Below is an interview done with Lefay's drummer, Robin Engström.
What precipitated this interview was the rumors I had heard about Lefay
being dropped from Noise Records. I wanted to find out what happened and
hopefully lay to rest any fears I had about the dissolution of one of my
favorite bands!!!
Noise decided to not use their upcoming option, so in theory that
would mean that they dropped us yes.
Can you explain to us why?
Hmm, well...I think that the main problem would have to be money...we
just don't bring in as much as we cost I guess.
Has this put a damper on how you feel about playing music, or
being in Lefay at all?
No, not really. We look at this as a new possibility to get a step up
on the success ladder. Maybe we can land a deal with a company that will
put us higher on the priority list...hopefully. :)
Did you feel that the lower sales was the fault of the label's
lack of promotion for the band?
Hmm, touchy subject...he he. Well I personally feel that they could
have done more. On the last tour I checked the CD stores every other day
for our "...---..." CD...and it was missing in like 9 out of
10 stores so, go figure who's fault it is...I dunno. :)
Yeah, I hear ya. It was hard to get here in Canada as well!!! Was
it even released over here, or was it only released in Europe?
It was released in the States at least, and as far as I know it
should be released in Canada too.
Were you happy with the way the songs turned out on S.O.S.?
What can I say...the songs are all good, but given a little more time
for a pre-production might have done the album better...who knows? But
overall I think it is a good album that takes a few listens to get into,
and that usually turns out to be the kind of album that sticks for a
longer time.
How much involvement do you have in the Lefay song-writing
process, is it mainly Tony and Charles?
Yes, Tony writes all the music while Micke and Peter helps out a lot in the arranging parts, then Charles does all the lyrics with some help
from me...and then we all put the music and vocal lines together in some
way.
So what does all this mean for the band (I hope no one has left?),
and what are the band's immediate plans, have you been writing songs for
a new album?
Nobody has left the band, but as far as songwriting...we're on a
break so to speak. Everyone but me are out of town working for the
moment and will be for quite some time forward. As far as plans go, we
have received a few good offers from great metal labels (no names yet)
that we need to look at together and decide which way to go for the next
album. When all that is done we will start working on a new album I
guess.
So no time frame has been decided yet? Will there be a new Lefay
CD in 2001?
Hopefully, if everything works out with a new label and
everything...we should have an album out by fall/winter 2001.
You have been with Lefay for three albums now (Seventh Seal,
the re-recording of Symphony of the Damned and S.O.S.). Can you tell me
how they discovered you, and how you got asked to join the band? Also,
what were your thoughts about Morgana Lefay prior to this?
How they found me? Well, me, Micke and Peter have rehearsed next door
from Morgana Lefay for many years with our other band Fantasmagoria and
we've been friends for more years, so maybe we were the natural choice
when they needed new members. I always liked Morgana Lefay's music,
maybe 'cause they are such good friends...who knows...but I've always
liked Tony's songwriting and Charles vocals.
Are you still a member of Fantasmagoria? If so, what's up with
that band? By the way, did you get the band name from the Annihilator
song "Phantasmagoria"? :-)
I'm still a member yes, and we just got a new second guitarist: Johan
Wadelius (also bassist/vocalist in Evercry) and we are trying to work
out some new material to send around to the labels...we have a few lined
up for the moment so.
And yes, we got the name from there...just changed the "Ph"
to an "F" 'cause it looked better in the logo. :)
So I assume you are a big Annihilator fan? In my opinion, they are
probably the best metal band from here (Canada)!!
Yes I like Annihilator a lot...or at least the early stuff...haven't
heard anything for a while now...
Does Fantasmagoria have a webpage?
We do not have a site yet, still looking for someone good and
reliable to run it.
Is Fantasmagoria also based out of Bollnäs, Sweden? Tell me a bit
about the scene there. Last time I spoke with Tony, he said that it was
amazing how many metal bands are from there!!
Fantasmagoria is from Bollnäs too yes, and what can I say about
the scene...we have a big house here with 11 rehearsals and some 16-17
bands playing there. Out of all this it's about 10-11 bands that either
has or is negotiating a record deal...that's pretty good stats if you
ask me. And another thing...nobody sounds like any of the other bands.
:)
Last Fantasmagoria questions...
How would you describe the band's sound and how different is it from
Lefay?
We are much more aggressive, more in the realms of Pantera,
Machine Head with a little Iron Maiden tossed in there...
How can people hear Fantasmagoria's music??
So far I think we are available on Nuclear Blast mailorder, but if
not contact the label that did the CD, e-mail: info@trudani.se
A typical question, but one I always like to read about - what
bands would you consider as an influence?
Well...ALLOT!!! All from Metallica to Uriah Heep, it's very hard
to pick out a few because we have such different preferences in metal
and music in general so...I dunno...I think we get influenced mostly
from what we are listening to every day...which is all from the darkest
Death Metal to the crappy stuff they play on commercial radio. :)
Do they play any REAL metal on the radio there? Here we don't get
any except for a bit of it on the local university station.
Same here, I actually run a show at school..."Apocalypse
98,4" but we only reach our town and our neighbor town so....
What do you play on your show??? All metal??? Do you plug LEFAY on
the air? hehe...
We play all kinds, and of course I plug my bands a little bit :)
...would not be objective if I didn't right?
What bands have you been listening to lately?? Have any albums
released this past year blown you away???
Don't hate me now...Slipknot really got my attention recently and the
Machine Head CD "The Burning Red" is growing on me every time
I hear it...
OH MY GOD!!!! I'm dying here. hahaha. I hate ShitSnot, and Machine
Head's latest album was an abomination!! Rob Flynn should NEVER RAP!!
hahah
Do you like any non-trendy true metal bands? hahah
Well, dare I say that I completely forgot (I'M SORRY GUYS!!!)
Nevermore's "Dead Heart In A Dead World"...that's a total
KILLER!!!
Yeah, that is a GREAT album - dark, heavy, melodic...METAL! No
"nu-metal/rapping/mallcore" sounds on that on hahaha!!
So....You mentioned to me that you were attending some type of
school. What are you studying?
Radio technique...gonna be a host/technician some day I hope:)
Cool!! So you wanna read out www.metal-rules.com on the air some
night? muuuhahahah!
Sure, no prob...
Does the band own or run http://www.lefay.com? It's a great site,
but...I was just wondering why it's not updated all that often?
Duh...as if I don't know...ha ha, well I'm in an argument with the
webdude at the moment regarding whether I told him to update or
not...he's a bit soft in the head I think...but check out www.lefay.net
she might be taking over soon...if nothing happens with the other
dude...
Is there anything else you would like to let Lefay fans know
about???
Well, they don't need to worry about the label situation...we'll be
back soon...stronger than ever hehe, and have a Mental X-mas and a
Scrappy New Year!!! And don't forget...beer makes Your hair grow
faster...he he.
Well I guess that's all I can ask you about. I just hope, as a
Lefay fan, that things go well for you and that we can rest assured that
a new album will be out...the sooner the better haha!
Cool, and thanx for all the support bro:) Hope to be back soon with a
release-related interview :-)
C-YA!!!
