Interview
from November 2005
It is now only 6 days to the release of “Return
To The Mirror” Karl.
A major step towards your dream. Tell me,
what are you’re feelings
right
now knowing you have recorded a full album and it is just about
to get a world wide release!!
Woah, yyieepee! Finally!!!
What are your hopes for this release?
I hope we sell a couple of thousands copies,
and that we get many
new great reviews from the Webzines and nice
feedback from people
who will buy the CD.
How do you plan to celebrate the release
next Monday?
I will be in the south, keeping an ever watchful
eye with the guys
that are renovating my bathroom.
What like is the feedback from friends and
family towards the
album which you no doubt have played to them?
They are enthusiastic. Though, not all like
the music. I think they are
a bit surprised that we made it this far.
The new cd
is already in the process of recording !! Are you involved
at the early stages, or do you wait on a call
from Deenfan as when to
start to lay down the keyboards?
I am participating in the song writing process
on several songs,
however
most preproduction start at Deenfans. Either with or
without keys. When a song is finished in the
preproduction, I will
get a copy and start recording the “final”
keys. I have a tiny itchy
bitchy little daughter studio at my place,
and it is a bitch that my
computer went Bananas because I was in a good
steam at the time.
I will get a new computer soon though. I send
my “final” keys recordings
up to Deenfan who can start recording drums,
then the guitar/bass
and vocal. In the end, everyone gets a second
chance to review their
own job. Solos (at least mine) are also mostly
recorded towards the end.
Deenfan kindly sent me over an mp3 of A Battle
a few months back.
I absolutely love the keyboards in this song.
Hopefully there will be
more of the same on the new album!?
The Angry Keyboard Sith from the Dark North
will be back,
with V E N G E A N C E!!!
Do you hope for live gigs with WinterStrain
to promote the album?
Ehh, hrrkk, gkkk; yes
Well Karl, thanks again for taking the time
to answer a few
questions from me.
Always funny!
And on a final note is there anything you
would like to say to the
fans out there awaiting the release of Return
To The Mirror!!
No.
!!!!!
Previous interview from September 2005
So, Karl, who gave you the inspiration to chose the keyboard
as your
instrument??
First, I wanted very much to play bass guitar. One of my Best
friends at
that time,Animus, played the guitar and it would be cool if
I could play
bass. In addition I had already listened a lot to Rush and Geddy
Lee!
But it was actually my grandfather that "forced" me to choose
keyboard.
He meant that it was a nicer instrument than bass, and; I could
play in
the church on Sundays, to weddings and funerals!! Haha! He wanted
me
to earn some extra money. So at the age of 15-16 or something,
he
bought my first synth ever; Roland D-10.
Do you remember your first ever gig and what was your band called
at the time??
My first gig was with a band called Close Race. It was exactlythe
same
line up as in Winterstrain, except that we didn't have any vocalist
at the
time.Deenfan did the vocal stuff in addition to the drumming.
The gig was
in March 1990, if I remember correctly. It was in Tromsø,Northern Norway's
biggest city, and it was on a "festival" called; "Rock mot rus"(Rock
against
drug/alcohol abuse). I was shit nervous in the beginning; there
were almost
no people in front of the scene because the band that played
before us
really sucked! But after the first song or two it started to
get crowded,
and from then it was only fun!
We all know you as RushFANatic on the forum. Obviously you are
a
Rush fan!! Impossible to ask, but should you only have 1 Rush cd to
take in your car as your multi changer is broken....what one
would
you chose and why?
My favourite Rush albums are Power Windows, Hold Your Fire,Power
Window,Counterparts, Grace Under Pressure. But I wouldactually
not
take that album, I would choose "Fly By Night" or "Caress of
Steel",
burn them on 1 80min CD/RW. Why??? Because it is a long time
since
I heard them last time. I have them on vinyl, and have just
received them
on CD. Then I would get the CD changer fixed rather quickly!
What is your favourite drink ??
Beer and Wine, not so much into hard liquor.
Who is your ideal woman ??
I should answer my wife here and I am going to answer my wife
!!! Well I did marry her because she is the one for me ;o)
If you had one wish, what would you wish for ??
Right now? It's Monday, and I wish I was not at work!
Which band member has the most annoying habit ??
And what is it !!!
Animus, without doubt. It seems like every time we rehearse
he always
breaks a string or two on his guitar $:(
What is the most frightening thing ever to have happened to
you ??
Got a metal splint in my eye as a kid, nearly got blind on one
eye.
Tea or coffee ??
Coffee, coffee, coffee, and some tea please!
I you had the chance to play one gig in your life and have one
support
act play for you, who would you pick and where would it be ??
I really have no clue! It wouldn't be Rush or Queensryche anyway.
It
must be a small band not known to so many; Some Rush tribute
band.
Arena; Wembley
What are your dislikes ??
Lutefisk (dried codfish prepared in potash lye),Lungemos (hashed
lungs),
Smalahove (boiled sheeps brains), bad brewed Moonshine and more...
If you could turn back the clock and change one thing...what
would it be??
Woah!! Hold your horses! It would be that I should have taken
some piano
lessons while I still was younger.
Thanks for your help Karl.
It was a blast !!
