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Swedish
rockers Naughty Boys have just launched their new album, “R U
Naughty Enough ?” onto an unsuspecting public. Our own ever so
slightly naughty Paul Williams decided to find out what all the fuss
is about…
Naughty Boys
Firstly,
thanks for finding the time to talk to us.
NB - Hi Paul
it is our pleasure
Could you
start by introducing yourself and the other members of the band to
the HRH readers?
NB - My name
is Mikael Sandvik and I’m the singer in the band. On guitar we have
Hans Olsson, Drums Jonas Ludvigsson, keyboard Morgan Valentin and
last but not least, Robert Norberg on Bas.
We here at HRH are certainly fans of the new album… what has been
the initial reaction from fans and other critics?
NB - First I must thank you at HRH for liking our album. The
reaction has been over expectation, we got e-mails and talk to fans
all the time and so far it has been all positive. The critics almost
have been all positive, and that was a thing we were a little
nervous about. I mean, when you are a new comber, and make an album
with the title R U Naughty Enough? You must be prepared for the
worst. But In most cases the critics has taking the time to really
listen to the music and there they hear that we are serious and have
passion for rock music.
How would you describe the band? There seems to be elements of
glam, sleaze and hard rock all in the melting pot…is this deliberate
to avoid being stereotyped as one particular “type” of band ?
NB- We all did grow up with that type of music; we love glam, sleaze
and basic hard rock so we hope that fans and critics find all those
elements in the sound. We have them all there for the passion and
love for that kind of music.
For ten years
ago we where more keyboard orientated, and when we started the band
again in 2003 we searched for a sound, you can hear that on the
single that we released 2005, the first song there is total glam,
and the other is heavier and they both worked, so we decided for
this album that we should not have any boundaries in the writing
process. We are 5 different individuals, with different music
backgrounds, so of course have our disagreements, but we have
learned during the years to listen and respect each other and to
have an open mind regardless you like the song at the beginning or
not. In the end we all wanted to make a great rock album with kick
as songs, and I think that is why you and other finds so many
different elements on the record.
The album also has a very late 80s / early 90s sound and attitude
about it. Was this a conscious decision or just the result of your
songwriting style ?
NB - Both I must say, when we write non of us think of the end
result, so we can come to the rehearsal with a pop song or a grunge
song, but when we start playing the song it sounds Naughty Boys
about it, this is a result of that we have played together for so
long and that we feel secure with each other.
We always had
that 80s-90s sound over us, but to this album we wanted to take the
80s into the 2000, take the best elements and put them together. We
wanted to keep the attitude and the fun from those days, but with
heavier guitars to make a more modern touch to it. We wanted to make
an album like our idols did in there prime days, with songs that you
can remember and sing along to. I don’t think we will sound any
different on the next album, we have found a way to work that fits
us, and if this makes the listener find different elements in the
songs, well … we have accomplished what we sat of to do J
You initially formed in 1989, then took 4 years to issue your
first album, before going your separate ways. What were you all been
up to in the meantime?
NB - We all have been in other projects, bands, tour bands etc. I
have been writing a lot of music in my studio, been touring a lot
with a cover band. Morgan has been acting on theatre, and also been
on tour with a cover band. Robert who is the youngster has been
touring around Sweden with a famous Swedish artist and he also has
been in the Swedish qualification for euro vision song contest! Hans
has been on tour with his band to support a big Swedish artist, and
Jonas has been recording an album with a grunge band and also been
touring around Sweden in different kinds of bands, so I can say, we
all have been around and involved in music during the years, even if
Naughty Boys was on ice during the time.
What made you decide to get back together and how did that come
about ?
NB - Well we all heard through the years that we should get together
again from fans, but it seemed that it never was the right time for
it, we all had other projects going on. But in 2003 we got a request
to do a live gig later that year, to celebrate that it was 10 years
since we released our first album. Said and done, I called the guys
up and asked them if they would like to do that gig, just this one
gig, they all said yes right away, a couple of weeks later we
rehearsed the first time and it clicked! It was like we never been
apart, the old songs sounded better immediately. During the time we
been apart we all have been writing new songs and we decided to make
a new Mini CD, just to have something new as well to play and give
to the fans. Said and done, we got in to the studio and recorded
what became X (ten). We got on stage for the first time in 10 years
on the 23rd of November 2003, and it was enormous, the crowd was
screaming, singing, banging all the show, I don’t lie when I say
that it was a evening none in the band ever will forget. The crows
broke the safety control barrier! I had to jump up to the drum scene
not to be dragged out to the crowd. After that we decided that this
was the thing we wanted, that this was too much fun to lay down.
