Charlie Musselwhite chats to Lu Cozma, Bucharest (re-published)

Delta Blues at the Hard Rock Cafe Bucharest

“ THE BLUES OVERTOOK ME”. Charlie Musselwhite, Interview 17th May, 2009.

As is mostly the case these days I’m venturing from music place to watering hole in search of good music and great atmosphere. It’s all new to me. I suppose I could be likened to a wide eyed child, due to the fact that while finding these little gems in the city I am taking the opportunity to experience genres of music I might not necessarily have been exposed to, even in London.
The Hard Rock Cafe has found a home in Herastrau Park, Bucharest slap bang in front of the river, spitting distance from the main car park entrance and at the tip of the amusement park. Hard Rock Cafe holds blues evenings most weeks and has had an array of local, national and international acts.
Charlie Musselwhite’s in town. He’s a guy who ‘hung out’ with his peers, the likes of whom were Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and Johnny Cash. Dan Aykroyd as a student heard Charlie play in clubs about town and was so enthralled by his charisma, slick playing, dark suit and shades that he conceived the ‘Blues Brothers’ with Charlie in mind.
He describes his music as ‘a conversation’ that communicates to different generations and genres, which is probably why I witness so many people of mixed age and walks of life in the audience at the Hard Rock Cafe, on the 17th May.
I strike up my own exclusive conversation with the great Charlie Musselwhite...

LC – You’ve had a busy day today flying from your gig yesterday (16th May) from Piacenza Italy. Now you’ve had a busy evening here at the Hard Rock Cafe. How are you feeling?

CM - Ooh I feel good, we’ve had a good night and everyone’s happy.

LC – And when are you next flying off?

CM - In about 2 or 3 days. The band is going home in the morning, but my wife and I are staying.

LC – Are you going to have time to sight see in Bucharest?

CM – That’s the plan. We’re gonna eat a lot...

LC – That’s a very good plan...

CM – I wish there was a flea market to go to... Well if there’s no flea markets maybe there’s some stores that are second hand, used things, thrift stores...

LC – You missed the big one it’s on Saturdays and Sundays... Have you been to Bucharest before?

CM – Before what? (Chuckles) That’s a joke... No I’ve never been here before, but I hope it’s the first of many visits.

LC – You’re on an extensive tour that takes you back to the US. What keeps you motivated and touring?

CM – Well all those people can’t come to my house, so I go around to where they are.
It’s rewarding. I mean, it beats working in the factory... and it keeps me outta trouble.

LC – What inspires you to keep the music alive and to keep going?

CM – I love the music. Even if I didn’t have a career in music, I’d still be playing it. It’s something I do. It never was a goal of mine. I never had a plan to be a musician... it just happened. The blues overtook me.

LC – When were you first exposed to music and at what age did you take it a step further?

CM – I always liked music even since a little kid. I can’t remember not hearing it, it was on the radio. In Memphis, Tennessee where I grew up there was the street singers that played blues and I was fascinated by them. It was just all around me. I like all kinds of music, gospel, rockabilly... Johnny Burnett was a rockabilly guy... in fact Johnny and Dorsey Burnett lived across the street from me.

LC – What a neighbourhood!

CM – Oh yeah, I mean, I went to school with Johnny Cash’s brother Tommy. I used to see Johnny all the time. I had Elvis’ phone number to find out where the party was at... I’d call up Elvis and say ‘where’s the party tonight’, cos he’d rent a theatre and he’d show the latest movies or he’d rent the fairgrounds where all the rides were free or he’d rent the skating rink. It’d always be from around midnight til 6 in the morning or something.

LC – You have really happy memories of your early years in the neighbourhood...
CM – Yeah, I just wished I’d been paying more attention. It just seemed... well you know, like Elvis was a poor boy from Mississippi just like me, you know. The thing about Elvis was, he was a guy, that combed his hair like we did and dressed like we did...

LC – Just an ordinary guy, who never really changed...?

