Band profile
What is your name and your current position in the band?
I'm Richard Andersson the composer, producer, mixing guy, mastering guy you name it! Oh! I also play the keys!
Tell us about the history of the band. More specifically, when was the band formed, how did you meet, and have there been any particular highlights or low points in your career, any crucial events that have taken you where you are today?
Background
Richard Andersson was born in Ystad, Sweden, March 28, 1972. As a child he seemed to enjoy classical music such as Bach, Vivaldi, and Mozart etc. He tried to learn music the traditional way, but lost interest due to the strict and non-improvisational aspect of the lessons. At the age of 7 Richard already was capable to play some advance classical stuff just by listen to the music. Organ and Keyboard became Richards's biggest interest. Improvisation was his trademark.
When he was 15 years old, he created his own special style with influences from masters such as Jens Johansson, Yngwie Malmsteen, and Jimi Hendrix. Solo playing was the one and only way for him to express his feelings in a satisfying way. Early in his career he liked to compose his own music. A bunch of demos with songs played buy a keyboard player with fire in his fingers are probably prove that Richard is one of the most interesting keyboard players in the world right now.
Majestic
1998 Richard created the band MAJESTIC. This neoclassical, progressive metal band has surprised the music scene like no other band in this genre. With brilliant arrangements and melodies based upon almost spectacular musicianship. MAJESTIC has released two albums (Abstract Symphony, 1999) and (Trinity Overture, 2000), both at Toshiba/EMI (Japan) and Massacre, NTS (Europe). The band also went to Japan to meet the Japanese audience. MAJESTIC has toured with bands like Pretty Maids and Symphony X. Richard did also spend a couple of weeks with Yngwie Malmsteen in Miami. Due to the fact that Richard was busy with MAJESTIC he had to turn Yngwie down according to the job in Rising Force. But maybe in the future!
Summer of 2001 Richard felt that it was impossible to go on working with present business partners. Richard speaks:
Since my goal in life is to create music totally free from interruptions like business ship, record contracts etc. I now have decided to put Majestic on ice for a while. Further partnerships with present business partners were impossible. I am not feeling very sad about the situation, because creating the soul and spirit of Majestic has made me into the musician I am today. Luckily I already have had in mind for a half a year or so, an idea about developing my music into something more aggressive and powerful but still with strong and beautiful melodies.
The result of a couple of months composing became a mix of progressive neoclassical metal and melodic power metal. So! Now I have got the opportunity to work with professional people and also got the right timing to use this good material in a way that will blow the metal scene away for a day or two. This new band has nothing to do with Majestic and the Great Spirit of that band, which is important to mention.
My new soul work and band is called TIME REQUIEM, and will take this neoclassical- progressive- metal music into a new dimension both for me and hopefully for you as well. Fast, tight, melodic and very powerful. I will work with some of the great musicians from Majestic, but also with some new fresh blood in form of an extremely brilliant bass player named Dick Lövgren (In Flames, Arch Enemy). Wow! The man is really kicking some serious ass. Title of the record will be "Time Requiem"
Newly arrived home from the successful tour with Symphony X Richard started composing the material for TIME REQUIEM. He also started to think about potential band members. Since the great experience recording with Peter Wildoer, Apollo Papathanasio and Magnus Nord turned out very successful, Richard decided to go for these three great musicians again. The music though was too difficult for Martin Wezovski so Richard called the bass phenomenon Dick Lövgren. Dick accepted the offer to take place in TIME REQUIEM and finally the lineup was completed.
This time Richard was looking for something new and fresh. He was not that satisfied with the sound of the two previous Majestic recordings. Richard called up his old friend bass player Jonas Reingold (The Flower Kings, Midnight Sun) and discussed the possibilities of working together and doing the recordings in his studio. The result of two months recordings in Reingold studios became something very spectacular. The sound was that tight, clean and could be released just the way it was. 10 brilliant and aggressive songs were finally mixed in the famous "Studio Fredman" in Gothenburg in Sweden.
Second Time Requiem record became reality after doing some changes in the line-up. Richard speaks: "The drummer Peter Wildoer is a great musician and good friend and I consider him to be a big loss. Peter has his own band called Darkane, which he is very involved in. It's sort of death metal and they are recording a new album and will be touring a lot in the future. I sent Peter the pre-production for the "The Inner Circle Of Reality" album and he called me back and said he just wouldn't have the time. He was very sorry, and so was I. Peter has said that he would consider to play live with Time Requiem if his schedule would allow it, but I kind of doubt it will be possible as he is also working full time as a music teacher."
