Pontus Walldin is the guitar player for one of Sweden’s best hard rock bands: Confess. We caught up with him to discuss his time in the band, how he came to join Confess, and what the future holds for one of the Kings of Swedish hard rock.
Rob: Good afternoon Pontus! Thank you for talking with The Rockpit. How are you?
Pontus: Hi! I’m very good this Sunday! Sunny weather in Stockholm so can’t complain! Everything good with you?
Rob: Yeah! It’s been a good weekend. I live in a desert climate so I’m really enjoying temperatures being between the 50’s and 70’s degrees Fahrenheit.
Pontus: Oh, Sounds very nice!
Rob: Background information on Confess is a bit scarce, So if my information is correct you joined the band around the time of Haunters in 2017. Were you a part of the recording of that album?
Pontus: Yes, I joined the band in 2017. They had just released Haunters and the guitarist that recorded that album had quit the band, So I didn’t record anything but I was the one who played the shows right after!
Rob: were you in any bands prior to joining Confess?
Pontus: Yeah! I had a band with Ludwig, who plays bass in Confess, A kinda early m
Motley Crue inspired band were I played drums and Ludwig played guitar.
Rob: That’s an interesting role reversal, I imagine it adds to the way you play as a guitarist that you know how to play the drums.
Pontus: Well, I would like to hope that it helps me with my guitar playing and songwriting. It gives you a whole new view of writing songs when you can see and understand everything from another perspective.
Rob: How did you joining the band come about? Did you know the other guys in the band before joining?
Pontus: I only knew Ludwig, We did an opening show for confess with the old band but I think that was the only time I ever met them before. I joined the band because I saw that Elliot wrote on Facebook that he was looking for a guitar player, So I sent him a message saying “I’m probably one of the worst guitarists that will write, I can’t play for shit but I can give it a try if you want me to” then it took like 2 months for Ludwig to convince all of them that I could play and that they should give me a shot!
Rob: Hahaha! That’s probably the funniest audition I’ve ever heard. It’s a good thing he vouched for you, you are definitely a great guitarist. Considering Confess is an established band were they very open to you writing songs when you guys recorded Burn Em’ All?
Pontus: It really was, thank you!
Well, They were very open for it. Everybody goes in with an open mind so I did the same and they liked what I could add.
Rob: How do songs come together with you guys? Is anyone the primary songwriters or is it a full band effort?
Pontus: Well, Often everybody records a lot of demos at home and then we show the other ones, Try it out, and then the creative part begins! I don’t think any one of us wrote a whole song for Burn ‘Em All, We all just came in with ideas. The songs are just a work in progress until everybody has given their magic touch to the song.
Rob: I’ve often wondered about this: When a musician is hired to replace one of the previous members in an established band, How do you go about learning the songs? I’m sure it varies from case to case but how did you go about it?
Pontus: Well, I have always been a quick learner so learning the songs was pretty easy, But playing them like I would have played it without ruining the song is the hard part! I know that a solo is written in a specific way, But I wanna play it like I would have recorded it without changing it if you know what I mean. Like an old homework, You do not just copy and paste, You then have to change a few words.
Rob: You definitely have to put your own style into it, But what I’m meaning is do you listen to the songs and figure it out or is there anyone that helps teach you the songs after you join the band?
Pontus: Ah, sorry i misunderstood it. Well, They asked if I needed some help but I declined. My brain is wired in some weird way so I just started Spotify and played by ears! I got the tunings of the songs from them though, Then if I had any questions we walked through them in the rehearsal!
Rob: That’s really cool, It takes a good ear as a player to do that. How long did you have to learn the material before playing it live?
Pontus: Well, I think they had a show booked like 3 month after my first rehearsal so we had plenty of time!
Rob: What gear do you use to record with and play live?
