English – S-ROCK

CHASING EMBLA – E-mail Interview with Tove (2024) (English)

投稿日: 2024-11-172024-11-17 投稿者: s-rock

Tove (ex-MISSLEAD/TINDRUM) and her fellows have started a new band called CHASING EMBLA, they released RESURRECTION album this autumn. S-ROCK had an e-mail interview with her Japan-exclusively.

S-ROCK: For Japanese AOR/melodic HR fans you were the singer of TINDRUM /MISSLEAD. After the era what did you do?

Tove: Around 1993, the members of MISSLEAD decided to go our separate ways, and for many years, I didn’t sing at all…

I spent time on children, friends and family, and got a new hobby – regatta sailing, together with OO, which we did for many years.

I did reunite with TINDRUM a few times, to do some anniversary gigs.

After a long time, I found a few local choirs, and did that for a while, and eventually ended up in a vocal group.

Some eight years ago, maybe, we decided to move to a new house, and spent a couple of years with that project.

I then got the urge to sing in a band again… We eventually put together a WHITESNAKE project, and did that for a little while.

Great fun, but we wanted to make our own music, and in early 2023 we started to search for the right people.

And late summer of last year we started writing songs. It was really great to be that creative again, after all those years.

During autumn and early winter, the band spent a lot of time together, rehearsing and arranging. And laughing. A lot.

In February 2024 we were ready to book a studio, and start recording our first album.

Tove (vo)

S-ROCK: Besides Tove and OO, Morten, Freddy, Thomas and Per are new for Japanese fans. Would you let us know what they played before CHASING EMBLA?

Tove: Well, Per Nordengen on keys is an old friend from back in the day. We have known each other a long time, but never played together, before now.

Per has been playing piano and keys as long as I can remember. Been with bands like PANAMA, RETROHEADS and HEADLINER, to name a few.

Freddy Aspmark on bass – I met him in February last year, after a concert, and he said he wanted to do something together some day… and some day I gave him a call. He has collaborated with musicians like Reidar Larsen and Elg. And Keith Austin (ex Dr. Hook).

Fun fact: Freddy was in band called JUSTICE, and he actually was support for TINDRUM.

In our search for a drummer, we came across Thomas Hauge, and he is our young alibi. He has been a drummer in several local bands, and worked with Elg, Askil Holm, Odd Rene Andersen, to name a few.
The other guitarist is Morten Roness. A serious, hard working man we came across last year. And with him, the lineup is complete.

I say it all the time: this journey, with exactly these people! We make serious music. We have a lot of fun. I love it.

L to R: Freddy O.J. Aspmark (B), Thomas Hauge (Ds), OO Kure (G), Tove (Vo), Per Nordengen (Key) and Morten Roness (G).

S-ROCK: Is “embla” of CHASING EMBLA from Norse mythology? What is she chasing? And what is “RESURRECTION” from?

Tove: Finding a good name is quite a challenge… There are zillions of band names, and we wanted to find something unique.

Maybe not mythological, but we actually thought of female characters. Embla surfaced, and we liked her immediately.

And it’s easy to pronounce both in English and Norwegian, that’s a bonus.

But is she Chasing? Or is she being chased?

The album “RESURRECTION” is a journal – a musical journey, from past to present. It contains songs from our time i LA, and a few old ideas that never saw the light of day. And of course all the new songs. So this journey is actually our – and my – resurrection.

S-ROCK: From the booklet of the album you went to L.A. and worked with those music mans there. When and why L.A.?

Tove: MISSLEAD went to LA the first time in 1987, for promotion and concerts. Our manager at the time made this happen, he knew people there, and we played clubs like Madam Wongs, Country Club and Whiskey A go go. And we were introduced to Michael Mikulka and Steven McClintock, and recorded a few songs.

Me and OO went back several times to M. Mikulka, to work with different song writers, – Ken Tamplin amongst others. Some of the material from these trips have been included on CHASING EMBLA’s record.

S-ROCK: Also you worked with Rino Johannessen and Ole Petter Hansen Chylie from DREAM POLICE, did they play for the album?

Tove: No, they did not play. But they have a studio called Green Room, located in Fredrikstad. We wanted to record bass and drums there, that is after all their expertise. We also did most of the guitars in Green Room.

