Pigeon Spins Featuring an Interview with Astro-Lloyd

Astro-Lloyd - Greetings from the Galaxy

Some much needed joy from a band who don't take themselves too seriously, but make music that slaps you in the chops with its' energy. A Christmas release with an alt-rock twist. The scrappy underdogs of rock, armed with fuzz pedals, massive riffs and questionable social skills. A unique blend of explosive energy and hooks so catchy they should come with a warning label.

Have an alt-rock fuzz-fueld heavy guitar filled Christmas this year :)

https://www.submithub.com/link/astro-lloyd-greetings-from-the-galaxy

Interview with Astro-Lloyd

(•)> What inspired the alt-rock twist on your holiday release?

We wanted to do something just for fun. It’s kind of become a tradition for us to release something alternative or a bit weird around Christmas, like a little gift to the fans. Music released in December often gets swallowed up by holiday playlists anyway, so we prefer to focus on something playful instead.

Two years ago, we did a cover of Swedish artist Miriam Bryant, our first track ever in Swedish. Last year we re-recorded two songs from our first EP that we felt deserved more attention. And this year, it’s a re-imagining of our song ‘Searchlights.’ If you listen to the lyrics, it’s kind of a Christmas song already. Add sleigh bells and voilà, instant holiday version.

We’ve also talked for a while about doing a real Christmas song and eventually landed on Happy Xmas (War Is Over). It was a fun challenge to make it sound more “Astro-Lloyd.”

And the last one, You and Me Song by The Wannadies, isn’t technically a Christmas track, but it was released close to Christmas back in 1994, and it’s just a brilliant song that we wanted to put our own spin on.

(•)> How did you choose the two covers to include alongside your original track?

We simply talked about which songs would be the most fun to reinterpret. It’s always good to have a cover in your pocket, and we felt these two were easy to sing along to, recognizable, and perfect candidates for making a bit more “rock.”

(•)> What’s the story behind the EP title Greetings From the Galaxy?

We’ve always tried to keep some kind of space-connection in our releases, and this title just felt right, short, punchy, and very “us.”

(•)> How do you balance high-energy riffs with the festive spirit?

It’s not that hard actually. We try to make the songs our own while still honouring the original. And high-energy riffs fit pretty well with the modern festive spirit, which is often a mix of stress and coziness.

That’s really what ‘Searchlights’ is about: the stress of finding balance in life, finding the perfect gifts, making sure friends and family feel seen and heard, it’s chaotic, but in a beautiful way. Christmas forces you to think about people you might not otherwise talk to, and that’s kind of nice.

(•)> How does your Malmö roots influence your sound and approach to rock?

Our Malmö roots definitely play a role, even if it’s not always obvious in the sound itself. We’ve been inspired by great Malmö bands like Royal Republic, but it’s also the creative environment here that shapes us. Malmö has a mix of cultures and genres, and that openness encourages you to experiment rather than follow a formula.

So, for us, coming from Malmö is less about sounding a certain way, and more about attitude. It’s about how you present yourself, how you build energy on stage, and daring to blend influences without overthinking it. Malmö has this DIY spirit and a raw, honest edge, and that definitely affects how we approach rock music.

(•)> What’s your favourite part of creating music that doesn’t take itself too seriously?

Everything around the music itself is great! We take songwriting seriously, but everything else we just do however it feels right and try to have fun with. Making weird videos to go with the songs, playing shows, meeting people, all of that is amazing.

Even sitting six hours in a car on the way to a show, talking nonsense, somehow good ideas come out of it. That’s often where we figure out what to do next and how to navigate the ever-changing music industry.

(•)> How do fuzz pedals and massive riffs shape the personality of your songs?

Oh, we love fuzz pedals! For us, they’re a way to add weight and dimension, sometimes we tuck them deeper in the mix to make everything feel bigger, and other times we push them right to the front when we want everyone’s attention.

Massive riffs are part of the energy, but we don’t see them as the thing that defines a song. It’s always about the whole picture. Our goal is to write songs that stand strong on their own, not just music with vocals placed on top. Anything can be a hook if it fits the vibe, and yes, we often lean more towards guitar-driven ideas than vocal-centric ones.

(•)> How do you want listeners to feel when they spin this EP?

It depends. ‘Searchlights’ is for when you’re stressed, it’s a reminder that you’re not alone in the Christmas chaos. Hopefully it feels energizing, and a bit comforting too. And honestly, how can you not smile when there’s a heavy outro with sleigh bells on top?

The other two tracks are energetic as well, music to boost your day in every possible way.

(•)> How does Astro Lloyd approach writing hooks that hit so hard?

We take it easy and let the ideas arrive naturally. As soon as you try to force music out, it usually ends up sounding bad. If something doesn’t feel right, we leave it for a few days and come back later.

And the best ideas often come randomly, in the shower, or right when you’re about to fall asleep. It’s always a bit awkward picking up your phone and humming a new intro in the middle of the night, drums and all.

(•)> Any plans for live shows or festive performances to bring this EP to life?

We do have two shows in Norway before the year is over, with a brilliant Norwegian band called Yesterdaze. December 19 in Tønsberg and December 20 in Drammen.

(•)> That's all, Folks! Check out Astro-Lloyd on the Pigeon Spins Playlist