"Dick worked out fine of the first album and the Japanese tour we did in early 2003. He is a great musician but he is ten years younger than me and he couldn't agree with me on how Time Requiem should progress in the future. I felt a little bit of bad vibes from Dick and there were arguments. He demanded a lot of money for the next album, which I took as him saying he wasn't that interested. So we went separate ways."
So! Richard brought in friend and bass player Jonas Reingold and drummer Zoltan from Space Odyssey just to make this record reality. The recordings were done at Reingold Studio from scratch to the end.
Space Odyssey
Richard Andersson and guitar player Magnus Nilsson formed Richard Anderssons SPACE ODYSSEY project. After the two having a dinner they decided to do something together and the guiding principles were set. Richard and Magnus have known each other for years but never got together in studio. Richard describes Magnus as: One among the best guitar players I have ever played with. He has extremely good sense for music in general, which you can hear by his huge vibrato and great felling for the guitar. I'm Very happy to introduce him to you and the metal scene.
As Richard composed the songs and Magnus recorded the pre-production they both thought it could be fun to work with well-known musicians, since it more was like a project. Very soon Marcel Jacob (bass) and Mats Levén (vocals) were contacted and introduced to the material. Pre-production CDs were sent to the different musicians and recordings took place. Richard's friend Jonas Reingold introduced Zoltan Csörsz to him. Zoltan's got this fusion/metal touch in his drumming and that's very suitable for this kind of music, since there are different parts including these elements.
Richard Andersson's SPACE ODYSSEY Project was recorded September/October in Reingold Studios.
The second SPACE ODYSSEY concept came up after Richard had completed a record for his other band Time Requiem. As usual Richard was full of energy when it came to creating music. He very early said to himself that this second Space Odyssey must be really something. Richard then concentrated on the songs and melodies trying to make the music even bigger and powerful not to run away into power metal.
This time Richard asked Magnus if he could try to play the bass for the record. Magnus saw it as a challenge as the music is very complex. The reason not to having Marcel Jacob on this one as well was because of this curious idea that Richard had. Since Magnus already recorded the guitars he could fill in the bass in a very satisfying way. Personally Richard thought this move was brilliant.
Later on Richard was sent a video of a hell-playing drummer. His name was Andreas Brobjér. Andreas was very fond of Richards's music and really wanted to play in his band. Richard saw the video and was blown away. It reminded him on his own talent when growing up. Later on Richard sent Andreas the pre-production for Space Odyssey, which Andreas copied to Richards satisfaction. Since Zoltan was kind of busy this time with The Flowerkings Andreas filled his place like no one else could have done.
The recordings were done in two studious. Guitars, keyboards, bass and vocals were done in Richards Lipton studio. Especially the vocals were a bit magic to record. This time Richard were in total control over everything from the sound to the producing part. The vocals were recorded in just a few days exactly the way Richard wanted.
After having all the instruments on place Richard took the production to his old friend and producer Jonas Reingold (Midnight Sun, Reingold, The Flowerkings etc.). They both completed the mix in ten days. Since the songs were so well played and performed Richard wanted to have a "close in the face" mix with not that much of effects etc. The record were finally Mastered by Peter In de betou at Tailor Made Production. This guy has done most of the metal coming from Sweden lately such as (Hammerfall, Evergrey, Meshuggah, Europe etc. and even many of the ABBA records).
The Ultimate Andersson Collection
The Collection became reality after Richard having a vision of bringing some of the old songs to life again. The songs are all new recordings as the production was a bit weak on some of the earlier CDs. The first idea was to bring in world known musicians like several guitar players and many different singers. As time went on this became impossible due to the fact that Richard really wanted to have this project on the road. Rumors say that if Richard couldn't have Mr. Malmsteen as a guest player he wouldn't have any others at all. Only old friend Magnus Nilsson and die-hard fans Sven Cirnski have the honor to appear on this masterpiece.
One of the things Richard is most satisfied with is the enormous effort Mr. Göran Edman did on vocals. The songs have reached another dimension having this extremely talented and nice man behind the microphone.
Everything from recording every instrument to mixing and mastering was done by Richard himself. This time the whole production was under Anderssons closest supervision in his own Lipton Studio. Release date 2005. Toshiba/EMI (Japan), AOR Heaven (Europe), CD-Maximum (Russia), Melodicpia (Korea) and other territories T.B.A.
Time Requiem 2005
After finishing the successful Collection record Richard already had in mind the third Time Requiem record. He was extremely satisfied by the work the musicians did on the Collection record and he decided to go for that very line up. Working with Mr. Göran Edman took his music into another dimension.
1st of September 2005 Richard started to compose the songs for "Optical Illusion" and it took two months to complete the eight songs. This time Richard had Görans voice in mind and decided to make the music a step away from the neoclassical stuff even though you can hear the special Andersson classical melodies. The music is best described as neoclassical progressive film musical metal. Richard has always been very interested in film music and the way they build up the special movements just like the classical masters.
