GRAND ILLUSION
Questions asked by Jon Wilde, added to Rock Realms 18th May 2010.
Swedish pomp/hard rockers Grand Illusion are finally back with the follow-up to their awesome 2004 release Ordinary Just Won't Do. The new album - Brand New World - is perhaps not quite so perfect as the previous one, but that's like saying gold isn't as good as platinum. Let's face it, gold and platinum are both pretty damn excellent.
Grand Illusion guitar/bass/keyboard mastermind Anders Rydholm answers questions on behalf of the band.
Hi Anders, thanks for taking a moment to answer these questions. Hope you are well?
Anders: Hi Jon! Everything is fine right now, and I am happy to answer your questions. It’s going to be fun…
The core of Grand Illusion – you, Peter Sundell and Per Svensson – has been performing together on and off for a long time now. Does it amaze you that you’re all still recording together?
Anders: Yes and no… We’re a good team, I would say. We three started playing together in 1986 and there’s been only two periods where we’ve not been so active since. In the early 90’s, we worked hard, trying to create a good day-time-job-situation that can support you, and we also started families, of course…. But we still played a couple of gigs and also had some nice parties together.
Our second break was between 2005 and 2009; Peter and I didn’t work together at all during that period. But, Per and myself continued to work together during this latest break, so we all kept in touch!
Looking back at the start, did you think you’d still be recording music in 2010, or did you have different dreams back then?
Anders: Ha! Ha! In 1986, I had no idea of what I would be doing in 2010 and I don’t think that any of the other guys had either! I finished university in 1985 (I studied marketing), but also had a job at the Swedish Television Company as a sound engineer. Peter had a job repairing copy machines. Per was studying to be a music teacher. Music was our big interest in life (besides girls) and life seemed pretty uncomplicated!
There has been quite a gap since the last album. What was the reason for that break, and was the intention always to get back together to create another Grand Illusion album?
Anders: I think so looking back, in a way, but honestly, one of the biggest reasons that we ended Grand Illusion originally then, was that we all felt the need to work with other people. I have been playing with Per since 1980 and Peter since 1982 so we needed new input. We also didn’t really agree on the level of the commitment needed. We all had quite different goals with Grand Illusion.
I think, when we ended the band we had no intention of a reunion 5 years later. But I guess that we all missed both the band and working together, and as time went by, it became more and more possible. And, here we are!
Did you approach the creation of this album in the same way as older ones, or has it been a different experience this time?
Anders: No, it’s basically the same approach, but I just think we’ve worked so much harder on this one. I wrote all the music as before but Peter and myself decided together on what songs to use and what to focus on. It’s important that Peter likes all the songs so that he is able to sing them really well!
Do you enjoy your time in the studio, or do you only truly relax when a record is finished?
Anders: I love the creative process of the studio. That’s my drive in my life and I will probably never relax. Everything could be done better, sound better etc.. There’s always things to improve on and to fix, you know? My hardest problem is to let go and admit to myself that I am finished when I truly am!
Was there a temptation to become a ‘normal’ 5/6-piece band and create the album between you, or do you prefer doing the creative side of things with guests and session musicians?
Anders: Well, there was a temptation… When we’d taken the decision to reform Grand Illusion, we did ask all the original members if they were interested in being part of this reunion, but, sadly, some just couldn’t do it. Christian, our old drummer wanted to, but couldn’t fit it into his schedule. Ola, the old guitar player, said no.
We didn’t have any other candidates in mind for being new, permanent members, so instead, we just decided to get as good players as possible involved. It’s tempting too, to see how it will sound with new people involved and with some really great players. I think it worked out really well!
How did you go about finding and choosing the people you wanted to work on the album?
Anders: We have many favourite players that we all like, of course, so we started there. Mike Slamer is one of our biggest guitar heroes of all time. We’d been talking about Mike for many years (as far back as 2002 / 2003 in fact), so when we were at the mixing stage of this album and found out that we had mutual friends, we just had to ask if he could help us out. To our wonderful luck, he said yes. Since everything was basically finished, we really only just had one song to throw at Mike, but he did an amazing job on it. His tone and feel are awesome!
