Jaakko Eino Kalevi, Sunflower Bean, Erik Lundin, and Others Answer Some Personal Questions

This article appeared in the November issue of VICE magazine.

We asked some of our favourite musicians a few personal questions. Here's what they told us.

What is your pre-performance ritual?
Repetition, repetition, repetition. While focused.

What's the non-music-related talent you're most proud of?
My ability to process information

Who's the last person you called on the phone?
My Eritrean homie Awet

Do you have any hobbies? What are they?
Documentaries. Nature. Basketball. Learning. Meeting new people.

If you weren't a musician, what would you do?
I would be a different type of entrepreneur. I would do business in imports/exports.

What's the last movie you saw?
Gokseong, last night.

Are you involved in any type of activism or charity?
I do as much as time allows me to for the betterment of refugees and the youth where I live.

Do you collect anything?
Backstage passes, wristbands, posters, news articles and anything associated with my career. I used to collect: the phone cards used in Sweden back when there still were phone booths. Basketball cards. Those little metal figurines from Dungeons and Dragons and Lord of the Rings. If anyone would like to donate a few, I would love it!

What's your favorite quote or motto?
If you think that you think too much, you probably don't think enough, and if someone tells you it can't be done, it probably means that person can't do it.

Where's the last place you went on vacation?
I visited my dear grandma in Örebro, Sweden.

What's your favorite joke?
"That's impossible!"

What's the last thing you bought online?
Plenty of amazing people's ears and I paid with my latest single.

Best piece of advice you ever got?
Don't ever let anyone tell you who you are.

Who do you text the most?
The opposite sex.

What's the most annoying thing in the world?
People refusing to acknowledge the underlying causes of the current situation in the projects of Sweden/the world, simply by claiming De Ba Blev Så: "It just got that way".

When you're done performing, what will do you?
Write books, do lectures, start up businesses, continue to work for the betterment of those with less means to enjoy life.

Do you vote?
Yes

Do you speak any other languages?
Swedish and I do okay in Mandinka/Mandingo (my father's/Kunta Kinte's language) and German.

Biggest misconception about you?
That I'm not aware of how dope of a rapper I am.

What made you want to be a musician?
I've loved composing music and writing lyrics since I was a little kid. Also, I'm a griot and I feel like it's my duty to tell our stories. If I don't, someone lacking mandate most likely will.

Favorite drug?
Coffee

If you weren't a musician, what would you do?
Maybe a psychologist or something with film, architecture or art. Or a marine biologist. What made you want to be a musician?
Iggy Pop

What's one quality you wish you possessed more of?
Structure.

What's the non-music-related talent you're most proud of?
I'm a pretty decent illustrator/painter and I also cut my hair myself with kitchen scissors.

Who was your childhood hero?
Harry Potter and the Portuguese soccer player Abel Xavier that was a bit popular in 2001. And the Hansons of course.

What book or movie do you hate that everyone else loves?
OK, this is not a book or movie but I really hate bowling. It's just something that dies in me every time I visit a bowling center.

Where do you live and why do you live there?
I live in limbo right now: I have a place in LA but can't go back because of waiting for visa, so I'm currently in Stockholm.

Best piece of advice you've ever gotten?
Eat breakfast.

What's the non-music-related talent you're most proud of?
Parking. It actually comes in handy almost as often as being good at playing the drums on tour!

Last show you went to as a fan?
Last time we were in London we saw Cate Le Bon. She and her band are incredible.

Where do you live, and why do you live there?
New York City, because it's the best city in the world. There's nothing like coming home from a long US tour and coming up the NJ Turnpike with NYC looking as good as ever.

Who do you text the most?
My bandmates. We have a constant group chat going with our manager. That's where the real business happens.

How many hours do you sleep at night?
Ideally 12 to 14, but on the road, it's usually four to six.

What's your favorite quote or motto?
My favorite quote comes from my high school band teacher, Mr. Soto. "If you're on time, you're late!!!!!"

What do you do when you get offstage?
Run to the greenroom and lay in a pool of sweat for five minutes, and then run back down to sell merch!

Who's the last person you tried to impress?
Jim Goad. I was interviewing him for Hustler magazine. I just tried to listen, be quiet, and let him talk. I am such a fan that I just wanted to shut up and be cool.

