by Madeline Virbasius-Walsh
Mind you, Lundgren and his music didn't always have such a sunny disposition. He admits to having played in a dark, moody band for four years before starting I'm From Barcelona. He explains, "I had a vacation and then started this one. Music always follows your mood. I was lonely and depressed before, but then I found a beautiful girl and was in love. Music just follows the heart."
Though love is indeed at the center of many of I'm From Barcelona's songs, Lundgren couldn't imagine limiting himself to love songs about relationships, especially when there are ripe subjects like treehouses and oversleeping to flush out.
The band's slightly geeky, happy but twisted subject matter has lately led a few bloggers to compare them to the films of Wes Anderson. Lundgren apparently had no idea. "I haven't read that but actually, it's funny, because I've written a song about The Life Acquatic. It's a new song and we'll be trying it live tonight. It's kind of true. There is some kind of expression in his mood that's similar to our music. I should try to find his MySpace page!"
I'm from Barcelona is more than a band with an absurd number of band members and uplifting pop songs, they're also "ordinary people," says Lundgren. "I want the fans to see that we're not big rock stars with leather pants or anything. If the audience sees that I can do this with my friends, then I'm a happy person and I'm satisfied." The band's by the people, for the people approach, which recalls UK act Art Brut's views on musicianship, has led to quite a few fans sending Lundgren e-mails, happy to report they've been inspired to start their own bands.
"I want them to see it doesn't have to be so hard to start a band and write songs. It doesn't have to be successful either," says Lundgren. "When I started the band, I had just really missed the idea of writing songs with friends. Nowadays, it's all about the hit and there's so much business involved. For me, music is more than that."
