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Hi,
first off I just want to congratulate you on your new album. To
new fans could your please fill us in on the history behind it
all?
Andreas – Yeah,
sure! I played with Johnny, our drummer and Johan, our guitarist
in a band prior to this one called Mankind. After that band fell
apart we continued together and recruited keyboard-wiz Andreas
“Kyrt” Söderin and started to look for a singer. After a few
had come and gone we got a record deal with Lion Music with Andi
Kravljaca on vocals. After it became clear we couldn’t work
together with him we decided to part ways. This was actually even
before the first album was released, which was in June 2005. We
then stumbled upon one of the greatest talents I’ve ever met -
Tommy Karevik, who joined on vocals. Fortunately Lion Music was
patient with us during the singer-hassle and we got their blessing
to record a sequel to 'Become'. We felt a lot more confident this
time and the result was 'Waiting in the Wings'.
How
has your new album been received by the media?
Andreas – So
far I have actually only seen one review but that was the single
most positive review we have ever received so it seems that the
future is smiling at us!
I
know artists don't like to put a label on their music - but a
spaceship from outer space has just landed in your backyard, and
is demanding an answer - so how would you describe your music to
an alien from another galaxy?
Andreas – We
combine the strong and catchy song structure of the 80’s metal
scene with the most mind boggling technical stunts known to man!
If
your music was an emotion, which one would it be?
Andreas – That’s
a question I’ve never heard before! Hmmmm…. ….Resolve, I
think. Determination.
Who
and what inspires you when you write a song? Walk us through the
creation of a song?
Andreas – To
me it is different whether you speak of the music or the lyrics.
The music is usually inspired by other music. Not necessary metal
songs though, actually it is usually quite the opposite. It is
quite common I pick up an idea or an embryo, I you will, from a
piece of classical music, a TV-commercial or whatever really.
Sometimes I just stumble across a riff or a melody when I am
practising. After I’ve found the start it is usually easy to
keep going. The intro, which is usually what I start with, most
often send a certain feeling to me and that feeling controls the
continuing process to write. When it comes to lyrics, I usually
have a feeling, or a very vivid picture or scene in my mind, and I
try to describe that feeling or picture and get it on paper. After
the song is done there is usually a lot of tweaking going on to
make it more interesting.
This
is of course in the case when I write pretty much the entire song;
usually we do a lot of the work together as a band, once the
original idea is spawned by someone.
Which
subjects do your lyrics refer to, and who writes them?
And what inspires
you when you write your lyrics?
Andreas – The
lyrics are today mostly written by Tommy, but I always write a few
as well, something which I enjoy a whole lot. I am really
impressed by Tommy’s lyrics though, and I mostly write lyrics to
satisfy a personal need, rather than because I think I’d do it
better, which is probably not the case….
The
inspiration comes from what I see, think, feel, hear, sense –
life, I guess. Whether it’s real life or a fantasy life – I
think it is important to cover both aspects.
Who
has produced and mixed the album? Are you pleased with the result?
Andreas – We
produced the album ourselves and I think we did a good job as we
learned a lot from the Become-experience last time. The mix was
performed by a personal hero of mine –Tommy Hansen! He is the
one who worked on such classics as Keeper of the seven keys by
Helloween for instance. We are really pleased with the mi this
time as opposed to the previous time.
Who
has done the artwork? And how important do you feel it is to have
a great cover?
Andreas – It
was done by the same guy we worked with on 'Become'. His name is
Carl-André Beckston and works also under the pseudonym MonoWasp.
He is a fantastic artist and a lot of fun to work with. It is very
easy to talk to him and I would recommend him to anyone!
The
artwork is very important. I mean, when you think of a classic
album you immediately picture the cover, right? It is what will
hopefully catch your eye in the store.
Do
you have any touring plans?
Andreas – I
would really love to say yes to that question. Nothing would make
us happier than to be able to get out and play. We long for the
opportunity and will accept any gig that’s feasible to do! We
hope that our management will get us on the road once the album is
released.
Let’s
speculate – you have been granted a free slot on a tour of your
own choice – who would be your ideal touring partners?
Andreas – For
me, I guess the answer would be Iron Maiden if I could choose
freely! That’s because they’re my biggest heroes of all time.
I guess a slot as an opening act for, let’s say, Symphony X
would be a great thing as well. Those guys are also heroes and in
the genre.
How
do you feel about the co-operation with your label?
Andreas – Lars-Eric
Mattsson of Lion Music has to be one of the greatest people you
could possibly come across in this business. His faith in us is
the only reason we have an album out today. We owe him a lot and I
am always thankful for the trust he has placed in us.
The
internet is a very important source for many metal fans – how do
you use the internet and how important is it for you and other
bands?
Andreas – The
internet is both a blessing and a curse to bands these days. To us,
it’s definitely most a blessing though. We mainly use our
website at www.seventhwonder.nu
for information and as a gateway to the web. We have quite a lot
of visitors and there is no way to get your name around the globe
as with Internet. On the downside are of course those pirate sites
in
Russia
selling our music without us getting paid for it. The downloads
help to spread the name though, so it’s not all bad, but of
course it sucks when you’ve put up all this money, time and
effort and you find your music on the web before it’s even
released – but hey, that’s life.
And
how do you feel about the metal scene in general at the moment?
Andreas – It
is huge! So many good bands out today and the access to high-tech
equipment enables a lot more people to record and release their
music today. I think the scene is great.
Which
song do you consider to be the best one you have ever written?
Andreas – I
don’t know really…. I guess perhaps it depends on if you mean
the band or me personally? I really like “Devil’s Inc.”,
“Waiting in the Wings” and “Taint the Sky” on the new
album, but I think I would list three different songs if you ask
me again in ten minutes time… (: “The Edge of My Blade” or
“Banish the Wicked” perhaps? “Not an Angel”? Or perhaps
“Walking tall” or “Star Of David” and why not “Pieces”?
On the previous album my favourite songs are “What I’ve Become”
and “Like Him”.
Name
an album, person or event that has had a huge influence on your
life … and why?
Andreas – Album:
Trash by Alice Cooper which was my way into hard rock and heavy
metal. Person: Marcel Jacob as he has taught me so much and let me
experience so much. Event: I guess I have to be corny and say the
day I met my wife. That was definitely a day that changed my life
in so many ways I can’t even begin to list them here…
Which
kind of music do you listen to at home?
Andreas – Right
now it’s a lot of Deep Purple and some classical music (Wagner,
Beethoven and Bach). I also listen a lot to Symphony X and
Talisman (as always). I also listen to some gospel music every now
and then.
Vinyl
has had a small comeback lately – do you still prefer “the old
sound” or are you a CD/DVD kind of guy?
Andreas – Definitely
a CD/DVD guy! I must confess that I don’t understand the debate.
It’s much clearer sound and easier to use – why bother with
the old stuff? Embrace the 21st century man! (:
Last
question - do you have any famous last words for our readers?
Andreas – Yeah!
Be nice to people and buy “Waiting in the Wings”! Cheers!!!
Interviewed
by Kenn Jensen |
