Let's start with your name and your site.Let's have it.
Hello. My name is Magnus Tannergren and I am the dude from Into The Void Podcast. Tune in at www.intothevoidpodcast.com to get very in depth interviews with some of the coolest people in the heavy underground scene and beyond.
Start at the beginning, how did you get started with this crazy idea of spreading the word about music?
I think it goes back to the late 80’s when I was listening to a radio show called Rockbox. The beardless 15 year old me just got sucked into the world of heavy metal listening to the interviews with Lars Ulrich, Tom Araya, David Coverdale, MSG and loads of other giants of rock . Then in 1989 a friend made me join a study group at the local community radio and shortly there after we started to do our own radio show playing all kinds of metal and punk. And I’ve been doing that ever since. I’m also one of the staff writers at Slavestate.se since 2005.
We're all the product of our musical past.What's your musical history? First album you ever bought? First musical epiphany moment? First album that terrified the hell out of you?
My first memory of hearing music is Frank Zappa & the Mothers Of Invention. My father who is a big Zappa fan played those records all the time when I grew up. I have Frank Zappa in my DNA you might say. But when I was 12 years old I saw Twisted Sisters video for ”I wanna rock” and ”We’re not gonna take it” and that alone made me a metal head over night for life. The first album I bought was ”Stay hungry”. I still have the very same vinyl in my collection. It is the point of origin sort of speak.
What's the last album to grab you by the throat and insist
you listen?
The new album by Lik (https://www.facebook.com/LIKofficial/) . A Swedish death metal act that channels the sound of Entombed's first two albums perfectly adding new stuff to a classic sound. I love that kind of death metal. Melodic but very raw, unpolished and brutal. Only death is real.
What do you see happening in the music scene today, good and bad?
I see the death of the music industry as we know it since back in the 1950’s. The disruption began with things like Napster and Spotify but I don’t think the real change has happened yet. The DIY ethos of the heavy underground and other scenes and genres plus the use of cheap technology for recording and distribution will kill most of the dinosaurs. Sure, there will be big record companies that handle artist/products like Beyoncé and I am fine with that but down below a new world is dawning. It is very exciting times. Labels like Ripple that is mostly driven by passion is proof of that.
With so many music sites, how would you describe what you do?What's your unique take on the music and spreading the word?
Into The Void Podcast has shifted focus a bit lately. We used to do a weekly show with music but now we concentrate mostly on doing talks with the people that creates the scene. Musicians, artist and promoters. If you want the raw conversations and to meet real people with real passion The Void is the source. And since we are a living in Sweden we always try to promote new Swedish bands you won’t hear about anywhere else.
What's been your all time greatest "Find"?That band you "discovered" before anyone else and started the word spreading?
I have to say Monolord and Vokonis, I did one of the first interviews with Monolord back in 2014 after hearing the song “Empress rising” on a Stonerobixxx compilation. Now they tour the world with bands like Conan and Black Label Society. That’s pretty rad. And we are still good friends. I discovered Vokonis before they even existed. I found the Creedsmen Arise demo and when that band fell apart and resurrected as Vokonis I promoted them intensely on the show. And I might have had something to do with getting them on to Ripple Music for the second album.
If you could write a 1,000 word essay on one song, which one
would it be, and why? What makes that song so important?
“Penguins in bondage” by Frank Zappa & The Mothers Of Invention from the “Roxy & elsewhere” album. Mainly because it is the first song I can remember hearing as a tiny beardless four year old kid.
Give us three bands that we need to keep our eyes out for.
I need to say Sabel (https://sabel.bandcamp.com/) that plays this raw doom with a Motörhead attitude. Spiral Skies (https://spiralskies.bandcamp.com/) that has this strange blend of NWOBHM, progressive rock and folk rock. Mindmelting. Finally Hazemaze (https://hazemazeband.bandcamp.com/) that does this sabbathian stoner rock thing as it is supposed to be done.
Tell us about your personal music collection.Vinyl?CD?What's your prized possession?
I have about 1000 albums on vinyl and about the same amount on CD. I started buying albums on vinyl back in the 80’s and the CD’s were bought in the 90’s. Then I started buying the albums I got on CD on vinyl and if I buy a new album it is on vinyl. I love my record collection. If I had to save something of it from a burning house I would take all the Metallica and Alice Cooper vinyls first.
What makes it all worthwhile for you?
Getting people to discover new music on the podcast. And to give the bands a helping hand reaching out promoting their talent. And to meet all the cool people that is part of the scene. I have meet so many new friends through the music all around the world. It is so amazing.
How would your life be different if you weren't spreading the word about music?
I can’t even imagine that life to be honest. It would be so boring…
Ever been threatened by a band or a ravenous fan?
No. That’s the other thing about this heavy underground scene. People are so damn nice to each other. And that is a very good thing in this day and age. Call me a hippie but love is all we need.
In the end, what would you like to have accomplished, or be
remembered for?
To bring great music out to the world. Being a good father to my children. To be happy.
Many people may not realize the hours you devote to what you do for little or no pay.Is there a day job? If so, how do you find the balance?
That is the purpose with all this. It is this thing that balances the universe for me. I have a stressful day job working with communications at city hall in the municipality where I live. If it weren’t for the music and just having that, as much as I love my job because I do, it would drive me crazy. Music is the secret universe I escape into to just get away from everyday life.
What's next?Any new projects?
Hopefully the podcast will continue and grow. And Ripple have some interesting stuff going on that I hope to be part of.
Finally, other than the music, what's your other burning passion?
Coffee. I love to discover new blends and brands. I can spend days tuning the grinder to get the beans grinded just right for a perfect cup of espresso. Support CozoCoffee (https://www.cozocoffee.com/). They rule!