We then moved to Marshall Sound Service in Moss, to do the keys and vocals. In addition to manage the studio recordings, Gilbert Marshall is an experienced keyboard player and singer.

S-ROCK: Would you let us know each track from the album “RESURRECTION”?

Tove: Too Late (Written by Frank Tostrup)
A song about a relationship coming to an end. Sick and tired of being cheated on.

Straight Through My Heart (Written by Tove and OO)
I will do a lot to get you, and to keep you, even though I know you’re not good for me.

You Got Me Running (Written by Steve McClintock and OO)
The one you wanted, never looked your way.

Hide-and-Seek (Written by Tove and OO)
A serious topic in this song. Someone is struggling with their mental health, and only wants to hide away somewhere.
Hearing voices, even if no one is there. Acting as if everything is ok, but that is all a game.

Fly, Angel (Written by Tove and OO)
This song was written last summer, when someone close to us was told her father only had a few months left.
Really sad. We tried to capture all these feelings; both sadness and hope, loneliness and love.

Man In The Middle (Written by Frank Tostrup and OO)
When you have gotten yourself into real trouble, and you are trapped in a corner. You’ll do anything to escape.

Slide of Hands (Written by Tove and OO)
Someone is trying to fool you. You know you’re being tricked, but can’t stay away.

Prove It To You (Written by OO)
You stick to your promises, even though there’s trouble, and everything is difficult. You promised to stay, so you don’t leave.

Shakin’ All Over (Written by Ken Tamplin and Tove)
A love song, plain and simple – I can’t take my eyes off of you. You make me shiver and shake.

Even It Up (Written by Tove and OO)
It’s time for people to slow down. All the bad things we do are destroying the world. So many red flags, but we don’t see them.
And some people think the’re a part of some kind of political and cultural evolution, but they are messing with reality and truth.

I’ll Make You Love Me (Written by Tove and OO)
Living in denial, you think you can make someone love you.

No One Will Love You Like I Do (Written by OO and Steve McClintock)
I have to go away for a long time, and leave my family. Please don’t forget about me, maybe I can return some day.
We wanted to have backing vocalists, and have been lucky enough to find Liv Jeanette S. Tjønnås and Trude Bergli. They have been singing together for years, and sounds really cool. They add an extra dimention to our songs, and we are very grateful for the work they have done.
Our album is produced by OO. Mixing and mastering by Njål in NFL Produksjoner. We met Njål around 89/90, maybe, in his studio to record some demo tapes. And now he too is back in our life.

Morten (G) and OO (G)

S-ROCK: Do you have any gig plan of the band?

Tove: Yes, of course. We want to play our music live, and are planning several things… We initially hoped to do our “debut concert” before the end of this year, but we could not find a suitable date. So we had to postpone it to January/February. And we are working towards some festival venues for next summer. We have some loose ends here and there, but I think we will be on several stages in the near future.
In the meantime, we do radio interviews, podcasts, magazines…

S-ROCK: Would you give your messages to your Japanese fans who visit S-ROCK website?

Tove: We wanted to make this album “old school”. A real product. A CD, with booklet, included lyrics and pictures and stories. We love the result. All design and art work by OO.
The album is available on Bandcamp, and every CD comes with a digital download. It’s also possible to get a digital version only.
We have released a few singles on Spotify etc, and we also have a YouTube channel. Check it out, and watch our video(s).
And please follow us on FACEBOOK and Instagram.
Thank you for your attention, and thanks to S-ROCK for this opportunity.

Tove and CHASING EMBLA

CHASING EMBLA Official FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/chasingembla

Tove Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tovekure/

CHASING EMBLA Bandcamp: https://chasingembla.bandcamp.com/album/resurrection-2

MISSLEAD – GENTLE PERSUASION remastered with 5 bonus tracks available : https://bidra.no/prosjekt/rock-of-norway-missleadgentle-persuasion-1989/3309b7a1-faec-4222-9d29-9baf5b0d2e31

Video message from MASAKI (2023)

投稿日: 2023-07-232023-07-23 投稿者: s-rock

2023年07月31日にLIONS PRIDE MUSICからデビュー・アルバム”FEED THE FLAME”を発売するノルウェーの３人組MASAKIから、S-ROCKサイトへご訪問の皆様へのビデオ・メッセージが届きました。

A video message from MASAKI, Norway to S-ROCK website. They’ll release their debut album “FEED THE FLAME” from LIONS PRIDE MUSIC on the 31st of July, 2023.

