Vagh
Vagh is one of the best
AOR, hard 'n' heavy bands I've ever heard, with great choruses, nice hooks
and incredible melodies, they compose songs that consist of both power
and rhythm, but also of melody and nostalgia. I think it's hard noawadays
to find so special and filled with sentiments music that can speak straight
to your heart. So, Mister Rob Vagh, the man behind the band, is here to
deposit his personal persepctive and point of view...
1.CONGRATULATIONS FOR "INTO THE FUTURE ZONE"!
IT'S AN EXCELLENT ALBUM!
Thanks ! I´m glad you like it. We really
think it´s a great step forward for VAGH.
2.SO, WHAT HAPPENED TO VAGH FROM THE RELEASE OF
YOUR DEBUT ALBUM SINCE "INTO THE FUTURE ZONE"?
Mainly we´ve been busy working on our
new album. Composing songs, writing lyrics and recording and mixing it.
And also planning for the release. Since we have no label behind us I have
to do everything myself.
3.I THINK THAT YOU'VE RELEASED AN INCREDIBLE ALBUM
AND THAT HUGE LABELS SHOULD BE AFTER YOU. YOU RELEASED AN ALBUM THAT AT
LEAST HALF OF ITS SONGS COULD BECOME GREAT RADIO HITS. YOU HAVE SOME REALLY
CLASSIC SONGS IN "INTO THE FUTURE ZONE". HOWEVER, IF I ASKED YOU TO PRESENT
THE ALBUM YOURSELF TO THE READERS WHAT WOULD YOU TELL THEM?
It´s 80´s metal with really catchy
hooks. You should be able to sing along after only a few spins. Music that
makes people feel happy and maybe a bit nostalgic. I also think we have
a couple of potential radiohits. We really feel that this release could
mean breakthrough for VAGH.
4.GIVE US SOME INFO ON "INTO THE FUTURE ZONE".
WHERE WAS IT RECORDED, WHO WAS THE PRODUCER, HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU?
WHICH ARE THE MAIN SIMILARIITES AND DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THIS AND YOUR DEBUT
RELEASE? ARE YOU SATISFIED BY THE FINAL RESULT?
Since VAGH is my project and the CD is released
on my own label I acted as producer. But I had great help from a lot of
people.The guitars were recorded in Endarker studios in Norrköping,
Sweden. They were engineered by Magnus Hedin and Magnus Andersson. “DEVO”
Andersson is also touring with the Swedish band PAIN. The rest of the CD
were recorded in Singel Studio in Malmö, Sweden. It was engineered
by Henrik Hansson. He did also mix the whole CD. It took a year to complete
everything. We started the recordings around Christmas 2002 and completed
the mixing session april 2004. I think it´s a bit more mature than
our debut, “Sands of time”, which had more of a livefeeling over it.This
time we were able to work more with the production. But we have managed
to keep the catchy hooks in the songs. We are very satisfied with the result.
5.WHERE ARE YOUR LYRICS REFERRING TO? WHICH TOPICS
INTRIGUE YOU TO TALK ABOUT? WHICH IS THE MAIN THEMATOLOGY OF VAGH?
I don´t think there´s a main theme
of VAGH. The songs are from different eras and the lyrics are sometimes
rewritten a couple of times through the years. Obviously there´s
a fair share of heartaches and pain, but also somewhat more urgent topics.
Some of the lyrics are reffering to the search of a better world. We think
that “The future zone” is a better place to be and that together we´re
invincible. “Show me heaven tonight” is about a stockbroker who wants to
feel the rush of success once again and again and again. “This feeling
inside” is about a man who gets unemployed after many years at his factory.
He feels that his identity is taken away from him. The effects world economy
has on average man today. This time I have invited more authors to write
the lyrics on some songs. I felt that I used the same words and phrases
one time too much. Nowadays I´m working very closely with the talented
author Björn Ledelius. He has got a great feeling for intriguing topics.
Also working with Anette Skåhlberg and my old friend Thomas Ragnarsson
has added more dimensions to the songs.
6.YOUR SINGER HAS A GREAT VOICE, BUT WHAT I OBSERVED
IS THAT HE DOESN'T SHOUT TOO MUCH AND HE DOESN'T DO MANY HIGH PITCHED VOCALS.
HIS INTERPRETATION IS CALM WITHOUT SHOWING OFF HIS TALENT. WHOSE DECISION
WERE HOW THE VOCAL LINES WOULD SOUND?
The vocal lines are mainly mine from the demos.
Many of the songs are not written for a specific singer so the keys are
not always the best for highpitch vocals. But we felt the clash between
heavy guitars and catchy vocals was quite intriguing. Jonas is a great
singer and I think it shows on “Rebecca” for example. And he have made
a really great work with all the harmonies.
7.IS THERE AN ELEMENT OR A SENTIMENT YOU'D LIKE
TO EXPAND OR EVOLVE ON YOUR NEXT ALBUM AND SOMETHING LACKING FROM "INTO
THE FUTURE ZONE" THAT YOU'D LIKE TO ADD?
