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By Angelique Flores Sahara Hotnights prefer to focus on the present. "We don't like to talk about the future that much," says 21-year-old bassist Johanna Asplund. Unsure but open to what may be in store for them, the band's too busy to really think about it. Making a stop on their tour last month to play two sold out shows at the Roxy, Sahara Hotnights forges forward doing what they want. "To keep playing full houses is good enough for me," 23-year-old guitarist Jennie Asplund said. "We can already live on the music, and I'm glad that we can do that. It's not like we have a big goal, like we have to be huge. We just want to play." After captivating their native Sweden, they're sharing their roaring rock with the rest of the world. With last year's release of their second full-length Jennie Bomb (JetSet), they're catching America's attention. The charming quartet, however, has been making music since 1996. Growing up together on the same block in Robertfors, Maria Andersson (vocals, guitars) and Josephine Forsman (drums) teamed up with friend and classmate Johanna and her sister Jennie. The band's beginning stemmed from an interest in grunge and a desire to emulate their idols in bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam. Creating their own contagious post-grunge punk rock, their sound brims with sassy lyrics and solid musicianship. With musical tastes now ranging from The Clash and Led Zeppelin to Ry Cooder and Outkast, all Sahara Hotnights wants to do is, according to Jennie, "play music that sounds good live." And they certainly do. Never having been in other bands nor having to take a day job, the girls aren't phased when their pictures splash across magazines or television screens. Seemingly confident on stage, they remain humble about their success. "It's fun. I don't think about it that much. It's nice that people come to the shows," Jennie said. The band is less amused by lazy comparisons to The Donnas. They also get tired of discussing their role as female artists. When issues arise over their gender, they ignore it rather than make a fuss. Not consciously trying to break stereotypes, they didn't realize that an all-girl band was uncommon until the media told them. The women just do what feels natural for them. "The thing is that everybody still gets surprised that we're actually a good live band," says Jennie. "Pretty silly, but it's true." The band will start work on their new album over the summer with a possible release next year. Though they don't see an end in sight, Jennie hopes she'll know when it's time to move on. "I want to be the band that quit while I was still good." On the web: www.saharahotnights.com |
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Copyright © 2002 Mean Street Magazine, LLC |
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