February 01, 2005

Interview with Lars Levin of Greenhouze

With the cold winter season roughly half-way done experts are predicting an unusual warming pattern starting the 24th of January. They expect automobiles, nightclubs and other various spots to report higher temperatures due to the “Greenhouze” effect! Hailing from Norway, Greenhouze is a new band to the scene but the artists behind the band are experienced, talented and ready to rock and roll! I caught up with Lars to find out more about him, the band and the debut release out January 24th on MTM! I am excited to see this new album make its way into music lovers’ homes around the world and for this band to start its journey!

You can preview the new album in the Juke Box here and to learn more about the band check out their official site at http://www.greenhouze.com/ and enjoy the interview!

1. Thank you Lars for taking the time to answer these questions and tell us more about your band, Greenhouze. To start things of I would like to invite you to introduce yourself Lars; guitarist, song-writer and founding member of the band…
Thanks for your interest in the Greenhouze CD. First of all I'm a guitar player. I started playing at 11, got my first band "Exxor" together at 13 and from then I just moved on to different bands and gigs on stage and in the studio. I just couldn't bare the thought of being stuck in a grungy rehearsal room with the same guys for 10 years, and then at 20 or something realize "we're going nowhere". I started developing my skills at songwriting
arranging, sound engineering and producing as well as playing other instruments like keyboards, bass and training my voice (thanks to Solli for the last one). I often played in bands or did studio sessions with guys 10years or more older than me just to learn the "do's and don’ts" in the music business. I've also been very open to different music styles – everything from Thrash Metal to West Coast or Funk. But my heart belongs to Melodic
Rock. The "Alibi" album from 1985 by Adrian Vandenberg was my first real AOR epiphany. That guy had the Blues Rock, the Melodic Hard Rock stuff and classical influences like no one else. I grew up with classical music myself Pink Floyd and Kiss were my first experiences with popular music … I guess I got my blues roots from them.

2. As many people are still discovering Greenhouze I would also like to ask that you introduce the band, the members and the goals that drive you…
Well, at this point of our career Greenhouze are profiled as a duo, as far as Solli did the lead vocals and I played most instruments on the CD. The other guys listed were hired in as session cats. We are currently forming a 5-piece band to play our music live. It's not an easy task as most of the musicians in our country that are dependable and good enough to present our music are already involved in 4 or 5 other bands already. We have some really great musicians nailed, but we will publish our band line-up as soon as our new web-site is up. Well, our goals now are promoting our album, getting a good working band together to present the music of Greenhouze live and finish the demos for the follow-up album.

3. It truly has been a long road since the inception of your first band, Second Heat, but one that seems to have been both challenging and fulfilling. How would you say the line up changes and struggles have strengthened the band?
Second Heat wasn't my first band, but it was the first band I really felt good about. The songs, the guys, the gigs. Greenhouze is in fact the first project I've worked with since then that I don't get the feeling of "I really should be doing something else, somewhere else". But in the end things went the wrong way with Second Heat. After 2 years I actually fired myself at the end of an unsuccessful tour with Second Heat. Without a
songwriter and bandleader there were no band, you see? When a young promising band turned lazy, went through too many line up changes and the arrangers didn't promote our gigs I found no reason to go on. From then I went on to do freelance work that I mentioned earlier. I had no creativity left at that point, but I still had an extreme urge to develop my skills as a guitar player, play in front of an audience and do studio sessions. But after a few years I felt I was repeating myself and wanted to study music theory. Every musician in Oslo played in each other's bands and though some of the guys were amazing on their instruments, I didn't hear any songs to remember. I needed to move forward to an unexplored area I really didn't know much about. With very little money I moved away from the city to a very quiet place by the sea called Bogen to study. At first it was very tough, but after a while my studying went flawless and I got so inspired by the landscape, environment and mystic vibe of the nature. I came up with ideas all the time that I recorded or wrote down in notation. My neighbor was Oystein Sevag, an award-winning adult alternative/NewAge composer, and he became a great inspiration for me. The material I wrote at that time was what to become the songs for the Greenhouze album. In retrospect, this is what the opening song on the album "The Point" is about - taking a leap into the unknown, not knowing if you're gonna fail or succeed - but doing it anyway. After all that year in the wilderness was fruitful! After 2 following years at music college studying music theory and sound engineering I put together several incarnations of Greenhouze. But most of the musicians weren't dedicated enough, or really didn't understand the vision behind the music. It was more like: "let's have 2 or 3 rehearsals, get out and play clubs, 75% cover material/15% original and get some drinks, Pizza and $100 each!" OK, I didn't have in mind to be a big pop-star like Michael Jackson, Madonna or anything like that, but I DO have ambitions. I'd rather spend
100% of the energy on writing, recording and performing original material that means something to the band as well as the listeners. I started recording some demos together with Second Heat keyboardist Alex Henriksen and auditioned 7 or 8 lead-singers. Some were good, others not so good. Alex quit to start producing/writing mainsteam pop music, and then Greenhouze was just me. I hired in Solli for some backing vocals to some songs, and I instantly knew he was the Man! He liked my songs, and after some negotiations we decided to work together on a permanent basis. Finally I could play my guitar parts like they were meant to be, not being afraid of playing too heavy and overshadowing the singer. Our styles really match. So yes, it’s been a long and hard road, but hard work pays off and I'm sure the listeners will hear that when listening to the CD. At least no one can accuse us for lack of cred!

