INSAMMER (Swe)– Transfusion Metal
Interview conducted July 28, 2021
By Dan Locke
INSAMMER is one of Sweden’s most promising metal bands, combining dark, pulsating Nordic grooves with Eastern European lyricism and melodic romanticism. Their live shows throb with emotional energy; Vika’s voice ranges from a whisper to a full-throated growl, melding with the instruments as verses explode into churning, hypnotic choruses and pounding, crowd-mesmerizing riffs. The group calls their sound transfusion metal, a heavy mixture of alternative rock and nu metal, which evokes the shifting musical styles and feelings that pour over them and infuse their performances.
The band was created in Stockholm by vocalist Vika and guitarist Dennis Wise, whose collaboration began at a music institute in Uppsala, Sweden. The name InSammer was inspired by The Door Into Summer, a science fiction novel by Robert Heinlein.
The current lineup also features virtuoso guitarist Oleg Izotov, bassist Nikita Simonov, and world-class drummer Alex Karpukhin.
You are from Stockholm, Sweden. What is your upbringing?
Vika (vocals): I live in Stockholm but originally, I’m Latvian from the city of Jurmala. I had a very healthy upbringing from amazing caring parents and a very loving sister. My family has been and are extremely supportive in my music journey.
How did you discover music for the first time?
Vika: Music has always been part of my life. My parents are into all art forms and my sister and I had no other choice than to get the same passion for art. I don’t recall the exact time when I discovered my love of music but that has been part of me forever.
Alex (drums): When I was a kid the music was around me. My father is a big fan of old rock music. So, it was natural for me to start a music career.
Dennis (guitar): When I was 16 years old, I first got to a rehearsal of my local town death metal band. It was incredibly cool and magical so I decided to play rock.
Oleg (guitar): When I was a 3-year-old kid, I listened to vinyl recordings such as Queen and Beatles.
How did you start to write music?
Dennis: It was a long time ago … I don’t remember. I just played some of my own riffs and then tried it with other musicians in the band.
Vika: As we all know most creative teens always have an urge to express themselves. Some do it through their style of dressing, their hairstyle, some choose acting and some paintings. For me the telling story of the inner world I have at a certain time combined with the different harmonies it’s the best way of expressing.
Oleg: When I was a kid, I started to write some strange sketches in a PC program just for fun without knowing any music theory. When I was 12, I went deep into playing guitar and tried to use this experience to compose full tracks.
How did The Door Into Summer, a science fiction novel by Robert Heinlein, influence you and why did you get the name InSammer, kind of a misprint?
Dennis: I remember a quote from the book that accurately describes our ideas when we started this project: “But there was winter in my heart and I was looking for the door to summer. If I sound like a man with an acute case of self-pity, you are correct. There must have been well over two billion people on this planet in worse shape than I was. Nevertheless, I was looking for the Door into Summer.” And yes! It was a misprint in the band name, we laughed and then decided to leave it that way.
What is transfusion metal?
Dennis: For us this is transfusion, mixing of different styles of music and moods that we share with our listeners.
What was your first performance? When did it happen?
Vika: OMG, my first performance was in some pub in Stockholm. I barely can remember that. We were young and drunk.
How was your tour with Evanescence?
Vika: The tour was really amazing and very giving. Amy is one of the best artists ever and I was so lucky to share the stage with her.
What makes a good songwriter?
Vika: I would say the ability to understand human needs. Often, I think of Maslow’s Hierarchy and the whole pack of being creative.
Oleg: Many things like knowledge of music, understanding what people like and what they want to listen to today and tomorrow. The desire to make a product that people will definitely want to listen to.
What was the title of your first original song? Did you record it?
Vika: Our first album is called Numbers as Victims and contains songs in the order of their creation. So, the first ever song of InSammer was called Victim I.
What is the process of writing your music?
Vika: Usually our guitarist Den brings some drafts, riffs and vibes for a new song. Our other guitarist Oleg prefers to bring ready-made tracks, sometimes even with the vocals.
Dennis: It depends. For example, we prepare a bunch of all sorts of small pieces, and then when we meet with the whole band, we try to make a whole thing out of them. And sometimes the song is immediately born as a ready piece and does not require any modifications.
Tell me about the script of your video Endless Sky?
Vika: I can’t tell you all the secrets of the scenario right now as soon as we have the premier of the Full Director’s cut Endless Sky video. The story will be shown in full and the end of the video will be unexpected. Right now, we publish only the music part of the video.
Why did you have Can Katipzade direct Endless Sky? Is it him who also directed Victim VIII?
Dennis: He’s a very creative personality and a crazy motherfucker at the same time. We like his ideas so much.
