Skaburbian Collective, the swedish ska band

Jonas Andersson of Skaburbian Collective.
Photos courtesy of Joel of Skaburbian Collective.

1. What are the names of everyone in the band/ what are their roles?
Do you guys have any albums out? 
Jonas (vocals &percussion), Fredrik (Drums&percussion), Cheva (Bass), Johan (Guitar) , Kribbe  (Vocals&Guitar) We got two albums out on Spotify/Itunes and Amazon, Skaburbian Collective and Products of a free world.

2. Where are you from?
We are all from a town up north in Sweden, Luleå, with about 75 thousand in population, a long cold winter, arctic lights and a short summer with the midnight sun.

3. Are reggae and ska genres big in Sweden?
 No not really, tough the last couple of years some reggae artists from Sweden have actually got some room in the media and on the festivals around and that is a trend that is relatively new. Ten years ago the only reggae you could hear on the radio was Bob Marley so in a sense the genre is starting to grow. we wouldn’t really know :) We´re doing allright..

4. How did you get the name Skaburbian Collective? It comes from Suburb and Ska. We all grew up in the Suburbs and our main target from the start was to play ska music.  

5. How did you all get started? When? Why?
We have known each other forever and that is really the essence of our music as well. We have been sitting, jamming since we were 15-16 years old just sharing our heart´s with each other, in good times and bad times and when you do that, when you get on that level of friendship with someone or a group of people and have fun, things just happen, if you know what I mean? You could say our music reflects different aspects of life we have all shared as a group in front of a bonfire on different occasions. If that answers your questions?=)

6. Do you guys have any inspirations?
 Most of all each other, but life, love and all kind of music are inspiration as well

7. Do you have any favorite musicians?
 Oh that is a tough one cause we are so many in the group and bring different kinds of influences into the studio.

8. What are some of your favorite songs?

Tricky question, from the songs we created, I would pick…Flow, Welcome, Ea and Whaea to be the most inspiring songs to play and listen to.

9. How long have you guys all been together?
Since forever, seriously Fredrik and Johan Tieva have been friends since they were 6 years old, but this constellation started out in 2003 and have been playing on and off since then.

10. Are there any meanings or messages behind your lyrics or music?
Haha that is for you to deside=) No but it is of course different for every song but if you take a song like EA we use daily life moments in different perspectives and just share different situations in a global sense. Our music is borned, raised och performed in a lifelong, honest and happy state of mind. I would say that our main message is to spread happy feelings all around.  

11. Do you guys have any albums out?
We got two albums out on Spotify/Itunes and Amazon, Skaburbian Collective and Products of a free world.

12. Is there anything new coming out from you guys in the near future? When you least expect it=)

13. Any plans for tours? If so, will you come to America? We are actually looking in to an American tour now so we will see. 

14. Have you guys ever been to the states? No, Only Canada!

15. What does music mean to you? Music is pretty much everything for us. It’s a tool for handling feelings and what you experience. A way of expressing your personality or thoughts in a specific or non-specific way weather or not it´s satire or serious things one is writing about.

16. What do you want people to get from your music? Why?
We just want people to have a great time and share some happiness.

17. What is important to the members and the band as a whole?
 not to lose the joy of making more sweet tunes.

18. What do you guys do in your free time? We play music most of the time=)

19. Is there anything you want to add? Anything you want to say to your fans? Thanks for lending your eyes and ears, we are greatfull! Thanks guys!

20. Is there anything you guys want to say about Beyond Good Vibes and our love of music? Keep up the good work! And thank you for the time Rebekah!





As always I am so glad I got to learn a little more about these guys, especially a ska band. Skaburbian Collective is so nice to take the time to interview with US. So thanks so much guys and we hope to hear more music!


If you want to find out more about Skaburbian Collective, check out their facebook, soundcloud, twitter, or website.


Interview by Rebekah Frye of Beyond Good Vibes.

A little bit about the musical artist, Anvil Smith

Photo courtesy of Anvil Smith's Facebook.

1.Where are you from?

I'm from Kovrov city. This is small town in the Vladimir region of Russia

2. How did you get into music?

I always liked to listen to good music. And after I came out of the army, I became interested in electronic music. I was a DJ. One day I got tired of other people's songs in my mixes and I decided to write the tracks.

3. Who are some of your favorite artists?

 My favorite artists: Pretty Lights, Michal Menert, Gramatik, D Day One, Blue Sky Black Death, Supervision, Pete Rock

4. How did you start making music, and how long have you been doing it?

I think all begin the same way. But if a person is really needed, then it can not be stopped. If you kill me, I will stop writing songs, but I hope that does not happen. assiduously I write music about two years. In total, I have been doing music for about 4 years

5. Is there anything new coming out soon?

at the moment I have a lot of projects. But the difficulties in life prevents me from writing music. but still I will try to add stuff. And this year there will be new tracks

6. What do you like to do when you're not making music?/ Do you have another job?

 at the moment I have no free time. And most of the time takes work. I work in the production of advertising, and I barely have enough money to survive. Music in Russia hard to earn. And the music I did not earn a single dollar

7. Do you have any influences?

 it's simple. in music influenced me Derek Vincent Smith

8. How many tracks do you have out?

at the moment I have about a dozen projects, but they need to do in the studio

9. What does music mean to you? 

Music is the most important thing that I have. And I dream to deal exclusively with the music and try very hard to do so.Music helps me in difficult moments. God gave us music and it needs to develop!

10. Do you have any tours or shows coming up soon?

This issue is my agent. And literally, helps me with everything. And in March of next year, we plan to start performing.

11. Do you have any musical goals?

the most important thing to constantly evolve and continue to study and come up with new solutions and approaches for writing the track. I will not deny that Derek idol for me, but I'm trying to find their own sound now and improve the quality of the compositions, and then organize a speech.

12. What kind of music do you like to listen to?

I love listening to good music. Of course I listen to pretty light. But like and old music: soul music, rhythm and blues 50-60 years. I love hip-hop: Sean Price, Method Man ...

13. Do you play any instruments?

I'm not a musician and a music school, I did not study. But I like to play the guitar. Masterly I do not play on it, but I can improvise well. Plans to acquire key

14. Are you signed with a label? If not do you want or plan to be?

while I work independently and I support the free distribution of music. I have not signed on the label. If in the future I will have enough money to performances, I never have nor will release one track for the money

15. How do you make your music? Is it a tedious process?

This is a tedious process, but very interesting. Sometimes I've been writing that just fall asleep at the table and drool on the table. I think. it is harmful to health, as it makes me a little sleep, but I can not live without it

16. The first song we heard was "No more tears" is there any meaning behind the title or your music for that matter?

This title does have a meaning. The one time I really felt bad morally and psychologically breaking up with a girl, no money, I did not see the light at the end of the tunnel, I have a lot of cheating. But at this point, I gathered all the strength and continued to make music. But now I have a life situation is even worse, but now I know that I try in music is invisible

17. Is there anything you want to add?

I love my mother;)

18. Would you like to say anything to BGV?

Love and appreciate good music. With love from Russia!




You should hit up Anvil Smith's soundcloud, Facebook, or Twitter.




Thank you so much for taking time to interview with us. We always look forward to hearing more of what we already love! 
Interview by Rebekah Frye of Beyond Good Vibes.