Releases

Per: New album like a modern “Look Sharp!”

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Per Gessle was interviewed for Hallandsposten by Jan-Owe Wikström (co-author of “Roxette – The book”) just before NOTP’s Stuttgart gig.

The article reveals some interesting details about Roxette’s first studio album after nine years and their further present and future. I tried to translate some bits:

– I have already written 14 new songs. Two more and we have an album.
– It feels great, admits Per. Studio time is booked in the spring at Atlantis and Polar Studios in Stockholm and with Christoffer Lundquist down in Österlen. Marie wanted to record her vocals in Stockholm, so we decided to have more than one studio this time.
– We test ourselves with different arrangements and so put Marie on vocals. It’s fun to see Marie really passionate for it.
– He describes the upcoming album with the working title “Roxette 2010” like a modern version of Roxette’s 21-year-old breakthrough album “Look Sharp!”.
– Perhaps not the tracks. The production with a lot of machines, but with all the instruments, everything is clearly audible, “idiot-audible” as Clarence says.

About touring:

– There has been a tremendous response, both by audience and media, it’s a very emotional journey, as we have encountered old Roxette fans from around the world and simultaneously a new audience.
– It’s been a long road, but now … it shows really how Marie enjoys every moment, describes Per. Therefore, they are beginning to consider a Roxette tour on their own again.
– The next step would possibly be a 45-minute gig. But full concerts lasting nearly two hours still feel too long.

At the same time they believe to have discovered a greater interest in Roxette again.

– I received an email from Anders Herrlin, who was in New Zealand. He said that Roxette was played several times a day over there and he couldn’t simply understand that, Per laughs.

Source: Hallandsposten

Grand Pop Station – a new project from Staffan Öfwerman

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Grand Pop Station.Grand Pop Station is a new Swedish band with Staffan Öfwerman on the lead vocals (who used to be in the Roxette band between 1988–1993, appearing on Look Sharp, Join the Joyride tour and also on several other recordings. He did his final live performance with Roxette on MTV Unplugged.

This is Staffan’s new band with 4 other great musicians from Sweden playing their own music. Most of the songs are written by Staffan and the music is pop that the band hope will be loved by the most people.

The band just released their debut single, Daddys little boy as a digital download on iTunes in November 2009. The track ended up on Top 30 over the best selling songs on iTunes Store on the first day.

The band is right now in the studio working on more songs, which will be released in 2010 if people like their first single. There is also a brand new web site on it’s way and the first part of it is now open, but a lot of things are happening behind the scenes. Take a look and register yourself to the club (it’s free). Then you will have access to the complete web site when it is launched.

And don’t forget to do like many others, get your own copy of “Daddy’s little boy” with Grand Pop Station on iTunes Store.