Pontus: Well in the studio we did re-amp the guitars so we just recorded a clean Chanel, I don’t know what amp we ended up with but it was a good sounding one! Live both me and Johan started to use a Line 6 Helix to get the same sound on every show and my weapon of choice is a Gibson Les Paul, So that is what I use both live and in the studio!
Rob: In the world of rock guitarists there’s the debate of the Fender Stratocaster verses the Gibson Les Paul, I’m definitely team Gibson. That’s my dream guitar.
Pontus: Me too! Every day all day! Actually got to buy one of my dream guitars, So the one that I used for the recording (Not live because of how airports handle bagage) is a Gibson Les Paul Slash signature tobacco burst from 2008! An amazing guitar!
Rob: That’s a beautiful guitar. I had a friend a long time ago who had a black beauty model his dad bought for him and the way he treated it made me cringe.
Pontus: Oh that’s a beautiful guitar and I would steal it from anyone who didn’t handle it like a beautiful woman!
Rob: I was very tempted to, I considered telling him “You don’t deserve that guitar. “ it belongs in the hands of a musician who appreciates it when you have a guitar like that.
Pontus: Hahaha would have been the right thing to do! Guitar protective services!
Rob: Hahaha! That should be a real agency! Run charity ads “every day there are countless guitars being abused by kids going through a phase, But with your support we can give those guitars a good home.”
Pontus: Hahaha yes 100%! I’ll maybe start it.
Rob: Do it! Hahaha
Rob: I always love hearing about what music influenced a musician to pick up an instrument. what music did you grow up on? What bands inspired you to pursue a career in music? and how young were you when you first started playing music?
Pontus: Well, It all started with guitar hero, I was 11 and played a lot with some friends, then we just started to record ourselves doing “music videos “ with broomsticks until our dads told us we had to play for real instead! So we started our first band when I was 12 (me playing bass) doing some covers that I know sounded like shit and it was Slash and Guns N Roses that got me to pick up the guitar like 3 months after I started to play bass!
Rob: I think this is the first time I’ve ever heard of that game inspiring a musician, that’s awesome! I was actually gifted the third game when it came out on the Nintendo Wii and I thought “why do I need this? I play actual guitar? But those games are a lot of fun and it’s really cool that it inspired you to play. slash is amazing! Have you seen GNR live? I saw them years ago and they were incredible.
Pontus: Haha really? Yes, I thought that I never would get the chance to see them live because of the feud between Axl and Slash, But when they got out of the sandbox and did the reunion I saw them on both Sweden shows! A bit long and I don’t get all the covers but they were amazing shows!
Rob: I’m dying to know what is in the water in Sweden that produces so much incredible rock n roll? Your country has been ground zero for some of the best rock and metal music of the last 20 years. It’s almost a selling point these days to say you’re a rock band from Sweden and for me Confess is up there with the best them.
Pontus: Well I have no idea but if I find out I will start to sell it and become a billionaire!
Really? Well thank you for such kind words! We just try our best and keep on doing what we love, it always feels nice to hear that people appreciate it!
Rob: Most of the music I’m really excited about comes from there. What is the scene like in Sweden? From the outside it reminds me of California in the 80s where you have a bunch of great bands playing exciting music. Is there a lot of camaraderie between the bands there?
Pontus: Well the scene is kinda still there, Not so much in Stockholm though … All the old people that live in Stockholm near by clubs are complaining and shutting down every live scene …. So not that much venues for smaller bands, But yeah between bands we all feel like family! Every time you play with a new band or meet some new people it always feels like you’ve known them for your whole life!
Rob: That’s awesome! Unfortunate that the older people are complaining, they’re missing out on some of the best music going on in the world right now. It’s a dream of mine to go there and see the great Swedish bands like you guys, Hardcore Superstar, Crashdiet, The Cruel Intentions, and many more. I wish I could spend a year there just going to shows.
Pontus: Yes, it really is. Well, you should! It’s a nice country with a lot to see so I think a year sounds about right if you want most of the sightseeing between shows. Say “Honey, I’m going out for some milk! Be right back!”
