Interview taken from Daniel Grönberg Svensson. (Keyboardist, Grand Slam)
GEORGE: Welcome to BeRock Radio guys, the most melodic place! I am George, please make yourself
comfortable! We’re glad to have you here. Tell us about the current line-up and some words on how you
came up with your band name, "Grand Slam"?
DANIEL: Hi and thank you. It's very nice to be on BeRockRadio. Our correct line up has exited since 2013
and It's the best and final one. We have a very good thing going on and a real nice feeling towards each other.
The name Grand Slam was Andy Svanizs' intention. He thought it was a good name and also it was a play with
words in his mind. He fantizised about a from page in the ewspaper after we had a hit with the words
"Grand slam makes a Grand slam".
GEORGE: Will you tell us some information about your debut album? Was it hard composing the tracks?
How long did the recording sessions take?
DANIEL: It was not harder to write the new tracks more than it had been earlier. Half of the tracks are songs
that are old for us but new to our listeners. We did put much effort in the pre-producing of the record.
We made a time schedule tjat would give us a year too write, rehearse and record the record.
The studio sessions itself for just the recording took about two weeks I think.
GEORGE: Did you encounter any problems during the recording of the album?
If so, how did you overcome them?
DANIEL: Well, one problem was that we had too little time when it all come to an end.
Not too little time in the studio but to prepare before the studio.
In the end it all came out well but we said that we never will have such a schedule again.
One year can seems like much time but it isn't.
GEORGE: What are your plans for the promotion of the album, but also generally speaking?
Should we wait for another video clip? What plans do you have for live shows/tours,
will we see you in other European countries as well?
DANIEL: Too play as musch as possible. We would be happy to play in foreign countries but right now we
need a booking agency. That is the next step. We definitely are discussing too shot another video but no
decision made about that yet.
GEORGE: For the past 4-5 years, we’ve been seeing a bloom in Melodic Rock\Melodic Hard Rock.
Do you believe that rockers want more quality in the music and listen to more of this centre?
What is your opinion on this?
DANIEL: Actually, no, I think not. Everything goes in cycles and repets itself with a 15-20 years gap or so.
It's the time now, nothing other than that. At least that's my opinion but that's not means that It's the truth or so.
It's up to everybody with an interest in the music to speculate about.
GEORGE: Sweden has a very good music scene and continuously gives us fantastic bands and albums filled with
incredible music, especially from young guys such as yourself, as of the recent years. Such a thing is important for
the survival of music, especially in the Melodic Hard Rock scene where it’s very difficult to stand out and shine among
the rest, due to the high quality that is needed.
What has Sweden done to be so much more in front than the rest of the world?
DANIEL: I got two straight answers for you there: the public music schools and the northern climate.
We have our music schools for youths that are free for anybody and free of charge.
The are financed by our taxes instead so everyone can participate no matter which class you come from.
That gives us a head start since every kid can learn how to play an instrument an musical theory from a young age.
The climate inflicts our mood so in every genres, pop, hard rock, rap, folk music, you very often find our melancholy
minds transpired too music.
GEORGE: Sweden, as I’ve said before, is famous about its music industry, especially the genre you support (Melodic Hard Rock).
Do you feel blessed or doomed to meet the high standards?
DANIEL: No actually not. I myself don't think in those terms and I don't think that we up here really understand how much
swedish music is appreciated in other countries. So no.
GEORGE: Recently, I spoke with Eric (Rivers) from H.e.a.T. and asked him what you do there in Sweden and keep giving us
these excellent bands with amazing musicians. “Is there something in the water?”, I asked him, and he replied with
“Hmm, it’s probably the beer!” (laughs!!) I’m asking if you can tell us your opinion on the amazing music scene of Sweden.
Can you tell us what’s going on there that causes a new star to be born?
DANIEL: I must refeer to my earlier answer, the climate and our mood.
We are a very complex with our emotional life up here ("boring swedes that don't say a Word as the americans says haha)
so if you are capable to find some way too use those inget feelings in some way, music, art, dance, whatever, you can make
something really good.
GEORGE: Name a few bands from Sweden that you admire and the reason why.
DANIEL: The first band that popped up in my mind here was actually ABBA so I say ABBA because of their wonderful melodies
an then also the musicals that Björn och Benny wrote later on. And of course Europe. One of the best albums ever made is
"Prisoners in paradis". A totally amazing record in my opinion.
GEORGE: The music industry in the recent years has changed. We see that a lot of people prefers digital purchases,
which is more convenient, faster and accessible. What are your thoughts on the future of CDs?
DANIEL: It's a double edged sword. It's very, very good for everybody that your music become easy accessible.
That's just fantastic. On the other hand It's hard to make a living out of music.
You almost have to have a regular job on the side and that takets time away from you that could go to music instead.
The music spreads across the globe. The listeners want more music from the artists they found on the internet but they
can't get anymore music from the artist because he can't afford too crate music because the listeners won't pay. Ironic, isn't it?
But there will always be records in some way or another. You wanna check out the cover, right?
GEORGE: It’s not just the music industry that has changed over the years. Nowdays, we see social media
(facebook, twitter, LinkedIn, etc...) become hugely widespread.
How much do these support a band and in what way?
DANIEL: It supports a band enormous because some guy in, shall we say Japan, listen to an artist on his friends facebook-page
that he otherwise never would had found. So It's very good in that way. On the other hand you have people who thinks that one
million likes equals stardom. No it doesn't. It just means that a million people har pushed the "like" icon.
GEORGE: Thank you for your time, I wish you all the best for the future! The last words are yours for this interview.
Feel free to say whatever you want to all BeRock’s Radio minizine readers!
DANIEL: Thank you very, very much. It has been lovely too chat with you for a while and we are truly greatful for your kind words.
Well, continue too listen to BeRockRadio and a big thank you to exactly everyone who have bought our record!
We really hope you folks enjoy it. Thank you
