 By Matthew Parrish Peter Bjorn and John: "Staring At The Wall"Some people complain, some people mope, some people get depressed, some people get destructive, some people drink, some people go crazy, some people create and then some people create really good music. Peter Moren of Peter Bjorn and John is one of those people who creates really good music when he is bored. Peter Moren: The primal scene is being aware of yourself in the state of boredom and wanting to do something about it, in this case writing a song. For me it happened during my rather isolated childhood.
Truth.Explosion: Was this a one time happening? Or does it continue to happen?
PM: It doesn't happen as often now, but it is a must now and then to calm down and meet the muse.
TE: How did the urge to create out of boredom begin?
PM: For me living in a small village in the north of Sweden without much stimulation from friends and other people.
TE: Did you have many friends growing up? Or did you keep to yourself?
PM: I didn't have many friends and those I had were into sports and so was my dad and uncles. I wasn't. At all.
TE: What did you do for fun?
PM: I had to create my own fun.
TE: And you turned to music?
PM: Yeah, for me music was the thing from day one. I think it's the case for a lot of people. UK for example is a rather boring country I would say and they have a history of lots of great Pop music.
TE: I agree! I think you are on to something. Take us back to your childhood...what did you do? Outline a typical day? Month? Year?
PM: Depends on how old I was. Let's say I was 10-11.
TE: Ok.
PM: Woke up, had a steady breakfast, took the bike to school, got bullied during the lunch break for not being into Synth or Heavy Metal.
TE: Were / are a lot of kids in northern Sweden into Synth or Heavy Metal?
PM: Yes in the 80's. Probably still are. If I would have been a bit cooler I probably would have been into Synth as well. I did have some Howard Jones-7inches, but I'm afraid that doesn't count. But I did listen to radio and liked some of the then-current hits.
TE: Please continue...
PM: Reading comics, enjoying the Swedish and English best but hating math.
TE: What is the Swedish and English best?
PM: I liked (and still do) to create stories and read stories.
TE: Please continue...
PM: Got home, watched TV, listened to music like The Housemartins, Beatles, Beach Boys or other poppy things.
TE: Seems like a full day for a 10 or 11 year old? Were you really that bored?
PM: Quite.
TE: So was that the end of your day then?
PM: No. I would pick up the guitar which was out of tune and write a 3-4 chord song which I preceded to record on cassette. Had dinner, went to bed.
TE: When did you turn to music out of boredom?
PM: At 5. I liked 50's Rock'n'Roll and also Swedish Folk music which I proceeded to learn on the violin at the age of 7. Around the same time I found the Beatles and at 10 I learned the guitar by myself and after that started to write songs.
TE: Why is boredom important?
PM: Cause if you're never bored and always busy and happy the urge to create would never arise. I'm sure it's like that for me.
TE: How does one create boredom?
PM: Through not having anything preplanned for a day and through isolation. Through staying at home. Also through going home to your parents on Christmas vacation and doing nothing for a week. After some time, you're bound to write a song. Your back in the settings for your first "primal scene". I would say that boredom in this sense is not necessarily a negative experience, rather a refreshing and relaxing one.
TE: Sounds like something I do...maybe without totally noticing or bringing it to light.
PM: Probably.
TE: You know you are bored when?
PM: You are staring at the wall, flipping through old magazines which you already have read thousands of time, lying down on the bed, staring at the ceiling, cursing yourself for not being able to do something worthwhile.
TE: What is the "truth" about Peter, Bjorn and John?
PM: That we are a bloody good little Rock'n'Roll- band.
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