Here’s a chance for you to tell our readers about your new album: "Sattyg".
Kaipa has been around for a long, long time, but could you never-the-less please
start off by introducing the readers to the band?
Hans – Kaipa is a Swedish progressive rock band, originally formed in 1973,
playing music with influences from Swedish folk music, rock and fusion.
I started to play in my first band in 1964. In 1973, after nine years of touring
and playing I had grown as a musician and songwriter and I wanted to start a new
band. Kaipa was originally a trio (Hans Lundin: keyboards & vocal, Tomas
Eriksson: bass & vocal and Ingemar Bergman: drums & vocal). In the summer of
1974 guitar player Roine Stolt joined the band. Kaipa was active 1973–1982,
performed more than 500 concerts, recorded five albums and became the leading
Scandinavian progressive rock band.
After a hiatus of twenty years the band returned 2002 with a new line-up and the
album “Notes from the past”. The new album “Sattyg” is the 12th studio album by
Kaipa.
Next year we will celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Kaipa's first album that
was released 1975. In 2015 all our five albums from 1975-1982 will be
re-released both on LP and CD.
"Sattyg" -
strange title, even for a Dane, could you please tell us the meaning behind?
Hans - I wanted to use an old Swedish word like on the previous album “Vittjar”
for the new album. Very early in the writing process I decide to use “Sattyg” as
the title of the album but I didn't want to have a song with Swedish lyrics this
time. So I decided to use a short instrumental song as the title track. One day
suddenly some lines of Swedish words came falling like from the sky using the
melody from this track. I liked them very much but I realised I had a problem.
So I tried to translate them into English but it sounded very strange. The
dictionary told me that “Sattyg” should be translated into “Mischief” in
English. I sent my translated version to my old friend Erik Benettsson who lives
in Venezuela nowadays. He use to help me to avoid those small mistakes you
sometimes do when English is not your native language. He replied and told me
that the best word to use in this case is “Screwed-upness”. I used that word and
recorded a demo of the vocals and after a while I got used to it. I decided to
rename the song and use this new version on the album. The song developed and
became 13 minutes in it's final version. After this I had to write a new short
instrumental song I could use as the title track.
What inspires you to write music and lyrics?
Hans - The music I write is probably a reflection of me as a person. I never sit
down and try to write music going in a specific direction. I let the music and
ideas come to me, often when I'm not expecting it, and then I take care of them
and develop the songs out of these first ideas. Often they are one of those
characteristic and memorable melodies you can recognize in Kaipa's music. The
rest of the song is often built around different variations of this main theme.
Could you
please give us some info on the album: Where did you record the album and who
has produced and mixed it?
Hans – I always do a complete demo of all the songs where I play and sing
everything. This is just to show the other musicians my ideas. Some parts are
strictly arranged and are not changed much in the final result, but other parts
can sound completely different according to what the others have brought to the
table. I have the honour to work with some of the greatest musicians of this
world so it would be a shame if I didn't let their talent and inspiration flow
free sometimes.
All keyboards, vocals and acoustic instruments are recorded in my studio in
Uppsala. Morgan, Per and Jonas have their own studios where they record their
instruments.
I produce and do the basic mixing of our albums and since the album “Angling
feelings” 2007 I cooperate with sound engineer Martin Igelström at MI Sound
Design in Uppsala. This is the fourth album where I'm working with him. I give
him an open mix where he has access to all channels in the production and I give
him free hands to do the final mixing and change whatever parameters he wants to
make things sound better. He's also responsible for the mastering of the CD and
a special mastering for the vinyl version of the album.
- Let’s play an association game, please tell us your first spontaneous thoughts
about the following key words:
Sweden
Hans – My homeland.
Folk music
Hans - A great joy and inspiration ever since my childhood.
Politics
Hans – I never talk about politics.
Progressive Rock
Hans – An important and inspiring part of the music scene especially during the
70's. I'm not sure Kaipa is playing “Progressive rock” according to the
rulebook. I use to describe our music as “Progressive folk fusion rock” and all
these elements are important to form our unique sound.
Tell us a bit about the artwork – who made it etc. and how important do you
feel it is to have a cool artwork?
Hans – I have made the artwork to our three last albums and for me it's
important that the artwork harmonizes with the music. On “Sattyg” I have used
details from several different photos taken by my daughters and their families
in Tanzania and South Africa.
Any last words you want to round this interview off with?
Hans – A big thank you from the bottom of our hearts to all our loyal fans
around the world for your support, without you we would not be able to continue
our work.
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