John Masaki (Vo): ヘイ、日本のS-ROCKファンのみんなへご挨拶だ。ノルウェーのMASAKIだよ、俺達がこの名前を選んだのは何故かと言えば、俺の日本の祖母チズコが俺にこのミドルネームを付けてくれたからさ。彼女は60年代初めに日本の富山県からノルウェーのトロンハイムへ渡ったんだ（S-ROCK注：Johnはオスロのトロンハイムと言ってしまって、字幕で訂正されています）。アルバムが07月31日に発売されるよ、気に入ってくれるといいな、すぐに君達に逢いに日本へ行ってライヴが出来る事を祈っているよ。

Eirik-André Rydningen (Ds): どうもありがとうございます。

John Masaki (Vo): 元気でね！

FEED THE FLAME (LPM043)

CD通販 / CD Order:

https://lionsmusicshop.wixsite.com/lionspridemusic/cdorder

HMV

https://www.hmv.co.jp/artist_Masaki-Rock_000000000939362/item_Feed-The-Flame_14151453

TOWER RECORDS

https://tower.jp/item/5869433/Feed-The-Flame

DISK UNION

https://diskunion.net/metal/ct/detail/1008710070

WIG WAM – E-mail Interview (2021) (English)

投稿日: 2021-02-022021-02-02 投稿者: s-rock

(Questions were sent to the band early January 2021)

S-ROCK: Welcome back, boys! Your fans in Japan probably still call you guys by stage names because it’s easier for us to pronounce 🙂

(S-ROCK: We call the band members by their real name in our questions, thinking about their favorite way to be called by real name or stage name and the way they call themselves now. Sporty wants fans to call him “Sporty”, and Flash says “I suppose it’s easier for the Japanese to relate to our stage names, so you should use Flash 🙂 ” )

S-ROCK: Just listened to NEVER SAY DIE album and the first impression of it is that this is a very excellent gig-friendly album, I can imagine how next gigs will be like with these new tracks and WIG WAM have ever done amazing gigs. Did you guys think about forthcoming gigs obviously when you worked for the album?

Øystein Greaker-Andersen/Sporty: I am always thinking of upcoming gigs! What I do love the most is playing live! Sitting behind my drums, looking at all those people having a good time digging our music, thinking, I do really love this 😉 And of course, Never Say Die will be an excellent live track! 🙂 When I do drum sessions in studio I often think of what will be cool live also 😉

Bernt Jansen/Flash: I’m glad you see the album that way. When you write and record songs I’m always imagining how the song will sound like on a massive stage set. You picture yourself how the crowd goes mad and how the light and pyros will be 😊 But we’re always aiming for the best result for the album. Often these things goes hand in hand in our music.

Åge Sten Nilsen/Glam: I think whenever we write music for a rock band, our mindset have some focus on performing it live, in front of our fans you know. That’s a major part of the motivation anyway.

Trond Holter/Teeny: Thank you. Yes it’s gig friendly because we are a live band from our roots! That’s where we get our energy, with the connection from the audience!

Bernt, “Silver Lining” is what you wrote, with quite a different taste from a heavy tune like “Call Of The Wild” you sing on the album. What brought you the idea of the track?

Bernt/Flash: “Silver Lining” is a song I have had in the drawer for more than 10 years. Sometimes you write music regardless of genre. When I occasionally listen back to my demos it’s easier to hear the difference between the crap from the gems. I’ve always thought it was a song that deserved to see the light of day. And when we have a singer like Åge(Glam) I thought this is the moment to make it happen. And I must say It came out in a way I couldn’t dream of. The singing and the guitar solo at the end is tremendous. And the drumming and bass of course 😊.

Trond, there are 2 instrumental tracks on this album, I guess you composed them (I’ve not seen the booklet of the album as it’s not out yet). The second departure of WIG WAM is like “The Second Crusade”? Or “Northbound”?

