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<< Interviews this month
file under prog / sympho metal
Mind’s Eye delivered an impressive piece of work with the new album ‘A Gentleman’s Hurricane which ceratainly is one of this years’ best releases. Reason enough to let mainman Daniel tell the Lords of Metal readers a little more on the album, the band and himself…
Text: Winston
Hi Daniel, are these words and questions addressed to a satisfied Mind’s Eye bandmember regarding the new album ‘A Gentleman’s Hurricane’? The overall response is quite impressive!
Oh yeah! We are all quite surprised about the reactions towards it. In fact we all thought that people would hate it as we normally do more light music. Johan has been on tour with Therion while all interviews and reviews have dropped in and he has been keeping an eye on things from overseas and he recently came home and when we talked he was amazed to say the least. People really love it! It’s a cool feeling when you create something that you adore and the rest of the world agrees I think we are getting better of making records and as we don’t play too much live, we certainly have the time to develop in this art.
Did you set out the album to be a concept from the start and how did you come up with the story?
Yeah, I did actually. I wrote most of the story before entering the studio as I knew it had to be done before the music and arrangements came into the drawing board. The story is a mix of different things I have tried and read in my life. I’m a big fan of horror movies so I knew how I wanted the music to sound. The real challenge was to balance the story with the artwork guy (Mattias Norén) and feeding him with enough knowledge to keep him focused without knowing the whole picture. I couldn’t afford that the story to come out on the internet or by rumours so I had to keep them the artwork guy, the DVD crew and the video crew all behind restricted areas. THAT was tough, but we made it!
People already compared your album to ‘Operation: Mindcrime’ (Queensrÿche), how do you see it yourself? Were other concept albums of influence too perhaps?
Well, this was a decision of the label. I didn’t like it in the beginning but now I guess it’s obvious that that album and our album have some things in common. I’m one of those guys who never got the story of “Operation Mindcrime” and probably never will. I always get confused when I listen to that album and I think our album is easier to understand other than that I’m totally numbed by the comparisons and any kind of relations. I think I have taken more inspiration from albums like “The Wall” and “and “Division Bell” (both Pink Floyd -WA). In one of the latest reviews we got there was something written: “this is a modern day “operation mindcrime” and if you didn’t like OM II then this is a sure bet”. It was in Spanish and I think that might help people more than just comparing it to OM.
When and how did you decide or think of the special package, with the comic book and DVD and what did your label Lion Music think of that?
I thought of it right away when most of the clues from the story came into my script for it. I had to do an awefull lot of research before I actually started to write the story and to keep the downloading mp3 guys away I decided to have some major clues in the booklet which Mattias did. So it was for two reasons: 1. For it’s cool and it’s has never been done before and 2. To prevent people of downloading it. So if you downloaded the album and think it sucks then yeah, you can never get the story without the booklet. Our label manager had a weird looking face when I was describing the story and package for him, especially when I talked about the video and the DVD parts HAHAHA He thought of it for a week and then said yes. I think it was a big risk for Lion Music and I’m glad they took it, we both are right now actually as both people and companies are applauding our combined work.
It must have been a welcome present that Mattias Norén got involved with the artwork, his influence on today’s prog art scene seems to progress more and more. How did that work with the comic book and album art. Is the band involved with that aspect too?
Mattias was not really sure if we could pull it off because of the budget and other things I had to cut through before getting things into place. Once I won him over the whole working process was pleasant and uncomplicated journey. As I was the only one with all information in my head and papers I had to control the whole working process so yes, we where really involved in the artwork, it had to be as we where drawing it with him. Mattias came and solved allot of ideas which couldn’t be done in pictures and they actually turned out to be better than my ideas so that was just as welcome as anything else he did on the artwork and magazine. We really get along and we both like beer so if you have these things in common then nothing is impossible HAHAHAHA
Can ‘A Gentleman’s Hurricane’ be seen as the make or break album for Mind’s Eye? Quality always was a certainty with you guys but this album seems to have something extra…
I really hope so my friend. We are at the verge of maybe breaking through, people are getting more and more interested in what we do as musicians and as a band. I’m glad you mention quality because that is what we are all about and while we all have a good feeling while working together the package and music keeps getting better and better I think. The reason why there is something extra in this album is because the outside influence. I’m gone reveal something’s that people don’t know happened to us around that time:
1. Our singer Andreas got divorced. Over 10 years of marriage lost in the Swedish trash can. So naturally Andreas brought “Anger” to the drawing board and melodies which I wrote.
2. My beloved Uncle Yanko Flores who was a great friend of mine and an inspiration unfortunately died last year and that was devastating to me. I naturally came in with an obsession of DEATH and the meaning of life which you can really heard in the arrangements of the album.
