'Quadro Q' on 'St Saddam' Q(&A's)

In the last post the ‘Quadrophenia Q’ revealed information about the first band that will be interviewed on ‘Music, Truth and Tunes’. Through a chat session with Johannes Roth from Stockholm, Sweden here is the answers to the ‘Quadro Q’s’ asked to the St. Saddam guitarist.

Q: Thank you for participating, lets get started , you’re currently working on a new record on your record label RMI, if I’m correct? How is it going and what can we expect from the new album?
A: Yeah, that’s correct. We started working on it last fall and we can’t say much more than that it is rushing forward slowly. We have been trying to experiment with our sound or rather than experiment, develop it. The album will probably be somewhat calmer and softer but we can guarantee that we won’t be holding in on the, rocking stoner riffs.
Q. Sounds great! You’re Currently working on a new record on your record label RMI, if I’m correct? How is it going and what can we expect from the new album?
A. Yeah, that’s correct. We started working on it last fall and we can’t say much more than that it is rushing forward slowly. We have been trying to experiment with our sound or rather than experiment, develop it. The album will probably be somewhat calmer and softer but we can guarantee that we won’t be holding in on the, rocking stoner riffs.
Q. Promising, do you think it can It be likened with your previous EP, ‘Biohazzard Blues’?
A. It will be easy to draw parallels to our older songs. It might even be that one or a few tracks are from the older material, but re-invented and developed in a new sound. Hopefully it will be a nice mix between old, unrecorded and most all new material.
Q. Ok, and about your genre, you’re probably the only Atom/Rock band that i know of, it’s original but you’ve got to have influences, where to you get your inspiration?
A. I believe that our biggest influence is simply everything that happens around us, life in general in a more simplified and easily described way.
Q. Just a question in between, is it accurate that you are a 100 per cent ‘jam’-session band?
A. Yes and No. When it’s about recording in the studio the songs are very often, well structured but they’re arranged as time goes by. When it comes to our live performances and gigs we are often experimenting and playing with the sound and we consider that improvisation is one of the main parts of our performance.
Q. From your start, you’ve been possesing some kind of mystique around you, would you call that you’re appeal or is it a larger purpose for this mystique? Are you trying to reach more of a musical atmosphere rather than concerts where you’re profiled by the audience?
A. The first time we jammed together we created an atmosphere in the rehearsal space that was almost touchable. That atmosphere is something that has been following us until this day and hopefully it will continue to do so even in the future. If it seems mysterious, light, strange, good or bad is up the audience or the listeners to decide. We are not trying to reach for a forced ‘image’. And maybe that is one of the main reasons why it feels so real or true.
Q. So what about your atom-test-bombing video, across your relatively small fan circle it has become somewhat a disscussion subject, is there a deeper purpose to the video and it that case what is it
A. Once again it’s all about the interpretation of the audience. For some people it has no meaning and for others it strengthens, both the visual and musical experience. For us it has become a part of St Saddam.
Q. Good reviews, positive critcism, why aren’t you doing more music and more gigs?
A. The biggest reason is probably the logistical problems. We are divided in four cities and in two different countries so we have a hard time organizing rehearsals and gigs.
Q. So a direct question to you Johannes, what are you listening to right know? Any Tips you’d like to share?
A. U2’s new album, ‘No Line On The Horizon’ is currently at repeat. Otherwise it’s very much The Doors, Mogwai and Miles Davies for the moment.
Q. So back to you guys and the upcoming record, when can we hear it?
A. I don’t dare to say much more than, during 2009.
Q. From the record to your name. St. Saddam might be seen as quite controversal, what is the background or the history of the name, how come it became St. Saddam?
A. The meaning is that a thing/human/belief/religion and so on, can be possessed by one being and at the same time be hated by someone else. The name itself doesn’t have anything to do with Saddam Hussein himself, like many choose to believe. It’s more a reflection of good and evil in a ironic kind of sense.
Q. I’ve heard the band is currently not as active, is this album the end or the beginning of St. Saddam?
A. It’s hopefully the beginning of a very long end.
Q. So final thing I’ll ask for you, describe the music of St. Saddam with five words.
A. Powerful, Superb, Generous, Sharp and Unified.
Thank you Johannes and good luck to the new record.

Visit St. Saddam on Myspace or on RMI Sweden

Introducing 'Quadro Q' on St Saddam

Now proudly introducing the ‘Quadrophenia Q’. A section of ‘Music, Truth & Tunes’ where I interview upcoming and unsigned musicians, bands or artists about their visions, their music and goals.

The first band to be interviewed is the Swedish, experimental/rock band St. Saddam. The band is currently working to finnish their first full length album on the the swedish indie label RMI. It’s now two years since St. Saddam released their first EP, ‘Bioharrard Blues’ and their most well recognized song ‘Art Of Exhile’. The band call themselves ‘Atom/Rock’ and is a heavier version of instrumental acts like ‘Explosions In The Sky’, ‘Ef’ and ‘Maybeshewill’ with huge influences of postmodern stoner/rock.

Since the beginning of the bands history there has always been a special atmopshere around St Saddam, originated from the Swedish east coast town, Oskarshamn the band recieved great press for their first performances and created a controversy with a political atom test bombing video on a screen stretched over the stage for none to see the band as they give a performance. A Controversial name, constantly mistaken and directed toward Saddam Hussein, St. Saddam has created a name for themselves. As their new album is on the way I choose to interview guitarist and producer Johannes Roth, member of St. Saddam to sort things out and to get a deeper look at the mysterious St. Saddam.

Read all of it tomorrow at Music, Truth & Tunes and check out St.Saddam on myspace.

Proudly Presenting the Quadrophenia Q

Now introducing the 'Quadrophenia Q', a series of short interviews and personal opinions on hand picked musicians and artists struggeling for recognizion will be revealed on 'Music, Truth and Tunes'. Starting off this upcoming two weeks, two interviews will be posted. Unknown artists will get a chance to talk of their art and get more listeners.

The Quadrophenia Q reflects to the 70's film about mods and the power of free expressionism. It also reflects the society where we want our young talents to receive recognition by the world in order to preserve the great in music as an artform and a way of expressing itself. The 'Q' stands for 'Questions' and in this case my questions will give you easy views on what these people hope for, what they do and what their goals are. Taking off this first week the Swedish, Atom/Rock band St. Saddam will give us a comment on their upcoming album on their new label 'RMI' and also the meaning of what the bands music reflect to themselves as well as to the crows. This including short bio and links so you can listen for yourself and see what you think.

The first 'Quadro Q' will be posted in the end of this week.

Looking forward to getting started!
Have yourself a terrific and great tomorrow!