CM – No he didn’t. Yeah, he was just one of us. And then when he got famous, it made us poor boys from Mississippi say ‘hey, we’re OK’.

LC – Why is Mississippi so special? Is it the rugged terrain, the river, the Delta...

CM - I don’t know. People talk about it all the time and you can’t really get, it’s something you can talk about and talk about but you can’t ‘get it’ unless you go there. And then you go ‘Oh, yeah!’ It’s beyond words. Some of my earliest memories are from there, cos my mom grew up around there and we had friends, relatives there...

LC – Your mums been very influential in your life hasn’t she?

CM - Well it was just me and her growing up. My daddy left. My mom and dad split up when I was four years old and I had no brothers or sisters, so it was just me and my mom. She was never prejudiced and she always taught me not to be prejudiced. The way she put it was, ‘ God made everybody and if you disrespect somebody cos of their colour, whether they’re rich or poor or for any reason, you’re disrespecting God’s work!’ And she was a Delta girl, she was born in the hills where I was, but she grew up in the Delta.

LC – Can you tell me about the link between you and the Blues Brothers?

CM – Well, what Dan Aykroyd told me on several occasions, was when he was at college in Canada, there was a club that he’d hang out at ‘The Owl’ and I used to come and play there regularly and he would see me there. We didn’t know each other then, we didn’t talk or nothin’. In those days I wore shades and a black suit... he saw that look and then adopted that look for the Blues Brothers. He had me in the movie, ‘Blue Brothers 2000’ and I’ve been to his home and we’re good friends. He’s a good guy.

LC – Tell me about your Cameo appearance in the film ‘Pighunt’.

CM – Well it’s a horror movie... (chuckles) Lot’s of people get hurt!

For more information on the legendary Charlie Musselwhite, please log onto :-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30fEfCmtUU0&feature=related
http://www.charliemusselwhite.com/
http://www.myspace.com/charliemusselwhite
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0615846/
http://www.hardrock.com/Locations/cafes3/cafe.aspx?LocationID=467&MIBEnumID=3

English translation of Eugen Istodor Interview with LU...

Why are you singing?

My father is a singer and I’ve heard his voice in my ear since the time he hushed me to sleep as a baby. He left the family home when I was very small, but the connection of music and singing has always been strong between us. The Irish have a strong affinity toward music, so I guess it’s in my genes too.
I sing because without it I feel not total or whole. It’s more than enjoyment – it’s a need.

What are you thinking when you’re singing in public?

I’m very aware of course of the audience and paying public who come and see me perform, so I get nervous before-hand because I care about what I’m doing and want everyone to enjoy what I do. But there comes a point where I totally become the song, where I become absorbed in the words and the meaning and somehow become slightly oblivious to anything but the story, words and music.

How is it helping you the thing that you’re British and you’re singing with Romanescu in Romania?

I assume no preferential treatment because I’m British. My main criteria is quality in everything I do, which means who I chose to work with and associate myself with and that also can be said vice versa. Romanian musicians top in their profession see that I am a good performer and chose to work with me. Being British is irrelevant. Sorin Romanescu and I have a good synergy and we read each other’s next move musically, so every show is slightly different because we can improvise or divert from our routine. This is terribly exciting and keeps our performance sharp and fresh. It’s a joy to work with such an artist as Sorin Romanescu.

In which language are you thinking? What do you think about Romania in this language?

I think, dream and speak in English! Romanian is a beautiful language and pleasant to hear - I wish to speak it more fluently. Presently I’m able to understand a little more than I can speak.

How would sound a song about your Romania?

Romania has been good to me over the years and I have had many wonderful memories and experiences here. So my song of Romania would quite naturally be one about friendship, good times and happiness.

What kind of music do you use in order to inspire you for your music? What kind of music do you forgot in order to build your music?

Music with emotional content, words with meaning and story are also important. I listen to a very diverse range of music. I’m influenced, I suppose by many genres of music – music from my youth and from my family. There are many ingredients to how I write music, sing it and perform it, but primarily I am ‘me’.

How can you be a brand new presence in a world made of Xerox copies?