Trond/Teeny: The second crusade is written by Lasse Finbraaten from CIRCUS MAXIMUS because we wanted the atmosphere from his strings. This is WIG WAM’s second crusade and we are building a new chapter of history together. Wherever we are in the world, when a tour is over, we are always Northbound to get back home 🙂

S-ROCK: Åge talked about a plan of an streaming gig around the release date of NEVE R SAY DIE album, is that possible to watch it from Japan? And we can’t use Vipps here, if you guys have a PayPal account, maybe some Japanese fans will send you some money besides a ticket 🙂 The only problem is the time difference between Japan and Norway.

Bernt/Flash: I’m sure we will do what it takes to make our Japanese fans watch a streaming live gig. It looks like it will be a delay since the COVID-19 has made everything go in a lockdown right now. But as soon it’s over we’ll let you know 😊

Åge/Glam: There will be a live stream event during the release weekend. We are working on setting up our new stage, lights and all, to perform some songs and to do a live stream Q & A, free of charge and available to everyone across the globe. It will be a celebration of our comeback album and everyone is invited to join the party.

On the 22nd of January 2021.

Trond, Bernt and Øystein, Åge talked about what had happened to you guys before/after the band broke up from his point of view in the interviews of BURRN! magazine, many Japanese fans got so shocked and felt sad when they read. How about your each story from your point of view?

Øystein/Sporty: It’s a simple answer to this; We had done too much of everything, too many years in a row… We were tired and fed-up. Personally, I do not look back in time so much… I’m positive thinking and looking forward to what to come in 2021 also 🙂

Bernt/Flash: When you are in a band like we were, it’s inevitable that there will be some resentment from time to time. We were gigging more than we should in periods and some of us were really tired. When we finally decided we should have a break, Glam made his Queen show idea happen. It really became a success. And then Teeny began to work on his DRACULA project and he and I started BABY SNAKES and there was less time for WIG WAM. We somehow found it fulfilling to work with other musicians and new inputs. All these side projects we had drove the band further apart. And when Teeny and myself joined the JORN in 2012 WIG WAM became the side project. All our energy went into all these bands and we finally decided to call it quits in 2013.

Trond/Teeny: A band is like a marriage. When you stop to communicate with each other, you are in trouble. That’s what we did. We didn’t talk to each other about anything, just kinda walked around like zombies. We sought out of the band and were tired of it all. Now, we have a close relationship again like we did at the start and having a great time together these days.

Åge composed “Faith Bloody Faith” for Jørn Lande who will participate in Melodi Grand Prix 2021 (Lykke til!) , and Trond and Bernt worked together with him for JORN, any interesting story about him?

Bernt/Flash: Jørn is a great guy! He talks a lot and has a lot of views 😊He is among the top 3 best singers in his genre in my view. An Incredible voice. He always brings his favourite pajamas on the tour bus 😊 The rest you will have to read about in his autobiography ha ha…

Åge/Glam: JORN is a very interesting person to be around. He’s a motormouth and can talk for hours if you don’t stop him. I remember meeting him in a public toilet years ago, before I knew about this, and while we were urinating we started to talk. The conversation, his monologue, turned into views on the Viking story, and I was literally trapped inside the toilet for almost 30 minutes, because I couldn’t find a gap in his stories to end the conversation and get out of there ha ha But he’s cute. We’ve become very close these past months.

Trond and Bernt, any updates on BABY SNAKES?

Bernt/Flash: BABY SNAKES have recorded a brand new album and made a video. The release will be coordinated among whatever else happening, but sometime after the summer is the plan. We are really excited about that album. There will be some eyebrowse raised I’m sure 😊

Trond/Teeny: Yes, the album is ready and we are planing our next step for after the WIG WAM period.

Åge, NORDIC BEAST will be still a sleeping BEAST? *S* And when can we expect next AMMUNITION album, Erik Mårtensson is extremely busy as well though?

Åge/Glam: NORDIC BEAST is still a sleeping beast. When John Norum and Mikkey Dee started this unit back in 2015, I think it was a necessary move for Mikkey to have a touring unit when Lemmy started to slow down his MOTÖRHEAD touring. Lemmy wasn’t feeling too well, and Mikkey loves to live on the road. For John I think it felt good to have something outside the comfortable EUROPE zone too. We even started to work on some original materials but once Mikkey got the SCORPIONS gig he became more busy than ever. We haven’t officially broken up the band, so who knows. The collaboration between John and me has continued though, which led me to record some songs for his forthcoming solo album. We’re even talking about going out on tour together, focusing on his back catalog as a solo artist.

