This article was publish in Svenska Dagbladet which is a daily morning newspaper. One of only two national morning newspapers that is not genre specified (there are of course many local newspapers). Publication date was March 30th, 2000.

F & S Does English pop have a future?

Leeds-poppers Embrace released their second album "Drawn From Memory" last week and they will play it at Klubben in Stockholm on the 15^th of April. An appetizer, single "Hooligan", was released this fall and is a perfect example of where brothers McNamara and company are headed. We got a chat with Richard McNamara.

Did you feel any pressure before the significant second album?
- No, I didn't. Because "The Good Will Out" sold relatively well the record company gave us time to work on the new album. We have more or less locked ourselves in the studio. But it's clear that it's always a bit nervous releasing an album.
Who are Embrace now compared to the Embrace during "The Good Will Out" tour?
- Now we're more like a band rather than a bunch of musicians who play chords in the rehearsal room, which feels very good. Song wise we've gone to the edges somewhat, the calmer songs are calmer and the harder songs are harder.
Is there any hope for the English popscene or is it going down?
- I have actually very little information on British popmusic and that's because I don't think it has been specially interesting lately. So I don't have a clue.
Who is the song "Hooligan" about?
- When we were growing up I was a little different from the other children at school, and I wasn't interested in having a pair of expensive sneakers on. Of course many reacted and bullied me. When I came home ready to cry my mother would always say that the other kids were a bunch of hooligans.
Can it be tough playing in the same band as your brother Danny?
- No, on the contrary. We get along really well and have always gotten along well. We're not exactly Gallaghers.
Will there be any festivalgigs in Scandinavia this summer?
- I hope so, but nothing is settled yet (for your information, there weren't any festivalgigs here, webmaster's note). Last time when we played in Sweden at the Hultsfredsfestival we had a fun time. I remember there was a very strange band playing after us. Dark Funeral I think their name was and they had pigheads on stage. Very odd. They reminded me a lot of Spinal Tap.
Embrace will play at Klubben on the 15^th of April.

Johan Nyman