TIME REQUIEM INTERVIEW
It's been a couple of years since our last interview with Richard Andersson regarding his TIME REQUIEM band, so when their new disc "Optical Illusion" hit me with it's brilliant songs, I decided to send a few questions to Richard ...

Interview by Claus Jensen
1) Hey Richard, congratulations on the new Time Requiem disc. As you might know I've loved your stuff ever since the first Majestic album, and with the exception of the last Space Odyssey album, each and every of your releases has been top-notch in my book :-) First up, let me hear a bit about the "Ultimate Andersson Collection" you released last year. Who was involved and what was the idea behind it?

The Collection became reality after having a vision of bringing some of the old songs to life again. The songs are all new recordings as the production was a bit weak on some of the earlier CDs. The first idea was to bring in world known musicians like several guitar players and many different singers. As time went on this became impossible due to the fact that I really wanted to have this project on the road. Rumours say that if I couldn't have Mr. Malmsteen as a guest player I wouldn't have any others at all. Only old friend Magnus Nilsson and die-hard fans Sven Cirnski have the honour to appear on this masterpiece. One of the things I am most satisfied with is the enormous effort Mr. Göran Edman did on vocals. The songs have reached another dimension having this extremely talented and nice man behind the microphone. Everything from recording every instrument to mixing and mastering was done by me myself. This time the whole production was under my closest supervision in my own Lipton Studio.

2) Do you feel it was a necessary thing to do, since you've had those songs out under 3 different band names - and for this you could gather it all with just one vocalist? Not at all!

This is a good way for new fans to get into my music in a easy way. You don't have to buy all these old records.

3) The singer on the "Ultimate…" was Göran Edman, known from Malmsteen, Glory, Brazen Abbott and other great bands - you've now incorporated him into Time Requiem. How come?

Since he did a tremendous job on the Collection record I simply wanted to have his professional approach to my Time Requiem record as well.

4) What happened with Apollo, since he is no longer singing in Time Requiem? Are you gonna be doing other projects with Apollo in the future?

Well! Apollo was fine about me trying to reach another level with my music. He didn't got the time at that time so I simply told him about my future ideas. I also involved him in Evil Masquerade project since we all are good friends and help each other.

5) "Optical Illusion" in many ways reminds me more of the sound of Majestic than the 2 previous Time Requiem albums, in the way that it's not quite as progressive sounding as especially "The Inner Circle Of Reality". Was this an obvious choice?

Not at all! I do not have any clues about future records and how the shall sound . I simply do what I feel like.

6) I guess there's no denying that Malmsteen, Symphony X and partly bands such as Dream Theater and Ayreon are a big influence on your music. Try and surprise me by naming at least a couple of bands that have influenced you, which we never would have thought of …

You are right! These bands are really good. One among the best I can come up with right now. I do never listen to music nowadays. I really don't know what's happening in the musicscene right now. That's simply because I am not interested. To give you an answer to your question. I like ABBA, J. S. Bach, The Beatles, John Williams, Da Vinchi and many many more.

7) A lot of your albums have had songs that are very "close" to wellknown songs by other bands - I'm sure you've heard this before. Where is the line between "being influenced" and directly "stealing" from other musicians?

I don't really care! I do what ever I feel like and I don't pay any attention to expressions like that. You see, I never read articles, interviews and reviews about myself. So basically I don't know what people think about my music. If you like it it's good, if you don't I am sorry about that!

8) As a keyboardist you're one of a kind - your playing is very technical, yet extremely melodic - I truly believe you're one of the very best keyboardists in heavy metal. How often do you actually rehearse nowadays?

Thanks for the compliment! I play a lot on the keys but I do never practise like I did when I was 20. It's enough of practising trying to play some of Bach's fugues or preludes.

9) Have you ever thought about using your talents on something else? I mean, super guitarists like Malmsteen or Victor Smolski have created classical music-pieces - could you see yourself doing something like this in the future?

Definitely! If I get the time and money it would be awesome to do something like that.

10) On "Optical Illusion" you've used Mattias Norén for the artwork - it's not a typical Norén-cover - what's the meaning behind the cover, the title and how does it tie together with the music?

It was clear to me to use the colours (yellow, grey, black and white) and to do some real painted art. I also have used some of the impossible drawings from a famous Swedish painter. I wanted to get a surreal touch to the artwork. It was my idea but put together by talented Mr. Norén.

11) I saw you live a couple of years ago in Malmö, and it was an incredible gig in front of less than 50 people. You've played a lot in Japan, but only very few gigs in Europe with Time Requiem - how come? Will we get to see you play more now?

If I get the money to do proper rehearsals and money to pay the musicians yes! I am not interested going on tours driving in a minivan all over Europe playing like hell just for the food and booze. I need good conditions which are rare these days unfortunately.

12) As someone who has been in this scene for the past decade, I'm sure you also have been witness to a drastic let down in CD sales over the years. My theory is that illegal downloading is to blame … what do you think about this whole "problem" with downloads?

I've had this question many times before. It's hard to say anything about. But! I have another theory! Fuck the record companies put out your music by yourself on the Internet. Royalties 100%!!!

13) Thanks for doing this interview - if you have anything to add, feel free to do so now :-)

Thanks for promoting me! I am though sorry for your feelings about my Space Odyssey record which I think is very good. Please give me a call before next times bad reviews. I might have a chance to defend myself a bit.
STAY METAL!
///Richard