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


BACK TO INTERVIEWSINDEX

BACK TO HOMEPAGE