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S: That’s fantastic! I like very much the review and
I’m very happy that you liked the album. Do
you believe that “Move On” is the best album that you have released to
date? S: It’s very difficult to say that cause I like all our
albums. Of course I like very much the new album, I like the songs and the
sound and…yes I believe that is the best album that we have released to
date. This
is the heavier album of the band although I believe that you combined very
well had rock guitars with melodic vocal lines. Do you had in mind to go
heavier this time? S: Well, not necessarily. We haven’t plan it but it just
come out while we were writing the songs. I don’t know why, but this is
indeed the heavier album to date. As
far as I know you have received very good reactions from the press and
fans till now. What do you have to say about that? S: Well we knew that the songs and the production were good
but we were a little bit worried about the reaction of the press and the
fans. But the reactions till now are very good and we are really happy
about it. I
also heard some old fans of the band complaining ‘cause Heartland is not
an AOR band anymore and they became a hard rock one… What would you say
to those people? S: I don’t think that the point is if Heartland is an AOR
or a hard rock band. Heartland is all about songwriting. We are trying to
write good songs. We want people to like this album ‘cause it has good
songs. I would call Heartland as a melodic heavy rock band. (he laughs) Before
we talk about the new album can you tell me why did you call the band
Heartland and who’s idea was? S: You have to ask Chris about that cause when I joined the
band was already called Heartland so I don’t really know how they come
up with this name. Ok,
let’s talk about the new album now. Why did you title it “Move On”?
You mean that the band has moved on to new things now? S: It could mean that we’re moving in a new direction. Or
it could mean that we re moving on new things and maybe this will be
Heartland’s last album of course it depends on the sales of the album. Is
the artwork related with the title of the album and the lyrics? S: Possibly that person on the artwork is Heartland
that’s running into another direction. Let’s talk about each one of the songs...
S:
“Hard Hearted Man”: Is about a man that never had a strong relation in
his life and when the right woman appears, his hard heart melts. “City
Of Lights”: Is about a huge metropolitan city and what’s going on
there and the excitement of people that live in this city. “Take
Me Alive”: This is one of my favorite tracks. The basic meaning of the
song is: “you never gonna get me I’m on the run!”. “How
Was I To Know”: This is a song about love again. And I think that the
meaning is that we want to know what is gonna be next. “I’m
Getting Ready”: Well, it’s a track I really like, because of the
guitar solo and the feel of the whole thing. It was the first music I
wrote for the album. It kind of defines what “Move On” is all about.
The lyric is a defiant statement, meaning I’ll take on the world, and no
one will get in my way. “Hell
Or High Water”: This song is about a relationship that nothing can break
it apart and that no mater what happens those two people are gonna be
together. “Too
Sad To Cry”: It talks about a person that he is broken hearted and…he
is so broken hearted that he can even cry. “Remember
Me?”: This song is talking about someone who is looking back in older
relationships and thinking about of some person and he wonders if they
still remember him now. “Redemption
(Instrumental)”: Is a mellow guitar instrumental. The guitar is crying
all the time and the song is just about redemption. “Where
Do We Go From Here?”: Is talking about two people that come to the end
of their relationship and wonder what we should do now? “One
Fine Day”: Is about someone who thinks that he will be together with his
love one fine day… no matter how long it takes! “Rotate
(Bonus Track)”: You better ask Chris about this song. It’s a funk rock
song and it’s kind of all go around again. Do
you feel that you have pushed, this time, your music to the edge? S: No, we still have a lot more to do. We came close to the
edge... but we haven’t reached the edge yet. What
do you have in mind when you are composing music? Nice catchy melodies or
heavy guitars? S:
It’s start with me writing all the music first in my studio. Then I
develop the track and Chris comes back with the lyrics. A good solo can
make a song better but sometimes it’s not necessarily to have a solo in
a song if it doesn’t need it. Are
you totally satisfied with the production of the album? S: Yes, I am. It’s very good and clear. I have my own
studio where I record and I think that the production is very good and
heavy. I like it very much. What
are the expectations from this album and your future plans? S: Basically we like to sale as many copies as we can. That
will give us the chance to produce another album in the future. As for
future plans we have many things in our mind and right now I’m working
on a new Shadowman album and I’m very busy at the moment. Are
you totally satisfied with Escape Music? S: Yes, they are very good people and they have helped us
very much till now. Is
there any chance to go on producing more albums in the future? S: Yes definitely. I like very much producing albums. Some
more general questions now. Do you believe that is so easy for a band to
differ in today’s music industry than in the past? S: No, It’s harder now. It’s much more difficult now.
Less people are buying records due to the internet and that’s a big
problem right now. Do
you believe that hard rock music is so popular nowadays at it was back on
late 80’s? S: No, no way. Hard rock music on the 80’s was really
huge. Now it’s different. I do not think that hard rock music can become
so popular than it was back on the 80’s. Which
band do you consider that can take a leading part in hard rock music in
the future? S: Hmmm… Good question… I do not know. Well… I really
can’t answer that. Can you
also tell me which album of Heartland do you consider as the best? S: Well I can tell you that now. I like the acoustic album
“When Angels Call” most of all! I think that is great... simple songs... simple way of
playing... I love it. Are
there any plans for a tour? Is there a chance to see you for a live show
here in Greece soon? S: Hopefully... If everything goes right we will go no a tour. There is always a chance to play there... I really like to play in Greece! And
some Weird Questions now!!! Do you consider yourself as a rock star? S: No... (he laughs) no way! What
would you tell to someone to convince him to buy your album instead of
hundreds others that are being released every month? S: Good question… very good question!!! I would say that
with this album is gonna get: high quality rock songs, great singing and
great guitar playing! If
Heartland’s carrier was a movie… which movie would it be and why? S: Ohhh... let me think… Godfather III!! (he laughs) If
you could go back in time and see any band live in their prime & open
for them who would it be and why? S: My favorites bands are Free, Led Zeppelin, Jimmy Hendrix
and Deep Purple!!! Any one of those bands... Probably Jimmy Hendrix! What
are the biggest life lessons you’ve learned over the course of your
career? S: You must be nice to everybody ‘cause everything comes
around. If you are nice to people then you’re gonna have many god
friends during your life. Do
you believe that internet has helped the bands to become more popular or
has caused many problems? S: Definitely
it helped some bands but is not good for labels and especially for
musicians like me. If you download a song you do not pay the band. I do
not mind if someone downloads a sample of a song... but not the whole
album! That’s not good for us. Which
is the most overrated band today? S: Well... so many!!! (laughs from both sides)... I’m a
nice man I can’t answer that!!! How
do you imagine that the music world could be, one thousand years from now?
And why? S: (he laughs)... please give me an easy question!!! (laughs
from both sides)... One thousand years from now... hmmm... I think that
there are gonna be acoustic guitars... synths and some electric guitars of
course. Which
are the things that piss you off from today’s music industry? S:
The managers... who work in the record companies! Imagine
that your wife is selling your whole album-collection just to buy for
herself an expensive ring. How would you react? J S: (he
laughs!!)… That would never happen! No way!!! Not in my lifetime!!!
I’ll buy her many rings and keep my records!!! (he laughs) Ok
Steve, I wish you the best for the new album. The last words of this
interview belong to you. Thank
you again for calling me! Any last words? S: Thank you very much Thanos for showing so much interesting in Heartland… I liked very much talking to you… you asked some very good questions! (he laughs)… All the best for everybody in Greece!! by Thanos Aggelakis |
Hi
Steve… Congratulations on “Move On”. As you already know we have
chosen it as the best album of April on Grande-Rock!!!