Then, there’s Tim Pierce. Tim is also a phenomenal guitar player and has been a big inspiration for me for many, many years, so it’s a dream come true having him play on our album as well. We got in contact with Tim, basically, through Gregg Bissonette, who plays all the drums on the record. During lunch on the second day of the drum sessions, we started to talk about great guitar players. Tim's name came up and before lunch had ended we had booked him for a session two days later. Tim plays on ”I'm Alive”, ”Emily”, ”Burning Bed”, ”Warning Signs”, ”Forever With You”, and ”Search For Light” (the Japanese bonus track); plus, he also played on a couple of tracks that didn't make it to the final album...
We all love Tim's work and he's really fast and easy to work with. He has a great tone. We have some footage up on our web site and on YouTube from the first session with Tim. Please check it out, cause it really shows how great a guitar player this guy is... http://www.grand-illusion.se/
Then, Danny Jacob (George Michael, Elton John, Ray Charles, Bette Middler, Sheena Easton, Signal), a truly great guitar player that Gregg also recommended us to try, got involved too. He may not be as well known to your readers as the other two, I don’t know, but, my word, can that boy sure play guitar!!
And last, but not least, I should mention Gregg Bissonette! I have worked together with Gregg many times in the last 5 years. This is the 5th album that I’ve produced on which Gregg plays!
Were you able to work closely with everyone, or did some people have to record their own pieces in other studios and send you what they had done?
Anders: Pretty much! Gregg and Tim did the sessions with me together in LA and it’s just a pure joy to work with them….. Whilst, yes; Danny and Mike had to do their parts by sending files back and forth; the cost was just too big to go back to LA a second time.
It’s actually not a problem working like this; sending files back and forth, when you work with such talented players. You tell them what you want and your visions for the track; and they send you something great back! It’s a smooth ride!
How does your writing process work? How would a typical song be created?
Anders: I usually write with a guitar or a piano. The song sounds different depending on what instrument I write with… Songs tend to seem simpler when I write with a guitar. And then, the best ones can just start as melodies in my head. It could be in the shower or when I take a walk in the afternoon…then I have to sing into my mobile just so that I remember the idea.
Next, I’ll then sit with a guitar or the piano and just try to get all the pieces together. Some of the songs like 'Never Find Her Alone' were there, made very fast. The basis of the song was written in just 10 minutes. After that, it’s all about arranging to get it the way I want it.
Is the Grand Illusion sound something that has developed organically over the years, or have you taken very deliberate decisions over the direction in which the band should head?
Anders: Yes and no, I’d say… The song writing is more or less the same and I have always done it that way, but the arranging of the overall product has probably evolved it’s own Grand Illusion sound. Guitars and backing vocals are done my very own personal way. We are all big Queen fans so we love backing vocals as part of the whole and we spend a lot of time just getting those multi-layer-parts right!
We think you have a brilliantly unique sound. How would you describe the sound of Grand Illusion to somebody who foolishly hadn’t heard you before?
Anders: Ha! Ha! I love that you say ‘foolishly’ there Jon… Thanks!! That’s a lovely thing to say. I think it’s basically about; melody, over-the-top arrangements, easy listening with good melodic hooks, attention to detail, big choruses in just major keys instead of the typical minor keys…. That kind of thing… It’s all part of the overall picture!
When did you start work on “Brand New World” then, and how long did the whole project take?
Anders: A year or so? We started in December 2008 and we were finished recording in November 2009… Then I spent a month working on the mixes. We basically finished in January 2009.
Is there a concept or story behind the album, or are the songs stand-alone entities?
Anders: No, there’s no concept at all but it would be fun to do that some time down the line. I have written two musicals actually, so I like the idea of songs being connected to each other. We’ll have to see if that comes off!
Where did the album title come from?
