An interview with Omar Swarez (Quarashi)

by Roxanne Reyes 

Recently nominated for an MTV Video Music Award, Sweden’s Quarashi is riding high. Composed of Solvi Blondai (drummer, producer), Hossi Olafsson (lead vocals), Stoney Fjelsted (rapper), and Omar Swarez (rapper), the band’s first single “Stick 'Em Up," is up for a Moonman in the category of Best Art Direction. While on the Vans Warped Tour to promote their album Jinx, Quarashi’s Swarez took time for an interview.

OS: Since the beginning.

M-R: How do you like it so far?

OS: We’ve only got one day left. [Tomorrow] is our last show. It’s been good. We’re kind of tired and actually we haven’t been getting things we were promised like playing the main stage. I mean, in the program, we’re set to be on the main stage. We’ve played there once and it kind of sucks to get fucked over like that.

M-R: How different is it from playing overseas?

OS: Oh, it’s a lot different. Usually, at home, our audience and our fans are a lot younger - younger teens, or just a little bit older and here, we basically got all ages. It’s kind of weird to give autographs to guys who are the same age as me.

M-R: Your sound is different from the other bands here, where do you get your inspiration or who were the bands you used to listen to?

OS: We get it from all over. The guy - Solvi - who does all the music, he gets influences from Public Enemy, Rage Against the Machine, South American music. For instance I used to listen to a lot of Ice Cube, WuTang, Snoop and all that stuff. 

M-R: Are there any bands here that you like?

OS: Oh yeah, yeah, yeah. We actually made friends with a lot of bands here like The Used - they’re really good, and Arkham, Death by Stereo, Thursday. 

M-R: After this, are you going home or touring?

OS: We’re going to Japan straight after, then Australia, and then we get a week off and we go to work again. 

M-R: On a new album?

OS: No, we do more touring. 

M-R: How long will the touring last?

OS: Probably until sometime next summer. We have a lot of work to do. We have to tour this album for almost a year. I mean, we got dates in February in Australia and next summer over there. 

M-R: How long have you guys been together?

OS: Since 1996. We put out two albums before. 

M-R: When did you start getting a big response?

OS: A guy from EMI saw us play at home in 2000. We crossed over, did a demo, and got that around. We signed with [a smaller label] first, then the owner decided to sell the company and we got taken over to Columbia and they’re really good to us.    

M-R: That’s great to hear. Thanks a lot for taking the time to do this. I wish you the best of luck in the future.