AOR
By
Nicky Baldrian
The term AOR has finally crept into a
band name, and about time to, as we need a band like this to turn
heads.AOR is the latest hot sensation from Los Angeles, a project
based around the talents of much travelled singer/songwriter./ex
Journalist Frederic Slama. The album is superb, great lyrics, a
helping hand from gifted and well respected musicians such as
Richard Page etc.. and a huge production that will satisfy the
hordes music loving fans. Read on as Frederic sheds more light
about his great band...
Nicky:- Tell our
readers about your background
Frederic:- OK! I've been a musician since I was 12. I played
mainly guitar and keyboards. I've always been passionate about
music and specialised in aor and "west coast music" for
more than 20 years - at the same time (since I was not a rock
star ) I became a young journalist at 17 and made more than 300
interviews of" rock stars "over the years for different
French and U.S. magazines. At the same time I had a couple of
shows on the radio and wrote two books on aor music. I think I'm
among the people who brought aor music into France during the
early 80's by intervieviewing so many musicians. I became
"friends" with a lot of them in Los Angeles where I
travelled to, and met alot people such as Richard Page,Carlos
Vega, Joseph Williams, Michael Ruff, Don
Henley, Rosanna Arquette and a lot of others helped me out with
my demos during the mid 80's. I have lived for more than 10 years
in L.A where I played "live "and in the studio with a
lot of very good but unknown bands. i am mainly a songwriter and
I've written a few songs for U.S. and Japanese artists ( I still
often go to Tokyo).
I've been solely
doing music for the last 10 years and I quit journalism
indefinitely.I produced (unknown )artists in France but I'm only
interested in them if I can put my aor touch in it!my new project
"L.A.Concession" reunited very good musicians who are
now mostly working on new projects and films. The "AOR"
concept is a project turning around different musicians for this
cd and maybe for the next or eventual tours.
Nicky:- Where do
you draw your inspiration from?
Frederic:- My inspirations can come from anywhere, people I see
and women in particular or sometimes when someone tell me
something and there's a particular word or phrasing they sat that
gives me an idea for a new song
Nicky:- Tell me
about the songs on your album "L.A. Concession"?
Frederic:- The songs on "L.A. Concession" represent
some of the best songs I have been involded with over the last
few years, people can read between the lines in the lyrics and
can find other meanings.
Nicky:- You are
constantly writing and recording, what is next for you?
Frederic:-Well I would like to record a trult great AOR cd with
all the top L.A. musicians that I have worked with and met during
the last twenty years with a view to having a different singer on
each song, like Richard Page, Valerie Carter, Joseph Williams
etc..
Nicky:-How did you
get involved with the musicians on "LA Concession"?
Frederic:- During the recording sessions in L.A., and also some
of the top player I know recommended me.
Nicky:- How's your
expereince been with the labels so far?
Frederic:- For all musicians who don't want to depend on anyone,
I would recommend deals with small labels who really believe in
you, or do it yourself as the internet is the future.
Nicky:- Does this
album represent what you are all about musically, and why did you
drop journalism in favour of a musical career?
Frederic:- I quit journalism to work full time on my music
projects, I love the record, but I'd pretty confident that I can
do a hundred times better with various musicians, studios and
time. My dream is peace and justice on earth and that people
search for their own musical tastes and don't let radios or
records companies dictate their choices.
Nicky:- What's the
greatest thing about music?
Frederic:- Oh, playing live, I play as often as possible! It's
one of the best experience's in my life.
Nicky:- So what are
Richard Page and Richard Marx up to now?
Frederic:- I haven't seen Richard Page and Richard Marx for a
long time, since then I've recorded more than 60 songs with great
stodio players, I don't remember exactely who's playing where!!
Nicky:- Any final
words?
Frederic:- I hope that "L.A. CONCESSION" will bring as
much emotion to the people who have bought the record as it did
for us making the record, thank you.
For more info on this great album check out http://www.cdbaby.com or Email: fredericslama@hotmail.com