Pigeon Spins Featuring an Interview with And The Broken

And The Broken - Changes

Changes is the debut album from indie/folk/rock outfit And The Broken, based in Malmö, Sweden. The band released five EPs between 2022 and 2024, but the album consists entirely of new songs. Recorded at Tobias' place, the band infused newfound energy into the music, shaping a unique acoustic sound that draws inspiration from artists like Fleet Foxes, Mumford & Sons, Great Lake Swimmers, First Aid Kit, REM, and Calexico. With a refreshing twist on their musical direction, And The Broken invites listeners to embark on a soul-stirring journey through their poignant lyrics and melodic arrangements. The album's nine songs were recorded by the band and mixed by Andreas Ejnarsson and Linus Lindvall.

"Changes" is more than just an album—it's a journey through transformation. Each track dives into a different kind of change, whether it's deeply personal or happening on a global scale. Musically, it’s a genre-blending experience, reflecting the diverse influences that shape us.

At its core, Changes is about one thing: a band making music we truly love. No gimmicks, no formulas—just honest songs that speak to where we’ve been and where we’re going.

They believe they’ve created something special. Now, they just want to share it with the world, especially the song "Modern World".

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Interview with And The Broken

What inspired the theme of transformation behind Changes?

The fun thing is, I didn’t notice that theme until after all the songs were written. While experimenting with the track order, I realized that every song dealt with change in some way.

How did the process of recording entirely new songs differ from your previous EPs?

The biggest difference was that all the songs were recorded from personal demos. The previous EPs were written after someone brought an idea to the rehearsal studio, and we developed it as a band. This time, we had a format in mind during the recording process, which actually saved us a lot of time.

What story or message do you hope listeners take from Modern World?

I wrote the song in the attic of my summer house in February. The news was filled with stories of war, and I was angry—angry at powerful leaders seeking more power at the expense of human lives and democracy.

Which personal or global changes influenced the writing of this album?

It’s about aging, growing up, relationships, work, and the state of the world.

How did recording at Tobias’s place shape the sound and energy of the album?

It created a relaxed atmosphere. There was no pressure in terms of time or money, so we could take our time and try things out without stress. That freedom made a big difference.

Your music blends indie, folk, and rock. How do you decide which influences to highlight in each song?

We don’t really decide—it just happens. Each song seems to take on a life of its own. For example, when I wrote Modern World, I thought it would be a short, two-minute acoustic song. But when we recorded the drums and bass, they just kept going, and then Johan started playing that riff. And just like that—it became the hook.

What was the most challenging part of creating Changes as your debut album?

We’re five creative people in the band, all from different musical backgrounds. So the hardest part was balancing all those influences. But I really think we pulled it off.

How do you balance acoustic intimacy with dynamic arrangements in your music?

We had a lot of help from Andreas and Linus, who did the mixing. They’re very intuitive and made a lot of those calls. That said, we also talked about dynamics during recording. Everyone in the band loves to play, but someone has to step back and decide what’s best for the song.

Which track from Changes feels most personal to you as a band?

For me, it’s June. It’s actually about my son, though the lyrics are metaphorical. In that song, you can really hear how we work together as a band. I wrote the verse and chorus, and Linus and Johan added the parts in between.

Looking ahead, how do you see And The Broken evolving after this debut release?

I’ve already started sending demos of new songs to the others. We’re currently talking about how to approach them. It’s tempting to do everything the same way, but for now, the plan is to listen to the demo, rehearse it in our rehearsal space, and then record.

Also, Linus has a lot of contacts in Germany, so we’ll probably go there to play some shows. That’s actually where we shine the most—live. After our release party at Medley Malmö, which is one of the best venues in town, it became even clearer.

(•)> That's all Folks! Check out And The Broken on the Pigeon Spins Playlist