Posted on November 22, 2008 - by Mark Zonda

Another Sky

This time I had the chance to talk with Anders Kaasen, from the Bergen based pop band The April Skies. Tracks like “Picnic in Heaven” and “Three minutes singles” hit me for their genuine istant classic strenght along with a fresh indie attitude. Here’s the interview.

Mark Zonda: Mr. Anders, introduce The April Skies to our readers.

Anders: We’re a pop band from Bergen, Norway constantly trying to make uplifting, high quality guitar pop. It’s hard. That’s why we still haven’t managed to release an album.

Mark Zonda: Still we’re pleased with your marvellous tunes! Which is your favourite one?

Anders: Thanks! We’ve only released 2 singles so far, and “Three Minute Singles” is the one I’m most proud of. We’ve always thought of it as our manifesto; a pop song celebrating the euphoria we get from listening to perfect singles like… “Felicity” by Orange Juice or “Dreaming” by Blondie. It’s this kick we tried to capture in a song.

Mark Zonda: How did you decide to start a band?

Anders: Me and Alex first became friends because we loved and knew all kinds of pop music. Motown, the early ’60s girl groups like Shangri-Las and The Chiffons, Philly Soul, The Who, early Rolling Stones, Love, Bruce Springsteen, The Monkees, Scott Walker, Chris Bell, Håkan Hellström but also newer and more commercial pop like Kylie, Annie or even Destiny’s Child… Of course we both love the obvious ’80s greats: The Smiths, The Stone Roses, Felt, Pale Fountians, JAMC & Orange Juice to name a few. But it was important to find another person who knew and loved a great variety of music, I never understood the people who only listen to ’80s guitar pop. I was a teenage Johnny Marr-wannabe without a band and was always writing riffs and instrumentals and unfinished songs on my own, waiting for a perfect singer to come along. After I got to know Alex I heard some really lo-fi recordings he had made at home with a really cheap mic and an out-of-tune guitar. But I instantly recognised a great quality in his voice, in those days he reminded me a bit of Bobby Gillespie or Ian Brown, kind of innocent pop voice. Also his english and his lyrics were so much better and smarter than anybody else’s. From that moment on we made a pact to form a band. We thought every other band in Norway at that moment were shit, and that was one of the reasons for getting the band together. We started writing the first songs in 2001 and the first April Skies gig wasn’t until 2004. We’re in the end of 2008 now and still trying to make a debut album for Plastilina Records.

Mark Zonda: Why you looked at the guitarist from Smiths as a model and not at great guitar hero from the 60s or a modern tecnician of modern era?

Anders: Well, for several reasons I guess. It was Slash that inspired me to start playing guitar when I was 11. But at some point when you grow older you see the emptiness of virtuoso soloing. Like Jimmy Page, I can’t believe I used to like him. It’s embarrasing to listen to his solo masturbation. Also everyone, from the shitty local Norwegian bands to Oasis and Nirvana seemed to be pleased to play boring strummed chords or pointless power chords. Hearing Marr was a revelation, because he laid so much thought and effort into his arrangments. And he was pure POP! Not a power chord or a shitty solo in sight, only bright and shiny pop riffs that were both complex and catchy at the same time.

Party time with Princes Niko

Mark Zonda: As we can assume from the patchwork of your logo, you do the writing trying to achive the perfect pop song. What’s the recipe of an istant classic?

Anders: I’m not sure, ask Barry Manilow!

Mark Zonda: Then tell us something about young sweden and norwegian indie scene.

Anders: Well, Marco, I hear it’s pretty good. Personally I really love Twig, Suburban Kids With Biblical Names, Florence Valentin, Jens Lekman etc. As for Norway it’s supposed to be a good indie scene, but I believe it’s not so great. But especially one band should get more recognition, and that’s Herr Nilsson. I think they’re one of the best bands in the world, honestly. They have everything; the best songs, a fantastic sound full of surprises, a singer and songwriter who’s the nicest guy in the indiepop world. I recommend everything they’ve done, but especially their debut album “I’m no Elvis”.

Mark Zonda: Everyone is goin’ crazy on Twig right now! What’s the secret of his little success?

Anders: For me it’s the combination of smart lyrics and good melodies. And the singer’s voice reminds me of strange 80′s pop crooners like Morrissey or Edwyn Collins. On a personal level I love that he is a librarian and sings about libraries! Both myself and Alex work in libraries at the moment.

Mark Zonda: Most of the fan knows that Ragnhild Hogstad Jordahl plays in your band. How’s she as a drummer? Ever tought to plan a double-feature tour with The April Skies and Soda Fountain Rag?

Anders: Ragnhild had never played drums before she became a member of The April Skies in 2004. It took a while for her to get the hang of it, but when we started to rehearse and play lots of concerts she had total control. Always kept it simple, and that?s a strength. She also sings backing vocals at our gigs.

Personally I’d love to do a double-feature tour. We actually had an offer to play Stockholm and Finland with both Soda and April Skies this year, but had to turn it down because boring things like work and studies made it impossible. But someday…

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