A Few Words With...Therese Damberg!


by John A. Wilcox



Therese Damberg is the lead vocalist of Swedish hard rockers Teaser Sweet. The band has a brand spanking new album called Night Stalker. Progsheet talked with Therese Damberg about her influences and all things Teaser Sweet. Join us...



PS: What music do you recall hearing in your household growing up?

TD: Everything from ABBA, Creedence, Kicki Danielsson, Carola, Beatles, Rolling Stones. We definitely didn't like everything we heard, but what we stuck with was ABBA and the Rolling Stones. Our dad also listened to a lot of country music, which Therese really liked. The bassist, Hampus Steenberg, wore a diaper and held a plastic guitar and danced to Def Leppard, Motorhead, Saxon and Metallica!

PS: At what age did you and your brother Marcus start singing & playing together?

TD: We did some small gigs together when Therese was only 15. Marcus accompanied and Therese sang, there were many duets too. But we spent a lot of time at home playing rock ballads at home: everything from Bon Jovi to Roxette.

PS: Early on you both played in a band performing KISS songs. What was it about their music that caught your attention?

TD: KISS is an iconic band that has always delivered hits and melodies that are easy to get hooked on, and since we have always listened to, played and know the songs well, it was obvious to play some Kiss songs when we didn't have any other material of our own to play.

PS: What bands & performers were influencing your musical direction?

TD: That list could go on for a long time, but to pick a little bit from each source of inspiration, we can start by mentioning Judas Priest. We love their powerful guitar riffs and energetic performances, which is something we also strive to recreate.

Another band that we find inspiring is Roxette. Marie Fredriksson and Per Gessle had a fantastic chemistry on stage and in the studio. Their charisma and personality shone through in their performances. Many of Roxette's songs have a deep emotional resonance. We think their lyrics and melodies have the ability to touch listeners on a personal level.

Another band we have to mention is Europe. Europe has always strived to develop their sound and over the years have experimented a lot and done a lot of unexpected musical things, but there is always emotion involved in everything they do.

Last but not least, we have to mention Accept. Wolf Hoffmann's guitar playing and Udo Dirkschneider's unique voice are something you can't help but love. And as you can hear, we are very broad in our musical style and our sources of inspiration, which we think is important. You can't just stick to listening to one category.

PS: How did Teaser Sweet initially come together?

TD: It started with Marcus having a band that was no longer working. But Marcus really wanted to keep playing. He asked Therese, his sister, if she would consider trying singing. Therese's boyfriend at the time was Christoffer Cardell, who was also asked to play bass. We tried playing together and realized that it was not only fun but we actually sounded quite okay. We started playing covers because we had nothing else to play. Then we made some of our own songs in just one weekend, and that's how it all started.



PS: Night Stalker is the new album. What is the main thrust of the songs?

TD: Old classic heavy metal and hard rock with a touch of 70s groove. The album's title track, Night Stalker is reflecting themes of darkness and mystery. Living In Sin and Eat You Alive delve into personal battles and forbidden desires. Tracks such as Killer Machine and Cold Is The Fire is more themed by dominance and the cold, relentless pursuit of power. Blue Sky is a contrast to the other songs with a more reflective and hopeful tone, adding emotional depth. We like to have some kind of mystery in the lyrics and a broad perspective so that our listeners can form their own perceptions of what the songs are actually about.

PS: How is it a step forward from Monster?

TD: Night Stalker delves into darker and more complex themes such as inner struggles, temptations, and isolation. Each track is contributing to the overall atmosphere and story. We think that Night Stalker shows our growth as artists and our willingness to push our creative boundaries.

PS: I'd love to discuss the story behind a few songs. Let's start with the 2021 song Straight To My Heart.

TD: Straight To My Heart is about a relationship that makes you feel alive and gives you the strength to cope with anything!

PS: Deep In The Woods has a very interesting video to go with it. What's the story behind the song & the video?

TD: Deep In The Woods is a track that delves into themes of mystery and the unknown. We think that the song's atmosphere evoke a sense of being lost or exploring uncharted territories, both physically and emotionally. The video also pays homage to classic horror and thriller elements, which we love!

PS: Please tell me the story behind Eat You Alive.

TD: The song is about our former bassist who left the band. We liked him very much and right now there are no hard feelings and we don't wish him any harm. We wish him all the best in life but it was hard on us that he chose to leave. But it also meant that we got our fantastic addition Hampus Steenberg.



PS: Turn Me On is packed with energy. What's the inspiration for the lyric?

TD: It's about a huge fan who lives only to go to hard rock concerts every weekend. The person who's always at gigs and whose fist you always see in the air. A true frontbanger!

PS: Living In Sin is incredibly catchy! Please tell me the story behind it

. TD: It's quite enigmatic because it's about playing a game in a relationship where you have to show the right cards and make the right move. It's about a love relationship that's more than just a fairy tale. Burning love but containing more than just happiness.

PS: How do you balance singing in a band and being a teacher?

TD: I love my profession as a teacher as much as music and it is actually a rewarding profession to be part of while having a strong passion for an interest. I am in two different worlds and manage to balance it harmoniously. The best thing is that you get to teach young people what really good music is.

PS: Is the band planning any live gigs to support Night Stalker?

TD: We're playing a gig on May 3rd to celebrate the release of the album. Then we have one booked in September where we'll play with the band Universe, Lindkoping, Sweden. Hoping for more!

PS: What's the most fulfilling aspect to singing in Teaser Sweet?

TD: To hang out with the amazing people and musicians who are part of the band. To create and have fun and to share this experience together! Looking forward to visiting more places in the world with my gang! I would never trade places for standing in the middle of hot guitar riffs, a dancing bassist and a real crazy guy on drums: it's the members of the band that make it amazing!

PS: Please tell me 6 albums you never get tired of listening to.

TD: Europe - Wings Of Tomorrow
Thunder – Laughing On Judgement Day
Judas Priest – Screaming For Vengeance
Def Leppard – Hysteria
W.A.S.P. – First debut album
Scorpions – Blackout



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