It’s not a question of how I can be a new presence. I already am.
Commerciality is important, the same can be said for finding your own niche and to have awareness of market value, but I also hold a firm belief in making music that is true and has meaning with individuality and integrity.

What’s more important: your voice or your person?

The two can’t be separated but if one day I have the terrible misfortune of not being able to sing, then I hope my character would be strong enough to carry me through the rest of life!

Lu Cozma - new interview by Metropotam

New Interview - English version with Metropotam.
Many thanks to Cristina for some great questions....

http://metropotam.ro/Interviuri/2009/11/art9017213067-Interviu-Lu-Cozma/


We don’t know much about you. Please introduce yourself.

My name is Lu Cozma and I’m a British singer/songwriter of Irish, Italian background.

How come you decided to move to Bucharest?

I moved here nearly 2 years ago with my Romanian husband and our 2 daughters.

What does this mean to your musical career? Is it a challenge?

Thankfully as a musician I can work where the music takes me, so I’m quite mobile. I can be based anywhere really. But for my family it is better that we are all based in the same place, as my husband’s business projects are here, so it was better for all of us.

Adapting to new surroundings, culture and language has been a challenge but one I embrace. Often taking calculated risks reap great rewards and bring personal growth. I won’t shy away from the fact that I get homesick and find the changes sometimes quite tough, but I’m up for the adventure and new frontiers both musically, creatively and at a personal level.

Whats the story with the Romanian orphanage you worked for?

I first came to Romania in ’92, where I worked for a charity based in the UK. The orphanage was in Vaslui. The work was rewarding, difficult, often heart breaking but the experience was life changing in a positive way for me - brought me down to reality and got me viewing life from a different prospective.

What did you know about Romanian music scene before and what do you know now, after you have moved here?

Understanding the mechanisms of how the music industry work has been something I’ve had to get better acquainted with. I now live here so it’s important that I contribute to the music community and get to know it as best I can.

Like anywhere else in the world, there is music of top quality and there’s music that’s not. Romania is no exception. It’s all according to taste and trend. Taste differs from person to person, but trends kind of rule the way and that’s what mainstream music relies on.

However some exceptional bands and artists are here, living, breathing and moving toward a wave of new culture in music and I’m feeling extremely excited about it. I’m so happy to be in Romania at this time, because I can see new frontiers being pushed and this is always a healthy sign.

Sometimes we’ve just got to look for the less obvious. Yeah, I suppose it’s great going to see international bands that come here but it’s also good to look at the interesting, intelligent, deep textured sounds that are right here, home grown, under our noses.

How would you characterize your musical style? Do you explore different genres?

Well, I would class myself first and foremost as an alternative artist due to a style which straddles both pop and rock. I started singing at the age of 11yrs predominantly in Irish and English Folk music. It was good training ground for me as a professional and also connected me to my culture. I am however not frightened of pushing the boundaries - as a singer I can only experience the dynamics of my voice and performance by being challenged by other genres.

You said once that the ultimate thing for you is performing. Can you tell me more about performing? What makes a great performance? (the audience, the music, the place, the context...)

Yes, you’re right I did say that. Performing... is me being myself. The stage is my platform of life and I am the story teller - the communicator of imagery, feelings, description and truth. Of course there are other elements at play. The audience are integral to the story, if there is no audience then why would the story teller even have a use? The music and the lyrics are of course important because I have to believe in the meaning and communicate it. I’ve performed at some really awful looking venues in my time, the sound has been rubbish or the surroundings haven’t been all that great but the concerts were electric. So often the place matters but not all the time.

What can you tell about Romanian audience? Is it different from English audience?

The Romanian audiences are extremely warm and emotionally alive - responding to every detail and alert to the message and performance, which is incredibly inspiring to me as a performer. In some ways audiences here remind me of Irish audiences – a similar interaction. That’s not to say that the English aren’t like that because they’re warm too.

We had the chance to see and listen to you at Byron’s album launch in Silver Church. What can you tell us about your musical partnerships with romanian artists?

