Finally, Magnus produced his first solo album "Free Fall", which will be released in June via Frontiers Records. So he took the time to talk to me about all his activities. Check it out!
Hello Magnus! You are
about to release your first solo album „Free Fall“ in June. How did that
happen?
Magnus: I didn't had a plan at all. It just happened to record a part of a new song that I thought sounded pretty cool. I sent it to Frontiers and asked if they wanted to do an album with me and they did. Then, full of inspiration, I wrote the album in a very short time.
What is the meaning behind the
album title „Free Fall“?
Magnus: It's about taking that step
into the unknown. Trying something new that can feel like a free fall. Many of
the lyrics on this album have this theme.
You've done lots of projects
like Allen/Lande, The Codex or the solo album from Bob Catley, where you also
wrote every song on your own. So it's not far away from a solo work. What is
the difference to „Free Fall“?
Magnus: On "Free Fall" no artists or
record company asked about a certain style. On this one I just wrote what I
wanted, totally free.
When I take a look on the huge
guest list of „Free Fall“ I see lots of vocalists you worked with on other
projects. „Free Fall“ feels like „Magnus & friends“. Is that intentional?
Why you choose this path? I mean you are able to sing each song on your own.
Magnus: At first I planned to have
just a couple of guests, but the guest list just got longer and longer and with
such great singers I wanted to have them all on the album.
I've to say: your voice sounds
pretty cool on this record, so why don't you sing more often?
Magnus: Thank you very much, well maybe I will do that in the future. (laughs)
How did you chose the guest
vocalists for each song and how much influenced this your songwriting?
Magnus: I chose my favorite singers
and was very influenced by them during my writing. Style, range and key - I
really did my best to make the singers shine as much as possible.
Let's talk about some of your
guests. Are there any stories? Just tell me spontaneously what comes to your
mind, when it comes to: Russel Allen.
Magnus: I did 3 Allen/Lande albums
with Russell and I love his stuff with Symphony X. He often ads his bluesy vibe
into the song - no big changes, but small stuff that makes it so great. A weird
thing is that we never met!
… Ralf Scheepers.
Magnus: My band mate in Primal Fear
and my favorite power metal singer! "Higher" is just perfect for Ralf and he made
a killer job. When I was a teenager I was totally blown away by the stuff he
did with Gamma Ray and now he's on my album. That's just awesome.
… David Readman
Magnus: I never worked with him before,
but I love the albums he's done. Now I wanna do more stuff with him, he's an
amazing singer!
… Mark Boals.
Magnus: Since The Codex album we have talked about doing something more, but we both have been too busy so this was a great opportunity. I wanted to do something not so typical Yngwie Malmsteen, but still something where Mark can show his extreme vocal range. He was the first to record his vocals - what a great start. I don't think I ever heard him sing this good!!
By the way: where is Jorn
Lande? Somehow I expected him to appear on your new record, after you've worked
with him on so many albums.
Magnus: I must save something for the
next one. (laughs)
Are there any other singers
you'd like to work with?
Magnus: Joe Lynn Turner and Tony
Martin would be really cool!
You seem to be the Frontiers
Records „purpose weapon“ - you are involved in so much projects from these
guys. If there is a melodic metal release from Frontiers, you can count on the
fact, that you are involved, so which relationship do you have to this label?
Magnus: I'm lucky that they like my
music and offers me really cool projects, but they have many good writers in
their roaster.
Let's talk about some future
projects: I liked the Allen/Lande records and especially The Codex very, very
much. Can we expect some follow-ups? Or will there be completely new stuff in
the future?
Magnus: Me and my band mate Mat Sinner
gonna do another Kiske/Somerville and me and Tony Harnell are also discussing
about another Starbreaker.
You have your own songwriting
style, but what do you do to keep things fresh so that each project sounds
different?
Magnus: I don't think about it. I just
write what I wanna hear and sometimes I have requests from the guys I'm
working with how they want it to sound.
What about your main band
Primal Fear? What is going on?
Magnus: We are in the middle of the
production of a new album. We will do a couple of festivals and probably some
touring later this year.
You've played in so many
bands: Last Tribe, Starbreaker, Primal Fear. Why do you switch so often?
Magnus: Last Tribe and Starbreaker are
more like projects to me than a band and I don't feel it's like switching. I do them all
at the same time.
When did you decide to become
a guitar player? Was there a special moment in your life?
Magnus: I wanted to play organ in the
music school when I was a kid, but they didn't had teachers for that so I took
the guitar instead. (laughs)
What would you NEVER do in
musicbusiness?
Magnus: Something I don't like. I say
"no" to a lot of stuff.
What is the most fun part of
beeing a musician?
Magnus: To create something new,
something that can give you goosebumps.
Magnus, thank you for taking
the time!
Magnus: Thank you very much!
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