Tezzi has a voice like a hurricane - full of power and emotion. You can currently hear that power in 2 bands: she is 1/5 of Venus 5 & lead vocalist in Hell In The Club. Tezzi & I had a transatlantic tete-a-tete. Strap in...
PS: Let's start at the very beginning: Where were you born?
TP: Ok, easy start. I was born in Sweden in a town called Eskilstuna. Still living in Sweden but nowadays living in the south, Malmo.
PS: Who first inspired you to want to write and sing?
TP: That is hard to say, it all started very early. Already as a young child I was singing and putting up shows at home in front of my teddy bears and my family, forcing them to chant one more time when I finished the song. I also wrote my first little song when I was very young. I remember finding the paper with the lyric years later, completely misspelled, but unfortunately, I no longer have it, it got lost somewhere. but I guess music, singing and writing found me pretty much from the beginning. I can’t remember really being without it.
PS: Who were the artists that inspired you most, musically?
TP: There has been so many along the road and in different phases of my life. Too many to mention. But if we’re talking about the very beginning where I at a young age started to explore my musical personality and my own voice I’d say Drain, Queensryche, Anouk, Tori Amos, Alanis Morrissette, Nirvana, Aerosmith among others. I was also the biggest Spice Girls fan as a child so I do have to say that also lit a spark for sure. Over the years I started exploring all different genres of rock and metal and I’ve found so many inspiring bands and artist that today have given me the blend of techniques I’ve developed vocally.
PS: In addition to singing in Hell In The Club, you're also part of Venus 5, along with one of my favorite humans - Herma. How did the band come to be & how do you all work out who sings what parts?
TP: Agree, Herma is one of my favorite humans (aliens) as well, she’s amazing! This is a project created by the label, Frontiers. We were asked if we would like to be a part of it and that’s how we ended up together. We’ve had a team of songwriters for these two albums and who sings what parts has been decided by our producer Aldo Lonobile. It’s easier having someone take charge and make these decisions with five singers involved.
PS: How did the gig singing for Hell In The Club come about?
TP: It was actually through Venus 5. I met Andy and Mark from Hell in the Club because they were part of the band when we played live with the girls. And so when Dave was stepping down as the singer of Hell in the Club. Andy came up with this crazy idea of asking me if I would be interested to take the place as their new singer. It was completely unexpected and honestly, I almost thought he had sent the message to the wrong person at first haha. But I was instantly super excited since I already loved their music. I recorded 3 of their songs here in Sweden and sent the guys and after that it was a done deal.
PS: What would you say are the biggest differences between Hell In The Club and Venus 5?
TP: It is very hard to compare the two since everything is different. Hell in the Club is a band where we actively work together creating and playing music. Venus 5 is a project handled by others so it’s more about performing. I’m keeping my focus where it’s needed and there is no time for any additional projects right now. I already don’t sleep as it is haha.
PS: What do you enjoy most about working in Hell In The Club?
TP: I would say the feeling of friendship, family and togetherness. We have a lot of fun. While of course being serious about what we do there’s an easy-going atmosphere which makes working together very relaxed. Everyone has a voice and their space to create and contribute. It’s a solid teamwork based on complete mutual respect. These guys are amazing both off and on stage.
PS: Let's talk about a few songs from Joker In The Pack. I love the swagger of Pretty Little Freak Show! What's the story behind the lyric?
TP: When creating the vocal line for that song I was recording it with nonsense lyrics at home in my bedroom just for the guys to hear the idea for the vocals. At some point in that first draft I sang Pretty Little Freakshow and the line got stuck in my head. So, when siting down starting to write the lyrics, I got inspired by that, deciding to write about this rock n roll chick just living her best life doing her thing not caring about what anyone else thinks about it. Going to concerts and rocking out not giving a damn about guys hanging around wanting her attention. She’s a pretty little freakshow, a wild born force of nature that can’t be held down. She’s in a way what I wish I would have dared to be earlier on in life.
PS: Tell me about the opening track - The Devil Won't Forget Me.
TP: The Devil Won’t Forget Me felt like the natural opening track for our new album. It has the right energy connecting this new era of Hell in the Club with the previous albums. It’s raw and melodic. It’s about questioning yourself and your decisions in life as if you’re balancing on the edge feeling stuck in the same patterns. Like no matter what you do “the devil won’t forget you” and let you go.
PS: What inspired Robert The Doll?
TP: Robert The Doll is a story which originates from the early 1900s. The doll was a gift to a little boy but shortly thereafter strange things started happening in the house. The doll was said to have a life of its own, moving. The doll was locked away in the attic but still he was said to be seen siting by the window, watching. Today you can find him at a museum in Florida where he is said to still haunt and cause misfortune to whoever disrespects him while visiting him. I heard about the story watching a series about old folk lores and urban legends and I had to write about the little fellow. So far, he has not been coming for us so maybe he likes the song.
PS: I think my favorite song on the album is Fairytale. What's it about?
TP: I love Fairytale. Dave wrote this song and did the vocal line and in the demo without real lyrics I heard the word fairytale in the chorus. With the atmosphere of the music, I chose to keep the idea of a fairytale but turn it into something darker. It’s about situations and people not being what you believed them to be. About getting lured into something seemingly beautiful just to find yourself caught in a web of manipulation where all you can do is try to survive and find a way out.
PS: Are their any tour plans for either band in 2026?
TP: With Hell in the Club we don’t have a tour planned but we have gigs coming up throughout the year. We are really looking forward to playing the Frontiers Festival in May for example. We’re keeping busy and want to rock down the stages as much as possible.
PS: Please tell me 6 albums you never get tired of listening to.
TP: Operation: Mindcrime – Queensryche
Blood – In This Moment
The Long Road North – Cult Of Luna
Freaks of Nature - Drain
Meliora - Ghost
October Rust – Type O Negative
