Interview

NOTP Countdown: “I have written many songs this summer”

by

Night of the Proms logoAftonbladet published a quite interesting interview with Per Gessle regarding “Night of the Proms” as well as “Gessle over Europe” release today.

I do not have really time to translate the whole article, but there are few informations worth knowing:

– Per has written many songs this summer and Roxette are going to try to record some tracks while their stay in Antwerp (almost 3 weeks in one town!). They have something called “Pro Tool” which allows to record music outside the studio with the same high quality.
– Marie on “Night of the Proms”: “I want to do this”
– 600,000 tickets for “Night of the Proms” 2009 are sold
– Marie & Per were more suprised with the check for “Night of the Proms” in 2002 than they were for 2009, but it doesn’t really mean they got less this time
– Per’s first thought about problems with German release of “Gessle over Europe” was: “Oh, finally I have become a little bit dangerous”

Edit: There’s also a new Expressen article with the same topic. (in Swedish). They also mention that Per has taken 16 songs with him to Belgium and Netherlands and that they have rented an extra room in the hotel where they have set up a studio. “We just have time enough between the shows”, tells Per. “I want to test some pre-recordings and see how it works.” Per also tells that if there should be some more of Roxette, it should be new stuff.  This sounds very promising! 🙂

NOTP Countdown: Interview and impressions

by

After the full rehearsals yesterday, NOTP producer Jan Vereecke looks very impressed by Marie’s big metamorphosis on stage. He writes on his blog:

I think I’m perhaps most impressed by the rapid metamorphosis of Marie from Roxette: at the first rehearsal a little withheld, but now very strong, certainly the vocals – that bodes well for tomorrow.

I also believe we have no idea of what an emotion the Swedish guests will express when Per and Marie stand on stage. No doubt welcomed by an enthusiastic crowd… There will be many wiping tears away tomorrow …

(half-automatic translation by Google and me 😉 )

Then there’s an interview with Per and Marie in Belgian paper “Nieuwsblad”. We’re hoping for a proper translation or summary of that. Just a teaser: Album. Recordings in hotelroom. Please leave your comment! 😀

Also an interview on Belgian radio JoeFM this morning.

Thanks Project_Z for the news tips! Sources: Jan’s blog | nieuwsblad.be (both in Dutch)

Edit: R2R user spyboo provides us a short summary of some interesting parts.

Roxette have a full recording studio in their hotelroom, so they can jam and work on a new album. Marie has kept singing during her illness, as it keeps her strong. After the small concerts she gave last year, she felt the need to come back with Roxette.

Per has a lot of respect for Toots Thielemans (87 year old Belgian musician, who’s also playing at the Proms). Next to the shows and recording, they are just going to enjoy the time. Per thinks about buying some diamonds and going to the zoo with his son, as they have a new baby elephant here.

Edit 2: Check out the full translation by Project_Z in the comments!

Edit 3: The scan of this article was sent to us by Wim Van Beeck. Thanks!

Scan from the newspaper.

NOTP Countdown: Media is picking up!

by

Swedish newspaper Expressen has a somewhat bigger article about Roxette’s stage comeback today. Including interview bits with Clarence! Read here (in Swedish)

And if possible, don’t miss the report about Rox at the Proms of Belgian TV channel EEN tonight: “Is Roxette ready for NOTP?” Seems to be an interview and footage from the rehearsals yesterday.

Edit: You can watch the report online (in English)

Update, December 30: The video was redirected to Youtube. Thanks Project_Z!

NOTP Countdown: Lightshow and Rehearsals

by

The Dutch NOTP Fanpage runs a series of articles and interviews up to the tour start next Friday. Yesterday they had an interview with Geert Vanhout, the man behind the lightshow. Some interesting excerpts:

Geert: ‘This year will be very special. The LED lights with a low resolution are used for a special light effect during the whole show; there will be less video images compared to last year but there will be more lights. On the stage itself, there will be separate light elements. Besides the artists and the orchestra, we also have to light up the dancers and the extras. All of this needs a lot of material and also a decent programming.’

Geert: ‘From Monday on the rehearsals start in the arena with the dancers, Tuesdays the extras start. On Wednesday the first rough show is done: everyone, also the artists get an explanation of what will happen; it’s a disaster for a musician or an artist not to know some fireworks will explode behind their backs! On Thursday and Friday general rehearsals are planned and Friday evening the first show.’

So fantastic, but the artists only see the design and the result of the light show from next week on. Doesn’t that create any problems?

Geert:’No, that’s not a problem. We discuss in advance with the artists, like recently with Sharon [den Adel]. But the artists know that they work with a professional organization that they can trust; the artists also know that they are part of NOTP and that the show is not build around them.

Read the whole interviews here: notpfan.eu