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In Words: Supreme Majesty



- Daniel & Chrille Anderson - August 2002 - Claudia Ehrhardt -


www.supreme-majesty.com








Daniel & Chrille Anderson (by email) - August, 28th 2002




It's been awhile since the Swedish band Supreme Majesty released their album and this time it took me a little longer to do an interview, but finally I made it!


Why do you start Supreme Majesty? And why do you choose that name? What does it mean to you?

We started out with Supreme Majesty, simply because we wanted to play this kind of music. We had all played in various bands before, but in no band that played this kind of 80's Heavy Metal we wanted to play. The band name was chosen pretty much because it sounded pretty good for a band name. As I recall it, it was our former drummer who came up with the name. Or maybe it was Chrille... Can't remember really. Therefore, from the start, the band name had no real special meaning for me, but I guess some kind of interpretation of it has developed to saying something like you should try to achieve and become the most you can.

What bands influenced you? How would you describe your music?

We are influenced by a lot of things, everything you hear influences you, and influences can come from all kinds of music. Almost. We listen to almost all kinds of metal from the 70's, 80's and 90's, but also other stuff. Main band-influence for the band would have to be Europe, hehe.

After some line-up changes you recorded a MCD. Please tell us about that MCD!

The MCD was recorded in Hässleholm, Sweden and featured 4 tracks. From the beginning, it was meant to be a demo, but then Chrille got in touch with a Swedish label, Loud n'Proud who were eager to release the recording as an MCD.

Is this MCD available on your website?

There's information about it on the website, but we don't have any copies for sale. I don't really know, if it's possible to get hold of a copy of the MCD anymore, since Loud n'Proud went bankrupt, so people who have managed to get a copy should definitively hold on to it, cause it's going to be worth a fortune, hehe...

Why you chose Studio Fredman? Wasn't it a little expensive for a newcomer?

Well, quality costs and if you want the best result you can get, you have to be ready to pay up for it. And since it wasn't we who stood for the major part of the costs for recording at Studio Fredman, it felt like the right thing to do. Fredrik is a very professional guy, and he knows exactly how to get the most out of a band's material, sound wise that is.

Are you still satisfied with the result? Sound wise?

Yes, I'm very satis­fied with the album, and I think we would have done almost everything on the album as it is, even if we recorded it today. The sound is also great, and I think Fredrik did a great job, pulling out that power from the music.

Why does it take so long until the album hit the stores?

In the beginning it was meant that Loud'n'Proud would release the album, but after we finished the recordings, they kind of disappeared, and as we know it, went bankrupt. So we had to search for another label, and that took some time. And after we had found Massacre, it took some time before we could deliver the masters to them and then some time for them to get it out. So a year from the recordings, the album was released.

What are the differences between the MCD and Tales Of A Tragic Kingdom for you?

Better sound, better songs, better vocals, better guitar solos etc. etc. Everything is really much better. The style is perhaps a bit different to, with a little more influences from the 80's on the album, compared to the MCD that is a little more Power Metal style wise.

On some magazine samplers a track was placed. Did you have any influence which track was chosen?

Nope, we haven't had any influence what so ever, and we even don't know really what magazines that have had samplers, or which tracks that were chosen.

What is for you the most important or personal song?

It's not the most important, but the most personal song for me is Not Of This World, since I wrote the lyrics and they are of some meaning to me. However, I fear they are pretty cryptic for an outside listener...

Can you tell something about the lyrics please?

I write most of the lyrics, and they are basically either short stories about something made up, like Queen of Egypt, or lyrics with an intention to tell something more, like the previous mentioned Not Of This World. On the new material we are working on, it's going to be a bit more love in the lyrics, all for the sake of that 80's feeling.

What's the idea of the artwork?

I don't know exactly the idea; it was made only with vague directions from us, and the artist Niklas Sundin, got free hands to do something good on this. We liked this cover, I think it has much to do with the title of the album, the castle being the center of the mans once glory kingdom etc. etc. I think you get the picture?

Artwork.... Chrille, as far as I know you did the artwork for Dragonland. How come? Are you doing artwork more often? Or will we read your name in future on more covers?

I like graphic design within the hard rock genre and that's why I've made some layouts. Maybe you will see my name on some more stuff in the future, time will tell.

How were the reactions after the album release?

The reactions have been very good overall. We have gotten mostly great reviews, and there haven't been many that have said a bad word about the album. Everyone is not cheering madly, but there's not that many people who want to beat us up, so to speak.

You already started writing new song for a coming release?

Yes, we have begun making some new material and have like three completely finished songs, and 6 or 7 that are almost done, only missing some lyrics and the final touch. The final touch does however tend to take a while, so I guess it will take some more months before we have 9 or 10 tracks for the next album. We don't want to rush it, if we feel that a song isn't good enough, we throw it away and make a new one, before entering studio.

Have you already started the recordings? Can you tell us more about the coming album?

No, we have not begun any recordings for the next album. It's a pretty tight schedule at Studio Fredman, and we want to record the album there, so we'll have to wait a while. The next album will continue in the vein of Tales..., but there will be a bit more influences from the 80's. Any­way, I don't think fans of Tales... will be disappointed.

These days almost every band is doing a cover version. Have you thought about doing a cover version?

Yes, we have spoken about playing something like Rainbow In The Dark live, but we haven't rehearsed it yet. I guess we will rehearse some covers later on, so we have something to pick up live. On albums I don't think we'll make a cover, if it's not some kind of tribute album that is.

Chrille, will you do the artwork?

We'll see about the artwork. I will do the layout anyway, like I did on the last album.

Are there any plans to play live? Will you come on tour?

We are currently booking some gigs for the autumn, but no tour is planned. It's up to Massacre when they want us on tour, and so far, it doesn't seem like they want any tour.

If you could choose any band to tour with, which one would be your first choice?

Europe!!!

What can we expect from Supreme Majesty in future?

Great music in the vein of the 80's. We'll continue to put out our music as long as someone wants to listen to it (and I guess after that too...).

Famous last words.... Anything you want to say to the fans?

Rock on, watch out for our coming album, and come see us live and have a beer with us, if we come play nearby! Cheers!


Thank you very much for answering the questions! Actually I'm curious to hear the new material, so I hope it won't take too long until the new album comes out. Even if I think it's a good decision not to hurry to release the next album....



Claudia Ehrhardt

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