What can you expect from a band that teams two guitarists as Alex Masi and Lars Eric Mattsson? Only superb quality and musicianship. And that is what you find in Condition Red. Along with great musicians as Ella Grussner and Torgny Stjärnfelt the guitar duo displays quality, taste and power.

Is this a once in a lifetime project or do you plan to do it in a permanent basis?

Lars Eric Mattsson : It was a total experiment, but I am sure it will become a more or less continuing thing.

Alexander King: yes but very likely there will be some changes in the line up.

 

Were the songs composed in rehearsals or did you use another form of composition?

Alexander King: Lars and I did some demos and we used them as basis for the final thing, even though there were lots of changes.

 

We all know the background of Derek Sherinian, Lars Eric Mattsson and Alex Masi...can you tell us something about the background of the restof the band?

Alexander: My background is in classical music, music for films (nothing big) and commercials

Ella Grussner and Torgny Stjarnfelt play in a ethnic folk rock group called "Barka Vall" - they have a gread album out. Esa Pietila is a well known jazz musician.

 

Are you planning to play the music of Condition Red live?

Lars: not at this stage but you never know...

 

What did the band intended in having two guitarists, is it something that makes special the band in combination with the other instruments?

Lars: The idea was to make things more interesting, more variation - it was all a big experiment!

 

How important is the violin and Ella Grussner vocals for the final result of the music in Condition Red?

Lars: very important, she is a genious!

 

Is the music in the CD consciously done in such a progressive way or is it the way in that the music surfaces through rehearsals?

Alexander: it was more or less written this way or sometimes, Lars as producer decided what should be added or taken away from the recordings

 

Do the members of the band have any training in music theory?

Lars: some do, perhaps most except for me

 

Why was the production done by Lars Eric Mattsson? Was a decision done to obtain the result that the band had in mind?

Alexander: because the idea for the project came from us and Lars has done these things before, he is also more creative, never afraid to try the unusual.

 

Is there any concept behind the music in the album?

Lars : it's about living in the modern world, and trying to stay alive

 

Anything more that you want to say?

Lars: I really enjoyed doing the Condition Red project and it has really helped me grow as a musician, some of my fans might have felt that this was way too complicated, but I have also won some new fans. For me it is very important to be able to experiment and grow, I could never do the same album over and over like some bands do.

But I was also very happy with my latest album MATTSSON - ANOTHER DIMENSION, and I will definitely do a follow up to that one, however my next step will be to polish some old recordings, I plan to re-release my first album "Eternity" (complete new version + bonus track) and also my instrumental album "Electric Voodoo" will be re-released with better sound and a bonus track.

 

CONDITION RED WEBSITE: www.condition-red.com

 

Interview by Federico Marongiu

 

CONDITION RED - DISCOGRAPHY

Condition Red - CD (2000)

 

ACTUAL LINEUP

Ella Grussner - vocals, violin

Torgny Stjärnfelt - vocals

Lars Eric Mattsson - guitars, bass, keyboards

Alex Masi - guitars

Alexander King - keyboards

Esa Pietilä - sax

Eddie Sledgehammer - drums

Örjan Sjöström - backing vocals