4. The release “Greenhouze” is scheduled for released the 24th of this month which I am sure is very exciting to you and your band mates. What is the feeling about the release and what do you hope to see happen with this album?
We are very proud of the album, and so are our record company MTM. So far we have gotten lots of positive feedback, something we really appreciate. We're hoping to get our music played on the radio and shooting a video or two. I guess some people aren't prepared for our sound, and that's a good thing!
It's really important that as many people as possible hear about us and our music and can decide if Greenhouze is something they want to listen to. Be it internet, radio, festivals or TV.
During the 90's AOR and Melodic Rock was almost illegal as a reaction of all the late 80's bands in the US sounding and looking the same (something we didn't have in Europe). But the replacement; the so-called alternative or grunge trend was even worse! It was a good thing when internet became common and new AOR indie labels signed new bands as well as releasing "lost recordings" at the end of the 90's. People got access to melodic Rock again, but again I saw little originality. Too much nostalgia instead of
re-inventing the genre. That's one thing that's important for us, that we're not labeled as a retro band just because we play Melodic Rock. OK, you can hear elements from 70's bands like Yes, Pink Floyd or Boston, 80's influences like Dare, Mr. Mister and Def Leppard, but our music could never have been written and released during those decades. Especially the lyrics takes on a view that's a very late 90's / early 2000's state of mind. Also very different kinds of people appreciate our music; we have fans from 6 to 60 years of age! And that's what I hope will happen with the album, that the market is not just limited to the Hard Rock fans but anyone who wants a CD that's both Rocking and relaxing!

5. You have been in music for a long time now, and worked on many songs and albums, but what I am wondering about is if there is one song in particular on your new release that has special meaning to you that you would share the story with us and why it is special to you?
I really don't prefer one song over another - they're all my kids. But “Everything" would be the closest thing to my favorite on this album. It's about isolation - and the way out of it. I guess the lyrics speak for themselves. You will notice a huge contrast between the verses and the choruses. I'm a big fan of Jon Anderson of Yes, the way paradoxes in lyrics actually make sense. Solli, Leif Johansen and I created some great 3-part
harmonies that give this tune a sacral feel. The guitar solo is arranged in a polyphonic call-and-response manner and in the end they join together as one. I really like "The Point" and "Highway in the sun" a lot to. And of course "Snow on the roof" in my car stereo when cruising on the highway!

6. While still in Second Heat you proved yourself as a song writer as well as capable of playing more that just the guitar. Could you tell us about the creative process and how it works for you… do you start with a lyric, or perhaps a guitar riff… when writing a song how do you do it?
Usually a melody line with some words appear in my head and I start to work on it while it's still in there. I can then pick up an acoustic guitar and go on from there. I can also just get a groove or a feeling and start writing around that. Sometimes I come up with ideas when I'm experimenting with new sounds on my Guitars and Synths. "Clouds" is a perfect example of that. Some songs can take years to finish and are often put together of
different ideas while other songs take 30 minutes from the first idea hit my head until the whole song is finished with lyrics, arrangement and all. In the last case I'm in some sort of trance when writing....

7. There have been some line-up changes through out the progression of your project, which it seems is a natural event to establish the strengths and flow of a good team. With the current line up are you planning on following up this album or can we expect more changes in the future?
I don't believe the session musicians featured on the album will be permanent members of Greenhouze as they have enough to do already. We hope to have a great 5-piece line-up for playing live and keep it. It's so confusing for the audience to see people come and go all the time. In the studio on future releases Solli will handle the vocals, I will still play most of the instruments and feature musicians from the band or session cats when a particular sound is needed.

8. Speaking of following up what are your plans for the months to come? Is there a tour or other activities planned to help support the new album?
We have not planned a tour, but we will do some showcases and concerts when people have heard our music a bit and catch new audience. We're really looking forward to the outdoor festivals in the spring/summer. That would be really great! And we'll shoot a video or 2. Music videos are really important these days and keep in mind that MTV is NOT the only TV stations showing music videos.

9. The internet is definitely one of the strongest tools to help a band get its name out there. What are your feelings about internet advertising, and on the flip side what do you think about the issue of file-sharing as it applies to you as an artist?
First of all our web site needs a face-lift : ) I totally agree with you about the internet being an important tool for promoting new music. Not only the home-pages, the discussion forums and promo sites as well (like medodicrock.com and yours!). File sharing is comparable with the headset stands in the record stores when people still went to a store to buy CDs. I rarely do it now. And all those low resolution MP3s are like the bad cassette copies I used to listen to in my Walkman when I was a kid. In the end I
bought the album if I really liked it.

10. With your experience in the music industries with its ups and downs do you have any words of wisdom for those aspiring musicians looking to make a place for themselves in the market?
Listen to the lyrics of "Insanity" - Heh! It's a good thing to hold on to the style you really like and master instead of jumping on the latest trend. Be patient, work hard and be open to other music styles. If you have the guts, talent and a bit of originality you will succeed in the end. Who believed in KISS when they first started out? Don't go "trend-surfing"
unless you are an experienced all-star producer, cause if you do that you'll always be 5 years behind. Some underdog struggled against the world 5 years ago with what's hip now, and now he and his fellows get their reward. You can't just adopt a style an expect success because that particular style is popular right now. You'll be a 1-hit wonder at best, which is OK if that's what you want. It will take years from the first demos are recorded until you get your contract - if you get one - and then that mega-hip trend is
long gone...

11. And last but never least, do you have a message for your fans and those just discovering Greenhouze?
Go buy the CD, listen to it through a good stereo or headset, read the lyrics and study the artwork in the booklet/jewel case (I laid down a lot of work with the design). Then let it grow over time. Share the Greenhouze-experience with your friends and come and see us in concert if we are at a place near you, or go to one of those great festivals if we're there!
Please feel free to visit our website to see what's going on (patience my friends, it will soon be better!). Most important - we made this CD both for ourselves and for you ... Enjoy it!
Greetings from Lars

Posted by Kathy at February 1, 2005 01:00 AM