Alexander is ready for Melodifestivalen 2011 !

SVT revealed the 4 first contributions for Melodifestivalen 2011 today.
One of them is written by Alexander together with Tim Norell and Ola Håkansson.
The song is called "En blick och nåt händer" and will be performed by the group Lasse Stefanz.
Norell Oson Bard wrote a lot of pop- and discohits together in late 80ies and in beginning of the 90ies.
Together they wrote "En dag" that Tommy Nilsson performed in Melodifestivalen 1989.
He won and came on 4th place in the Eurovision Song Contest.

Lasse Stefanz that will be performing the contribution is a band that has been playing together since 1967. They are wellknown as a countryinfluenced danceband.

We wish Alexander, his cowriters and Lasse Stefanz good luck !

VOTE !

Today we in Sweden have election day. But you can also vote....for Gravitonas and "Religious" at Mix Topp 20 !
So come on and make this to a more then beautiful Sunday. The sun is shining right where I am in middle of Sweden today, but you can make the sun shine even more.
Here is the link and you know how to do:
http://www.mixmegapol.se/musik/mix-topp-20

Gravitonas "The Hypnosis EP" out today !

4 new tracks and a new era in the musicworld of Mr Bard !
I adore the strong guitars. Can't reccon that I have ever heard the use of guitars in this way. I remember when Alexander wrote some day at Facebook about the hard work with getting the guitars right. And now when I hear this masterpiece, I am thinking that he is totally right ! But you made it Alexander.
Together with Andreas voice the first track "Religious" is already a hit. I wouldn't be surprised if "Religious" will be played at radio still 10 years from now. You know these songs that is forever on radio and noone ever get tired of them.
The choirs in "Religious" builts up the song so you feel to be in ecstasy in the end.
Number 2 "Realm of The Senses" is very catchy. It's about the world of Senses. Even if love is there or has left you still are in the "Realm of The Senses". You also get to hear a soft whispering in the middle. Andreas singing in this song is also different then "Kites" and "Religious". He is singing more free right out.
"Shameless" number three and I am trying to find each other. I think this is a song that needs to get more listening. It's not at all bad, but I miss something special in there.
In the last one "Live Wire" I can see Andreas leaning out over the audience singing in a foggy weather. It's mystery, but it's about life.
I do love when the more sort of robotvoice is coming in the refrain.
Very different song, but someone I would love to see live, it's sort of meant to be for that.

That is my words after listening to this new EP the last week.
What is also special is that all songs can be played in very different occasions. So I am looking forward to the album.
Well done guys !

Arvikafestivalen and interview with Marina !

This Saturday Marina and Eddie performed with Page at Arvikafestivalen.
Unfortunately I couldn't go there, but Johan Wejedal was kind enough to send photo from there (that is the photo you see here !).
But a while ago I had the opportunity to ask some questions to the Marina. Here they are ! Thanks Marina !

What is the difference in making synth music now on, 20 years ago? You don't screw together the sounds manually anymore!

Are you more inspired after so many years in music than in the beginning? Definitely more now. With more experience, more enthusiasm.

Do you have the same role models in music today as when you started? Any Swedish/ foreign model. I do not think I have so many role models anymore. I first look at other artists, such as Goldfrapp and Florence & the Machine, for example, but it is more to see how they act individually as artists, how their attitude is. I have no Swedish model, feel quite odd here. When I was young there was the strong women who were my role models, such as Ellen Ripley in Alien.

Among the musical genres that exist, how come that it was the electronic music? I really do not know. I only know that when I heard Gary Numan for the first time it happened something in me. Perhaps the electronic sounds represented something new and alternative.

What does the music for you? Emotions and memories and love.

What started Page? Eddie and I met and got together 1980th We bought two synthesizers and started a band. All played in bands at the time, almost.

Has comeback been in mind long? No, the idea came spontaneously when BWO decided to pause.

What is the ultimate synth pop song? Good song with good sound.

What is your favorite song on the new album NU ? Du är inte här and Du är min drog.

