Hej Anette, thank you so much for your time. Our names are Mattia and Lenny, welcome on Anette Olzon Italia, we are very happy to have you here.
First of all, many congratulations for Shine. We bought it as soon as it was released and our expectations hadn’t been disappointed. You did a great job!
– Thank you very much, I’m glad you like it.
We knew you had many other demos for the album, how did you choose 10 tracks for Shine? Did you choose the ones you loved the most or did you follow a theme for the album?
– I chose the ones I did in 2009 and a new one I did in 2012 and they became the songs that “belonged together” and it was very good. The other demos just didn’t fit then we left them apart.
Shine is a very positive and hopeful album, what can we expect from the next one? According to the themes, you can create a Shine – Part II, do you already know what direction might have the next album?
– No, I haven’t thought of any theme yet, but we’ll see how I’m doing and I feel when I’m writing my new album.
The release of your own solo album should be a great emotion. Which was the most unforgettable moment, the one you love the most, from the songwriting or after the Shine release?
– It’s quite clear, when we wrote the songs 2009. I, Stefan and Johan had some wonderful weeks together in the studio and for me, after all the stress with the NW tour, it was wonderful and peaceful.
Do you feel more comfortable with soft tunes or rock atmospheres?
– Writing softer quieter songs is more easily to me than fast songs, but when it comes to singing, I like them both, rocking and quiet.
We both study Swedish, and we’re curious about this: even if you find easier to write songs in English, do you think you might be able to write something in your language? It can be fascinating because of the “exotic” factor.
– I’ve written and recorded my first song in Swedish last summer and it felt amazingly simple and my voice sounds great in Swedish so now I know I can release songs in Swedish =)
How should be your ideal concert? Maybe with a live orchestra like your performance at the Helsingborg Arena?
– Yes and maybe with a big gospelchoir! Haha! Maybe a choir, an orchestra in a big church!
How was born the chance to do some gigs in Spain? How are you preparing yourself for these events? Do you have some expectations?
– I got the request from the Spanish promoters and said yes. Right now I do not do much more than that, I put together musicians to play with me and we’ll take a week together. I’m taking it easy, my music should be simple, cozy and joyful without stress. I have had enough of stress =)
Can we expect others mini-tour or single dates in other countries too?
– I’ve turned down a lot and that’s because of the studies I am currently doing. I do like music but it must work together with the school and right now, I would not leave my children for weeks, so there will not be long periods of touring right now, but later on, it can be possible.
What can we (admins and fans) do in order to have you here in Italy?
– Yes you do, make sure someone books me over one weekend and pays, so I can pay my musicians, I will!
What are the songs (yours and from other artists) you will never get tired to sing?
– I love all my songs so I will always love singing them, then songs that I have sung since childhood like some musical songs, Sting songs, some other beautiful covers. Songs that always gives me goosebumps =)
Let’s talk about collaborations: what is your ideal collaboration? Can you imagine a possible duet for a future album?
– Yes, duets are something I think is cool to do and can definitely imagine it on a disc. Preferably with a super talented singer with a really good voice. Sting would surely be amazing and a dream.
Let’s do a game: we give you the name of a contemporary artist\band and you tell us the first thing you think about:
- Beyoncé: Diva
- Elize Ryd: Swedish
- Madonna: Best
- Britney Spears: Pop
- Sharon Den Adel: Beautiful
- Tommy Karevik: Kind
- Lady Gaga: Cool
- Tony Kakko: Finnish
- Charlotte Wessels: Lovely voice
- Muse: Awesome
This one is a little bit weird: would you like to take part in the Eurovision Song Contest? How could your performance be?
– Yes, that would be a dream come true for me, I´ve always wanted to sing in the competition. How it would be is hard to say before I know the song but maybe singing in Swedish, a really cool and nice dress and really high heels and of course some fires and cool effects=)
When you’re on stage, how do you like to interact with the audience, especially now that you’re on your own? Did something changed in the way you interact with fans?
– I have the same thing as before that I always try and sing so the audience feel what I sing and now when its my own written songs I feel the songs are even more important to me and I think it shows more.
You have many active fan clubs, do you have a good relationship with your fans? Are there things you appreciate and others you don’t like? How should be the relationship between fans and artists?
– The fans that have been there through it all and that are “my” fans are wonderful! They have supported me all the time and I love them all so much! They are really important to me and some of them I feel could be my friends in real life.
This is our last question: we know that you’re a TV series addicted (we are too, especially Mattia): which ones are you following in this period?
– Sons of Anarchy (love it!!), Homeland and Da Vinci’s Demons.
And now a little request for your “a cappella sessions”. Mattia has a tattoo inspired by Amaranth lyrics. Do you think you might sing it sooner or later? 😉
– I might=)
So, we’re done. Tusen tack fˆr din tid, we hope you liked our questions and we hope to meet you in Italy very soon!
Anette Olzon Italia 