Project-X

Hi Project-X! How are you?
- "Hey! All good Patrik. Currently we have been busy as hell with putting together everything for the EP release. But now it's finally out and we can concentrate on promoting it instead. But after the amazing show at Das Boot the other week, I have to say we are all good and in great shape again."

You have now released your first release in 7 years (if you exclude the 10 Years Anniversary EP) and it's called 'Needles & Control', does that mean a brand new album will be coming soon?
- "You are so correct. We are currently working on a brand new album release which we hope to finish during the summer for an early autumn release. It really feels good being back on track with Project-X after the years of silence. The thing is that we never really quit making music. But you know, like everyone else we are busy with everyday life. I have my label Progress Productions and a full time job. Mattias has been busy with his work at Swedish National Television and Jouni with work and family. But well, in December we got together and it was really a blast and we had fun and work went smooth. Now we are really hungry getting back on the scene again."

The first track on the new EP is a great cover of Joy Division's "She's Lost Control", how come you choose to do a cover and a cover of that particular tune?
- "Well, since you mentioned our absence from the scene. It feels more or less a little bit like a comeback for us. Maybe it's strange to call it a comeback, but sort of it is. I mean I guess loads of people that used to be into Project-X have passed on to other things. So we decided to make the return if you could call it with a track that people have heard before. But it was actually fun making a cover of a non electro track we could have made a cover of Front 242 or Nitzer Ebb or similar but that would have been pretty cheesy I think. It was more of a challenge to make a track based of real instruments to fit the Project-X feel. And also we are of course all three really big fans of Joy Division. So it felt nice paying them a tribute. So really the choice was that we really like the track and it felt like the right thing for us to do."

The other thing that strikes me is that Leaether Strip does a remix of your cover, the most common thing would that the remix was on one of your tracks, "Needle" for an example?
- "True. But actually Claus really loved the original cover version. And when he played here in Gothenburg at Club Target he said: "THIS MUST BE A SINGLE!" Said and done, a single/EP it became. So we asked him for a remix of that song even if the logical choice would have been to make a remix of the other tracks on the EP. But I think it all turned out really good in the end and both we and Claus are really pleased with the remix. No all good. A funny thing is that I have actually been in contact with Claus since I started Project-X. He was the first one I ever send material to 15 years back. He actually replied with two handwritten pages with thoughts ideas; I still have the letter at home. So the circle is complete in a way. I'm actually doing a remix for Leaether Strip as we speak for his upcoming release."

Does this mean you will be doing some concerts from now on?
- "Correct. First one was the other week at the Das Boot Festival. We had a blast. The audience was brilliant and mad! It was really a wild party in front of the stage and it felt like being back home in a way. The shows of Project-X has always been extremely energetic so I was a little bit afraid that maybe we didn't have that edge anymore, like we did 10 years ago. But it really, really went splendid. So now we have a few shows in the pipeline. After the album is released I guess there will be much more. So yeah, expect Project-X in a venue close to you soon. But it won't be like the old days when we did a massive amount of shows. I feel it's better for us to really choose the right ones. Maybe we overdid it little bit before playing too much. This won't happen again."

... and when do we get a release of your cover of The White Stripes' "Seven Nation Army" you promised six years ago?
- "Haha? oh, I thought you forgotten about that one. Well, time will tell. I actually went back to have a listen to that track not to long ago and it feels really dated today. So I guess we would have to remake it once again. But who knows... maybe like a special bonus or download or something similar. I'm really glad you remember that track though; we played it live a few times like 5-7 years ago."

Any last words to our readers?
- "Thank you for having the patience waiting for us. We are lazy, we know, but we haven't forgotten you. After the nice reception on the Das Boot show we felt you haven't forgotten us either. It feels amazing being back. Love and respect from T/J/M-Project-X. And yeah, don't forget to SUPPORT the scene. There is not much left of it nowadays. Let's try to make a change, together is the only way this will happen."