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Interview
Deutsche VersionInterview mit Sunstorm (30.03.2012)
HH: HeyHo from Germany's Heavyhardes and my personal congratulations for your new record Emotional Fire. You managed to make up such a fine piece of music and I guess the title says all what many listeners may experience while sinking into the songs.
JLT: Thank you for your kind words! I am so glad the fans like it!
HH: To stick to the title, are the tunes really that personal and, with that, emotional one might guess, is the whole album an emotional rollercoaster ride or did the phrase just fit in?
JLT: I did not write any of the songs on this record, but I do have some emotional connection to the ones I had sung in the past. Emotional Fire is different from the previous Sunstorm cds. None of the songs came out of my collection... but some came out of sessions that I had been a part of... both writing and recording... from my past. Having said that, this one also has some songs that Frontiers picked out because they feel those songs sounded like the melodic rock concept of Sunstorm.
The songs I sang on in the past are special because it is an example of life coming full circle. "Gina" was originally included on The Hunger album, by Michael Bolton, where I contributed with background vocals. Those sessions were really an exciting time because melodic rock genre was at its peak. "You Wouldn't Know Love" and "Emotional Fire", which Bolton wrote for the Heart of Stone album by Cher were also excellent songs that I sang background vocals on. Michael and I did all of the parts but I tried to rock it up more than the original. I heard "Emotional Fire" from Desmond Child during a writing session and then he asked me to sing background vocals on it! These were really creative and exciting times for this genre of music.
HH: The classic Melodic Rock-approach worked out in a nearly perfect way. Was it the plan right from the beginning to keep the record in an 80s-mood or did that happen automatically? For example the Key-sounds are really, really 80s and give the songs that certain spirit ...
JLT: It was a concept that Frontiers came up with and I am glad the fans seem to embrace it. Yes, I think some of that production is intentional, but at the same time, there are some tracks... especially on the previous two cds... that have a more modern sound or are more timeless.
HH: What foremost thrilled me is the fact that the record has a special momentum in it. What I mean is that it works as a whole record, as a piece of art, the combination of the songs is definitely awesome. Any time you think you heard the best song, another one follows, which can keep up to the previous ones. And then most of the songs work as what they are: as songs. So, did that momentum just fall in by chance or was it some genius plan that stood behind the recording process (and by the way how long did it take to record)?
JLT: I did not pick the order of the songs on the CD, but I am glad that you view it in such a positive way. Thank you for the compliment. Frontiers organized the songs and Dennis Ward did the production. He is amazing, by the way.
As far as the length of time to record, it was off and on for about eight weeks. Throughout the recording/production process, I was doing many dates overseas in Russia. I would be home for a few days, work on Sunstorm, then go back on the road. There is packing to prepare to travel and travelling time. I collaborate with musicians and other people when I am out of the country also.
We did have a hurricane in the New York City/Northern New Jersey area here in the USA (where I live) during some of my Sunstorm sessions. The electrical power was out for three days and I lost some recording time. I was also ill for a few days, so we had our challenges, but in the end, thanks mostly to Dennis Ward, we ended up with a collection of Melodic Rock songs that I hope the fans enjoy.
HH: Did you take some risk to come up with a Classic Melodic Rock-album? Is there an audience out there to follow you? I believe the musical landscape has so much changed in the recent years towards the older roots that such a record could be a success.
JLT: It seems that there is still an audience for this music because we have websites like melodicrock.com and labels like Frontiers. It may not be the most popular type of music in the USA, now, although it is still very popular in some parts of Europe, Japan and Eastern Europe (especially Russia where I have a huge following).
HH: Talking about musical-landscape: the industry is struck by major changes as well. Many musicians even see the danger that the value of music won't be recognized, respected and in the end payed anymore by the younger "download-generation". What's your opinion on that? How does the distribution-structure look like in your case? Is it possible anymore to literally sell records? Are traditional record-companies obsolete?
JLT: I think more and more younger people are appreciating Classic Rock, good musicianship and songs, but overall, with some exceptions, many acts of today are more disposable. As for the distribution, Frontiers handles that and I do think they do a good job. They have branched out, especially in the USA. Some artists sell cds at shows. I have done that as well. It can work. As for traditional record companies, they still exist, but the industry is much different than it was when I was with Rainbow and Deep Purple. Record companies backed more artists with things like tour support. They still do it, but with fewer artists... less variety.
HH: What are your personal faves on the record? Mine (at the moment) are the title-track which reminds me a little of good old Survivor (of the Vital Signs-era) and "You Would't Know Love" as the chorus is just predestined to stick in mind.
JLT: I really do not have any favorites. I prefer for the fans to tell me what their favourites are... like you just did here. I will say that the songs that I did in the past are a bit more special to me because of the memories associated with them.
HH: The vocals sound that strong as it was 1981 and you just recorded Difficult To Cure. Maybe the voice has a little more depth in it, volume, but on the whole time seems to do nothing to its power. So there must be many strategies, training-methods to keep it in such shape. Any special help you can offer younger singers?
JLT: Even if they are naturally talented, it's good to get some formal training. I know it helped me learn to do things like sing through a cold (illness). They also need to stay healthy, hydrated, live a healthy lifestyle.
HH: You worked with so many extraordinary musicians throughout the decades. Nearly uncountless, but of course the work with Blackmore and Malmsteen might be remembered the most. What do you think of the different musical paths your old fellows chose in the last years? Blackmore with Blackmore's Night and Malmsteen with the latest Angel Of Love (instrumental record) and Relentless (was there ever a chance to work with Malmsteen again in the recent years?)?
JLT: As for Ritchie, the type of music he is doing with Blackmore's Night is the type of music he always wanted to do, so I am very happy for him. He loves it and the fans seem to have embraced it also. Yngwie was always trying to incorporate more guitar into songs, so an instrumental record is a great choice for him. It should also appeal to his fans that like to hear more guitar than singing. I did work with Yngwie on his Inspiration CD... plus, we also did some songs at a private show in Russia.
HH: Is there a possibility that there will be another Hughes-Turner-Project-album as I believe those two records as well stand out of your impressing discographie, or even some more Brazen Abbot in the future?
JLT: As for both projects, I hope so! And thanks for the compliment... I am very proud of my work with HTP and Brazen Abbot.
HH: Glenn Hughes found some kinda new home in Black Country Communion. Would you consider Sunstorm the same for you as I believe the future should look very fine for the four-piece of you?
JLT: BCC is a great project! Loads of talent there. As for Sunstorm, I would love to take the band and Dennis Ward on the road with this project, but we would need financial backing from either the record company or sponsors. Plus, everyone would have to be available and we are all very busy with various projects.
HH: This might be a rather difficult questions as the list of records you brought out in the last decades is very, very long, but may it be possible to assemble a list of your ten own personal faves of all those albums?
JLT: Sorry... I do not really have any favorites. Have the fans make me a list of their favorites.
HH: I only saw some Norwegian solo-dates scheduled for April on your website...
JLT: As for more (solo) dates... there will be more announced for later this year. The best thing to do is check my website or "like" my facebook page... that's the way to get all the news as soon as it is confirmed.
HH: Last, but definitely not least, I wanna point out that it was a great honour for me to prepare those questions. The last words belong to you:
JLT: Thank you and please thank all of your readers for me as well. I am very grateful for the continued fan support of Sunstorm, my solo records and all my projects. Hope to see you soon!
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