3. Johan on the other hand was finding out about the finer things in life, Love and success. So naturally he came in with an positive aura to hang over our negative music.
In conclusion this album is negative energy packed with in a positive glancing package and that’s why people like it. People love negative packaged positive energy. Does that make sense to you? Think about it, I think it will.
As busy as you are, drummer, producer, keyboard player and probably lots more, how important is Mind’s Eye for you? Is it a base to return to or a project to run to from time to time. How is that for the other two members Johan Niemann and Andreas Novak?
I think I’m speaking from all when saying that Mind’s Eye is the place where we can create music in peace. It’s really simple because we have no obligations what so ever to the fans, simply we have no fans! HAHAHAHA and that creates possibilities in making any kind of record we like. Mind’s Eye is our music school and where we can become stronger musicians at the same time go back to being 18 years old once again. All ideas are welcome and the more the better. I think in other situations when we are hired to work for others we tend to put on costumes that fit that part/music. That’s the way I see it anyway, I see my self as an musical actor and I can easily get into any kind of role that people throw at me as I’m an versatile musician. Now that we are only three members doors opened up for us which we never tough would. As a three piece we have become a better band and better friends too but still with enough punk in it to attract any kind of person who likes just MUSIC.
The song ´The Hour Of Need´ features a duet with Crucified Barbara singer Mia Coldheart, why her and how did you make contact to do that? Too bad it is a rather short passage by the way…
Mia is a dear friend to me and Johan. We have known her since she was just a kid as we all come from the same neighbourhood. I had heard her sing in Crucified Barbara where she usually sings with and when I was recording backing vocals for their first record I heard Mia’s normal voice and I was amazed of how good she was. She reminded me of a the great women of rock. So I had been playing in my mind to use Mia’s voice for years and when I wrote “The hour of need” I knew just the girl to phone. She was really happy to do it as Mia is a big fan of progressive rock and she liked the way the character was written.The song is supposed to be short because I didn’t want to much focus on that part of the story, I though Adam needed to get laid and what better than to kill the hooker after sex? HAHAHA just kidding, the song was inspired from the lyrics of guns and roses: “I used to love her, but I had to kill her”.
What will the live on stage support for this great album be? I can imagine a few possibilities must be opening up for Mind’s Eye with all the positive reviews. What would the band like to do?
We are playing around with ideas for next year and as Johan has more time now to do other things besides Therion we will for sure make a few live gigs. There have been some offers from European promoters and we are discussing them at the moment. Keep looking in the Mind’s Eye website for more info on that.
The video for the song ‘Feed My Revolver’ can’t be left unmentioned, as it is a beautiful piece of work. (featured on the MySpace site www.myspace.com/eyeofthemind Can you tell something about that?
Yeah, thanks it was hard work and I don’t know if you can tell when seeing the behind the video footage from the DVD but we where freezing our asses off! The ventilation system had crashed the night before we had to shoot our live band shots. Videos are really tough to make and I learnt allot while doing that one. Next time I will make a video I will make a better performance act and I know just the way to do it. The video was made by Fredrik Englund and Viktor Blanke and both guys are currently doing sessions around the world as both director and 3d creators. Check out Fredrik’s website: www.ninjafredde.com
I would love to see the band live, how will you feature songs from ‘A Gentleman’s Hurricane’ in a live set. Can’t leave out the previous albums right?
Well, We will actually play only from the last two releases as the other guys don’t want to do the songs from the albums before that. I can understand that. Provably we will play 50% from “Walking on H20” and 50% from “A gentleman’s hurricane”. Heavy songs and maybe one ballad who knows!
You participated in the band Xsavior that made a great record a few years ago; whatever happened there, a project that was ended before it really begun?
There was no band and that’s why it ended. I really don’t wan to speak bad about the guys but let’s just say that to many producers in one band is impossible to keep it alive. Me and Göran have kept a good friendship since then and I think his first solo release is around the corner I just hope he takes time to do that. I think he makes too much bla, bla, bla records (music that doesn’t mean anything) these days and he knows what I’m talking about when I say, THINK of yourself GÖRAN fuck everyone else. Let’s hope he reads this.
Anything specific you want the Lords of Metal readers to know about Mind’s Eye or yourself?
None other than me just saying thanks from a cool bunch of questions and that I had a great time answering them this afternoon. Mind’s Eye is very much alive and we are sure that next year will be even a better year for us as a band. The next release is around the corner and we will make an even better package for you guys. Keep listening and keep supporting music or else it will all collapse.
http://www.roundrec.com
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