What's the most annoying thing in the world?
The word "selfies." Reading the instructions. People who stand up right after the airplane taxies, even though we aren't going anywhere for at least another ten minutes. Crumbs on the floor. When dust turns to lint when you are cleaning the windowsills or behind the toilet bowl. Do you want me to keep going? Everything is annoying.

Where do you live, and why do you live there?
Arcadia, California. I live here because my husband and I have no interest in being in the city center, and we wanted a bigger house with a garden, a pool, a large garage, and this is where we found one. I like big-box stores and suburbia. My Kohl's card is at the top of the pile.

What is your pre-performance ritual?
I sit in the dressing room and do my vocal warm-ups with our bass player, Caroline, as we take turns using her extra-hot professional hair straightener. Then, I do my makeup, usually for a bit too long because I am bored. I'll stomp around for a bit, ripping every item of clothing out of my suitcase. I'll refold everything, have some gin on ice to calm myself down, and go play.

Who's the last person you called on the phone?
My dermatologist.

Do you have any hobbies? What are they?
Vacuuming. Sweeping. Obsessively cleaning. And cooking. I love cooking (and cleaning up right afterward).

What book or movie do you hate that everyone else loves?
Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings. All that mystical, fictional crap.

Do you collect anything?
Antiques, fur, taxidermy—also, bruises.

What's one quality you wish you possessed more of?
Patience—I wish I knew how to calm down and worry less.

What is your pre-performance ritual?
Beer.

What's the non-music-related talent you're most proud of?
We're like, professional card players.

Who's the last person you called on the phone?
A Chinese restaurant to take away.

Do you have any hobbies? What are they?
Baking, movies, theater, little games, and math.

What's the last movie you saw?
Minority Report on TV last night.

Are you involved in any type of activism or charity?
We all are actively feminists.

Do you collect anything?
Wristbands, bizarre sunglasses, and gold.

What's your favorite quote or motto?
Our shit, our rules.

Where's the last place you went on vacation?
MENORCAAAA!!!!

What fictional television character do you most identify with?
Ross from Friends.

What's your favorite joke?
One about a little ant and an elephant that are friends.

What's the last thing you bought online?
A Christmas present for Ade [Hinds bassist]!

Best piece of advice you ever got?
"El que la sigue la consigue!" ("He who goes after it, gets it!")

Who's the last person you tried to impress?
A friend from the UK who came to see us playing at the Reading and Leeds festivals.

What's the most annoying thing in the world?
Social media.

Where do you live, and why do you live there?
Madrid, because it's the best city this planet has.

Who was your childhood hero?
Harry Potter… always surviving to death.

Do you speak any other languages?
English, bad French, and few words of Vietnamese.

Last show you went to as a fan?
Slaves.

Do you vote?
Of course!

What do you do when you get offstage?
Sell merch!

What made you want to be a musician?
Just music.

Favorite drink?
Coca-Cola.

Favorite drug?
Cigarettes. Does it count? If not: molly.

What is your pre-performance ritual?
I kick all the men out of the dressing room, sip tequila, and say a prayer to Prince and Pimp C.

What's your favorite quote or motto?
"Man, sometimes it takes you a long time to sound like yourself." Miles Davis said this, and I think it's so true. Your world of creativity grows with age.

Where's the last place you went on vacation?
I took my first vacation ever recently, and it blew my mind. I went to the outskirts of Austin, Texas, and did wholesome nature things with friends. I even went to bed at 10 PM! I travel a lot but never for the explicit purpose of leisure. Shutting your phone off and jumping in a river can do wonders for the mind.

What's your favorite joke?
How many punks does it take to screw in a lightbulb? Twenty. One to hold the ladder, one to screw it in, and 18 on the guest list

What's one quality you wish you possessed more of?
I wish I had more social grace. I'm quick to end a conversation or let a loose plan slip my mind, unknowingly offending someone. I never mean harm. I just need a secretary.

Best piece of advice you ever got?
"Never believe your own hype." This is a piece of advice that lasts and lasts. No matter where your success takes you, the minute you buy into the hype and their praises, you'll lose focus and fall off.

