Ghost’s Tobias Forge talks about the pressure of writing new songs

Tobias Forge, the leader of the Swedish Metal band Ghost that is one of the most praised groups that appared during the last decades, talked in an interview with GDP.fr (Transcribed by Blabbermouth) about how he deals with the pressure of writing new songs. According to the musician it’s always hard to write something new and different from what you have done previously.

In 2022 Ghost released “Impera” their fifth studio album and in 2023 the covers EP “Phantomine” that features versions from classic Iron Maiden, Genesis and Tina Turner tracks.

Ghost’s Tobias Forge talks about the pressure of writing new songs

“When you’ve written one hit, it doesn’t get easier. Once you’re done with one, you have to write another that is supposed to be different. Then it’s even harder. And you have the sharks underneath you. You want to entertain people; you want people to be happy. Almost every time when you write a new song, it feels like virgin territory again. You’re, like, ‘Ugh, how do I do this?’ Like, ‘Ugh.’ You feel better all of a sudden because you think it’s good. And then you go back and start doubting. And sooner or later, you just have to, sort of, (say to yourself), ‘Now it’s done. It’s an album. Hopefully people will like it.'”

“We’ve been able to deliver every time something that people feel is a new thing, that I feel is a new thing, that is not a repetition of what I just did,” Tobias Forge said.

Next Ghost tour dates

The band has an extensive tour around the world and will perform in Europe, North America, South America and Oceania.

May

• 30 – Palais Nikaïa – Nice, France

June

• 1 – Primavera Sound 2023 – Barcelona, Spain
• 3 – Zenith Nantes Metropole – Saint-herblain, France
• 4 – AFAS Live – Amsterdam, Netherlands
• 6 – Velodrom – Berlin, Germany
• 8 – Mystic Festival 2023 – Gdańsk, Poland
• 10 – Sweden Rock Festival 2023 – Sölvesborg, Sweden
• 11 – Download Festival 2023 – Derby, United Kingdom
• 12 – Rockhal – Esch-sur-alzette, Luxembourg
• 13 – RuhrCongress Bochum – Bochum, Germany
• 15 –  Graspop Metal Meeting 2023 – Dessel, Belgium
• 17 – Copenhell Festival 2023 – Copenhagen, Denmark
• 19 – Barclays Arena – Hamburg, Germany
• 20 – Ratiopharm arena – Neu-ulm, Germany
• 22 – 25, 2023 – Basinfire Festival 2023 – Spálené Poříčí, Czechia
• 23 –  Tons of Rock 2023 – Oslo, Norway
• 25 – AthensRocks Fest 2023 – Athina, Greece
• 28 – Resurrection Fest 2023 – Viveiro, Spain

July

• 1 – Provinssi Festival 2023 – Seinäjoki, Finland
• 2 – Tuska Festival 2023 – Helsinki, Finland

August

• 2 – Concord Pavilion – Concord, CA
• 4 – White River Amphitheatre – Auburn, WA
• 5 – BECU Live Outdoor Venue – Airway Heights, WA
• 7 – USANA Amphitheatre – West Valley City, UT
• 8 – Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre – Greenwood Village, CO
• 11 – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre – Maryland Heights, MO
• 12 – American Family Insurance Amphitheater – Milwaukee, WI
• 14 – Pine Knob Music Theatre – Clarkston, MI
• 15 – Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island – Chicago, IL
• 16 – Riverbend Music Center – Cincinnati, OH
• 18 – St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview – Syracuse, NY
• 19 – Xfinity Center – Mansfield, MA
• 20 – Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater – Bridgeport, CT
• 22 – TCU Amphitheater at White River State Park – Indianapolis, IN
• 23 – The Pavilion at Star Lake – Burgettstown, PA
• 24 – Jiffy Lube Live – Bristow, VA
• 25 – Freedom Mortgage Pavilion – Camden, NJ
• 27 – Ascend Amphitheater – Nashville, TN
• 29 – CCNB Amphitheatre at Heritage Park – Simpsonville, SC
• 30 – Daily’s Place Amphitheater – Jacksonville, FL
• 31 – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre – Tampa, FL

September

• 2 – The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion – The Woodlands, TX
• 3 – Germania Insurance Amphitheater – Austin, TX
• 5 – The Pavilion At Toyota Music Factory – Irving, TX
• 7 – Isleta Amphitheater – Albuquerque, NM
• 8 – Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre – Phoenix, AZ
• 11 – Kia Forum – Inglewood, CA
• 12 – Kia Forum – Inglewood, CA
• 20 – Espaço Unimed – São Paulo, Brazil
• 21 – Espaço Unimed – São Paulo, Brazil
• 24 – Movistar Arena – Villa Crespo, Argentina
• 27 – Movistar Arena – Santiago, Chile

October

• 3 – Hordern Pavilion – Moore Park, Australia
• 4 – Margaret Court Arena – Melbourne, Australia
• 7 – Riverstage Brisbane – Brisbane, Australia