Rob: Hahaha! My wife is half Italian, she’d find me. Hopefully I’ll get over there one day, I’m also hoping you guys can play Las Vegas one day so I can see Confess live which going off of what I’ve heard from people I know you guys are great live.
Pontus: We would love to do a US tour, It would be a dream come true! And hopefully we will!
Rob: Speaking of live shows, You guys played the indoor summer festival and wildfest this year, which to a USA based fan like myself looks like a dream come true. What’s it like playing those shows and does being around so many great bands impact your show?
Pontus: Well, It is two amazing festivals with amazing people working both of them! It’s fun to play that kind of “small” festival, I love to see those indoor venues packed!
I wouldn’t say that having other bands around make us wanna do better, I personally didn’t care what they think, We just wanna do the best show we can for the people that came there to see us!
Rob: What’s it like backstage at festivals like that?
Pontus: You get treated like a god for no reason! People are taking the bags from your hands to carry them for you, y
You get great food, Nice conversations with everyone involved, and you get to meet all the bands and have a chat and a beer! The best part is meeting a lot of new nice people and just talk shit!
Rob: That sounds like the ideal backstage environment, I bet that’s a great time.
Pontus: It’s always a good time! Everybody is just happy and that’s great!
Rob: It’s been thirteen years since you guys released your debut album Lights Out, Do you know how long the band had been together prior to that?
Pontus: Oh, well that was a good one, I actually have no idea.
Rob: Another shot in the dark question here: Lights out, The Gin Act, and Jail are pretty hard to come by. Are there any plans to re-release those?
Pontus: Well, yeah they have become kinda rare! Nothing is set in stone yet but you might see something in the future! If I say anything more I unfortunately have to kill you!
Rob: Hahaha! I guess I have to respect that then, this interview won’t publish itself hahaha!
Rob: You guys really just keep getting better and better, Burn ‘Em All is a fantastic album. Have you guys been working on a follow up and is there a timeframe of when the fans might hear some new music from you guys?
Pontus: Thank you! Actually we are working on a new album right now, It’s still in the demo stage but we are aiming to release the new album 2024!
Rob: I think I’m not exaggerating when I say the die hard community of hard rock fans will be looking forward to that, I certainly will and I look forward to reviewing it.
Pontus: Well, We are looking forward to it too! Got a lot of great songs in progress!
Rob: Burn ‘Em All came out during the pandemic, I know that the album was a favorite of lots of fans and writers including myself at the time. I imagine it was hard not being able to tour that album, how successful was that album for you guys despite the lack of touring?
Pontus: Well, yeah that was a pretty bad timed release. It was hard not to go out on tour but what to do! Even though we didn’t do any shows the album helped us! People loved the album and really wanted shows, So now when we can do shows it feels like more people show up!
Rob: On the note of shows, Are there any you’d like to announce or anything in general you’d like to tell our readers about concerning your band?
Pontus: Well, Actually not. We are not doing any shows right now just to give the new album 110% and for now the only show we got booked is Call Of The Wild next year, which I hope a lot of people are attending! It’s gonna be a blast!
Rob: My last two questions are interview staples at our site: First, If you could be there to witness firsthand the recording of any album ever made which one would you choose and why?
Pontus: Well, Easy one! Appetite for Destruction! The only album ever that is 100% perfect! Amazing sound, Awesome songs, Everything is just perfect! And that would be nice to witness. It would be fun to see the dynamics in the studio, What is true from the books and what’s not and just to witness true magic being created would be a dream come true!
Rob: That would probably be my choice as well, great pick!
Rob: Lastly, what is the meaning of life?
Pontus: Well I would say that to have a lot of nights with great food and glasses of wine with good friends are the meaning of life! At least according to me!
Rob: Good answer! Thank you very much for your time, it was a pleasure interviewing you. I look forward to the new album.
Pontus: Thank you! It was a really fun interview to do!