into our music, striving to make it as expansive and immersive as possible.
How would you describe the music that you typically create?
Our music is a blend of melodic, heavy, and cinematic elements, fused together with a groove that gives it a unique energy. We aim to create a sound that’s both emotionally powerful and musically intricate, something that moves you, whether it's the intensity of the riffs or the sweeping, cinematic moments that evoke a sense of drama and scale. There’s a balance of melody and heaviness, with layers that draw from a variety of influences, allowing us to experiment with different textures and dynamics. It’s a sound that feels both epic and intimate at the same time, rooted in metal but with a wide range of moods and atmospheres.
What is your creative process like?
[Niklas] I usually start just playing around with Superior Drummer, just laying down a simple 4/4 beat and plugging it into my Apollo at home. It’s really basic at first, but I try to keep all the songs for an album or EP in the same project to maintain consistency. Over time, as the songs evolve, more elements naturally come into play, but it all starts with that simple foundation. It helps me keep everything cohesive while letting the ideas grow organically.
Who would you most like to collaborate with?
It would be really cool to have Floor Jansen from Nightwish to do some vocals on a track or so!
What are the biggest challenges that you face in this industry, and how do you overcome them?
As a band grows bigger and more successful, you start attracting attention from all corners of the industry, both from people who know what they’re doing and those who don’t. That’s when it becomes crucial to make the right choices and collaborate with the right people. Those who will have a positive impact on our career and help build long-lasting, healthy business relationships.
If you could open a show for any artist, who would it be and why?
To be honest, we have had the absolute privilege to open for a few bands already in our careers that would answer this question. Such as Slipknot, In Flames and Meshuggah to mention a few. However, if we could dream… Metallica or Korn would be phenomenal.
What is one message you would give to your fans?
We appreciate you all so very much for your support and enthusiasm, from all over the world. We’re very thankful that we get to do what we do, and it wouldn’t be possible with you!
What would you be doing right now if it weren’t for your music career?
Before we began working with this professionally we all had regular day jobs. Chris and Niklas worked as social workers, Richard as a tattoo artist and Fredrik used to work as a music teacher. So I’d say that we’d be on that path still if it weren’t for Orbit Culture.
Where have you performed?
We’ve done a number of tours in North America as well as as in Europe. However, we had the opportunity to do a few shows in South America lately which was an absolute blast!
What are your favorite and least favorite venues?
The best ones are where we have good spaces to work on and where there are good green rooms for us to hang out and prepare for the show. We have played at this venue is Green Bay (US) a few times where they even have basketball court in the venue, which is great!
Do you have any upcoming shows?
Yes! We are about to go out on a European tour as support for Trivium and Bullet For My Valentine. Later on this year we have the European summer festivals and what happens after that is still shrouded in secrecy as of now…
How do you feel the Internet has impacted the music business?
The internet has been a huge part in our success, especially as we got our wings, internationally, during the pandemic. It’s been both for better and for worse I guess, depending on where you come from. But from our perspective, as a band from this small town in Sweden, we would never have been able to get the traction that we’ve had without the power of the internet.
What is your favorite song to perform live?
"The Shadowing" and "North Star of Nija" are definitely fun ones, especially during the bigger shows. "Vultures of North" and "While We Serve" are always crowd favorites that really get both us and the audience fired up! Our personal favorites tend to shift around, though, depending on the vibe and the moment.
Which famous musicians do you admire?
We’re all really into film music, so the musicianship and craftsmanship of composers like John Williams and Hans Zimmer definitely stand out to us. Their ability to blend emotion, storytelling, and composition is something we deeply admire and find inspiring in our own work. When it comes to metal musicians, we all find inspiration in different ways from the bands we've toured and worked with. It's very motivating to see how they approach their craft, and we do our best to keep up and match their high standard. Whether it’s the work behind the scenes or the energy on stage during our performances, we always strive to raise our game.
What is the best advice you’ve been given?
That’s a tough one! But if I had to say, I’d go with something like: trust your instincts and have the courage to follow what feels right, even when others might tell you it’s not the way to go. It’s all about putting in the hard work to bring your ideas to life, regardless of the doubts around you.
If you could change anything about the music industry, what would it be?
Merch cuts! This is a huge issue for a lot of bands. It’s crazy that some venues have the audacity to take 25% of merch sales, especially when some don’t even sell the merch for the band. They just take the cut. On top of that, bands still have to pay staff, cover taxes, and deal with VAT. In the end, a band can lose over 50% of their merch sales, and for many bands, that’s a huge part of their income. Venues really need to be reminded that without the bands, there wouldn’t be any venues in the first place!
