Interview
(Progressive Newsletter Nr.54 01/06)
excerpts from an interview with Gilbert Marshall (Keyboards, Vocals) and Kim Stenberg (Guitars)
Gilbert: We all came from playing in different types of bands, and no one of us really did any serious prog work earlier. For my part, I’ve always listened to band like ELP, Camel, Focus, Heep, Floyd, Genesis etc... In fact, ELP´s "Tarkus" was the absolute first prog album I listened to... The band came together after a suggestion by Kim to form a progrock band...and BOOM - here we are, 3 years later...
Kim: After hearing "Space revolver" by The Flower Kings and really getting into bands like Spock’s Beard and Transatlantic I knew that this was my kind of pie.
Over which period of time was the music on "Motions of desire" composed and recorded?
Gilbert: We already had made some demo recording of "Illusion & Reality 1-4" just in the beginning of the band playing together, but were ready recording "Change" in spring 2004, I think. After that, we simply recorded more and more tracks. Some as they came along, and some we had been rehearsing for a while. The recordings were finished about winter/spring 2005.
Kim: I wrote the songs in this order, "Illusion & Reality part 1-4", "Without knowing why", "Full circle poetry" and "Change". "Change" was the first song we recorded for the album. "Illusion & Reality" was re-recorded for the album, but was actually the first song I wrote for the band, in 2002 if I remember correctly. "Change" being the last.
How did you get in contact with Progress Records and were there also other labels interested in releasing your debut?
Gilbert: If I’m not very mistaken, Progress Records - along with other record companies - approached us after we had released the first version of "Change" in 2004, which were spread around through the internet and could be downloaded as Mp3 from both our site, and other sites as well. We were re-contacted after the bands own release of "Motions...” I reckon Kim have some more details here...!!?!
Kim: At first, we produced a limited edition of 100 copies as a self-made product, mainly in hope to get in touch with a record company, which could take us a step further. We actually got offers from five or six record companies, in USA, UK, France, Sweden and Canada. We really felt that Progress Records was the right choice.
Even though the music of Magic Pie is mainly based on 70s progressive rock, there are varied influences from all areas of rock music with even a slight reggae touch. How do you manage to keep the musical balance right between the more complex and the "lighter" parts?
Gilbert: We try at all times to be true to our personal musical "heritage" within the members. We have all listened to and played so many styles during the years, so our background material is coloured from all over the musical spectre. We simply try to make music we ourselves find exiting to play, and not focusing on playing "this & that" to satisfy anyones taste or critics. But hey - music is all relative...
While other bands just want to show their instrumental skills, you put also a lot of emphasis and energy on vocal harmonies and good melodies. Do therefore instrumental and vocal based sections have the same meaning for you?
Gilbert: For me - being one of the three lead vocalists - and just the mere facts that we are three lead vocalists, that is absolute true. Voices have probably always been man’s most powerful tools of expression, and with so many voices working together, we also have two of the guys singing backing vocals, it’s important to emphasize on making them strong.....just as strong as the music... Comment on this, Kim...?
Kim: The vocals are in most cases the most important aspect of a song. The instrumental sections are often just there to create a specific mood/feeling before the next vocal part...but of course, then we have to have some fun playing it also…;-)
Your music has a kind of easiness and looseness compared to other current progressive rock bands. Is there a special formula for your musical approach?
Gilbert: We have actually discussed this, being rather surprised - in a good way - by the reception and the brilliant critics of our music. I can say for certain that we have no such formula - maybe except for not wanting to go "heavy" as many prog-bands tend to do these days. I guess we all like the melodically and symphonic touch, and there were a lot of that kind of inspiration in the `70´s music. Personally, I still enjoy best listening to the old bands and old records from that "Peace - Make love, Not war" period. And there are still many secrets of musical tendencies to be extracted from that really innovative period of music history.
Speaking of the feedback, how has been the general reception of "Motions of desire" so far?
Gilbert: As I briefly mentioned earlier, we are quite astonished by the many kind words. The reseption have been absolutely FANTASTIC...! We laugh a little in silent disbelief some times, but we are extremely proud and happy to experience that almost anyone listening to the album gives us unbelievably great feedback. We are constantly being compared with top-notch artists and bands in the gender, and we - as I said - find it a bit unbelievably, but we are grateful and humble! Thanks to all.
Are there any plans to play gig in Europe in the near future and have there been any offers so far to play on any of the progressive festivals?
Gilbert: We are fortunate enough to play as support for legendary former Uriah Heep member Ken Hensley the 2nd. Of December in Norway, at "Sweden Rock Kick-Off", which is an event designed to present some of the bands ready to play at the Swedish festival called "Sweden Rock Festival" which every year houses various great bands from many countries, including big headliners in the international Rock business. Even though we are not yet booked to play at the festival, we hope to have a shot at being one of the bands playing there in summer of 2006. Besides from this, we are booked to play at ROSFEST 2006 in Pennsylvania, USA at the 30. Of April, and we immensely look forward to this experience. We do have contact with a couple of other interesting places in different counties in Europe, and indeed have offers to play at prog-festivals here and there, but nothing is yet settled regarding this. We really do hope that there would be an opportunity to play gigs in Germany in the nearest future, as we regard Germany as a country that are and always have been progrock-oriented. Germans seem to enjoy great rock music in general. Let’s hope we can meet there some day...!?!
Kristian Selm © Progressive Newsletter 2005