Just a few days ago the new Wolfpakk album "Cry Wolf" was released. That was reason enough for me to talk to one of the "alpha wolves": Mark Sweeney. Although he is very busy in collecting ideas for the third Wolfpakk album, the Swiss singer/songwriter/producer talks about the new record, his solo activities, critics and much more. Check out what he had to say!
Hello Mark, great to talk to you. Congratulations to the new Wolfpakk album. I'm very satisfied with it.
Mark: Thank you, that´s kind.
Before we speak about
„Cry Wolf“ let us start at the beginning. Please tell us how the
Wolfpakk project started. Did you met Michael Voss and the idea was
born? Was it planned as an Allstar-project from the very first
moment?
Mark: Well, when I left Crystal
Ball, I still wanted to continue with making music. Once, when
Michael was in Switzerland at my home, I asked him to do something
together. He is not only a very talented musician, he also is a
good producer and engineer. I already worked with him with my second
solo album. And yes, we called the project “Wolfpakk”, because we
headed to invite as many musicians as possible. So the Pakk was born.
So, was Wolpakk the
reason why you left your former band Crystal Ball?
Mark: No, I first left Crystal Ball and
then I asked Vossi for Wolfpakk.
Who had the idea of this
Wolf-theme?
Mark: As already mentioned, it
was a good name, because we wanted to work with a bunch of good
musicians. Vossi and me are the alpha wolves and the others the pack.
That means, Micha and I write all the music and lyrics and then we
are heading for guest wolves.
What is so special about
your relationship to Michael Voss?
Mark: He is not only a musical
master, also a good friend.
How you two develop
the songs? Are you sitting in one room and jam? How put you
the ideas together?
Mark: Yes, we put the ideas
together and then the studio process begins. I live in Switzerland
and Vossi in Germany, so I visit him in his studio two or three times a
year when Michael is available. And then, we record the gems.
Do you think there is a difference between the songs on the debut album and the tracks on „Cry Wolf“, beside the new guest musicians? To me, the new record feels much more compact and the melodies grab me more easily.
Mark: Yes, you are right. I
think in the same vein.
When you are
writing songs, do you have a special vocalist in mind? Some
tunes seem to be written for specific singers.
Mark: No, not really. When the
songs are done - every song is sung by us- , we are looking for the
guests. So sometimes they are available and sometimes they are busy,
or they don't wanna join the pack.
On „Cry Wolf“
you come along with a true armada of guest musicians. How you
convince them to be part of the project? I don't think it's
easy.
Are there any
musicians you'd like to work with in the future? Who is it?
Mark: Haha… of course…
James Hetfield, Angus Young or Steve Harris…. Do you have there
phone numbers?! (laughs)
Let's talk about
some songs on „Cry Wolf“. A real highlight to many people is „A
Matter Of Time“ featuring Johnny Gioeli on vocals. Is there a
little story behind the song or recording it?
Mark: Not really. I just wanted
to have a “rocker” on the second album and luckily Johnny gave his
awesome voice for this track! His performance is stunning!
„Cold Winter“
is another highlight to me (due to Amanda Somervilles fantastic
voice), but many people say it's just the typical commercial ballad
to get airplay. Is this song just such a calculated thing?
Mark: Calculated for what? To
get millions for our account?! You are kidding! On the first record
we haven´t had a ballad, on the second output we have one. So what?! We
don't have airplay anyway, so who cares?! It was just amazing to
sing this song together with the beautiful Amanda Somerville and she
even was part of our second video! I love it!
Like I said, this one is also one of my favorites, but I think in general it's a problem to put ballads on metal records. On the one hand power ballads belong to a true rock album, but on the other hand all the „hard“ metal heads out there are complaining about them. What do you think about this matter?
Mark: I don´t care, if some
metal heads don´t like ballads. In fact, they also have a chick in
their bed and I don´t think, that they listen Slayer while having
sex?! And if yes… that´s ok as well. Everybody what he needs!
„Wakken“ is a
hymn to the Wacken festival in Germany. The funny thing is you never
played there. It's time to change this, right?
Mark: Vossi already played
there with Mad Max, but not me, that´s right. And we don´t play
live, as you know. So it´s just an homage to this great Metal
Festival, which has its 20th
Anniversary.
What about bringing
Wolfpakk live on stage with an own headliner-tour? I know this needs
much of organisation, but Avantasia did it for example.
Mark: If once someone asking me
to play live, I will look what we can do. Until then, we produce
another album and see what happens. Avantasia – I remember – also
went out only with their third or fourth album… By the way: Avantasia is
much bigger than we are.
Let's get back to one more song on „Cry Wolf“ and that's the title track. It's over ten minutes long and it feels like you wanted to sound more epic on this one. What is this song about?
Mark: I like epic songs and this
song is telling the story from the white man, who destroyed a lot of
native cultures. It´s a shame what we did in the past! It was in our
intention to cope with these topic on the new album.
Could you imagine
to do a whole album with a conceptional story? There are much Metal
Operas out there and you come along with one of the best line-ups,
when I look at the list of Allstar-projects. So, why not
doing it? Could be successful.
Mark: First I wanted to do
something like this. But I guess there are others out there, who are
better in this, so we do what we can. And that is writing songs and
take the best ones and press them on a record. I hope, that people
like this as well.
Three years ago you
released another solo record and it's a big musical contrast to the
Wolfpakk thing. Your solo work goes more in the Melodic Rock
direction with much calm elements. Can we expect more of this
in the future?
Mark: No, I don´t think so. I
am very busy with different things at the moment. For example I write
my first book, it´s a book for children and I´m very excited about
it! Hope that I can release soon those wonderful stories for the
kids.
I also know some
critics who say you made this solo records just to be more
attractive to the mainstream, because they sound more commercial.
How do you deal with such insinuations?
Mark: And what is wrong to sound
more commercial? Do you really think, that I really got one Euro with
my solo cds? Haha… no, my friend, no way! This was a try to show
that I also have other facets and that I can use my voice in a
different way. That´s the whole story behind it. My solo album is a
labour of love.
Are there any other
projects in the pipeline? Michael will release a new Mad Max album
this year. Would you like to play again in an own band?
Mark: My band is Wolfpakk. Ok,
it´s not a band in commercial way but for me it´s my main band.
To which bands are you
listening in the moment?
Mark: Let´s see… Oh,
there is a band called Stryper in my player. Disappointed? Well, it
is, how it is!
Stryper sounds good! Mark, thank you for
taking the time. You like to say something to your fans?
Mark: I have to say thank you! I
hope you like Wolfpakk, even there is a ballad on it! (laughs).
Join the Pakk on Facebook
http://www.marksweeney.ch/
Join the Pakk on Facebook
http://www.marksweeney.ch/
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