Postkodkampen with Martin

A long time since I wrote, but I haven't forgotten about BWO or about Alexander, Martin and Marina.
Here is some news about a program that Martin will participate in:
This summer TV4 and PostkodLotteriet invite to the water entertainment Postkodkampen. Eight Swedish cities are challenging each other in daring and wet races. The programleader is Richard Sjöberg, which is assisted by Kim Kärnfalk and Sandra Dahlberg to support the teams when they put themselves through obstacle courses and games in a water basin. Each city is represented by a team consisting of five persons with a known team leader who offer themselves and fight for his place as Sweden's most daring city will be crowned. Flounders, cold drams, bail and drama is to be expected. In cooperation with Fyrishov, Uppsala.
Cities that meet in the first four programs is:
9 juli Göteborg (Martin Rolinski) - Malmö (Frida Appelgren)
16 juli Gävle (Fredrik Swahn) - Halmstad (Susanne Ljungskog)
23 juli Umeå (Jan Bylund) - Östersund (Anna Ottosson)
6 augusti Uppsala (Pär Holmgren) - Örebro (Gladys Del Pilar)

Page album "NU"

I was happy to see Page album "NU"(NOW) in my mailbox when I got home today.
After getting it into the stereo, wow I was back to being a teenager. I was back on all small clubs jumping around like crazy to a catchy electronic sound with amazing lyrics that are put together to be just remembered and sung by everyone fitted in dresses that just synthpoppers would use.
What I do remember about all those gigs is that everyone always looked so proper.
I don't know, but I believe some of those years formed me into what I became.
Among my friends I was the only one that was into this electronic "weird" music, that they didn't understand. But though they loved to follow me out on the clubs to see all bands. I think it must have to do with the special feeling you only can get on a night out on a club like this.
And I do recognize Page ! It is like going back to the beginning.
My favorit number 1 on the album is "INTE HÄR"(NOT HERE). The style of music feels though it's electronic music very soft and round and cozy.
In "TAR MIN ROCK OCH GÅR" the lyrics are amazing. Though they are short, they tell a story. Here in English( be aware LOL):

"Words
From you
Shot over the head of me

Tiny words
Looked me around
But I didn't understand a thing

Then it becomes cold
Your look says it all
Believe you understand
I take my coat and walk

A sigh
From you
Shot over the head of me

A glance
Looked me around
But I didn't understand a thing

Then it becomes cold
Your look says it all
Believe you understand
I take my coat and walk"

I think it's very brave of Marina and Eddie to come back after those 10 years and make a come back. For me this is going back to the "real" music that started the electronic era in music. For new bands coming up in the elctronic music listening to Page is a must. To have the basics, to now what formed the music we have today.
Marina and Eddie, I love what I hear and I hope this will be a start all over again among many bands like your band ! I hope you will lead them all.
Well I know you will. Hope to see you on stage VERY SOON !

Interview with Page at TV4 Nyhetsmorgon translated

Here is the link to the interview:

http://www.tv4play.se/aktualitet/nyhetsmorgon?videoId=1.1652324

and here you have an English translation:



-We get fine company in the kitchen.
-Hi and welcome !
-Welcome here Page. Marina and Eddie. How lovely to see you like this together again.
-New cd and reunion. How does that feel ?
Marina: It's really really fun. It feels like to going back to the roots I think.
-Synthduo or synthband ?
Marina: Popband is more suitable even if we are electronic.
- It was like when I tolaked with Eddie before that Page will be here...many just take a breathe and say so they are back. It's an incredible cult.
Eddie: You can say that we are a cultband.
Marina: We have been away for a while.
-How long have you been away ?
Marina: We started around 1980 and then we moved on in the 80ies and beginning of 90ies
with a lot of old stuff. But it feels a bit like time has caught us.
Eddie: So this year we celebrate 30 years as a band and 10 years since we stopped.
-So you haven't played...
Eddie. Not for 10 years.
-But why made you decide now we are going to do it again...now we make a new record again.
Marina: BWO takes, that I also play with...we have a sabbatical year for undecided time. And Eddie and I have had contact all the time. It only felt that this was the right time to do this.
We are so proud of Page. And so we also said that we don't want to release any old material.
I called Eddie and we wrote some songs together.
Eddie: It became so
Marina: Yes
Eddie: And if we ever should do this it was right now. Next year it is too late.
-Are we going to recognize the synthmusic and so on ?
Marina: You will recognize Page. But I don't think we sound like typical synthpop. We usually say that we play electronic pop.
-How has that one been developed, when you think that everyone can sit with their laptop and think they are Max Martin nowadays ?
Eddie: Before it was a very small changer. But now is everything almost electronic.
Marina: I mean time has caught us. In the beginning when we played it was very exotic with the instrument synth. But now anyone have that. But we stick to a very simple formula.
The primary formula still. Basic