Interview: Sebastian Svalland (Katatonia)

Photo credit: Terhi Ylimäinen

Interview: 28th May 2025

Ahead of the release of the new album, Nightmares as Extensions of the Waking State (read my review here), Hotel Hobbies spent some time chatting with new guitarist Sebastian Svalland about joining the band, his partnership with Nico Elgstrand and the upcoming release.

Hotel Hobbies: You and Nico joined Katatonia for this album. How did it feel to join such an established band and how were you welcomed by the other members?

Sebastian Svalland: Obviously it’s a little different when you come in as a new face in this well-established thing. I think the guys in the band have been great and so have the crew. We’ve started to build this new team, and now we just need more time together to do some really good stuff.

Hotel Hobbies: I have been listening to and reviewing the album, which I have really enjoyed.

Sebastian Svalland: That’s nice to hear.

Hotel Hobbies: In the press notes I received there was a quote from Jonas saying he felt when he was writing the album that it was more guitar-driven this time. How did it feel coming into the band, receiving his input and how did you put your own spin on what he wanted you to do?

Sebastian Svalland: In terms of guitar-driven songs, that’s really down my lane. I always want the guitar to go all the time (laughing). Well, maybe not all the time but whenever I do music, I find it hard not to let the guitar keep going, so to speak. Jonas is excellent at incorporating different types of instruments, but it was certainly to my liking that there’s more guitar.

Hotel Hobbies: How would you describe the process of making the album? Were there particular songs or moments where you felt like you were making contributions of your own?

Sebastian Svalland: There were a few things in the moment when Nico and I were like, maybe we can do this, maybe we can do that. If you compare the difference between me and Nico as guitar players, he’s way more technical and a better guitar player than I am. I usually like to sit with the material for a long time to really get into it before I do my input. This album was already written when I joined the band so it was more like I learned the songs and then if I found something I wanted to change or add, I would try to do some stuff.

Hotel Hobbies: When you were establishing your partnership with Nico, did you find it was an easy thing to do? You’ve talked about his strengths. How did you work out who would do what?

Sebastian Svalland: I think me and Nico will always have dialogue about things. I think we’re kind of polar opposites as guitar players. He’s really smooth; he likes sliding into things, bending into things. I’m more of a choppy guitar player, so to speak. I have a lot to learn here. I think the more time we have, the better we’ll fit together. I think he’s phenomenal, and I just enjoy finding and learning new things from such an old man (laughing).

Hotel Hobbies: I suppose coming into a different band, you will have to play slightly differently. I know you have played bass for In Mourning and play live with Pain etc. How have you had to adapt to play in Katatonia?

Sebastian Svalland: Well, the thing is, it’s never easy to try to play songs written by some of the fantastic previous guitarists; that’s obviously something you wrestle with if you’re not the same type of guitar player. People tackle those things differently, especially when you want to do your own solo or whatever. Sometimes it is like, I couldn’t write a better solo here. I want to try to play it like he did because I think it sounds so good. That could be the highlight of the song. So yeah, it’s very challenging. I’m not trying to come in and be like, “I’m doing my thing.” I think it’s part of an era of Katatonia, with those kinds of leads when he joined. So it’s different for me, joining a band where there have been really great guitarists. I’ve played with great guitarists before too, but these are just different styles from the rest.

Hotel Hobbies: Thinking about the new album in particular, are there any tracks you are especially proud of, in terms of your own guitar work?

Sebastian Svalland: I’m quite a perfectionist in that sense. I’m proud that I was on it, but I still feel like I have a lot to learn. I wish I could have been even more prepared, even more immersed in the songs before recording. I think it turned out well. The production is really, really good. But I never think I’m “good,” so to speak. So I find it hard to really be appreciative of things in that sense.

Hotel Hobbies: With the variety on the album you must be able to challenge yourself with different things on different tracks.

Sebastian Svalland: Absolutely. That’s the fun thing with Katatonia. The band’s whole journey hasn’t been a straight line. Katatonia’s name can be described in so many different ways. I think that’s one of its strengths. And it’s way, way more fun to play in a band like that.