Øystein, I heard you had a health problem, are you alright now? After WIG WAM broke up what did you do? Any music activities?

Øystein/Sporty: Let’s make that clear, I’M FINE, do not have any health problems. At least not more than other “normal” people 😉 I’m healthy, doing workouts 4 days a week. Feeling really good actually 🙂

I have done a lot of music activities after WIG WAM (2012-2020) 🙂

I have done a lot of gigs with my old band in Stockholm, Sweden “SHA-BOOM”. This is more in the pop-genre-music-type 🙂 Check it out on Spotify 🙂 R.O.C.K. was a really big hit in Scandinavia in the eighties 😉 I have also used a lot of time producing music. I’m working with two artists mainly; MELIx, which is a Norwegian female pop singer. I have produced 5 tracks with her in 2019 and 2020. RED STEEL is a Norwegian rock band which I really like. I did produce their first single in 2020. Check out both MELIx “Det Er Sommer” and also RED STEEL “Unreal”. I do really think that you’ll like this track 😉 You are welcome to contact me concerning these two artists if you like to know more 😉 (S-ROCK: The guitar player of RED STEEL is Sporty’s yougest son)

Your messages to your Japanese fans who visit S-ROCK site. Tusen takk! Hope we’ll see your gigs in Japan later, hope not too late due to COVID-19!

Øystein/Sporty: Hope to see U in Japan on tour: Maybe in 2022 🙂 And I think U should keep on using our artist names:) At least mine 😉

Bernt/Flash: Hi! I will always treasure our trips to Japan, and I sure hope there will be a chance to come back once more. It was an experience I’ll never forget. Your hospitality and your enthusiasm really boosted the band in every way. I’m so happy that we finally are back together and that our new album NEVER SAY DIE will meet your expectation. My son has been to Japan several times and has learned the language. He will be studying in Japan as soon the Covid situation is resolved. I really hope we will do some gigs for you guys in the near future. Until then enjoy the music and see you soon!!

Åge/Glam: It really feels SO good to have put the past behind us and made the wounds heal. We have sorted out all our differences and are just looking forward to playing live again. We are definitely coming over to Japan again on a NEVER SAY DIE tour. Stay safe and get ready to be WIG WAM’ed the way you’ve never been WIG WAM’ed before.

Trond/Teeny: I really hope to get a chance to tour Japan again. I have missed you all and I’m so ready to meet you again! Rock on and stay safe!!!!

WIG WAM Official FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/wigwam.official

Photos in mid 80’s-90’s Extra 3

投稿日: 2020-11-222020-11-22 投稿者: s-rock

Some photos of Swedish & Norwegian bands and artists in mid 80’s – 90’s as memorabilia thanks to Solveig Ltd. Tokyo.

This time photos of Sissel Kyrkjebø are online, she’s quite a famous singer in Norway, even though she doesn’t sing melodic HR and AOR though.

Solveig Ltd. Tokyoさんのご厚意により、80年代半ばから90年代半ばに撮影されたスウェーデンとノルウェーのバンドやアーティストの写真を想い出の品として掲載致します。

番外編その３は、メロハーには全く関係ありませんがノルウェーで知らない人は居ない国民的歌手Sissel Kyrkjebøの写真を掲載します。

On Japan Tour / 来日時。

at studio / スタジオにて。

With Morten Harket for a-ha / a-haのMorten Harketと。

Sissel Kyrkjebø Official FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/sisselkyrkjebo/

Photos in mid 80’s-90’s Extra 2

投稿日: 2020-11-082020-11-08 投稿者: s-rock

Some photos of Swedish & Norwegian bands and artists in mid 80’s – 90’s as memorabilia thanks to Solveig Ltd. Tokyo.

This time photos of TUESDAY GIRLS (part 2) are online, their producer was Ole Evenrude.

番外編その２は、プロデューサーがOle EvenrudeだったTUESDAY GIRLS (part 2)の写真を掲載します。

Photos in mid 80’s-90’s Extra 1

投稿日: 2020-10-242020-10-24 投稿者: s-rock

Some photos of Swedish & Norwegian bands and artists in mid 80’s – 90’s as memorabilia thanks to Solveig Ltd. Tokyo.

