| Tania: What you mean in a-ha you canīt be "free" ? Pal: Hummm, when we talk about a-ha we are talking about more pressure when itīs time to write songs; Itīs always a lot of people with different opinions and so many people "talking". In SAVOY, Iīam the boss (he laughs, he was in a very good humor). Tania: You or Lauren ? Pal: (ja ja ja), No! We work together; All the creative side is Lauren; she made all the videos and the albums covers, and I do all the producing and arranged. And now we changes the record company; We now sign with "Virgin Records". Tania: Guauu!. That sounds fantastic ? Pal: It is. Tania: So that means more projection ? Pal: Yes, finally we can go other places with the band to open up other frontiers, and this is absolutely great. Tania: What do you think when the people are frigtened, when you start a new project in SAVOY and then they start to imagine that you might leave a-ha ? Pal: (He smiles) Yeah, well itīs the same thing with Savoy. For example, when we made Minor Earth with a-ha, the people who follow Savoy think the same, and itīs the same a-ha vs Savoy and vice versa, and this is really uncomfortable because they donīt understand that you can do the two bands. Tania: I read in an article, that you didnīt collaborate in the "Lifelines" album because Savoy was more important for you ? Pal: No, thatīs a lie, because when I finish my work with Savoy, I start recording with a-ha; it was like that to that. It wasnīt like I didnīt want to go back. So I promess to deliver that album, and I did, but it wasnīt a weird album for a-ha at all, I had to write 10 demos in three weeks so I had a lot of extra weeks (he laughs). Tania: Well I donīt think that you have any problems in writing the songs did you ? Pal: Yeah, but it was under more pressure than I would like to do. Next time Iīam gonna be more prepared. Tania: So at what time do you rest, especially when you have a baby ? Pal: (all the happiness of this world appears on his face), Yeah, itīs great, itīs super. Tania: Auguie keeps your feet on earth ? Pal: Yeah. With him I do things that are real. There are so many egos, everything fades on you, everybody tell you what you have to do and how to manage. Tania: Is it hard with the egos between the members of a-ha ? Pal: (He smiles) Sometimes, but let me tell you one thing thatīs not hard. It has to do with other people that act like a maniacs. It has to do with people around us, but I donīt think itīs peculiar (he thinks for a while); Well I donīt know. You are supposed to be like "that". You canīt go some places. Thatīs why I donīt like to make long time tours because itīs not the same now as in the past. Every one of us has their own families now. Auguie is growing so fast that I donīt want to miss anything. Tania: You donīt want that Auguie knows you only by photo, "Oh, thatīs my daddy" ? Pal: Yeah, (he smiles again). Well, now he can go with us, but later it would be quite difficult. I would prefer to make short trips. Tania: Talking about other things, "who" decided wich single would be promoted when you have a new record? Because talking with another musician, he say that the artist has the last word in which single you choose for the promotion. Pal: We formally we never agree between the three of us; We decided this is the "single", but we normally say three different things, and that becomes very hard. We are evolving, but sometimes you have to leave the choice to others to be decided: We try to push in advance in wich direction we want to go. The best way is to decide by yourself. The best thing is not to put anything in the album that you feel uncomfortable with, and especially when you will playing on tour. Tania: Was it easy to work with so many producers ? Pal: Not so easy, because some producers want to do the same song maybe 4 or 5 times, and that means a lot of work. So I really donīt think we wanna do that in another album. Tania The other day I saw some of your paintings. Are you planning to hold an exhibition ? Pal: Oh, did you see it.? Tania: Yes! Pal: Hummm! Well, not really. Itīs just a hobby once a year (he smiles). Itīs only for myself. I had an exhibition, but that was all. Tania: Tell me about the new video "Lifelines". I read that it would be something like the video of "Take On Me". Is it true ? Pal: Well, itīs a surprise. Tania: Oh, come on. Pal: We are still working it on it, but itīs an interesting one, because itīs an "art film" about a one year journey though Northen Norway in 1991, directed by a Norwegian talent, Morten Skallerud. And in this film, the director is showing how life evolves in a year. Itīs a very interesting video. The only thing in that we could compare with "Take On Me" is that we will be using the same techniques in animation, but itīs different. The song is very similar to the film, and now we put more money in it. Of course we always invest a lot of money in our videos, but itīs great once they are done good. *BACK *NEXT PAGE |
| AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH PAL WAAKTAAR. FOR THE MEXICAN SITE. |