INTERVIEW w/ EMIL GAMMELTOFT OF S.K.o.R.

S.K.o.R. is a band hailing from Stockholm Sweden bringing back sense of Hard Rock from yesteryear, but not afraid to be themselves in 2018. With unique visuals, diverse lyrical content and an overall fun vibe; S.K.o.R. released their latest album Rubus Tellus September 14th through GMR Music. I had the opportunity to ask frontman Emil Gammeltoft a few questions about everything you need to know about this band. ENJOY!

Thank you very much for taking the time to do this interview!
It’s my pleasure.

For anyone that may not be familiar, describe S.K.o.R.
S.K.o.R. is a band from Stockholm Sweden and play hard rock with I guess a bit of a modern touch. Energy-wise on a top level, some classic rock elements, some punk elements and my voice on top of that going mostly all the way up there.

September 14th brought on the release of the new album, Rubus Tellus. How does it feel to have this album for nearly a month now? What has been the reaction to the album so far?
Already around 20 ,000 streams and that is not bad for a newcomer to the scene I guess (?) and reviews is starting to get in and they seem to be very positive. We just got one in from Sweden Rock Magazine and that was a great one. People seems to like it and seems to appreciate we actually want to break new ground and have success with it!

What was the songwriting process like for Rubus Tellus?
It’s usually a melody that comes from any of the band members and if it is to everybody’s liking a song is created. So for the new album it was like this and it was important that all in the band had their input to the songwriting.

I personally love the fact that the album is so diverse in it’s sound. Being able to get some great hard rocking songs to cool acoustic tunes, all while feeling like it makes sense. Was that the intention of the album or did come out that way naturally?
Thank you very much! A good song is a good song never mind the musical genre but I think we have created a sound of our own and I guess my vocals makes it a red-line too to the whole concept of our sound.

Bubbleman was chosen as a single for the album, which is a great representation of what the album has to offer while not giving everything away. Is that why it was chosen as a single?
Our record label GMR Music felt that Bubbleman was the right choice for first single and a video was created also that you all can find on youtube. I think they saw the potential as it is kind of repetitive on the chorus and that the song represents the band in a way even if it’s far from the only single that have potential on this album!

With that, Bubbleman is shown off tremendously well as the album cover to Rubus Tellus. Where did the idea come from to use this as the album cover?
Bubbleman has now been developed to be S.K.o.R.s mascot so it felt right to put it on the front cover! Bubbleman will always be in the band concept from now on!

The lyrical content has a lot of great directions to it, from fun to hard hitting. How was the lyrical process for this album?
I try to be diverse in the lyric department, nevertheless serious stuff like in the song “Hell To Pay” to environmental issues of what we are doing to our earth on “Armageddon”. But also fun stuff like “Karate Girl” and wicked stuff as in the song “Seagull”. The whole spectre I would say is in content on this album.

With the band starting in 2006 and with it being almost 2019 already, how do you feel the band has progressed in that time?
S.K.o.R. started out as a folk rock band in 2006 and a completely other direction. That was the aim then and some EP:s and one full length album was done in that vein, but I got to the point where a need to rock hard felt right so we changed direction in 2015. So you can say a completely other sound and direction has been taken and now people is starting to wake up, so I guess this is what we should do and are best at!

What was it like to be able to get out there and start promoting this album live when the album came out?
We have just started actually. We are out this autumn in Scandinavia and hope to do a tour in the beginning of 2019 also in other countries! But it feels good and the songs and performance is getting the thumbs up!

With that, what should people expect from a S.K.O.R. live show?
Expect an energetic live show in high tempo and of course Bubbleman on stage!

What is next for S.K.O.R.?
Getting out to as many as possible both online and live. Choosing next single for a video and also start the songwriting process for the next album!

What do you like to do when you are not focused on music?
As most these days we who creates music can not live on music so we all have day jobs to get the economy together. Apart from that I guess we are all just ordinary people with those ordinary needs and don’t say no to feel good and live life!

Thank you very much for taking the time to do this interview. Rubus Tellus is a fun, 14 track adventure of hard rock that is so much fun to listen to from start to finish and it was great to be able to talk to you about it. Before we are done is there anything else you would like to mention that I hadn’t brought up yet?
Thank you very much for your fine words! The band is very much alive and creative and look forward to have contact with all rock fans who likes us via our websites, so please go in and say hi on our facebook (www.facebook/SomeKindofRubus) or our official site www.skorsaljes.se or our Instagram: s.k.o.r.sweden We look forward to keep in touch and a splendid and fruitful 2019!