Hotel Hobbies: I have followed the band since before Viva Emptiness and it has always seemed like there is a desire to move forward, to try news things. The new album feels like a step on from Sky Void of Stars. Some parts of Nightmares… would fit on there but there are lots of other bits that feel darker.  

Sebastian Svalland: Yeah, I definitely get that. If there’s a touch of something familiar, it’s Sky Void Of Stars, so I think you're right about that. But it is also very different. You described it well—it is darker. That gives off the first vibe of difference when you compare it to other albums in the discography.

Hotel Hobbies: When you were working on the new album and thinking about guitar solos, how did you decide who played between the two of you?

Sebastian Svalland: In this case, I really enjoy Nico’s solos. Both of us have this love for David Gilmour, and I think Nico has this thing whenever it comes to solos. He has something in his fingers. His bends are really, really good and the way he gets into the tone or note is on a level way higher than me. So often I am like, “No, you do it!” Of course, I like to try out a solo here and there, but I think when it comes down to it, he’s a way better solo player than I am. If it’s not something specifically designated for me, I’ll always be like, “Well, you have a Ferrari over there.” 

Hotel Hobbies: You must have enjoyed watching and listening to him play then.

Sebastian Svalland: Oh yes. It was a great experience to see him work. I’ve never been around someone that loose, so to speak, in the metal world. I’ve only played in metal bands, really. Usually in metal, guitarists are more choppy; I don’t mean that in a bad way. Nico is not that at all. When we play live, we need to play together so the contrast isn’t too much. We both try to meet in the middle. But there is this one solo on the last song of the album where he plays a solo that is completely wild. It’s not what you’d expect at all. That’s the moment I’ll remember most from the recording. He just shot from the hip with it. I think that solo is phenomenal. It was really nice to see something that felt a little more old school.

Hotel Hobbies: I think my favourite song at the moment is Wind of No Change. Thinking about the tracks already released, it is very different to something like Lilac, for example.

Sebastian Svalland: Absolutely. When Jonas first presented the songs, Wind of No Change was the one that really stood out to me. On Sky Void of Stars, every song felt more direct. In comparison, this album takes more time. I’m really looking forward to playing that one live.

Hotel Hobbies: I agree with what you said. One of the things I wrote in my review is that this album, which I think is great, takes longer to reveal everything it has. Compared to the last one, it unfolds more slowly. That’s definitely something I noticed.

Sebastian Svalland: Yeah. It’s not all upfront. There’s depth there, if you want to dwell in it. Hopefully people enjoy that.

Hotel Hobbies: I think both approaches can be great; songs that grab you immediately are powerful, but I also love when an album reveals more with each listen. That’s quite special.

Sebastian Svalland: Yeah, I love that too. I love when I listen to a song and I just want to hear it again and again, and each time it gives me more. I think that’s one of the best feelings there is with music.

Hotel Hobbies: I think the structure of the album plays into that as well — the way the slower, faster, gentle and heavier moments are spaced out. There’s clearly some thought behind the track listing. Is that something the whole band contributes to, or is that more Jonas? Did he already have an idea of the journey he wanted the songs to take the listener on?

Sebastian Svalland: It’s a bit hard for me to say. A lot of it was still quite new to me. The timing was a bit weird. I didn’t really get to fully dwell in the process. The whole thing about joining the band and recording the album came pretty early on, but a lot of the material had already been written. I wasn’t there for the earliest phases — the first ideas or demos or anything like that. So I’d say a lot of that direction comes from Jonas. Obviously, he has a strong eye for the music and the writing and everything, so I think the tracklisting is good. It feels dynamic; it makes sense.

Hotel Hobbies: Efter Solen is the first Katatonia song in Swedish. It is very different to the rest of the album. It has a very tender vocal, quite bewitching.

Sebastian Svalland: I love that you think so. I love that song. I think it’s one of my favourites—if not the favourite. I love when music makes you fantasise. That song is very visual to me. If you’re just sitting and listening, not doing anything else, it really gives you a strong atmosphere. Maybe not visions exactly, but it paints something in your mind. I really liked it from the first time Jonas showed it to me. I was like, “This is fucking great.”