What’s next for Orbit Culture?
We’re in the final stages of completing our next studio album, which will be our first release with our new label, Century Media. We’re all really excited about it and hope our fans will be too. On top of that, we’re about to head out on a European tour with Trivium and Bullet for My Valentine. After that, we’ll be deep into rehearsals, getting ready to play the new songs live.
For Richard, can you talk a bit about your sports jerseys and how that began? Best jerseys or best stories?
It all started with me wearing my Lundqvist Rangers jersey during our first U.S. tour with In Flames. Fans noticed my love for hockey and started reaching out on social media, asking me to wear jerseys from their hometown teams. They began giving me jerseys, and as a sports fan, I couldn’t say no. The best ones I have are my Lundqvist jersey and a custom Orbit Culture jersey made by a fan who became a good friend. One of the funniest moments wasn’t about a jersey, though. I met a guy at our merch booth wearing a Taylor Swift t- shirt with Baphomet on it, and I offered him anything from our booth in exchange for it, he agreed right away. I’m really grateful for all the jerseys I’ve received. I’ve got around 20-30 over five U.S. and Canadian tours. It’s become a great tradition!
Where would Orbit Culture like to tour that they haven’t been yet?
Japan, obviously! Australia is also on the bucket list.
What are your hobbies and interests outside of music?
Richard and Fredrik are both into video games, Chris hang out at the gym a lot and Niklas enjoys a good movie occasionally when not working with music.
Any bands/artists that fans might be surprised to hear you listen to?
For Richard it would be LeBrock and Machine Gun Kelly, Fredrik listen to this Swedish band called Diablo Swing Orchestra and a lot of cinematic stuff. Chris enjoys listening to old jazz and blues music overall and Niklas likes Avicii.
How was it opening for Slipknot? Everything go as expected? Any surprises?
That was by far the biggest experience we've had to date. We went in with the mindset that we were going to give it everything we had, and we did. Opening for such an iconic band in arenas and pavilions was an incredible opportunity. But the highlight for us, as a band from Sweden, was definitely performing at the world-renowned Madison Square Garden in New York City. The shows went great, and the crew and band were fantastic to work with. We’d jump at the chance to do it all over again if given the opportunity!
Best part of touring? Worst?
One of the best parts of touring is getting to travel the world and connect with people from all sorts of backgrounds. The “touring bubble” creates this unique, tight-knit vibe where you really bond with everyone in your circle, and that’s something special. But, like anything, it’s not all smooth sailing. Being away from home for so long can wear you down, and the comfort of daily routines gets swapped for the fast-paced, unpredictable nature of life on the road. Still, those new routines start to feel natural after a while, and what felt like a sacrifice at first just becomes part of the grind. In the end, with all the ups and downs, the energy and camaraderie of touring are experiences we wouldn't trade for anything.
We are Tokyo-based. What do you think is cool about Japan?
The different culture is definitely something that’s intriguing for us as Westerners and Scandinavians since it appears to be quite different from our own. So that is definitely something we would love to experience if we get the chance!
Is there anything you love about Japan? Do you watch anime or anything that makes you want to go to Japan?
The whole vibe of Japanese culture feels intriguing for us. Definitely something we’d love to experience in our own different ways, such as the food, popular culture and history.We all love the original The Grudge and The Ring movies!
If there is any new music you're working on now, please let fans know what they can expect?
We’re in the final stages of completing our new album, and it’s shaping up to be a mix of what fans can expect from us, with some exciting new elements. We’ve taken inspiration from our musical journey since the last record, so it brings a fresh perspective while still staying true to our sound. There’s definitely something new in the mix that we can’t wait to share.
What do you want to say about being on the front cover of Fusion magazine? What are your thoughts?
It’s definitely an honor! I think it’s the first time we’ve ever been on the cover of a magazine, so it’s a huge milestone for us as a band. It really feels like a major step forward, and it’s surreal to see all the hard work pay off in this way. Definitely something we’ll remember for a long time!
Any last words? What message do you give to all the fans?
Thank you for having us, thank you for the support and we can’t wait to come visit your country and play some Swedish metal music for you all! Until then, stay safe, take care of each other and we’ll see each other hopefully soon!
またすぐにお会いできることを願っています！