Anders: Well, we didn’t really have any title in mind when we started but, towards the end of the recording process, as we began to try to reach an agreement on this, one song title stood out and became really suitable; “Brand New World”.
This is a new start for the band. It has nothing to do with the guests on the album or the band’s constellation... It's as simple as a fresh, new start! A chance to leave all the old problems behind. A brand new world, to us!
How does “Brand New World” compare in sound and style to your older releases?
Anders: I think it’s a natural progression to being Grand Illusion 2010. No big differences but not a carbon copy either. Music is all about emotion and feelings. It’s simply not possible to go back and write exactly the same kind of music you did 10 years ago. You are affected by all the music around you and those fingerprints end up in your own music.
Seriously, some of the notes Peter produces are unbelievable! How does he do it?
Anders: Practice and 30 years of hard work. He’s constantly trying to sing all the good music he hears and test himself. It’s good competition. He wants to be able to sing as high as anybody else out there and I promise you, he will not give up on this for a long time!
On the technical side, it’s important not to push too hard. Peter has found a special technique that works great for him and he uses that to be comfortable with his singing…. Please check out our clips on YouTube and see for yourselves… http://www.youtube.com/gisweden
Are you proud of your own work on this album, you mentioned being very self-critical earlier?
Anders: I am, but I am always very self critical and it takes me a couple of years after the release to be able to be objective on whether it’s a good release or not. It’s so many hours of work that you lose the perspective. Some songs I will like and some I will probably not listen to at all!
Do you have any favourite moments on the album at the moment?
Anders: Yes. The session with Tim Pierce was really special and I’ll also never forget the moment when I first heard Mike Slamer’s solo. Both Tim and Mike are among my top 5 all time best guitar players.
I also think that both Peter and myself felt a very special bond when we recorded the vocals for the first song together after all these years. That was a particularly poignant moment!
Have you finalized a band for your live shows, and have you played any dates yet?
Anders: No dates just yet, no, but we are starting rehearsals next week so we are totally on the way to making Grand Illusion a live band too. So far we only have two dates. Our release party in June and Firefest at the end of October over there, but we will soon release more dates during the autumn (if everything goes according to plan).
Both old members, Christian Sundell (drums) and Ola af Trampe (guitar) will help out on a couple of live gigs. I will play bass and sing backing vocals, Per sings and plays keyboards and Peter will sing and maybe also play a little bit of guitar.
We have discussed maybe adding a second guitar player to finish the set-up, but we haven’t decided on anyone yet. It would just allow us to be able to do more varied arrangements and also make our backing vocals even stronger.
What can we expect from a Grand Illusion live show? Do you try to stay faithful to the album recordings, or do you rock it up for the stage?
Anders: It’ll be heavier live definitely. People might be a little bit surprised that we have so much raw attitude in the band. The albums are more about detail and perfection but live, it’s raw and it’s about attitude!
Where do you see Grand Illusion heading now? Has this experience been rewarding and made you want to create another album, or do you think the band will end up having another break for a few years?
Anders: I think we all see a good future for Grand Illusion. We all think it’s been fun working together again and we are eager to continue and make more albums…but it’s also about establishing GI as a live band now. I have already written a lot of new material. 7 new songs so far and there are ideas for 4 or 5 more in the pipeline already, so that has definitely been a good result!
Any question you love being asked that I’ve missed? If so, what’s the answer?
Anders: Ahhh... How does it feel to be the most sexy man alive? Hard, but someone has to bear that burden; Ha! Ha!
What are you up to once you’ve finished answering these questions?
Anders: Tonight, we are having a vocal session with a guy previously mentioned in the text above; no names…!! We will be trying out a new song actually!!
Anything else you would like to mention?
Anders: I just hope that the readers give Grand Illusion a chance really! Check out the album… And, please check out our website for more info and samples. Take care and see everyone at Firefest!!!
Thanks for your time!
Anders: My pleasure!!
Thanks again to Anders for his time. You can check out the Rock Realms review of Grand Illusions latest album Brand New World by clicking here.
http://www.myspace.com/gisweden
