GRAND DESIGN
Questions asked by Jon Wilde, added to Rock Realms 19th January 2012.
Grand Design's latest album touched down in Autumn 2011. Fortunately I've since had the chance to chat with front man Pelle Saether...and here is what he had to say...
Hi Pelle, thanks for taking a moment to answer these questions. Hope you are well?
Pelle: Hi there Jon!! I’m great! We have just released the 2nd Grand Design album “Idolizer” – right at the end of October in fact... And, so far, the response is awesome!!!
Last time I interviewed you was around the time of the first album. How did it end up doing in terms of sales, airplay and feedback?
Pelle: To be honest, I don’t know how much “Time Elevation” sold, but it’s a hard business these days since a lot of people are downloading without paying for it. We got a lot of airplay and the feedback was enormous!!! Loads of full score reviews + 10 ‘Top Album Of 2009’ list placements....
What are your thoughts on “Time Elevation” now? Anything you’d have done differently given the chance?
Pelle: Maybe we should have arranged the last song “Love Will Know” a little better? But, I still think we did our very best with “Time Elevation”. Sound-wise, I think we nailed it and I’m very proud of that album.
Your new album “Idolizer” is out now, as you mentioned. Did you find it easier or harder releasing this second album? Presumably the fans have expectations now?
Pelle: Expectations?? You must be kidding – He! He! He! I was getting mail all the time from fans asking about the new album, but this you gotta kind of just put aside. It’s always hard to make a great follow up, and people have different opinions what a good follow up is. Some think it must be almost the same because they love the songs and sound. Then there’s these guys who want a development but still in the same formula? Then there’s us – Grand Design, and we just go with the flow and do what we are best at; doing 80s rock.
Did you approach the writing and recording in a similar way to the first album?
Pelle: Almost the same, yes, in terms of the way of writing/arranging the songs, but we tried another way of recording this time. We started recording the guitars with programmed drums and guide vocals. Then we added the natural drums so they could follow the guitars more. After all that was done I did all the vocals. Bass and background vocals were added and last the guitar solos. I found this way of recording/producing much better, so I think we will go for that in the future too.
What techniques do you use to get the Grand Design sound?
Pelle: For the guitar sound, we use a little box made by Tom Scholtz – called a ‘Rockman’. I have both the box and the rack models – if you want chorus, this is “da place to go!” Bass is through an Ampeg SVT Pro + Sansamp + line. I use this set up to have a lot of options in the mix. Drums are Sonor Designer but blended with samples. Vocals are Neumann mic. through a PurePath EQ/compressor. And, I use a lot of delay and reverb on the sounds in the mix – just to make it big!!!
What are your favourite moments on the album?
Pelle: When it was done!!! There was a lot of work on “Idolizer”, but I’m so pleased with the result.
How do you think the new one compares to the debut in terms of sound and quality?
Pelle: I hope old and new fans alike will discover the small differences in the sound and songs. I tried to get an even bigger sound on “Idolizer” than on our 1st album and the songs are sometimes a bit darker, but still with a catchy twist.
What are your current touring plans? Any chance we’ll see Grand Design in the UK soon? I enjoyed your appearance at Firefest last year.
Pelle: We’ve had a couple of gigs booked; a festival in southern Sweden and a festival in Switzerland – more coming up though!!
You also do plenty of work as a producer. Have you got any other projects on the go at the moment you’d like to talk about?
Pelle: I do a lot of work every year in my studio, yes; with many bands, but one project that is gonna be fun is the solo project of the lead singer of Psychopunch. I’m gonna try and make him more commercial.
What have been the highlights of your musical life so far?
Pelle: Oh - I don’t know. I have had so many cool things happening through the years – to name just one is too hard!
Any question you love being asked that I’ve missed? If so, what’s the answer?
Pelle: Hahahahaha...! OK, here we go. Which configuration do you use most on overhead mic-ing of drums?? Mostly A + B but sometimes XY can work as long as the mics are in phase. ;-)
What are you up to once you’ve finished answering these questions?
Pelle: Back to the studio then, later to the gym, then home.
Anything else you would like to mention?
Pelle: Hope to see all you rockers here in 2012, when we rawk out live with Grand Design!!!!!
Label: AOR Heaven
Artist's website(s): MySpace | Facebook