Byron in my opinion, are one of the top bands in Romania at the moment. I’m very proud of their achievements and think their success is more than deserved. When they asked me to guest on their new album ‘A Kind Of Alchemy’ I felt very honoured and excepted. There’s a mutual appreciation and respect too, which is like gold dust in the music industry.

I’m in discussions on various collaborations with other Romanian artists which I’m considering depending on schedules, availability and timelines etc. Updates on this will be revealed once confirmed.

What can you tell us about your latest album, Red? Maybe some inside information, some stories from recordings, an unusual/funny event...

Before I moved to Romania I was promoting the album RED extensively with my co-writer and fellow musician Steve Askew (from the 80’s band Kajagoogoo). When we can’t perform together I go out solo acoustic where ever the music takes me. In Romania I’m taking out RED live under the name ‘Acoustic Red’ with Sorin Romanescu, a very gifted guitarist.

Stories? Oh there are too many to mention!! This one involves a reporter – no names mentioned!! Late at night after a gig a couple of years ago abroad, I was asked by a reporter if I would do an interview. I was feeling rather tired but I said yes. After finding a spot to do the interview we sat and chatted over a beer and then the interview commenced after recording devices were in place and note pads at the ready. 20 minutes into the interview I sensed that I was on my own or as good as! The interviewer had promptly fallen asleep. He was on his way to dream land.... hello, are you still awake!!!

Which are your favourite artists/bands? Not only Romanian, of course.

I’m a bit of a Brit’ music freak. I like listening to UK Indie and Alternative past and present. I’m fascinated with bands such as Joy Division, Elvis Costello, RadioHead, The Jam and anything Punk and post Punk – New Wave is cool too. I simply love Elbow, Portishead... oh, I can’t stop!!!

Listening to folk is something I do often – maybe it’s an antidote sometimes for my homesickness! Cara Dillon, Eliza Carthy, Seth Lakeman and Clannad, to name a few.

Berti Barbera has a great voice and style and I’m enjoying listening to the greats such as Alifantis and Andries. The Nightlosers are cool....

When is your next gig happening? And where?

The next gig is on the 17th November, sharing a line up of very special artists performing for charityGift.ro @ Club Fabrica.

New Interview - English version with Metropotam.Many thanks to Cristina for some great questions....

We don’t know much about you. Please introduce yourself.

My name is Lu Cozma and I’m a British singer/songwriter of Irish, Italian background.

How come you decided to move to Bucharest?

I moved here nearly 2 years ago with my Romanian husband and our 2 daughters.

What does this mean to your musical career? Is it a challenge?

Thankfully as a musician I can work where the music takes me, so I’m quite mobile. I can be based anywhere really. But for my family it is better that we are all based in the same place, as my husband’s business projects are here, so it was better for all of us.
Adapting to new surroundings, culture and language has been a challenge but one I embrace. Often taking calculated risks reap great rewards and bring personal growth. I won’t shy away from the fact that I get homesick and find the changes sometimes quite tough, but I’m up for the adventure and new frontiers both musically, creatively and at a personal level.

Whats the story with the Romanian orphanage you worked for?

I first came to Romania in ’92, where I worked for a charity based in the UK. The orphanage was in Vaslui. The work was rewarding, difficult, often heart breaking but the experience was life changing in a positive way for me - brought me down to reality and got me viewing life from a different prospective.

What did you know about Romanian music scene before and what do you know now, after you have moved here?

Understanding the mechanisms of how the music industry work has been something I’ve had to get better acquainted with. I now live here so it’s important that I contribute to the music community and get to know it as best I can.
Like anywhere else in the world, there is music of top quality and there’s music that’s not. Romania is no exception. It’s all according to taste and trend. Taste differs from person to person, but trends kind of rule the way and that’s what mainstream music relies on.
However some exceptional bands and artists are here, living, breathing and moving toward a wave of new culture in music and I’m feeling extremely excited about it. I’m so happy to be in Romania at this time, because I can see new frontiers being pushed and this is always a healthy sign.
Sometimes we’ve just got to look for the less obvious. Yeah, I suppose it’s great going to see international bands that come here but it’s also good to look at the interesting, intelligent, deep textured sounds that are right here, home grown, under our noses.

