From: owner-velvet-station-digest@smoe.org (velvet-station-digest) To: velvet-station-digest@smoe.org Subject: velvet-station-digest V3 #22 Reply-To: velvet-station@smoe.org Sender: owner-velvet-station-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-velvet-station-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk velvet-station-digest Saturday, March 4 2000 Volume 03 : Number 022 Today's Subjects: ----------------- [VS] Velvet Belly interview (www.avis1.com) [Philippa.Demonte@bmg.co.uk] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 3 Mar 2000 22:12:19 +0100 From: Philippa.Demonte@bmg.co.uk Subject: [VS] Velvet Belly interview (www.avis1.com) Hi Velvet Belly did some interviews with foreign journalists on Tuesday just gone - one of them was with Martin Tystad (a Norwegian freelancer) for avis1 - below is a translation in English (apologies for any dodgy bits) - Philippa - To conquer the world with subtle Belly-pop by MARTIN TYSTAD, LONDON Kristiansand's Velvet Belly have waited 10 years for international success. Yesterday vocalist Anne-Marie Almedal (28) and the other band members shared interview duties with English, Italian, German, Finnish, Austrian and Japanese TV journalists. Avis 1 met them half way through the day. The band is in top form. The interviews are one after the other, but that doesn't bother them. "We've waited a long time to do this. We've approached the international scene several times, but it's been a turbulent journey and we've had a lot of bad luck. There is a sea of bands and it's difficult to get the priority status that we need to make a breakthrough. It's great that something is finally happening - (an international) lauch has been on the cards for a long time," says Anne-Marie Almedal to avis1. Velvet Belly formed in 1989. The first album <> (he means 'Colours' - comm. Philippa) was released in 1992. The 'new' record which is going to help them to conquer the world is a revised version of the 'Lucia' album which won a Spellemannsprisen (Norwegian Grammy) in 1997. The single 'Easy' has been remixed by the British Boilerhouse and given more of a pop-slant. Velvet Belly have also done a cover of Kate Bush's 'The Man With the Child In His Eyes'. The array of media (activity) yesterday left little doubt that this is Velvet Belly's chance to establish a name for themselves internationally. - Why has it taken so long? - "We are maybe not the easiest band to market. Chart music is all about heavy grooves and instant kicks. We can do that too, but our music is a little more subtle and takes a bit more time to get into. It's not ear candy music." - Is it your goal to be world famous? - "I've never dreamed of becoming a pop star. It takes a lot to get a hit (record). It's not good to start dreaming about it, but it is possible to get airplay and be played on the radio. We've been in this business for so long that the whole process has been de-mystified. We have a realistic view on things, and I think that's a big advantage. It means that we can relax and find the core of what it is we're doing, " says Anne-Marie. The other band members nod in agreement. In comparison to many Norwegian bands, it's not their goal to have a constant stream of hit records, but to gain dedicated fans around the world instead. "Stars like Aqua, Celine Dion and Britney Spears play on their image, but for many the music business is anything but glamourous. Hundreds of thousands work in harmony with their fans and produce better and much more interesting music. Except for Massive Attack and Radiohead, there are very few examples of good underground bands who get caught up in the chart machines," says Anne-Marie. Yesterday they played at the prestigeous London Astoria for Japanese Fuji TV. 7 - 10 million Japanese people regularly watch the Friday programme which the Norwegian group will now be appearing on. Guitarist Tor-Henning Sundgodt (33) thinks that Velvet Belly could be big in Japan. "There are several Norwegians who have done well in Japan. I don't know why, but maybe it's because they consider us to be a bit exotic. So we'll be concentrating on there. Anne-Marie looks like a little goblin," says Tor-Henning jokingly. After finally finishing with the endless round of media, the group relaxed at a concert that Norwegian Apoptygma Berzerk had late yesterday evening, also at the Astoria. ------------------------------ End of velvet-station-digest V3 #22 ***********************************