Kjell Haraldsson is the talented keyboardist in HFMC. Visit his MySpace here!
Do you enjoy playing live shows or working in the studio more? And why?
Live definitely! I think that music should be "organic" and "alive". I love to enter the stage with the feeling that anyhing could happen.
What’s a typical day in the studio like?
With HFMC it was kinda special. The album is mainly recorded at a studio in the picturesque mid-swedish countryside. Calm but very inspiring evironment.
Hasse blew the reveille 8 a.m every morning. Then we collectively showered ,had breakfast and marched from the hostel down to the studio. Sessions started at 9 a.m and finished about 10 p.m. Hard work but coffee, chinese food kept us in a good mood. Honestly, I think I´ve never been laughing that much ever. I nearly got "abs" after that week.
What has been your greatest professional moment so far?
I have the opportunity to have been working/touring with a lot of inspiring musicians but I think all the tours with Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple) Joe Lynn Turner (Rainbow) and Michael Schenker (Scorpions, UFO, MSG) is a great experience
Where is a venue you would love to play but haven’t had a chance yet?
I can´t think of any but I have to say something so I say Madison Square Garden even though I prefer small and intimate venues
How does songwriting within the band go?
Hasse does all the writing, we´re just puppets ;-)
How did you get into music?
I´v been addicted to music since I wore diapers (11) ..seriously. I was paralysed by the radio at age of three. especially from the magic hammond sound. at school everyone who wanted to play any instrument had to start with the flute. The teacher was so mean so I swapped to piano in panic. That´s how :)
Who are some of your musical influences?
Well.. I get inspiration from all kind of music. From metal to ambience, from bebop to folk music.. If I have to drop a few names then: Charlie Parker, Weather report, Genesis, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Marillion, Debussy, Focus, Michael Ruff, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, Jamiroquai, Sting, Michael McDonald, Jimmy Smith, Marvin Gaye, Pink Floyd, The Beach Boys, The Beatles, Bach, Miles Davies, Earth Wind & Fire, Billy Talent, Made in Sweden, Solar Plexus, Coltrane, Black Sabbath, Coldplay, Bowie, MSG, Vangelis, Oscar Peterson, Pettersson-Berger, Grieg, Jan Johansson and of course Stevie Wonder
How did you come to be in this band?
Hasse called me. I would guess I was number 17 on his list of corpulent, bearded keyboard players ;)))
What’s the first album you ever owned?
Merit Hemmingsson "Bergtagen"
What are some of your musical goals?
Next goal is my own album
Do you have a “day job”? If so what is it?
music teacher
What equipment do you use?
I use gear from Roland, Clavia, Leslie and a few cool "plug-ins" and a coffee machine from OBH-Nordica
What other projects are you involved with?
apart from working with international acts like Glenn Hughes and Michael Schenker I´m also playing with various swedish rock/pop stars and loads of coverbands. Read more at http://www.myspace.com/kjellharaldsson
Some Silly Questions:
What’s your favorite dessert?
Probably the hardest question.. hmm Gino or tiramisu? ..or just a 12y single malt would do
When you were a kid what did you want to be when you grew up? And why?
Policeman, stuntman, astronomer, artist, palentologist.. I haven´t decided yet
What’s your favorite book or movie? And why?
Books: Favourite author right now is Arto Paasilinna
Movies: Of course I love the works of the masters like Tarantino, Coppola, Forman etc. Right now I´m a bit into danish movies. The Pusher triology, Von Trier etc
Tell us an embarrassing story about you!
Not now, there are way to many of them. I will publish it all in a separate book later ;)
Outside of music, what’s your favorite hobby? And why?
I like movies, cooking, travelling (is this a dating site? ;)) ..nice chat over a pint down at the pub ain´t too bad either.
Pirates or ninjas? And why?
Look at me, what do you think? ;) (I used to train a lot of martial arts when I was young though, believe it or not )
What’s your favorite holiday? And why?
Hard to choose. Lazy days in a pool at Gran Canaria or London´s nightlife or just a relaxing week in a cottage in the fabulous north of Sweden? I think I`d rather go for the cottage.
If you were stranded on a deserted island, what five things would you want to have with you? And why?
1. A solar powered satelite phone
2. An inflatable hotell (it comes with an endless supply of chicken tikka and sangria)
3. A nice and understanding woman (not that inflatable kind)
4. Bug spray
5. Thor Heyerdahl (he´s been around)
If you were King of the World what’s the first thing you would change? And why?
I would make out with the queen, abdicate and get the hell out of there
Do you have any pets?