How would you characterize your musical style? Do you explore different genres?

Well, I would class myself first and foremost as an alternative artist due to a style which straddles both pop and rock. I started singing at the age of 11yrs predominantly in Irish and English Folk music. It was good training ground for me as a professional and also connected me to my culture. I am however not frightened of pushing the boundaries - as a singer I can only experience the dynamics of my voice and performance by being challenged by other genres.

You said once that the ultimate thing for you is performing. Can you tell me more about performing? What makes a great performance? (the audience, the music, the place, the context...)

Yes, you’re right I did say that. Performing... is me being myself. The stage is my platform of life and I am the story teller - the communicator of imagery, feelings, description and truth. Of course there are other elements at play. The audience are integral to the story, if there is no audience then why would the story teller even have a use? The music and the lyrics are of course important because I have to believe in the meaning and communicate it. I’ve performed at some really awful looking venues in my time, the sound has been rubbish or the surroundings haven’t been all that great but the concerts were electric. So often the place matters but not all the time.

What can you tell about Romanian audience? Is it different from English audience?

The Romanian audiences are extremely warm and emotionally alive - responding to every detail and alert to the message and performance, which is incredibly inspiring to me as a performer. In some ways audiences here remind me of Irish audiences – a similar interaction. That’s not to say that the English aren’t like that because they’re warm too.

We had the chance to see and listen to you at Byron’s album launch in Silver Church. What can you tell us about your musical partnerships with romanian artists?

Byron in my opinion, are one of the top bands in Romania at the moment. I’m very proud of their achievements and think their success is more than deserved. When they asked me to guest on their new album ‘A Kind Of Alchemy’ I felt very honoured and excepted. There’s a mutual appreciation and respect too, which is like gold dust in the music industry.
I’m in discussions on various collaborations with other Romanian artists which I’m considering depending on schedules, availability and timelines etc. Updates on this will be revealed once confirmed.

What can you tell us about your latest album, Red? Maybe some inside information, some stories from recordings, an unusual/funny event...

Before I moved to Romania I was promoting the album RED extensively with my co-writer and fellow musician Steve Askew (from the 80’s band Kajagoogoo). When we can’t perform together I go out solo acoustic where ever the music takes me. In Romania I’m taking out RED live under the name ‘Acoustic Red’ with Sorin Romanescu, a very gifted guitarist.

Stories? Oh there are too many to mention!! This one involves a reporter – no names mentioned!! Late at night after a gig a couple of years ago abroad, I was asked by a reporter if I would do an interview. I was feeling rather tired but I said yes. After finding a spot to do the interview we sat and chatted over a beer and then the interview commenced after recording devices were in place and note pads at the ready. 20 minutes into the interview I sensed that I was on my own or as good as! The interviewer had promptly fallen asleep. He was on his way to dream land.... hello, are you still awake!!!

Which are your favourite artists/bands? Not only Romanian, of course.

I’m a bit of a Brit’ music freak. I like listening to UK Indie and Alternative past and present. I’m fascinated with bands such as Joy Division, Elvis Costello, RadioHead, The Jam and anything Punk and post Punk – New Wave is cool too. I simply love Elbow, Portishead... oh, I can’t stop!!!
Listening to folk is something I do often – maybe it’s an antidote sometimes for my homesickness! Cara Dillon, Eliza Carthy, Seth Lakeman and Clannad, to name a few.
Berti Barbera has a great voice and style and I’m enjoying listening to the greats such as Alifantis and Andries. The Nightlosers are cool....

When is your next gig happening? And where?

The next gig is on the 17th November, sharing a line up of very special artists performing for charityGift.ro @ Club Fabrica.

Interview with Dan Byron...

