Ahead of the release of their debut UK EP Re-dreaming on May 17, award-winning Swedish trio Deportees have unveiled an evocative, skateboarding-themed video for latest single Time Is The Tiger. Directed by Peder Bergstrand & Mike McMillin, the video was shot in the Californian desert and Joshua Tree national park, following skateboarder and free spirit Mike ‘Trast’ Lopez for two days on an epic solo skate through the desert.
“We wanted to make sort of an ‘Into the Wild’ and ‘Easy Rider’ on skateboard,” says Bergstrand. “A film that captured the song’s themes about escapism and braking free from the mould of everyday life”.
“When I’m on my skateboard, I’m not really thinking too much of things, I’m just kinda… going,” adds Trast. “Feeling the wind. No thoughts. Just getting away from all the normal things… the crazy city life. Sometimes you’re so ahead of yourself and you’re rushing to do this and that… You gotta take it slow. Take your time.” he says, perfectly echoing the themes of Time is the Tiger.
Lead singer Peder Stenberg says “Time Is The Tiger is an homage to the promise of a life meant for something more than to be endured. We wanted the visuals to capture this very longing so when director Peder Bergstrand suggested that they should follow Trast skating through the desert it resonated perfectly with that idea. I’m glad it wasn’t me on the board though, my plastic front teeth are a constant reminder of what a horrible skater I was in my younger years.”
The melodic, propulsive Time Is The Tiger is the second single to be taken from Re-dreaming following lead single Bright Eyes (“a beautifully sketchedsong” Clash).
Time Is The Tiger was produced by Måns Lundberg (Shout Out Louds, Ariel Pink), while other tracks on Re-dreaming were produced by Pontus Winnberg (from Miike Snow) and Johannes Berglund (The Radio Dept, Ane Brun, Fever Ray).
While unknown here, Deportees have long been both a critical and commercial success back home. Their most recent album, 2015’s The Big Sleep (which featured Chris Taylor from Grizzly Bear on two tracks) was awarded the Swedish Grammy for Best Rock Album, an award the band had also picked up for their previous long-player Islands & Shores. And now, not before time, the trio from Umeå, a remote city in the far north, are turning their attention to the UK.
The Big Sleep was an apocalyptic album, and it makes sense: darker times makes for darker music. But even though the world is still very much a terrifying place, with EP Re-dreaming Deportees offer something wishful and emotionally engaging. They explain: “‘Re-dreaming’ is a loving assault on the feeling of a lost future. Not because it’s necessarily a false prophecy, but because it’s a dangerous one.”
Over five distinctly different albums, Deportees have won plaudits, fans and awards for their constant creativity and reinvention. They managed to cop the ears of French pop royalty Phoenix, who drafted drummer Thomas to share his time between the two bands, and around the same time guitarist Anders was recruited to partner up with Lykke Li as touring band member. Two fruitful collaborations that have now lasted more than a decade and are still ongoing. While Anders and Thomas toured the world, lead singer Peder earned a doctor’s degree in Ethnology.
A new Deportees album will follow in the autumn. After selling out their comeback Stockholm show in just 4 minutes earlier this month, the band will hit the road playing selected shows and summer festivals including Way Out West. Stand by for news of upcoming UK shows.