Interview with Evergrey’s keyboard player, Rikard Zander
April 25th, 2004
by John Haseltine
Currently on a six week trek of the states, in support of the upcoming masterpiece "The Inner Circle’. I had a chance to meet up with keyboard player , Rikard Zander in Columbus, Ohio.
This is only the second time around the states for this Swedish metal act. And the following conversation incurred.
JH: Give us a brief history of the band.
RZ: I think the band started around ‘95/’96, but the only original member left is Tom. The singer. So there’s been quite a few changes among the members in the band. This particular lineup we have now, we’ve had for about one year like. It’s the lineup from the latest album ‘The Inner Circle’ is the band that is playing now.
JH: The new album is slated to come out on the 27th. Is that still a go?
RZ: Yes, in a couple of days. We still sell it at the shows.
JH: ‘The Inner Circle’ is a concept album?
RZ: Yes ,that is correct.
JH: Can you explain it briefly?
RZ: It’s, we did on the last album ‘Recreation Day’, we did a song called, ‘Unforgettable Sin’, and it was about Catholic priests who were abusing children.
JH: That’s quite a big subject.
RZ: Yeah, yeah it is. The thing we thought we were going to do a whole concept album on that thing, you know like you said it is a big subject, and you know we’d have to know a lot about it. To write about it, so the thing. The religious cult thing followed us to the next album. I mean, it’s Tom who writes all the lyrics, so, he’s probably the best one to ask that to. To defend the lyrics. Well you could say the concept is about no particular religion, but more like, this cult thing. Where people want something to follow ,and in this particular, well it is a fictional story. It doesn’t really, it doesn’t go well.
JH: You guys used a string quartet from the Gothenburg Symphonic Orchestra on this album. How was it working with them on the recording?
RZ: It was really cool. Yeah. I think it really adds something to , I mean it was difficult to not have them all the time, but to chose special areas were they would fit.
JH: The production took over five months on this album. Is that particularly long for an Evergrey release? Or would this be about the norm.
RZ: I do think it’s particularly long actually. ‘Recreation Day’ we did in a lot less time , but we really wanted to take our time on this one. You know and work the songs through. And make the best of them. So that’s why it took that long. I mean five months, it wasn’t like 9 to 5 or anything like that everyday, it was more like from 2 to 4.
JH: So you’re planning on filming a couple of videos for the album?
RZ: Yeah, we’ve done one to ‘A Touch Of Blessing’. The first song on the album. And it’s, we thought they were going to air it on the HeadBangers Ball last night, but they didn’t. So probably the next one or two.
JH: Yeah I was watching last night and I did not see it.
RZ: Yeah we were watching too. But hopefully it will start to air and I think it will go on some of the Swedish channels now when we release the album.
JH: I finally had a chance to see the two videos for ‘Blinded and I’m Sorry’ last week. How much time do you put into the filming of an Evergrey video?
RZ: Those two for ‘Blinded and I’m Sorry’, we actually did both of them at the same time. Ah, over a week and a couple of days more. This last one was a little bit easier for us to make, because we didn’t have to do that much ourselves. It was more all set up for us, so. It took only a day.
JH: Tom’s wife Carina once again appears on the album, as well as on every album. Does she ever do any live shows?
RZ: We played in Gothenburg once and she came in on the last number. And messed around with us you know. We’ve never seriously used her live. But who knows, maybe we will someday.
JH: How have the sales of your previous albums been in the U.S. been?
RZ: Well you I think it’s been pretty good , but after they have been airing ‘Blinded and I’m Sorry’, the sales have doubled. From what I’ve heard. I don’t know the figures really. But I suppose it’s good.
JH: So this tour is about six weeks long? What’s up after that?
RZ: Some summer festivals, I mean we reallly don’t have anything planned as of yet, but it really depends on if we can find a good European tour we would do that. We’re thinking about doing a live album so, maybe come back here, I don’t know. We’ll see.
JH: So I see you were nominated for a Grammy in Sweden? What was that for.
RZ: Yeah, they have a category for best hard rock. So it was us, Opeth, The Haunted, and a couple of other bands.
JH: So what became of that? Has it been awarded yet?
RZ: Yeah, yeah.....
JH: So did you win?
RZ: No we did not. But we had a great party. The Haunted won it.
JH: The artwork for the album was done by Mattias Noren. Has he done any other Evergrey albums?
RZ: Well I think he’s done the last three. ‘In Search Of Truth, Recreation Day’ and then this one. I think so anyways.
JH: Who are some of you musical influences?
RZ: My personal or the bands?
JH: Both.
RZ: I would say, you know I thought about this yesterday . I just happened to hear an interview with Children Of Bodom, and I think ah, for the band, like the vision of the band, from the beginning, it was something like a mixture of Deicide and Pink Floyd. but then we all have all kinds of musical influences in the band. It really varies a lot from band member to band member.
JH: So I saw on your website, that you feel the internet was a big part in promoting yourselves worldwide. What other steps are you taking?
RZ: The internet? Yeah right. I don’t , I think really we just want to play live. You know play in front of as many people as we can. Because that’s really a good way to get your name out there. It’s a good way for bands like us to get a bigger following. We’re not a band that will get one hit on the radio and explode you know. We’re not beautiful , teenage girls you know. So , I think what we have to do is travel around and play for more people.
JH: I realize the tour just started last week, but with this past week and the last tour of the states with Arch Enemy, how receptive have the crowds been towards you?
RZ: we’ve really noticed a difference from the last tour to this one so far. I mean last tour was pretty good also, but now it’s really, really good.
JH: You get some returning fans.
RZ: Yeah, exactly . I mean we played with Arch Enemy and Hate Eternal last time around and we thought, well man this could go either way, you know. But it went pretty well. This show now with Iced Earth and Children Of Bodom , I think is really good. There are fans from all the bands who are fans of all the bands.
JH; Yeah, that is my next question actually. That you feel this tour is a bit more custom taylored to you style of music.
RZ: Yes , yes I feel it is a little more.
JH: Any of you working in any other bands?
RZ: no, this is a full time thing. There are some guest appearances here and there. But no other band.
JH: What does the future look like for Evergrey? Does it look good?
RZ: Yes ,definitely.
JH: so you’re on an uphill climb?
RZ: Yeah, I mean , it’s something you can feel. That stuff is happening. We feel it with all of us. I think it’s gonna be real good.
JH: Well that’s about it for my questions, besides the few I skipped. Is there anything you would like to add?
RZ: I don’t know?
JH: Come out and see Evergrey?
RZ: Ah, you going to go tonight?
JH: Yes I am. I’m here for the duration.
RZ: Ah, find me in there after our set and tell how you think we did.
JH: I will be doing a show review too, so yeah I’ll catch up with you later.
RZ: Okay, than we better play good.
