Picture taken by Lena Lakselvhaug, Instagram @xiurx | shitty attempt at designing something in Photoshop by me
"Oh shit I can't feel my thumb",
Tracksuit's bassist Øyvind mentions with a smile, knowing that's usually a good sign after rehearsing a new setlist for an upcoming gig.
The four walls around us are just close enough to make us feel like they're going to come closer and crush us to death like we're in some shitty elevator horror movie, but just far enough apart to not give a sh*t and just do what we came here to do. The indie rock band from Norway is adjusting speakers and tuning their strings, while drummer August is casually playing some Tame Impala, only because I mentioned it a couple of seconds before. I'm sitting quietly in a corner, observing the band members as if I'm about to film a National Geographic documentary about this unique species. "We find ourselves in the indie band's natural habitat. They're in camouflage when playing in their tiny practice room, and have adjusted their looks to the very common IDGAF attitude, but not in the 'emo phase from year 8' way, but rather in the 'I care about this sh*t and there's nothing else worth doing' way. Their preferable choice of communication is usually filtered through the sound of their instruments, and they perform best when in harmony with the elements of their songs. The indie species is known to be at their happiest when performing a ritual called 'jamming', before practicing for their big performance. It's an indicator they're preparing for war. And they're determined to win."
Before making it on Spotify, Tracksuit Malamute played for well-known Norwegian organisations like NOAH, which fights for animal rights, and an organisation led by Norwegian teens called 4H. The band officially started in November 2016, and it wasn't until they got to know bassist Øyvind, and bonded with him on a boat trip when he put on some good old indie music, that Tracksuit really became serious. "The first time we could hear people sing along to one of our songs was when we played 'Sophie', which happened to become one of our most popular songs", lead singer and guitarist Vegard tells me. "Every time we play it, the crowd just goes nuts". Which is a statement that one of the guys at the studio, and probably dedicated fan, confirms after overhearing our conversation. He points at Vegard and says: "If you guys only play Sophie on repeat on your gig on Saturday, then I'll definitely be there!" 'Sophie' is one of their summer-y feel good songs, creating a contrast to the rest of their tunes. The band intentionally decided to release their albums and EP's in winter, the reason being that they want their listeners to enjoy summer-themed songs during dark winter days - only to make you feel even more blue and melancholic in the most depressing season. "We want to move people with our songs", Vegard explains. "We don't necessarily want to make them cry, though". Later on, he laughs a little and admits that deep down, he kind of does after all.
Looking at their set list, the next song to rehearse is 'The Bomb': a piece that sounds like a product of the music taste from former emo kids that have escaped from their phase and transformed into a bunch of indie kids, that swapped their clothes characterised by a singular, always funeral-ready colour scheme, to vintage patterned shirts and band tees. I feel a little nostalgic while listening to bass lines and guitar riffs that remind me a lot of blink-182, and vocals that reflect the same f*ck it attitude like the ones you find in almost every song from the Cribs. "We're trying to bring back old emo songs and then transform them by mixing the same depressing lyrics that we've all cried to before with happier instrumental indie music." , the band explains. The Norwegian indie rock band has taken a lot of inspiration from old punk classics, as well as being inspired by other indie and rock bands. FIDLAR, Modern Baseball, and Weezer are just a few bands on their list of favourites, which they clearly reflect in their music. I ask them whether their first EP on Spotify called "Cocoon" was an ode to one of today's most popular indie bands Catfish and the Bottlemen - it turns out I was completely wrong. "It's a metaphor", Vegard explains. "A cocoon kind of reflects our hard work and how inside it, there's the final product, which are the songs we put on our first EP."
Elements from indie, punk and rock, a drummer that dominates so well, it almost makes you think he's worshipping Matt Helders as a god, a bassist that keeps it cool when everyone's freaking out and a vocalist with the same zero f*cks attitude like Ryan Jarman- Tracksuit has got it all. Although they're bringing back music from their emo phases, their love for indie and rock clearly shows when I ask them what bands they'd hire for a perfect, imaginative festival. Both popular rock and metal bands like Kvelertak and FIDLAR, as well as old school American rock bands like Weezer and Modern Baseball would make an appearance, they said, but there's always going to be a soft core with iconic indie rock bands like the Smiths. Combining old punk, rock and indie together is what makes Tracksuit different from your usual beloved indie bands. I ask Vegard how he'd describe the band's music, and without hesitation, he manages to sum it up simply, but also perfectly: "Our music sounds like indie-rock with a touch of punk".