This time photos of TUESDAY GIRLS (part 1) are online, their producer was Ole Evenrude.

番外編その１は、プロデューサーがOle EvenrudeだったTUESDAY GIRLS (part 1)の写真を掲載します。

On promotional tour in Japan in June 1995 / 1995年06月のプロモ来日時

Photos in mid 80’s-90’s Part 8

投稿日: 2020-09-252020-09-27 投稿者: s-rock

Some photos of Swedish & Norwegian bands and artists in mid 80’s – 90’s as memorabilia thanks to Solveig Ltd. Tokyo.

This time photos of TNT/VAGABOND are online.

第８回目はTNT/VAGABONDの写真を掲載します。

with Terje Rypdal (G)

in front of Nidalos Cathedral　ニダロス大聖堂前にて

Building his studio　スタジオ建設中

at the wedding of MB Normann　MB Normannの結婚式にて

We miss you, Dag…..

TNT Official FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/TNTtheband/

Jørn Lande Official FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/OFFICIALJORN

Terje Rypdal FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/terjerypdal/

Photos in mid 80’s- 90’s Part 7

投稿日: 2020-09-122020-09-12 投稿者: s-rock

Some photos of Swedish & Norwegian bands and artists in mid 80’s – 90’s as memorabilia thanks to Solveig Ltd. Tokyo.

This time photos of TREAT (Part 1) are online.

第７回目はTREAT (Part 1)の写真を掲載します。

Anders Wikström (G) with guys of 220 VOLT, Mic Michaeli (EUROPE) and Mats Levén???

TREAT Official FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/treatofficial/

STONEFLOWER – E-MAIL INTERVIEW (2020) (English)

投稿日: 2020-08-152020-08-15 投稿者: s-rock

STONEFLOWER’s latest album “FINALLY” out in May 2020.

S-ROCK: Tom and Svenn, you guys as STONEFLOWER have been “finally” back to the scene with the latest album “FINALLY” out in May 2020. Welcome back, and the album has been “back in stock” again and again at online CD stores in Japan. Any negotiation with Japanese labels to release in Japan?

Svenn: Hi there, yes it’s good to finally be back but you know there’s actually never been a longer off period it’s just that we like to spend our time in the studio.

Well, we have no separate negotiation with Japan cause we want to see how far AOR HEAVEN can push this album.

S-ROCK: For these years since you guys released the 1st album “CRACK A LITTLE SMILE” in 2003 many things have been changed, especially thanks to internet. What is the biggest difference on making an album between early 2000’s and now?

Svenn Huneide (B)

Svenn: The main difference is in the way we work in the studio with new methods due to digital aids. It should be a faster and easier way but we are really old school and like to do it the old way as much as possible.

We try to use copying and moving parts of a song to a minimum and we feel this really helps the songs to be more dynamic.

Tom: The difference in case of distribution of the music now from before, is that its much easier to hit just the right market (people). Our goal is to find the AOR people who are very open to new bands, and still quite hungry for this kind of music.

S-ROCK: “FINALLY” album has full of beautiful melodies with excellent chorus harmonies, and tracks are in genuine AOR style more than previous albums. John from young generation has brought something fresh, it has given good influence to guys with a long career? Which track(s) is/are your favorite(s)?

Svenn: Yeah, John has really given us old guys a vitamin injection and it’s really funny to write new songs and throw at him. He always surprises us by making every song better sounding than we could imagine.

Tom by the way is the master Chorus guy. The man should really write a book about it. It’s hard to pick a favourite because they’re all so difference.

Tom: I very much agree with Svenn. John came in and really kicked our butts. We had to polish him just a tiny bit from the musical scene, but as you can hear, he’s all over the place. I loved his voice from the first time I heard him.

I can’t pick any favourite song either. Every song has its own place.

Tom Sennerud (G)

S-ROCK: How’s been the situation in Norway during this chaos due to COVID-19? Many people in Japan get used to wear a mask in winter (cold/flu) and spring (pollen) though, you guys there in Norway didn’t have that custom. What did you guys do and think during the restriction time?

Svenn: Well these are strange and dark times indeed. We are not used to wearing masks in Norway and even today most people find it a bit strange. We are fortunate to have a government that really took the situation seriously and because of that

Norway is one of the countries with fewest dead and sick in the whole world. We had planned to make a couple of concerts but instead we were stuck in our studios so we tried to make the best out of it and even made a video with live playing from our homes.

