Martin laughed. “Well, it definitely looked like you guys had a blast up there.”
“We did.” Noah cracked open the bottle of water. “The crowd was crazy, in the best way possible.”
“Any standout moments?”
Aksel tilted his head. “Uh, yeah. Someone in the pit brought a huge inflatable purple dinosaur and somehow managed to keep it the entire show.”
“Better grip strength than half the drummers I know,” Kaj said.
“I’m also like ninety percent sure a huge bearded dude was dressed in a pink polka dot bodysuit on someone’s shoulders,” Noah added.
Xander gestured vaguely. “Just your standard festival behavior.”
Martin chuckled. “You’ve played some massive festivals before, but being back here in Denmark, at one of the biggest in Europe—does that bring something different to the experience?”
Kaj nodded. “Absolutely. Like Aksel said before, it feels like home, and that connection makes a difference.”
“Copenhell was the very first festival we ever played at before we started headlining tours, so it’s personal,” Xander agreed. “Pushes us harder.”
Martin smiled. “Fair enough. So, with just a few shows left on this leg of the tour, what comes next?”
Aksel exhaled. “Some time to breathe. We’re heading into writing sessions soon, but for now, just regrouping.”
“Which means Aksel disappears into his guitar cave, Xander refuses to answer texts, and I contemplate all my life choices,” Kaj said.
Martin smirked. “And Noah?”
Noah shrugged. “I’m the new guy, so I just go where they tell me to.”
Aksel grinned, making dreamy eyes at Noah. “Our pup learns so fast.”
“Shut up.” Noah shoved his shoulder, laughing.
Martin flipped through his notes. “You’ve been playing one intense setlist on this tour. Physically, how do you handle the demands of being on the road for so long?”
“Trying to eat as healthy as possible,” Xander noted.
“Being in decent shape also helps,” Kaj added. “Prevents out of nowhere back pain and shit like that, especially the days we sleep on the bus.”
“And sleeping,” Aksel said. “When we were starting the band I used to say I’d sleep when I’m dead. You know, we were always busy, super active and on top of everything. But now, when we’re on tour, it’s grey outside, and we’re in a parking lot all day, even with how stinky it can get after a month of ten dudes living there, when you close the curtains of your bunk, put on some music, and close your eyes. That’s pretty amazing.”
“That sounds… almost peaceful,” Martin said.
“Until someone forgets to turn off their alarm, and it goes off six times in a row.”
Noah groaned. “Or when Xander gets up at an ungodly hour.”
Xander gave a slow, deliberate blink. “You should be thanking me. I bring discipline.”
“But while you’re on tour, not everything is about discipline, healthy eating, and playing. I’m sure there are also downtime moments when you get to relax. What’s the weirdest way you’ve killed time on the road?”
Aksel immediately pointed at Xander. “He watches the most unhinged documentaries. Like, full deep dives into the most random topics.”
Xander shrugged. “I like learning things.”
“No, you like forcing us to learn things,” Kaj retorted. “I can’t believe I now know how competitive duck herding works.”
Martin blinked. “I… didn’t know that was a thing.”