No.. apart from a few banana flies in the kitchen sink.. but they are quite easy going
Do you enjoy playing live shows or working in the studio more? And why?
Live definitely! I think that music should be "organic" and "alive". I love to enter the stage with the feeling that anyhing could happen.
What’s a typical day in the studio like?
With HFMC it was kinda special. The album is mainly recorded at a studio in the picturesque mid-swedish countryside. Calm but very inspiring evironment.
Hasse blew the reveille 8 a.m every morning. Then we collectively showered ,had breakfast and marched from the hostel down to the studio. Sessions started at 9 a.m and finished about 10 p.m. Hard work but coffee, chinese food kept us in a good mood. Honestly, I think I´ve never been laughing that much ever. I nearly got "abs" after that week.
What has been your greatest professional moment so far?
I have the opportunity to have been working/touring with a lot of inspiring musicians but I think all the tours with Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple) Joe Lynn Turner (Rainbow) and Michael Schenker (Scorpions, UFO, MSG) is a great experience
Where is a venue you would love to play but haven’t had a chance yet?
I can´t think of any but I have to say something so I say Madison Square Garden even though I prefer small and intimate venues
How does songwriting within the band go?
Hasse does all the writing, we´re just puppets ;-)
How did you get into music?
I´v been addicted to music since I wore diapers (11) ..seriously. I was paralysed by the radio at age of three. especially from the magic hammond sound. at school everyone who wanted to play any instrument had to start with the flute. The teacher was so mean so I swapped to piano in panic. That´s how :)
Who are some of your musical influences?
Well.. I get inspiration from all kind of music. From metal to ambience, from bebop to folk music.. If I have to drop a few names then: Charlie Parker, Weather report, Genesis, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Marillion, Debussy, Focus, Michael Ruff, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, Jamiroquai, Sting, Michael McDonald, Jimmy Smith, Marvin Gaye, Pink Floyd, The Beach Boys, The Beatles, Bach, Miles Davies, Earth Wind & Fire, Billy Talent, Made in Sweden, Solar Plexus, Coltrane, Black Sabbath, Coldplay, Bowie, MSG, Vangelis, Oscar Peterson, Pettersson-Berger, Grieg, Jan Johansson and of course Stevie Wonder
How did you come to be in this band?
Hasse called me. I would guess I was number 17 on his list of corpulent, bearded keyboard players ;)))
What’s the first album you ever owned?
Merit Hemmingsson "Bergtagen"
What are some of your musical goals?
Next goal is my own album
Do you have a “day job”? If so what is it?
music teacher
What equipment do you use?
I use gear from Roland, Clavia, Leslie and a few cool "plug-ins" and a coffee machine from OBH-Nordica
What other projects are you involved with?
apart from working with international acts like Glenn Hughes and Michael Schenker I´m also playing with various swedish rock/pop stars and loads of coverbands. Read more at http://www.myspace.com/kjellharaldsson
Some Silly Questions:
What’s your favorite dessert?
Probably the hardest question.. hmm Gino or tiramisu? ..or just a 12y single malt would do
When you were a kid what did you want to be when you grew up? And why?
Policeman, stuntman, astronomer, artist, palentologist.. I haven´t decided yet
What’s your favorite book or movie? And why?
Books: Favourite author right now is Arto Paasilinna
Movies: Of course I love the works of the masters like Tarantino, Coppola, Forman etc. Right now I´m a bit into danish movies. The Pusher triology, Von Trier etc
Tell us an embarrassing story about you!
Not now, there are way to many of them. I will publish it all in a separate book later ;)
Outside of music, what’s your favorite hobby? And why?
I like movies, cooking, travelling (is this a dating site? ;)) ..nice chat over a pint down at the pub ain´t too bad either.
Pirates or ninjas? And why?
Look at me, what do you think? ;) (I used to train a lot of martial arts when I was young though, believe it or not )
What’s your favorite holiday? And why?
Hard to choose. Lazy days in a pool at Gran Canaria or London´s nightlife or just a relaxing week in a cottage in the fabulous north of Sweden? I think I`d rather go for the cottage.
If you were stranded on a deserted island, what five things would you want to have with you? And why?
1. A solar powered satelite phone
2. An inflatable hotell (it comes with an endless supply of chicken tikka and sangria)
3. A nice and understanding woman (not that inflatable kind)
4. Bug spray
5. Thor Heyerdahl (he´s been around)
If you were King of the World what’s the first thing you would change? And why?
I would make out with the queen, abdicate and get the hell out of there
Do you have any pets?
No.. apart from a few banana flies in the kitchen sink.. but they are quite easy going