Hotel Hobbies: It is also perfectly positioned on the album, right before the final track, In The Event Of. That last one feels like it contains something from every part of the record—a bit of everything.

Sebastian Svalland: I really like that last track too. It’s very heavy, emotionally as well as musically. It’s dark and kind of desperate, I guess. I’m struggling for the exact word. It’s a big contrast to the track before, but it still fits perfectly.

Hotel Hobbies: Thinking about playing some of these songs live - or learning songs from the back catalogue that you’ll be performing - are you looking forward to getting out on tour?

Sebastian Svalland: Yes, absolutely. It’s exciting. You start thinking, “Okay, how’s this going to feel? How are we going to bring these songs to life on stage?” So far, we’ve only played Lilac live once. That felt good. It’s always a little strange playing a completely new song live for the first time but I’m really looking forward to performing more of these songs. I think they will actually be very strong live.

Hotel Hobbies: I am looking forward to it. I already have my ticket for the London show in December.

Sebastian Svalland: You do? That’s great!

Hotel Hobbies: It will be a good night. You have Evergrey and Klogr as support, both great bands.

Sebastian Svalland: Everything I’ve heard so far has been really positive. People seem to think it’s a great match. I met the guys from Evergrey recently - Jonas had a birthday party, he turned 50 - and I met them there for the first time. They seem great. Jonas and Tom (from Evergrey) are good friends so it’s all looking very positive.

Hotel Hobbies: It sounds like an exciting time to be in the band. Jonas has said of Katatonia in 2025, “This is a great place to be in. Inspiration-wise, it’s so good to be surrounded with people that come in with energy and ideas and a strong will to take part, to take the band further. I want people to feel at home in this band and feel like we’re making a difference together.” That must feel good to hear.

Sebastian Svalland: It does but whatever’s happened over the past few years—it’s always going to be something that’s there. The departure of long-time bandmates is sad, of course. It’s not weird exactly, but it’s... a big thing. For me, I wanted to join with the mindset that I’m not coming into something that’s just going to coast along. That’s not what I want. I can be kind of annoying in a band because I want to do a lot: bring ideas, keep things moving. But I think that’s something that’s appreciated too.

Hotel Hobbies: I can understand all of those sentiments. When the next album cycle comes around, you’ll be there from the beginning of the writing process.

Sebastian Svalland: Yeah, I’m looking forward to that. I have my own way of playing, and it would be an honour to contribute more ideas. If you’re someone who wants to be involved in songwriting, then yeah, that’s what you look forward to. I’d really like to bring something to the table.

Hotel Hobbies: It has been great to talk to you. Thank you so much for you time.  

Sebastian Svalland: Thank you but I need to show you one thing first. When we started talking, I noticed something right away behind you. (HH: Sebastian proceeds to take a photo of something up on the wall in front of him). I was so happily surprised to see the artwork behind you! (HH: Here Sebastian showed me the picture he had taken from his own house – Animals by Pink Floyd, which is up on my wall too). That image is probably the most beautiful album artwork out there. I have always wanted to go there. I think it’s been turned into some kind of mall now.

Hotel Hobbies: Yes, the whole area has been re-developed. It does not look like that album cover anymore.

Sebastian Svalland: My wife’s from England actually, so maybe someday she’ll have to take me there!

Hotel Hobbies: You should definitely go. The building looks amazing again now. That artwork behind me is actually a jigsaw puzzle, believe it or not, but from a distance you cannot tell that it is.

Sebastian Svalland: No way! That’s awesome.

Hotel Hobbies: Thanks so much, Sebastian. I have really enjoyed talking with you. I think the album is  great and I will see you in London in December.

Sebastian Svalland: I really enjoyed talking to you too. Yes, see you there—and take care.

Nightmares as Extensions of the Waking State is released on 6th June 2025.

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Photo credit: Terhi Ylimäinen