ile-einar все записи автора Магс отметился в новом номере норвежского журнала "ELLE Mann" и дал 3-х страничное интервью.


Кусок интервью (© translated by Locust & Magnet):

"The Narrow Path" (article title)

A week before this interview, I get a text message "Magne here. Hear rumors you are a foodie. I am too. Looking forward to this. Where are we going to meet?"

(The interviewer talks about his first memories of a-ha, and asks)
Were these boys for real?
Morten Harket looked like a fairy tale figure crossed with Cruella DeVille---black hair with white bangs and jeans that looked like they made it to hell and back. Pål Waaktaar looked more uncomfortable, something like a shy Peter Pan with a low blood count. Magne Furuholmen stood there almost as a contrast to the 2 others. He looked like a "bloke" a cool friend you could talk with, smoke with and skateboard with. Maybe someone you could have a beer with while talking about girls and work, etc.

24 years later, it's not beer or cigarettes, but wine and gourmet food on the agenda. We agreed to meet at the Restaurant Statholdergaarden in Oslo. When Magne shows up, he is plus and minus the same guy. He has become twice as old and doesn't appear as a boyband star.

Neither I or the waiter can hide our disappointment when Magne answers "Eplemost" (a type of apple soda) when the waiter asks, "Gentlemen, would you like a cocktail before you eat?" Magne looks apologetically at us, "I'm driving."
The argument isn't quite acceptable. (what about like, leaving the car?)
After a few seconds, Magne confesses:

"I'm on a self made 6 month detoxication. For someone like me who loves food and drink, it's ok to have a break once in a while. It's about rediscovering the finer things laying there...one gets a little lazy having everything good readily accessible under their nose. With alcohol, it's often just on or off, there's no middle ground. Maybe because alcohol is glady used to let go of oneself."

"I usually say no to all portrait interviews like this. First of all, interviews like this are very similar to each other...they have nothing to offer. Secondly, I have nothing left unsaid. I can't stand sitting and repeating myself into infinity. What I have to say is not that interesting. Let me quote Sebastian Horsley in "Dandy in the Underworld": "One of the perks of being a celebrity is that you can bore people to death while they assume it's their own fault..."

Wondered what Magne has been up to in New York lately?
“What is interesting is that Pal and I are now sitting together and working more or less like we did when we were teenagers. And my last eureka- or ‘a-ha’ experience (clearing throat), is how much better Mortens voice thrive in a synthetic landscape. His pathos is a lot more interesting put up against a little cooler, synthetic universe. With symphonic orchestra does Mortens a little opera kind of beuaty song easily become a little bombastic, whilst the rock aesthetics, on the other hand, is actually on direct collision course with his expression. After all, it does require a little ‘insmoked’, alcoholic credibility. It hit me again, with full strength, a cool synth universe surely is the more right thing, both to the heartiness of the material and to Mortens vocal expression. It becomes something almost naive, but at the same time very complex over what is interesting.”

(Interviewer talks about Magne's Dot Of Black, 300 copies...)

......

"Last time when I released my first solo LP, I really had an ambition to make an album. I didn't have that this time. What's strange is that the songs, separately, have been more commercial, more sell-able. Even if they aren't really thought of being for sale anyway."...

(Interviewer talks about PPFT then:)
His wife, Heidi, wondered if her husband had found a new music genre "UNEASY listening"

Magne thinks the new LP is easier to like.
"In many ways, I felt the debut LP was my life's most important musical document. A Dot of Black has been less challenging to make, and I'm relatively shocked that it's been so easily digested."

The touring around the LP won't be as limited as the release: solo gig at Notting Hill, triple solo gig at Royal Albert Hall, Hove festival, Paintings, Film, music. Digital distribution. This smells of good old fashioned "Gesamtkunstwerk". Wagner would be proud.

"Most people in Norway wish we would work as a-ha the whole time. When there are so many great artists, why should people accept that a former teenage girl idol should also do it? But I do what interests me. If only 300 like it, instead of 300,000 that's fine. That's how it's always been for me. "

Magne, Morten and Pål are turning on the a-ha machinery again these days. A new LP is underway. It's a relatively hopeless task to make sure only a few people find out about this. Besides, many still remember the personal and creative conflicts from the not so distant past. The tabloids won't pass this event over quietly.

