10Q's with JOSEPH WILLIAMS and PETER FRIEDSTEDT
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Jospeh Williams and Peter Friedstedt have just released a great AOR album on AOR Heaven. Here Peter gives us the lowdown on the album and future plans…
What are you currently up to then Pete?
“Hi Jason! We are just about to release the Williams/ Friestedt
record in Japan now, with 3 bonus tracks; and we are super excited, as
it's been doing great here in Europe up ‘til now!!!”
Could you take us through the songs on the new album please? The ideas behind the songs, song writing process, etc.?
“Sure…. “Swear Your Love” – It's the ‘uptempo’ starter off the
record with great backup vocals by Lars Säfsund. It was a lot of fun
playing those guitar solos!”
“Say Goodbye” – That’s the first “new” song we recorded for the
album; it was wonderful to have JR playing that great groove on this
one!”
“Sometimes You Win” – Great composition written by Jay Graydon and
Randy Goodrum! Bill Cantos did a wonderful work with BG vocals here!”
“Where To Touch You” – This song was originally from “LA Project II”, and it’s a particular favourite of Joseph’s, I know….”
Joseph –“Yes; we worked at Bill's and had many laughs
throughout. Bill recorded my entire lead vocal with the instrumental
track going to ‘Tape’? So we had to re-do the whole thing. It is a
common mistake, and it's happened to me more than once. We laughed it
off and did it again. Not a big deal (but funny)! I love working with
Bill and always will. The same goes for Peter. He is so talented and I
always feel blessed to work on his albums.”
Peter – “Going Home” – The instrumental track off the album. The most spiritual song on the record!”
“Stay With Me” – We did all the vocals for this one in Stockholm,
right before a concert; Joseph and Lars arranged the background vocals,
right on spot, there and then, in the studio!”
“One More Night” – One of my favourite songs that I've ever written!
I wrote the chorus for this track when I was 20 years old and found it
on an old cassette tape! It was an inspiration back then and is still!”
“Letter To God” – Andreas Carlsson, who actually wrote this song, is
probably one of this century's most successful songwriters. You may
have heard his songs recorded by Celine Dion, Bon Jovi and Britney
Spears, right? The track features an extraordinary vocal performance by
Joseph; really heart rending!”
Are there any plans for the both of you to tour together or is
this purely a studio-based project? Ideally which musicians/bands would
you like to tour with and why?
“Well, that will definitely be something to look into if the record
does well? We have already done a few small tours in Scandinavia, with
sold out venues and live broadcasts! If a good promoter wanted to do it,
I think it will happen?”
Peter – how did you first get involved in the West Coast AOR
scene? Who ideally would you like to work with in the future and why?
“Oh, that’s impossible to say, because you can’t see too far
forward. I used to live in LA in the late 90's and got to know many
great musicians during that time, who also later got involved in the LA
Project albums, but, we’ll see what happens? If this does really well,
I’d fancy doing this again actually!
“I’m sorry with this. I actually did this interview whilst Joseph is
out on tour with Toto, so it’s really hard to answer his questions.
I’ll do my best on the songs because I know the emotions behind the
work, but on the Toto stuff and the film stuff, I can’t speak for him.”
No problem Peter – what’s next for the LA Project?
“As I said, I’m really not sure right now…. I’m open to ideas though, all the time!”
Is melodic rock/AOR music in a healthier state now than ten years
ago? How important has it been to have specialist magazines – ‘Classic
Rock Presents AOR’, ‘Classic Rock’, ‘Fireworks’ – in the High Street
stores raising the profile of the music?
“Yeah, things are really changing, and I definitely feel a revival
regarding AOR and Westcoast music in particular! The “Williams /
Friestedt” record has been doing great so far, with shop signings and
stuff like that where Joseph is, and hopefully, the climate will stay
like this for a long time to come?”
In the age of downloads and declining CD sales has the internet
helped you get your music out there or has it in some ways hindered it
by websites offering free downloads etc?
“I really hope that everyone will go out and buy the record instead
of downloading it; I really hope for a return to the time when people
really were appreciative of a high quality production and wanted to own
that!”
“Sites like Facebook, Myspace and Twitter are great networking
forums and a good way to reach new fans, but the record business needs
to find a new way to make each artist earn more on their products!”
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time away from music?
“Same as most people really!! Traveling and hanging out with friends and family!”
Anything else to add and a message for your fans…
“Thanks for this opportunity Jason! Just hope people check out the
record and really enjoy it because Joseph and I certainly enjoyed
putting it together!”
Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK
Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.
Next session: Sunday 1 December
Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio
David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 3 November 2024.
UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 29 October 2024.
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