We have already begun working on demos for
the next CD. We will probably add some more keyboards to the songs again.
And we are also working with more guitartracks. We will use some droptuned
guitars. Maybe we will end up with some elements of power Metal and progressive
Metal. But you will definitely recognize the catchy refrains!
8.YOU HAVE QUITE MANY GUEST APPEARANCES ON THE
ALBUM. WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE? IN WHICH BANDS DO THEY PLAY? HOW WAS THIS
COLLABORATION DECIDED AND WHY DID YOU DO IT?
They are talented musicians playing in minor
bands in Sweden and Germany (John Marshall Gibbs). The reason for that
is that I wanted to meet people loving the same music I do. I think you
learn something from meeting new people. Most of them I found on the internet.
I think they all have added great qualities to the CD. John and Noomi are
doing a great job singing their songs. Henrik Hansson and David Persson
are two really great axemen that added some great guitar work.
9.THE ARTWORK IS BEAUTIFULL! CAN YOU DESCRIBE
WHAT IT SHOWS AND EXPLAIN THE CONNECTION AMONG IT, THE ALBUM TITLE AND
THE LYRICS?
Yeah, Mattias Norén at www.progart.com
has done a tremendous work. Again. He has really caught the essence of
the CD. It´s a cold world for many people. But, there´s still
hope. There´s still a place where people care.
10.ARE YOU SATISFIED BY THE FEEDBACK YOU GOT THIS
FAR? IS THERE A COMMON STATEMENT YOU SEE REPEATED IN ALMOST ALL THE REVIEWS
YOU READ? WHICH PHRASE WAS THE WORST AND WHICH THE BEST AND MOST FLATTERING
FOR YOU?
I´m really grateful for the support
VAGH is getting from many webzines around the world. It´s crucial
for our success being noticed by you guys. I´m also very satisfied
we are selling OK, since we have no label behind us. All money are used
back into the project so that we can release another CD. Maybe I´m
a bit surprised that no label seems interested in even discussing a deal
with us. I´m also a bit dissapointed we can´t get any recognition
in Sweden. It would be cool to make some noise in our homecountry. Many
reviews are mentioning the 80´s touch and the good songwriting. That´s
really flattering. Production is all about money, but good songs can´t
be bought.
11.DO YOU HAVE ANY PLANS FOR LIVE SHOWS OR FOR
A TOUR? WHICH ARE YOUR AIMS FOR THE FUTURE?
We are constantly discussing playing live,
but we haven´t got the money for it. It´s way too expensive.
We had plans to tour to promote “Into the future zone”, but they couldn´t
be fullfilled. We will now complete the demorecordings and then approach
the labels again. Hopefully there will be some interest in releasing a
third album and even a tour.
12.IF YOU HAD THE CHANCE TO INVITE AN IMPORTANT
AND FAMOUS MUSICIAN TO PARTICIPATE IN "INTO THE FUTURE ZONE" WHO WOULD
YOU CHOOSE AND WHY?
I´m perfectly happy with the efforts
made on “Into the future zone” and I don´t wanna change a thing.
It would be cool though to invite Ronnie James DIO to sing a song or two
on our next CD. There are some songs that would suit him fine. There are
so many great musicians out there, and maybe I´ll get a chance to
work with some of them in the future.
13.LET'S SUPPOSE THAT SUDDENLY ONE DAY ELECTRICITY
CEASED TO EXIST... DO YOU THINK YOU COULD REPRODUCE YOUR MUSIC IN AN ACOUSTIC
WAY?
Well, since there´s so many great melodies
it might work, but I really think the sound of the guitars are crucial
to the songs. So, I think I´ll pass. I think Noomi is about to record
an acoustic version of “Don´t turn away” for her soloproject, and
I guess a ballad could work.
14.WHICH WORDS DO YOU THINK CAN DESCRIBE YOUR
MUSIC IN THE BEST POSSIBLE WAY AND WHICH PHRASE CAN SUM UP IDEALLY THE
WHOLE VAGH HISTORY?
I think two phrases can describe VAGH. “Persistance”
and “Heavy Metal Schlager”.
I´ve been struggling for almost 25 years
to compose catchy metal songs. That´s persistance. And I hope I will
continue for ever. My friends keep telling me that I compose Heavy Metal
schlagers. Heavy songs with great refrains. It´s really AOR with
Heavy Metal guitars !
15.THANK YOU! THESE LINES ARE YOURS, LEAVE A MESSAGE
TO THE READERS...
First, Thank you for having me here! I also
want to thank all our fans for supporting us. Feel free to contact us on
[email protected].
It´s cool with fanmail. We´re getting a lot of fanmail from
all over the world. It´s great! Keep buying our CDs so we can record
and release more new CDs. Hope to see you on the road some day!
Christine Parastatidou
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