Then shortly after we got a mail from Andrew at
www.melodicrock.com he was
putting together the Beast Inside compilation album and wondered if
we wanted to have one of our songs on it, we said yes and then the
story goes on…. But I now that the new found love of playing
together and the response from the fans made the decision of
continue quite easy.
You are not signed to a traditional label…tell us more about the
Artist Service network you are with…
NB - We have been experience the backside of music industry, got
promises that never was kept, and this time was no exclusion. We had
an agreement from one major label (won’t mentioned their name) that
they wanted to release our album, just when it should go to press,
we got a mail, that they could not release it! Imagine the panic we
felt, our dream and all the hard work and late hours was flushed
down the toilet in a blink of an eye. Lucky for us we have come in
contact with Oliver at artistworxx through this label, so I gave him
a call to tell him about everything and to find out what was
happening. He said – Don’t worry, give me a few days and I will find
something. Said and done, he called me a couple of days later and
told me about this company called Artist Service.
Artist Service
is a distribution company that supports ambitious and talented
newcomers or bands not interested in cooperating with labels anymore
but focused and energetic enough to pursue a certain target: to get
known out there! We though that sounded perfect, so we started our
own label N-Records so we owned our music and to self decide what we
wanted to release. MBM also did cooperate with artistworxx so we
even got proper marketing and promotion services. I must say that we
are up to this date 100% satisfied with this cooperation. We have
been released almost over the whole world and that was one thing we
did not even dream of for a year ago.
You are yet another example of a great melodic band from
Sweden…are you all born with a natural ear for a great melody ?
NB - Ha Ha Yes, this is something we got immediately we are born
here in Sweden *blink*. No seriously, I agree with you, most of the
bands from Sweden have great melodies. I don’t know why, but so it
is. If you and other find our melodies great we are glad about that.
This is one thing we really put focus on in a song, that it should
have an easy-learning melody.
Have you
got any plans for any live dates to support the album and if so,
will our UK readers get the chance to see you at all ?
NB - We really really would love to tour UK and all over Europe, but
at the time nothing is booked. We will definitely start working on
this as soon as possible. Call us!! We will come!
What’s on your schedule for 2008…are we likely to see a new album
?
NB - The first thing that will happened this year is that we will
record a video, the date is set for the 7th and 8th of January. Else
we will try to play live as much as possible, mostly here in Sweden,
but we also have made plans for a new album, it is just in the
start, but I know that we have 6-7 new songs already written. The
plan is to hit the studio in the middle of 2008, and if the gods are
on our side, the album will be released late 2008 or early 2009.
What are your thoughts on the current state of the hard rock and
melodic rock scenes ?
NB - I think it is better than in years. A lot of younger bands are
coming up strong and takes the hard rock and melodic rock a bit
further. Also that that a lot of “older” bands are coming back; most
of our idols from the 80s are back with new material, I only hope
they live up to their names and don’t just takes the chance to earn
an extra dollar.
Which member of the band most lives up to the Naughty Boy name
and why !?
NB - *smile* I have waited for this question…. I must say - Robert!
He is the youngster ;-) hahaha No, seriously, Morgan and Jonas! They
are naughty! And why?? I could tell you, but you could not print it
*smile*
Lastly, our standard wrap up question…is there anything else
you’d like to add ?
NB - We would like to wish all fans and HRH readers a Happy
New Year. Also thank all that have bought our album! Hope to
see you all as soon as possible!
Thanks once again for taking the time out to talk to us.
NB - Thank You
The Naughty
Boys' latest album R U Naughty Enough is out now through Artistworxx.
You can check out the HRH review of the album via
this link and to find
about more about the band then visit their official website @
www.naughtyboys.se
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