‘IF THE AUDIENCE CAN’T RELATE, THEN I HAVE FAILED....’ Dan Byron chats to Lu Cozma about his album ‘Forbidden Drama’ and the release of BYRON’S forthcoming, new album and single release.

I met Dan in a relaxed mood, chilling at a coffee house in Piata Romana, Bucharest, on a pleasant spring afternoon, sipping cappuccino and taking in the midday city atmosphere. Last time I saw him, he had just come off stage, buzzing from a hugely successful show at The Silver Church.
Certainly, it was one of those meetings where the weather and such an interesting interviewee, inspired hours of talking music, life, the universe, however the subject of his new album was very much on the agenda and he was keen to divulge.

What’s on his mind? What gets his thinking processes on hard drive? What are the issues that mean something to Dan Byron? By the end of the interview, I got to thinking that what he feels strongly about comes to life in song.

Exposed to music at an early age; the second child of 2 boys, exceptional parents who encouraged creativity; studying music at school, nearly marrying and living in Germany, even faking mental instability to escape Military Service were all subjects that could have made a story in themselves. But that’s for another time, maybe in his autobiography in years to come.
I asked Dan about writing, creating and performing original compositions and what’s his take on it all...

DB – The biggest pleasure I have is to create. And when I am at home, sitting on my chair, with my computer, with my keyboard, with my guitar and create something new and something exciting you know.... this is the pleasure.
LC – The album ‘Forbidden Drama’... what was the reason for the title?
DB – The first reason was it sounds well.
LC – Which is a good enough reason.
DB – Yeah. The 2nd reason is about things we don’t speak about. It’s about the reality of the world and all this corporate stuff, all these walls everyday that we build. 30 years after the album ‘The Wall’ (Pink Floyd), we’re still in the same shit or worse. During the writing of that album I met our manager, he thinks corporate. I met those corporate types. And the guitar player was a lawyer.
My kind of freedom and their kind of life gave birth to this album, from beginning to end. I start with corporate stuff and step by step going to my kind of stuff.
LC – Do you find as a writer you’re making a conscious decision or obligation to have some thought provoking content in your music?
DB – Many artists are talking about love. They are talking about love since the 50’s or one century before, but they don’t really talk about love actually, they only talk about love cos they know they can sell the album...
LC - Playing on sentimentality...?
DB – Yeah. For the next album, I tried hard, really hard, to write one song about love.
LC – Was it that much of an effort?
DB – It was a real, big effort. The first point; I don’t like to lie. If I make music, I have to be there and think. The second is I don’t want to talk about my private life, but I did... And I wrote a song about one love that I lost, it still obsessed me. Not because of the person. It was more about - I loved that love. I always remembered how it was.
LC – Nostalgia, you were kind of grieving over?
DB – Yeah, but that was the challenge. In that song the chorus is ‘There is one love we never forget, one love every day we try to recreate’. On ‘Forbidden Drama’ I included a little episode on (the song) ‘Faraway’. Faraway is about sex actually. It’s about the feelings you have but it’s not about love...
LC – Lust and a drive for lust...
DB – Yeah. When you have sex with somebody, you forget about your problems, your troubles, and you’re so far away from the world. And for this new album I was thinking man, I wrote something about sex before but not about love... The next album is about writing; the process, from beginning to end.
LC – The theme of the album and the songs ‘thread’ throughout will be about ‘writing’?
DB – I don’t like to have an album with greatest hits. If I write 20 songs and chose 10, it’s not good...
LC – You like to have continuum throughout?
DB – Yeah. There are many layers of the album. A primal layer when you first hear and then after deeper and deeper. For example; it’s exciting to write about writing because you can talk about all problems you have, you can talk about media, how you are treated by media, how you feel about all these chicks on the television showing their asses and being rich and you as a real artist writing about yourself, life and everything... and nobody cares about you.
LC – Celebrity is different from actual talent...
DB – Yeah, yeah.
LC – Do you find yourself writing social documentary in your music?