(The interviewer talks about Lifelines LP and how a-ha couldn't even be in the studio together, THEN:)

It's understandable why tonight Magne doesn't want to babble away about water under the bridge. This is the first time in a long time the trio is sitting and making music again like they did 25 years ago. What has happened?

Magne says, "You come to agreement about some things and learn to tolerate disagreement in other things. What's interesting is that Pål and I are sitting and working almost the same way we did when we were teenagers. My last Eureka! moment was when I realized that Morten's voice sounds better in a cool, synthetic landscape or universe."

According to Magne, the trio has had many discussions about what direction the new material will have.
"It's a lot of the technology we used on the first LP's that sounded really cool. But we don't want to turn back the clock. That would be too stupid. The beauty in working with technology is actually that one doesn't have to invest so many feelings into a performance."

******

A new a-ha LP is something that encompasses the country, most can relate to. The UP trip a whole nation experienced when the 3 little pop stars climbed to the top of the charts in 1985 hasn't only shaped our self image as a nation, but has become an important building block in the confidence to a whole generation of Norwegian 30+ year olds.

Magne: "It's hard to forget that one has stood on stage in front of 200,000 people. It's not less cool to stand in front of 200, but you would like to experience 200,000 again. To say it this way: the smell of wood shavings is a potent afrodisiac for a horse with circus experience."

********

Magne understands people are excited for a new a-ha release

"Oh yeah, I understand...I am too. It's actually an insane cocktail. We are 3 of the most extreme individuals I know and we made a band. Morten and Pål are to really great guys. That we 3 found each other is amazing luck."

A clear sign that a-ha is in a new and more friendly period is the triple concert at the Royal Albert Hall.
All 3 are taking their solo projects on the same stage, the same night.

"It's a kind of friend night where we embrace each other's solo projects as a part of a-ha, the parts that formed the foundation of a-ha, instead of seeing it as a competition. In many ways it's a healing thought, to have all 3 of us together, instead of us running around on our own, competing for attention."

This "Atonement concert" was Harald Wiik's idea (a-ha and Magne's manager).

Magne says, "I believe the solo projects are very enriching for a-ha, and I believe this will be a fun night, at least for us on stage...ha ha")

But who will perform first?
Who is the "headliner"?
Will there be comparative analyzing backstage afterwards?
Who had the best band?
Who got the most applause?

It's certain that if Magne competes with anyone, it's first and foremost with himself.

"My greatest ambition is to forget how to ride a bike. I'm getting there...more and more things are being learned for the first time. It's a practice thing."

A few weeks after this interview, Magne writes me an e-mail where he effectively sums himself up in a few sentences.

"Right now, I soon have to stop and forget the map and the geographical terrain. It has gone on too long. No matter how much I try, I haven't been able to run from myself. But to quote a Danish poet and friend: It's impossible, but I won't give up."

Из интервью, стало известно, что 23...27 июня у Магса намечается гостевой перфоманс на мероприятии "Hove Festival" в городке Арендаль.
А в следующем номере "ELLE Mann" (c 21 апреля) будет приложение - диск "A Dot Of Black In The Blue Of Your Bliss" Elle Edition c 6-ю треками: 1. The longest night; 2. Running out of reasons; 3 Time & place; 4. A dot of black; 5. More than good enough; 6. Watch this space.

Насчёт приобретения журнала с диском через PayPal - обращаться к девушке Locust (Irene): inbox@ahafancafe.no

According to ELLE MANN, next edition of ELLE (Norwegian) will enclose a special edition of Magne's new album 'A' Dot of Black in the Blue of your Bliss'. The magazine is for sale from April 21.
I believe this magazine is not obtainable overseas, so if you would like me to help you out. Please make a pre-order of the magazine by sending me an e-mail: inbox@ahafancafe.no
You will be charged the price of the magazine plus pp, and can pay with credit card through PayPal. (Please enclose your PayPal e-mail address if you have got one). Thanks.
I have received a few requests whether I may be able to provide the ELLE Mann edition with the interview of Magne as well. The answer is YES. More information at www.ahafancafe.no - including price information on both magazines. Please mind deadline for ordering the magazines is tonight:
ELLE MANN – big interview with Magne
ELLE – including special ELLE edition of Magnes new album.
Best Regards
Locust