Since Richard was very stimulated with the recordings for the Collection record he decided to do everything by himself, control freak as he is! Everything is recorded, mixed and even mastered in his legendary Lipton studio. Having this total control from beginning to end is the fact that the result I so stunning.
Richard has always been very fond of Swedish drummer and old friend Mr. Jörg Andrews. The Collection record was his first really recording. Richard has asked him so many times that he decided to go for it now. It took a while and bit of editing to get the drums in place. Mr. Andrews is not a professional musician and nowadays he is serving the military in Yugoslavia for the Swedish government.
Andy Rose has also been very anonymous for the metal scene only playing in local bands before ending up with Mr. Andersson. Andy Rose has before played on some of Richards's demos and pre productions but never on a real production. Since he lives near by Andersson they could put effort making each song extremely tight and take a lot of time.
The Japanese bonus track is a special edition for the Japanese people. Mr Anders Johansson (Hammerfall, ex. Malmsteen) did the drums for the song "Despair and Pain" on second Space Odyssey record "The Astral Episode" one year ago. The drums did not end up on the real record but was in Richards's computer the whole time. Richard has always loved that song and got the idea using the old drum tracks putting them into the song adding Mr Göran Edmans new fresh vocals on to it. The result is a rough live mix of a killer song that definitely will satisfy the Japanese die hard fans! Very rare!
The artwork idea is developed by Mr. Andersson in collaboration with famous art director Mattias Norén at Progart Media in Sweden. Mattias has done cd artwork for artists such as Ayreon, Hammerfall, Inflames, Dream Theater etc. etc.
Was there ever a time when you wondered if your band would remain just a local outfit and never make it in the industry?
I have never seen my music or the creations I've done in that way. I am not into the business trying to reach any success or be up fronted in any way. I do what ever I feel like. Today I am glad I can make a living out of my music.
What is your latest album and why should people buy it?
Well! If you are into this kind of music I think you will enjoy it very much.
How would you categorize the style of the band? And did you ever consider or try playing other styles of music than the one(s) you are playing now?
Neoclassical heavy metal. That's pretty much it. Oh! I do not prostitute myself. I compose the music I would like to hear myself.
Can you share with us one or two of your favourite moments with the band?
The tours in Japan is always fun to think about. Being on the road with Symphony X for a couple of weeks was very nice as well.
How is the writing process in the band?
I do everything when it comes to making the music. It's kind of one mans vision but the guys in the band are fine about that. They like my music and the way I am handling everything.
What brought you on the path to becoming a musician? Did you ever consider or take any other paths through life besides music?
I have been doing music since I was 3 years old. This is my life and this is what I can do.
Do you have any idols? If yes, who?
No not at all! I can not put another living being higher than myself. I though admire a lot of people like my son, daughter and my wife. J.S. Bach is another guy among others that I find very talented and inspiring.
Do you have any regrets looking back at your career? For example any songs or even full albums that you regret recording? If so, what made you regret it?
When ever I have finished a record I put it behind me. Even if I think I could do this or that instead it's not really bothers me.
Are there particular songs in your catalogue that the fans love but you're not particular fond of yourself?
Oh! That's a tricky one! No! Not at the moment!
How important do you rate the lyrical side of your albums?
Equal to the music. Or I should say the music is the most important thing to me. The lyrics are often added far after the song is completed.
What do you think about the state of the music industry today?
Well! To be honest I do not really know what's happening in the music scene nowadays. I am not that interested to follow what's going on. I though can see that it's far too much an industry nowadays. Far too much!
What do you think is the best way to fight music piracy?
Fuck the record labels and release your music on your own on the Internet.
Do you have a life philosophy? If yes, what is it?
Stay tuned!
Can you describe a typical day in your life?
I work as normal people from 8.30 to 15.00. After that I hang around with my family and do a lot of running in the nature. That's pretty much it.
What do you like to spend your time with besides music?
Taking care of my body and my family. That's top priority
What's the craziest thing that has ever happened on a tour?
Having billions of Japanese people around you!
You're heading off to live on a deserted island for a couple of years with your portable entertainment system... Which albums, movies or books would you bring? (Max. 3 of each)
Some baroque music like Vivaldi or Bach. A history book and a Swedish made film.
What is your favourite joke?
Oh! That's a tricky one!
Can you tell us about any future plans for you and your band?
Creating more music and doing nice collaborations with awesome musicians.
Thanks for answering these questions. Now you are free to write a few lines to our readers.
Thanks for listening to my music. It's good to know that there are people sharing the same taste for music as I do.
STAY METAL!!!
///Richard
Added by Steen - 4/11/2006
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