Michigan

A year ago you won first price, a record contract, at the contest Quest for fame, which was arranged by Memento Materia. Now, a year later you've released your album and played at SAMA 2003. Do you think time has gone by quickly? Now, tell us more about the year that followed after your victory at the Quest for fame contest.
- "We've recorded our debut album 'Graceful and in sin' which, due to some personal problems such as relationships, took quite some time to release. To be honest with you the band actually broke up for about a week. We also had some technical problems; for example one of our computers broke down. Due to our will to be perfect we spent quite a lot of time making our production, since we didn't want to release anything premature."

In the future, what do you want to put your energy in to? Any plans for a new album?
- "So far we have six songs ready for our next album, and for the moment we're working on new ideas. We also have some older songs, which we are trying to adjust to the sound of the new album."

A lot of people compare your debut album 'Grateful and in sin' with Depeche Mode's 'Violator', can you see the similarity or do you prefer to describe your album in another way?
- "There's no other way than to take it as a compliment; there are worse records to be compared to. But on other hand our opinion is that our songs are more choruses emphasised."

How's Michigan doing at the international market?
- "We get good grades in foreign reviews, but we don't know anything about our sale yet. But sure, we've got some inquiries by e-mail."

How would you describe a live performance by Michigan?
- "It's a matter of satisfying our audience. We hope that's a positive thing. On stage we give all we got and play live."

How do you share the work? Who writes and creates the music?
- "Jonas is the songwriter and together with the rest of us we all produce the music. Pete is the lead singer and plays the guitar."

What would you say is Michigan's best quality as a band?
- "We have a wide music style, we're not afraid of trying new ideas nor mixing different styles."

You are without any doubts an electro based band, but on some of your songs Pelle Lindh plays the guitar, why?
- "Those particular songs were recorded earlier then the rest of the songs. The recording took place in Pelle Lindh's studio (Crimson Production). He's a guitarist so it was quite natural for him to do the guitar tracks since he was there anyway."

In what way do you think you'll develop in the future? Are you trying to get a more mature sound?
- "A more heavy and raw sound is what we want to accomplish."

Any finishing words?
- "We're looking forward to showing ourselves to you and to perform live."

This interview was made 2003 and initially published on Neurozine.com