INTERVIEW WITH HARDCORE SUPERSTAR
«We always know what we want for a record, so it’s always easy to go in the studio and record the songs if you know that.»
HARDCORE SUPERSTAR are back with a new record and getting realy close to their 20th anniversary. With «HCSS» being one of their most different records in a while, we couldn’t miss the chance to have a talk with the band:
Well, you have this new record, “HCSS” what can you tell me about it?
Actually we found three old song that we wrote back in 94 and we saw they were too good to waste, so we re-arranged them a bit and from that we had the formula for the new album, so that’s when we started to write new songs. I think it’s a bit more diverse compared to the previous one.
What can you tell me about the recording process? How was the vibe in the studio?
We recorded the album in Gothenburg in the Bohus studio where ABBA had recorded album. We produced it ourselve without using any gear to help us with the sound. We got into the studio like three days before Christmas last year and it tooks like three weeks to complete the album.
Three weeks is not too long actually, I can imaging then this album came to you pretty quick and naturally…
Yeh, it was. It came naturally because, I mean we had some songs writen but it wasn’t until we found the old ones that we went all “oh man, this is really good” and from then it was really easy and natural to write the rest of the album and when that happens we always know what we want for a record, so it’s always easy to go in the studio and record the songs if you know that.
There’s this song in the album that’s called “Fly” that is kind of different from what we’ve been hearing from you in the last few years, what can you tell me about it?
It’s a long song. It’s eight minutes long, the largest one in the album. If you listen to the lyrics is about someone being unfaithful and mean to you, you know, when you miss someone…
You’ve been together as a band for almost 20 years now, how do you keep your writing fresh?
I think we don’t think that much about that, we just write the songs. As you said we’ve been together for twenty years so we’ve learned how to compromise around each other, you know, instead of figthing on stupid stuff and I think that’s why the songwriting gets easier and we can keep if fresh because of that.
You have already played some shows with this new album so, how is the people reacting to the new songs live?
It’s being like a “either you like it or you don’t” kind of reaction. Some don’t like it at all and in the other hand some are really enjoying them. I think it’s mostly being a good reaction so far. I understand some feel it’s a little bit different fromt he previous but I think most of them like it.
What’s your favourite aspect about touring?
Being on stage everynight. That would be it. One and half hour on stage, they’re awesome, but I woul do two and half more.
Are you planning to play in Spain soon?
I hope so. Maybe this fall.
Looking at your line up, you’re almost the same guys in the band, how do yo manage to keep the relationships between you in good shape after all this years and all this touring?
It’s like I said before: we’ve learned to compromise with each other. We don’t fight anymore, we left each other rest, or party or whatever. Just leave everybody be.
When you started your career the Internet was still very new to the industry, but now it’s a very important factor in it, how does the Internet affect a band like HARDCORE SUPERSTAR?
It’s really good, I mean, the social network, you know, talk to your fans and stuff, the sad thing is the downloads – you don’t sell as much records as before, and if you don’t earn money that way…that’s why bands like us try to tour a lot, which is very demanding.
Yes, I guess that’s the scene today: everyone is touring and touring to secure a decent income. But even though the record sales are low, thanks to the Internet people for all over the world that might not have the chance to listen to your music otherwise, are listening to it and that might allow you to tour those places, so I guess is a bit of a pros and cons there right?
Sure, that’s the best part of the Internet, that everyone can hear to your music, even if you don’t release the album in that particular country.
What are your plans after the current tour and the summer?
Well, after the summer festivals we are going to do a european tour this fall, then we go to Japan and that’s what I know so far.
Well, I think we’ve pretty much covered everything on this new record, so I guess the only thing left is to ask you for some words to your fans:
I wanna thanks for the support through all this years. Keep on doing it and we’ll keep on doing this.