DB – This influence comes from Bob Dylan; Pink Floyd, King Crimson. I guess my major influence come from Roger Waters and Bob Dylan because they wrote something so social, that when I listen I start thinking on what my life is. When Bob Dylan talks about love, he really means it. You can feel it. Like The Girl From North Country. (Dan then puts on a convincing Bob Dylan imitation voice and starts singing).
LC – Is it all about the product, is it all about the story and is it about bringing the audience in to your world?
DB – Well it’s not actually my story. It’s everybody’s story, but from my perspective. It’s what I see around me.
LC – So you’re putting forward to people something they can relate to ...
DB - If they can’t relate, then I have failed. Empathy is the most important .
LC – You seem to have a really solid team of musicians you’re working with. Do they have any say in the creative process? Do you bring them on board at a specific time? Is it a joint effort?
DB - I become more and more like a dictator, ha, but not like that kind of dictator...
LC – Haha, what kind? Like a nice dictator????
DB – I’m obsessed with making drafts, with music soft (software) and I bring to life every idea I have for each and every instrument we have in this band.
LC – Do you hear the arrangements in your head?
DB – Yeah, but my rule is like ‘well this is what I think about this. This is the theme I give you but if you don’t like it change it. If you like it keep it’, you know? So for the first album they changed it a lot because I was not so professional, like...
LC – Or maybe not so sure of yourself, then?
DB – No I was pretty sure of myself then but I didn’t have all the conditions I have right now. In the meantime time I bought another computer, a new midi control...
LC – A new surge of confidence...
DB – Yeah, and right now I can do almost anything at home, you know. Back then I didn’t know the software so well...
LC – Were you reliant on other people to help you with the technology of it?
DB – No, I made everything myself but I learnt in time... But my computer was old. Many things I wrote, with my right hand with the mouse and it’s hard to do it like this, because until you write an idea you’ve almost lost it, you know... Many things I wrote with my pen because I just didn’t want to lose the moment.
LC – Has the new album got a title or a working title? Or are you still working on that?
DB – The working title is ‘A Kind of Alchemy’. It’s something like an innuendo on ‘It’s a kind of Magic’ by Queen. A Kind Of Alchemy because making music is like being an alchemist; transforming people, happenings, into something different.
LC – You haven’t recorded yet... But the content of the album is pretty much there?
DB – It’s been ready since November.
LC – So it’s just a question of when you’ll be recording. Have you a deadline for release and will it be independently released or through a record label? With Forbidden Drama did they (the record company) distribute? Can you find it in the shops?
DB – Yeah.
LC – When a band’s ready at the point of bringing a product together, it’s better to have full control of every process, graphics, design, distribution etc ?
DB – No, I don’t want full control. I want to know what’s happening.
When we made ‘Forbidden Drama’ I had full control and I failed a little because I didn’t know much about making an album. I knew how to make the music but the rest of it, it is too much for me. After that, for the DVD ‘Acoustic Drama’ I almost didn’t feel like I had something to do because our manager did almost everything. We realised we had a designer in our band and we didn’t know about it... 6Fingers the keyboard player made the design. He just showed me the final draft and I said, alright, it’s very fine. Right now we are pretty much a team, everybody is doing something.
LC – When do we expect the release?
DB – In the autumn.
LC – A tour?
DB – I hope so. We have a tour this summer. I don’t know exactly when and where. Anyway, just Romania. There is no reason to go outside and play in clubs where nobody knows about you.
Actually now we are working on the final drafts and I believe in one month we’re gonna go to the studio.
LC – Excellent. How can we find out updates and info’? On your website?
DB – Yeah. The next site I want total control. That’s why I think, maybe, we’re gonna make it!
LC – A video, for the next album? Have you got a single that you’re going to push forward with a video?
DB – We have many. We’re thinking, this song or the other one.
LC – A tight decision?
DB – I already know the first single. And if someone’s going to be against me I’m going to fight!!!

Whoa! Before a possible fight breaks out, better get yourself logged on to http://www.byronmusic.ro/ for updates, news, gig listings and info on the new album.

Interview by Lu Cozma.