INTERVIEW: David & Goliat discuss origins and influences alongside new single ‘Nothing Comes From Nothing’
After making some serious waves on the new music scene in recent years, Swedish singer-songwriter David Billström’s David & Goliat project made its long-awaited return to deliver the shimmering new single ‘Nothing Comes From Nothing’.
Capturing another heady dose of country-infused indie-rock for his newest outing, ‘Nothing Comes From Nothing’ sees him return to the fold in fine form throughout. So we caught up with him to discuss his origins and influences over the years.
–
What was the first rock song or artist that made an impact on you?
When I was a kid I used to love the song Sledgehammer by Peter Gabriel. And I still do. But as I got a little older, maybe around 11, I discovered The Beatles. My dad had the red and the blue double albums on CD and that music was a revelation to me. I could follow their whole musical development from Love Me Do to The Long And Winding Road and it was amazing. Having access to a selection of songs from a band like The Beatles at such a formative age has had a huge impact on me. I loved I Am The Walrus. My dad also had a triple CD called Sixty Number Ones of The Sixties which was also a musical goldmine. It included A Whiter Shade Of Pale and Runaway with Del Shannon. I also heard Travelling Wilburys when I was about 8 and remember Handle With Care and Tweeter And The Monkey Man very well.
Who are some of your biggest musical influences within the rock genre?
Quite a few, of course. But the ones that stand out are probably The Beatles, The Stones, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison and Lou Reed. I’ve also been influenced by David Bowie and Sting. The Police are one of my favourite bands.
Are there any non-rock musicians or genres that have also influenced your music?
Yes, I’ve listened to quite a lot of blues and soul music, but it’s a kind of precursor to rock. I also love gospel and old folk music. There are many artists I’ve listened to a lot, like Ray Charles and Nina Simone. Then I listen to a lot of pop music and like electronic music and jazz and classical music. I suppose I’m a musical omnivore and that probably influences the music I make in some way, although it may not be immediately apparent.
What is your main inspiration when looking to write new music?
Usually, it is the music of others that is the immediate inspiration. But it can also be poetry or film or anything really. Maybe something someone says in passing that you happen to pick up. Maybe a rhythm or if you learn something new on the guitar. It’s hard to say because things can lie dormant for a while and then pop out when you least expect it.
What do you enjoy most about performing live and do you have any memorable live performance experiences you’d like to share?
The contact with the audience is what I like most about playing live. For me, it’s the last piece of the puzzle when it comes to music making. Seeing how the music you make affects other people is very exciting. I also really enjoy playing live with the band and the excitement it brings. When you play in front of an audience, there is a presence and responsiveness in the musicians that is not there otherwise.
What has been a particularly rewarding moment in your musical journey so far?
One of the most rewarding things so far has probably been all the new people I’ve met through music, not to mention other songwriters and musicians. Even songwriting itself is very rewarding when you create a song out of nothing. Or it is when you feel satisfied with the song. Suddenly you have something there that wasn’t there before.
How would you define success as a musician?
Success is a very relative thing. Of course, economic success would be nice, I think most people would agree with that. But I think music is fundamentally about touching other people, and if you can do that, you’ve achieved the greatest success. There is also success in the joy of playing music, not least with others.
What advice would you give to aspiring artists who are just starting out?
I don’t know if I’m the right person to give advice, but I think it’s important to try to go your own way and stick to what makes you unique. It’s easy to be misled and adapt to others who may give the impression that they know what they are talking about. I mean, it’s good to take advice but not at the expense of your own vision. It’s something I work on all the time myself. Another advice I would give is to just do what you dream of right now and don’t waste time waiting for the right moment.
–
Listen To David & Goliat’s new single ‘Nothing Comes From Nothing’ below.