Billie The Vision and The Dancers - The visionary dancers of Malmö

Billie The Vision & The Dancers are a charming gang of musicians from the beautiful city of Malmö, embodying one of the most inspired, outgoing and sinuous strains of indie-pop in Europe – not just for the pronounced melodic flair that marks every single track of their remarkable output, but also for their innate knack for packing joy, happiness, carefree abandon and an optimism we might call "vital" into just a handful of notes, in these dark times and beyond. We caught up with them during their fiery Swedish tour, amid the wildly over-the-top enthusiasm of leader maximo Lars Lindquists, tough setlist choices, and a sense of purpose that sets them apart from the crowd…

Hi guys. Before we start the interview, I want to congratulate you on everything you've put out over the last four years. It's hard to find a pop band this melodically inspired these days…

That's a good question. I made a list of people I love spending time with and then asked each of them to join the band. They all said yes. It was amazing. Then I figured we could teach others how to play too, so we did. At first the results weren't encouraging, but then, slowly, we realized it was a brilliant idea: putting together a band based on personal qualities rather than strictly musical ones. I brought out the best in people. It was one of the best choices I've ever made, and I'm really proud of it.

Where do your songs come from? I notice a melodic, descriptive poetics tied to the places where you live…

Many of our songs were written in Malmö and tell stories of things that happened here.

Yours is a carefree pop sound, enjoyable in all its shades, and there's also an unusual attention to harmonic detail – even though at first it might all seem simple, light and immediate, you can sense a very meticulous search for sound. Trumpet, violin and piano, in my view, give the structure greater richness of harmony. How do you shape your material once you've hit on the melody?

I often listen for the trumpet when I write songs. Others in the band listen for the violin, still others for the piano. We add things, then we listen back and pick out the best sounds for them.

The idea of "giving away" your records as a free download caused quite a stir. Why did you make that choice? What benefits (non-material ones, obviously) did you get out of it?

We always operate through our own little label; the free download was just a (risky) way of reaching Italy, Venezuela, the US and everywhere else without having a major label behind us. It was another brilliant idea.

In Sweden the indie cauldron is getting hotter and hotter: from Wildbirds & Peacedrums to Jens Lekman, not to mention Frida Hyvonen and Kissey Asplund. You're much loved at home, and I think you represent one of the strongest forces in the Swedish indie-pop scene. What advice would you give to young Swedes trying to "break through" at home? Is there anything that connects you to the artists mentioned?

If they're like us, they should follow the same path we did. But people are different, so it's hard to give recommendations. It's important to listen to what comes from your gut, and to listen to it forcefully. Some of them I don't know personally. I think we've fought harder, but there are some things we have in common. We really like them, but we've taken different paths.

The melancholic side of "I Used To Wander These Streets", carried by (gorgeous) tracks like "Hold My Hand" and "Realy Race", definitely gives the record greater rhythmic versatility after such a sunny, radiant opening. But a track like "Groovy" strikes me as truly thrilling and one of a kind. Where does that irresistible, seductive rhythm and hook come from, flowing so buoyantly?

I think versatility has always been one of our best qualities. "Groovy" is a song born out of a period of self-destruction and confusion, and it was finished once the worst had passed. It's important to celebrate things like that. "Groovy" is definitely one way of doing it.

I know you're really formidable live. What sets one of your shows apart? Do you plan everything out, or do you like to improvise and interact with the audience in the moment?

I think we're the best band in the world, live and in the studio. We're eight great songwriters who love playing and need to play, and that's the difference between us and other bands. We have a fixed setlist with way too much material to fit in. That's honestly hell for us. If there's one thing that's going to break up this band someday... well... I think it'll be exactly that setlist. I hate making it, and I hate not making it. We've got tons of great songs in the drawer, some of them truly amazing.

Nowadays it's hard to combine melodic immediacy with lyrical depth. They don't always go hand in hand. And yet you manage to layer carefree melodies over lyrics that are never trivial and always deeply felt. A real feat. Where does the need to blend all this come from?

One curiosity: the lyrics mention a certain Pablo and a certain Lily. Are they real friends, real loves, or pure invention?

Thank you. We use contrast as much as possible. And it's happened that something good came out of a bad situation, giving life to a happy song ("Groovy"). It's a way of surviving. It's important to hope, and it's important to have songs full of hope. Pablo and Lily are a secret.

In 2005 you left your home turf to follow the Pipettes around Europe. What do you remember about that experience? What's changed since then? What are the difficulties in facing an audience completely different from the Swedish one?

We toured with them in 2008. Every place is different from the next, both in Sweden and in the UK. We're very grateful to them. We became great friends. Recently they asked to be our support band for our long Swedish tour. That wasn't the case back in 2005.

"Swedish Sin" is shaped more around the pure old-school folklore of the past. Have you ever thought about moving closer to good old traditional Swedish folk?

We never think about what to do until we hear what's coming from our gut.

Thanks for the interview. I wish you all the best, and good luck for the future.

Thank you. I hope you're happy with our clever answers.

He He He…

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