Who's the last person you tried to impress?
Myself

Where do you live, and why do you live there?
I'm living in Mexico City, working my monthly party, Function. I'm here to make sure Function's awareness is high and meet with artists and ponder on the next collaboration.

Who was your childhood hero?
Prince was my childhood hero, and he still is. As a black man into rock 'n' roll, sexuality, and creative experimentation, it was easy to find a hero in Prince earlier on.

Last show you went to as a fan?
I was extremely bummed out last week and went to a Ceremony show with friends. I forgot what it's like to see a show purely for fun instead of work. The noise revived me.

What made you want to be a musician?
I saw Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" video, and the broomstick spoke to me. I saw Nirvana destroy instruments on MTV, and I smashed every pot and pan in the house. Their energy felt a lot like mine, so I decided to join the club.

Favorite drink?
Tequila with mineral water and lime, or mezcal and grapefruit. I can take these down all night and keep ticking, but I've been sticking to vodka soda lately. This figure ain't gonna watch itself.

Favorite drug?
Marijuana is the only dependable drug on the market.

If you weren't a musician, what would you do?
I would work a part-time job that would allow me to go to LA City College to pursue a degree in fine arts, so I could later attend an art school, where I'd work on a bachelor's degree in order to teach painting, drawing, and ceramics to underprivileged kids in South Central LA.

Are you involved in any type of activism or charity?
I'm an online activist, and I donate to three charities. I make a donation once a month to Greenpeace and donate to the Sioux Nation and Navajo relief funds a couple of times a year.

Do you collect anything?
I've got a large library of DVDs, videos, and music on vinyl, cassette, and CDs. I've run out of room!

What's your favorite quote or motto?
"Are you kidding?," "This isn't happening!," and "You ordered it!"

What fictional television character do you most identify with?
I don't watch TV unless it's a sporting event or a movie. I did like Gomez Addams from The Addams Family and Maxwell Smart from Get Smart.

What's one quality you wish you possessed more of?
I wish I had the power to click my fingers and make things appear or disappear, but that's not possible, so I wish I had more PATIENCE.

Best piece of advice you ever got?
"Go out and have fun and do what you want as long as you don't hurt anyone!"—My mom

What's the non-music-related talent you're most proud of?
Making accessories.

What's your favorite quote or motto?
Oh Snail! Climb nonstop to the top of Mt. Fuji!

Best piece of advice you ever got?
When Rob Halford told me to "STAY METAL!"

Who's the last person you tried to impress?
I'm not really sure, but I hope to become someone who can impress people with my singing.

Who's your hero now?
Metallica.

Do you speak any other languages?
I learned to say "hello" in German, French, Spanish, Dutch, Chinese, Indonesian, and Italian—languages of the countries I've visited.

What do you do when you get offstage?
I break the Fox God's magic spell.

What made you want to be a musician?
When I was chosen by the Fox God to be part of Babymetal.

Favorite drink?
Green tea.

What is your pre-performance ritual?
Pray! Drink water, and turn the fuck up!

What's the non-music-related talent you're most proud of?
Coming up with new ideas.

Who's the last person you called on the phone?
Dae Dae.

Do you have any hobbies? What are they?
Does shopping count?

What's the last movie you saw?
Purge 3 or Purge 4.

Are you involved in any type of activism or charity?
I give my old clothes to Goodwill every couple months.

Do you collect anything?
Money.

What's your favorite quote or motto?
What's meant to be will be.

Where's the last place you went on vacation?
Mexico.

What's your favorite joke?
Dicks out for Harambe.

What's the last thing you bought online?
A new queen-size bed!

Best piece of advice you ever got?
To live my life to the fullest while I can.

What's the most annoying thing in the world?
Somebody who talks too much.

Do you speak any other languages?
Guapaneseee.

Last show you went to as a fan?
J. Cole.

Do you vote?
YES.

What do you do when you get offstage?
Get super faded.

Biggest misconception about you?
People think I'm stuck-up. I'm cool af.

What made you want to be a musician?
It was how I expressed myself.

Favorite drug?
Mary.

What is your pre-performance ritual?
I usually cram up till the last minute getting the set right. I usually come up with some good stuff under pressure.

