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Interview with Robert Willstedt, drummer of MOONLIGHT AGONY ProgScan Interview in 'Drive' magazine - April 2008, N 21. P. 10.
Robert Willstedt,
MOONLIGHT AGONY ProgScan Interview in 'Drive' magazine. - April 2008, N 21. P. 10. - You stay on the band from the beginning and you can see dynamics of Band’s development... For your opinion, with which speed the group develops? Moonlight Agony is developing very fast due to the fact that we are many composers in the band and we learn from each others styles of composing. - 8 years of your play in the band… this is a very imposing term. As we know, you have began as the drummer... But now your role in the band isn’t limited by drums only... Tell me, please, as it has turned out so, that you became the author of many orchestrations there? Actually, I´ve been writing stuff for the band from the beginning. I learned a lot about classical music theory during my years studying classical music and composition. - Please, tell more about it. Where you have studied the classical music? I studied classical piano in my youth and went on a two year full time education in classical piano and classical guitars on an academy close to Gothenburg. I also studied classical music theory there. - What role has a classical style in the Band’s music? (Actually I’ve listened only your 1st CD, as a most part of people here, I suppose ). The knowledge of classical music theory is the basis of being able to compose and understand the theory behind compositions, if you ask me. You may not hear a lot of “classical music” like Beethoven or Rachmaninov in the music, but you hear that the foundations of the compositions is all classical music theory. - You are composer and the author of Band’s songs… How much your songs on the last album? Two songs are written by me alone (“Through the desert storm” and “Room101”) but many songs are composed by the entire band and thus much of my stuff is in them (i.e. Leaving Solitude, Soulless & Solemn Waters). - Looking back, could you tell, that was remembered most of all from the period of recording of your last album Silent Waters? It must be the guitar recordings in GUN studios. It was a hilarious time when me, Kalle and Rikard spent a few weeks recording guitars and having fun. - How the last album differs from previous? In what conceptual difference of these two albums? Basically, Silent Waters has much more complex compositions and arrangements. We also put more effort into writing meaningful lyrics. Out first album was simpler and easier in many ways. - Did you had a guest musicians for the recording of ‘Silent Waters’? Yes, we had a girl named Sara Kvist doing some vocals on “Solemn Waters” and a guy named Anders Svensson laying backing vocals on all songs. Kristian Niemann (Therion) also appears with a guest guitar solo on “You Betrayed Me”. - The presentation of the Silent Waters was announced on 26 March 2007. This is a great event the Band has celebrated this date by the concert in Copenhagen only 5 days later release. What about your impressions? As it was accepted by fans? We found that our new material worked very well live in Copenhagen. We are also quite pleased with the reviews of Silent Waters. - How many reviews you have received to this moment? At this point I´ve read maybe 20 reviews. There are still a bunch which I haven´t had time to check out. - Wow… That’s great! Your album was released less than one month only! Recently you not often indulged to fans by a gigs... What will change now? Do you have any plans? We might have a tour coming up soon. Can´t say anything else at this point. Anyway, we´re definitely gonna try to play more live gigs now with a local singer in the band. - Yea, I’ve read about this… Your previous vocalist is not from Sweden. As I see, this is a really great problem for the Band, isn’t it? It was the main reason to cross away with him? The geographical distance was definatelty the biggest problem with our previous situation. Chity is an awesome guy and we had a lot of fun, but as we wanted to have a closer co-operation with our singer, the constant Germany-Sweden flights was just not a lasting solution. - Let’s talk about your plans. You should have more gigs, as you say. But could I ask you about the personal plans of participants? As I hear, you and other guys don’t stay on the place. Are you continue your musical education?.. I´m currently studying history at the university of Gothenburg and have no plans to continue with my music education at this point. Within the closest future I´m personally gonna work hard on the composing for the third album and try to get out and gig as often as there is time. Kalle is studying mathematics at the Chalmers university in Gothenburg and we´re composing a lot together these days. David is studying music at Malmoe University where he´s studying to become a singing-teacher. The other guys are working and writing music. We´re all anxious to get out and play for the fans. Useful links: Moonlight Agony -
www.moonlightagony.com
Official MySpace -
www.myspace.com/moonlightagony
Intromental Management -
www.intromental.com
ProgArt -
www.progart.com
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