Thundermother’s Filippa Nässil, a New Mom, Births Solo Album Inspired by Her Adventures

Filippa Nässil, lead guitarist of the all-woman, Swedish rock n’ roll band Thundermother, can slay a solo and crank up an amp with the best of them — which is exactly what she did through her eighth month of pregnancy this year.

But while the musician, who gave birth to a baby girl in July, is taking time off the road to bask in new-mum life, she’s also showcasing a more personal side of herself this fall, with the release of her first solo album, American Diaries. The album, which dropped on October 4, features songs in both English and Swedish, inspired by her travels through the U.S. and other geographic locations.

We recently caught up with  Nässil to learn more about the baby and the record, which highlights her incredible vocals and introspective lyrics.

Rockmommy: It’s been nearly 3 months since you were last on tour! You had a baby! How has the transition to mom life been?

Filippa Nässil: I had my first rehearsal with Thundermother yesterday, and I was so worried and scared that my hands wouldn’t be the same, but it went amazing! My hands swelled with water in the ninth month, and I could only play 2-3 songs live. Now that my daughter is 2 months old, I can play a whole set again! It’s incredible how the body works. Mum life is amazing; I’m happier than ever and just a little more tired, haha!

Rockmommy: This new solo album is fun and a bit different from Thundermother. What inspired you to create this record?

Filippa Nässil: Yes, it’s very different. Thundermother is pure energetic rock and roll, while my solo album is a lot of different styles. It’s mid-tempo and very personal, reflecting on the more nuanced experiences of being on the road. It’s about longing, accidentally getting high, jamming in the same room as Buddy Guy, and other things close to my heart from when I was in the U.S. touring with Thundermother, who supported the Scorpions.

Rockmommy: What are a few of the most interesting things you have come across in traveling?

Filippa Nässil: For sure, it’s getting to see the world for free, more or less. Being in India and caught in a monsoon rainfall in the jungle was quite the experience. Or that time I smoked from a vape a fan gave me in the audience, thinking it was nicotine, but it wasn’t… haha! I thought I was Frank Zappa for the rest of the show!

Rockmommy: For the album, how did you approach the guitar differently than with Thundermother?

Filippa Nässil: It was more about spontaneous solos and playing around with echoes and the room’s sound than usual. Normally, I just plug into a Marshall stack, but this time I had some Van Halen-style echo and only one guitar, with no dubs or extras on some songs!”

Rockmommy: Was the album done before the baby was born?

Filippa Nässil: Yes, of course, haha. It was finished a while ago and just recently released! The vinyl pressing alone takes more than 9 weeks.

Rockmommy: Do you play guitar to your baby a lot?

Filippa Nässil: She’s only heard me play a few times on the sofa so far. I’ve been catching up on sleep, or I’ve been playing while my mum watches the baby. But she seems to love my singing! I’ve already written at least five new lullabies, haha.

Rockmommy: Thundermother has a new album coming out soon, too. Can you tell us about that?

Filippa Nässil: It’s the best Thundermother album so far! We’ve worked on it for more than a year and a half as a band. I wrote a lot of tunes with our new singer, Linnéa, who’s a pro when it comes to melodies and lyrics. We’ve really put our heart and soul into it. We also recorded it effortlessly live in the studio, so the groove is there. It’s called *Dirty & Divine* ‘cus that’s what it is!

Rockmommy: What else is next? Plans to tour?

Filippa Nässil: We’re following up our new album with a European tour in February and March 2025, called the *Goddess of the Road* tour. We’ll also have two female rock acts as support!

[SEE RELATED: Swedish Rock Band THUNDERMOTHER’s Lead Guitarist Talks Playing — and Touring — While Pregnant]

Marisa Torrieri Bloom is the editor and founder of Rockmommy.