Jonas Kjellgren of Scar Symmetry was kind enough to answer some questions about working with (who I think will be the next act to break out of Israel besides Seek Irony), The Fading, as well as a host of other interesting tidbits…

MI: So how did you hook up with The Fading?

JK: They contacted me via Myspace I think.

MI: What made you want to work with them?

JK: They had some great great songs that needed some mixing, and I had another project who got cancelled so I had the time to do it:)

MI: What was your mindset when you were working on their disc?

JK: It was really fun! Really enjoyed working on their songs, never got tired of the songs, but still they’re catchy enough for me to enjoy it!

MI: When you hear any band’s ‘rough draft’ for the first time, how do you approach mixing it?

JK: First I listen to the songs a couple of times, then I listen a bit more, making notes of problems that need some fixing. Then I try to capture the core and hook of every song and enhance it!

MI: What other bands have you worked with?

JK: I recently produced and mix/mastered Flagellation,Incision, Sonic Syndicate, The Absence, Machinery, Facebreaker, SteelAttack, Carnal Forge(mixing), Zonaria(mixing).

MI: Do you have your own studio, or do you mix by someone else’s studio?

JK: Yeah, I have my own studio since -99, BlackLounge Studios. But I’ve worked in other studios also. In March I went to Mana Studios in Florida, US to produce The Absence’s album.

MI: What would you call the type of music Scar Symmetry makes to someone who never heard it before?

JK: Melodic/Progressive Metal with some deathmetal vibes to it.

MI: You’re going to be touring America now, can you tell me more about that?

JK: We will tour together with Katatonia who are great friends of ours, so it will be a blast:)

MI: What are some of the differences you find between European and American audiences?

JK: I think they’re basically the same, only bigger and wilder moshpits in the US!

MI: Do you think Scar Symmetry would play Israel?

JK: Sure, we go anywhere we get gig/tour offers from. So who knows? Maybe next year:)

MI: You are further along in your career than many bands, with two releases out on Nuclear Blast, and touring internationally. If asked for advice, what would you say to a band like The Fading who is just starting out?

JK: Play as much live as possible, and make sure you’re having fun while doing music! Maybe not rehearse every week, cause after a while only rehearsing tends to get boring, you know.. Make sure to always show respect for your fellow bandmates and be nice to each other, by doing that the band can stick together for a long time and evolve and make great music together!

MI: Are there any other projects you’re working on?

JK: I am working on the second album with swedish band Facebreaker! They rule my world with their brutal but still catchy old-school deathmetal:)

MI: Name the three guitarists who have influenced you the most.

JK: Michael Schenker, Mathias Jabs and mighty Yngwie J Malmsteen!