Vika: We had a gig in Turkey and suddenly we met this guy Can. So, we decided to collaborate together and shoot a couple of videos. It was a great possibility to shoot nice locations because Can’s team has a special permission at the time of a lockdown and restriction of being outside.
What is your favorite track on your previous album Seeds?
Vika: My songs are all my babies that I can’t separate.
Nikita: Monroe. There is a very strong riff powered by Dennis.
Alex: Seeds.
Dennis: The System
Oleg: Wings, I still like to play this song live at our gigs.
Can you tell us some highlights from your new yet untitled album set for release this autumn?
Vika: All tracks are totally different, with different moods and messages. One of my favourite songs from this album is Black Art. And What a Gift. And … all the songs are so awesome for me.
Alex: I believe it will be a great album with great songs and sound that our fans like.
Oleg: For me personally, it was a great experience as I supervised as a sound producer the whole process from the beginning to the end. It was a big and multifaceted work; the result seems awesome.
What are you feeling about streaming music?
Vika: I have mixed feelings about it. I am sure it’s a faster way to get closer to the public but it will never be the same quality and experience of hearing and living the vibe of a live performance.
Oleg: It is very useful, but it changed the music industry a lot and made music cheaper in every sense.
Digital vs. vinyl?
Vika: Definitely vinyl.
Alex: It depends… but mainly digital.
Oleg: Everyone should have and check both.
What song from the past or future release is in your mind right now? Moreover, what does that song mean to you?
Vika: I discovered metal music with the Issues album by Korn. “Falling Away from Me” gives me these vibes and can get back through the time when I was a 12 years old girl listening like obsessed with the whole album. That means a lot to me.
Oleg: Right now, this is a playlist with speed tracks played on the banjo. It makes me speed up in writing this interview.
Lockdown due Covid-19 virus has killed live music in a way. Do you feel the Covid-19 virus is going to affect the music business in the future?
Vika: It has already a lot. Artists have paid a big price so all I can hope for in the future is that people are really hungry for music and all art forms.
Alex: Definitely but I hope that it will not take too long.
Oleg: Well, it’s difficult even to imagine when and how it will end. But we hope for the best.
What have you been doing with your self-quarantine?
Vika: Sweden has more freedom than other countries during the pandemic period but however I did try to do the best of the situation. I have been working a lot with my music, my singing coach, etc. I developed myself in singing very much during the self-quarantine.
Alex: Actually, my life did not change during self-quarantine except for no live gigs and no touring.
Dennis: I did fishing and shooting at plates as I had a lot of time at self-quarantine.
Oleg: Actually, it was a pretty useful time for me, because I was deeply involved in creating music and sound production.
Do you stay healthy during the lockdown?
Vika: For me being healthy at all times it’s a must. I do have my strict routine that I try to keep faithful even when I’m on tours.
Alex: Yes
Nikita: Yes.
Dennis: Yes
Oleg: Yes
Have you discovered or rediscovered any new hobbies?
Vika: I have begun learning piano and discovering my love for Mozart and other classical composers.
Nikita: During lockdown I spent time with a flight simulator.
Alex: Chess
Dennis: Sailing and planting Japanese maples.
Oleg: Many things within sound production. It’s never too much, there is always something new to learn.
How can bands keep their fans if they cannot play live in front of the fans and sell merchandise to them at the show?
Vika: By creating good quality art and doing online shows.
Alex: By using the internet, it’s a new digital era for online festivals.
Nikita: Fans can always purchase any merchandise on the internet and support bands.
Oleg: Agree with guys, there are a lot of ways to keep contact with fans by the internet.
What about holographic concerts in our living room? Is it a brand-new future for a live concert industry?
Vika: Yes, it is but it will never replace completely the feeling of the direct contact of the artist with the public.
Alex: I don’t think so. You can’t feel the same vibes at home and on the show.
If you can’t do music what would you like to be doing?
Vika: If I can’t make music, I would listen to it instead haha… no joking but however we all know that being an artist it’s not an easy job but there is nothing I can think of doing then music.
Alex: Have no idea, definitely I will try many things if music goes out of my life.
Nikita: I’ll become a traveler, I would explore wild unknown places like Alaska, depths of Taiga.
Dennis: Fishing.
Oleg: I’ve been making music all my life. If music didn’t exist here at all, then I would build a spaceship and fly to another planet where music still exists.
What is your happy place?
Alex: Behind the drums
Vika: My family and my home.
Dennis: My home
Oleg: Closer to nature with my family and a guitar.
Anything you would like to say in closing.
Nikita: Take care and stay positive!
Dennis: Rock On!
Vika: To all readers, thanks for taking your time to read my story and I can’t wait to give you more and more cool songs.
Alex: Stay healthy! See u soon at the gigs!
Oleg: Hakuna Matata!