Tom: This still isn’t over. The plan for a release concert in February -21 seems difficult too, so we just have to wait.

S-ROCK: John, you ever participated in IDOL and musicals like LES MISERABLÉS, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, MISS SAIGON. Have you ever sung in an AOR band besides STONEFLOWER? And your name “Masaki” reminds Japanese people of a Japanese male name, is it your real name or stage name?

John: I’ve always been a huge fan of AOR and ever since I was a teenager I’ve been singing cover songs with various bands but this is the first time I get to be part of something completely original. Doing musicals and theatre and cabaret shows are fun and challenging in their own ways, but it’s something completely different to be able to do your own music. I am so lucky to have met these incredibly talented people who happen to share my passion for AOR.

John Masaki (Vo)

My grandmother was actually from Japan and I was named after her brother Masaki. As a young sailor, my grandfather stayed in Toyama-ken for three months while repairing their ship engine. He told me he met my beautiful grandmother Chizuko Iwata one day at a hair saloon and managed to ask her out to dinner even though he couldn’t speak a word of Japanese. They fell in love and she moved to Norway with him. My full name is John-Magnus Masaki Nielsen, but John Masaki is a much more catchy stage name and I carry it with great pride.

S-ROCK: Geir, you work as a video journalist/photographer/drone pilot for TV2 news as well, from a journalist point of view what will happen to the world next after COVID-19 matters?

Geir: Oh well, that’s the big question everyone is asking themselves, isn’t it? I think the world will feel the aftermath of this for a very long time.

But let’s hope they can find a vaccine soon, and maybe after a some time, the virus will be just another annual influenza-virus. In Norway the kids are putting posters in the windows saying: «It Will All Be Fine» written inside a rainbow. And that’s what I think also.

Geir Johnny Huneide (Ds)

S-ROCK: Some bands and musicians in Norway have been doing online gigs on FACEBOOK, YouTube or other ways for free or receiving money as a ticket price or social tipping by Vipps for example. Any plan of an online gig of you guys? If you do, your fans in Japan will be interested as well even though there’s time difference. And when this chaos with restriction is over, you guys will do some gigs with your fans at clubs?

Svenn: Well we thought about it but the market was really flooded with concerts and it was too much hassle to get it done in a way we liked and now it’s almost over. People got tired of it I suppose 🙂 It would be great to treat our fans with a concert tho’ so let’s see what’s gonna happen.

Tom: We will love to do clubs in the future.

John: Yes! Live streams can be fun but it’s just not the same as a real concert with real people. I tried to download a beer the other day but it didn’t taste quite right.

S-ROCK: This is a question from your Japanese fan. Which are your favorite bands and bands which have influenced your music career?

Svenn: Wow, there are just so many. My personal favorites are FOREIGNER, TOTO, WHITESNAKE, YES, DGM and some of the new ones like W.E.T and WORK OF ART. I started listening to music at the age of 10-11 so every classic rock band from 1984 and forward has influenced me but especially TOTO, VAN HALEN, KISS, WHITESNAKE, DEF LEPPARD and GIANT have been huge favorites.

Tom: Again, I have to follow Svenn, TOTO, WORK OF ART, LIONVILLE, W.E.T but also Michael McDonald, Kenny Loggins, PAGES and MR. MISTER to name a few.

John: One of my favorite voices is Norwegian Jørn Lande (Jorn) but my biggest inspiration as a performer is probably Freddie Mercury. Other huge influences are IRON MAIDEN, DREAM THEATER, WHITESNAKE, GUNS N’ ROSES, AEROSMITH, LED ZEPPELIN, THIN LIZZY, BON JOVI etc. The list could go on forever!

S-ROCK: Would you give your messages to your Japanese fans who visit S-ROCK website? Tusen takk!

Svenn: Thank you so much for your interest and for listening to our new album. It would be a really treat if we were to play for our Japanese Fans in Japan sometime in the future and in the meantime I pray everyone stay safe and healthy.

Tom: Thank you so much for listening and supporting us. We are so grateful for all the feedback we got this time around.

John: Thank you for keeping rock and roll alive! Hope to come see you very soon!

STONEFLOWER Official FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/stoneflowertheband/