What's the non-music-related talent you're most proud of?
Designing—I love flexing that side of my brain, whether it's for work or not.

Who's the last person you called on the phone?
My dad.

Do you have any hobbies? What are they?
Working on random plug-in ideas and being in nature.

What's the last thing you bought online?
A Sleep Master sleep mask.

What's your favorite quote or motto?
Pipe it up.

Where's the last place you went on vacation?
Miami.

What fictional television character do you most identify with?
Fox Mulder.

What book or movie do you hate that everyone else loves?
Goonies.

What's your favorite joke?
What is Forrest Gump's AOL password? 1forrest1

What's one quality you wish you possessed more of?
Empathy.

Do you collect anything?
I'm a digital hoarder. I collect samples and plug-ins. I also love vintage clothing.

Best piece of advice you ever got?
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Who do you text the most?
My wife, Liz.

Who's the last person you lied to?
My neighbor.

Who's the last person you tried to impress?
My son.

What's the most annoying thing in the world?
People who chew with their mouth open.

Where do you live, and why do you live there?
Chicago. I've traveled everywhere, and Chicago always feels like home.

Who was your childhood hero?
Frank "Big Hurt" Thomas.

Who's your hero now?
My aunt Rosie.

Do you speak any other languages?
Nah.

Last show you went to as a fan?
Le1f and Junglepussy.

Do you vote?
Yes.

What do you do when you get offstage?
I go to my hotel room and meditate.

Biggest misconception about you?
That I like to go out.

What made you want to be a musician?
Prince—"Purple Rain."

Favorite drink?
Beer.

Favorite drug?
Tree.

What is your pre-performance ritual?
Three or four burpees and a glass of Muscle Milk with a couple spoonfuls of Metamucil and creatine.

What's the non-music-related talent you're most proud of?
I can make a very cool omelet.

Who's the last person you called on the phone?
Will Hoopes—friend, video director, and Korean BBQ specialist.

Do you have any hobbies? What are they?
Chewing my nails to perfection.

If you weren't a musician, what would you do?
Something with old people or birds.

What's the last movie you saw?
River's Edge (1986).

Do you collect anything?
Any 80s vinyl from people playing synths poorly or making sound effects.

Where's the last place you went on vacation?
St. John's, Newfoundland, and Labrador.

What fictional television character do you most identify with?
Tina from Bob's Burgers.

What book or movie do you hate that everyone else loves?
Care Bears Movie II: A New Generation. The first one had balls—it had grit.

What's one quality you wish you possessed more of?
Assertiveness.

Best piece of advice you ever got?
Don't be afraid to ask.

Who do you text the most?
Maybe my friend Evan, usually selfies from the bathroom.

Who's the last person you tried to impress?
VICE magazine readers.

What's the most annoying thing in the world?
When the washing machine eats my change.

Where do you live, and why do you live there?
Here, because space travel is still not affordable.

Who was your childhood hero?
Allen Iverson.

Who's your hero now?
John Carpenter.

How many hours do you sleep a night?
Five to seven, depending on what my cat allows

Do you speak any other languages?
Barely speak English.

Last show you went to as a fan?
Brand New with Built to Spill and Desaparecidos.

Do you vote?
Yes.

Biggest misconception about you?
I'm Thor's brother. Or Star Trek guy's brother.

Favorite drink?
Crush Birch Beer.

Favorite drug?
Cheese.

What is your pre-performance ritual?
I like to drum bongos and have a shot of vodka before the show.

What's the non-music-related talent you're most proud of?
I have a special walk I've done since i was a kid. No one else can do it.

Who's the last person you called on the phone?
Nuno. No answer

Do you have any hobbies? What are they?
I like to go to the gym.

What's the last movie you saw?
Captain Fantastic. It sucked.

What fictional television character do you most identify with?
Donald Trump.

Best piece of advice you ever got?
There is no need to hurry.

Biggest misconception about you?
That I like to smoke weed.

Who do you text the most?
Probably my manager.

Do you vote?
Yes

What made you want to be a musician?
I never wanted to be a musician.

When you're done performing, what will do you?
I will pack my stuff and investigate the possibilities to have a good time.

This article appeared in the November issue of VICE magazine.