Interview with Torstein Flakne (lead vocals + guitar)

[by Patrick]

Hello Torstein. The new STAGE DOLLS album “Get A Life” is just released and got great reviews around the world - it’s even already cited as the AOR album of the year. You must be kinda proud ?
Torstein Flakne: Yes of course ! It means a lot to us to get good reviews from the critics that matters.We've tried to be true to ourselves,working hard to create songs in the way we like music and to get this reaction is of course wondeful.

Six years from “Stripped” to “Dig”, then another seven years gap before the release of “Get A Life”, why so much time between your recordings ?
Well we've certainly have'nt been out of work.We've toured all the time but the moment for going into the studio was'nt there until now.I guess it has to do with the band feeling confident with studiowork again.Starting on this project was really something we wanted to do and that has to be the main reason.

What strikes me at first listen is the guitar sound, it’s so much more ahead on the new album...
I think that the sound on this album reflects very well the sound of the band both 'live' and rehearsing.It's often hard to reproduce in the studio but this time I feel that we've almost made it. Besides, I've coproduced the album...hehe...:)

...then the production is incredible, it’s a very good balance between your classic AOR sound and some more subtle modern influences. The result is so FRESH sounding !
I guess that has to do with the fact that everything on this album is actually played by people...:)

The whole album get a pleasant ‘happy feeling’, the band is playing very tight, in which conditions did you rehearse and then record this one ?
We rehearsed quite intensively through January 2004,most of the songs were also made then.Because the songs felt new to us going into the studio in Feb I think that's the main reason why it sounds so fresh and spontaneous.

Your songwriting is now very mature, like if you mixed the whole period from the eponymous album to “Dig” into one ?
I've only tried to make the best possible songs I could at the time.It's important to be true to yourself though,not fall into 'what do people want'traps etc. Both me and the band are very focused on doing what we can best and not try to be somebody else.

How came that Mark Spiro did help you with the recording, and even co-wrote a song with you (“Only”) ?
I met Mark in 1991 when he helped us with the 'Stripped'-album (Love don't bother me','Sorry') and I've always wanted him to do some more work with us.Through friends on the Internet I got in touch with him in Feb. this year and I think he has put his trademark on this album.He has the gift of turning songs into great songs...

Do you have any plans for a full distribution in Europe and in North America ? A new label perhaps ?
At the time being the album is distributed through MusicBusiness in Norway. From them it can be purchased through AOR-sites like your own.

One thing that sure must have helped the band for the recording sessions is that STAGE DOLLS are touring a lot around Norway, hence the ‘tight band’ impression reflected by the album ?
Yes of course.We do like 60-80 gigs a year at festivals/clubs etc. The band is really tight.

Are there some gigs in Europe in the pipeline (and if so, please come back to France !) ?
Right now there's no plans. Of course it depends on the promoters around Europe.If the opportunity is there we would love to come back to France.

Speaking about that, any memories from the shows in Paris with Mr BIG or FISH ?
I remember that we were extremely nervous,perhaps more at the Fish-gigs.He had a slightly different audience than us and we always needed some songs to turn them around..With Mr.Big it was like family...Both artists were very nice to us,we have lots of good memories from those tours...I also remember spending a day-off trying to find Jim Morrison's grave,and I found it at last!!

Last year anniversary show in Throndheim should have been something very special for the band ?
That was a great night.4000 of our dearest fans in our hometown came together and made it a night to remember.

So how about releasing the DVD you made that day ?
The DVD is finished but because of 'Get a life' it's been postponed. I think it will be scheduled for release later this year.

While speaking of live gigs, how went the show in Oslo last Saturday ? Did you play many songs from “Get A Life” ?
We had a great night at Rockefeller in Oslo.There was a mixture of both old and new fans there and the atmosphere was magical.Lot of singalong moments etc.At the time we play 5 from get a a life: the titletrack, Someone like you,24/7,Runnin' and you're the one. We plan to do more but there's a lot of old songs as well that we need to keep in the show.

One of my favorites solo album ever is yours - called “Shoot The Moon”... it shows another interesting side of your work.
That's right.As a songwriter you write different types of songs and 'Shoot the moon' gave me the chance to record material that was'nt suitable for the band. I may do another one in the future.

On the “Get A Life” title track you start with that line : “Got My First Gig Back In ‘72” ... Was it a remembrance of the old days with your first band THE KIDS ?
He he....I think you have to go back a few years more.It's actually true..I was 11 years at the time,playing at a schoolgig.Funny thing is the name of the band was 'Crash and Fire' and we did'nt even have drums!!

You are really a gifted musician : a so talented guitarist, an underrated great singer and such an impressive songwriter. How do you manage to spend your activity in and outside of STAGE DOLLS ?
I've always tried to focus on the band first,using energy in the studio and on stage.But as you know there's always freetime and I've done a lot of work with other people,both guitar and songwriting.I think that's been good for me,getting inspiration and so on.

You came back in 2002 with the “Good Times” compilation, but why didn’t you release the new album first ?
That was our initial plan.But during 2001-2002 we saw that a new generaqtion started coming to our show and we decided to release 'Good times' first,to like 'open' up the band for them.

There is still a big demand for your back catalogue from the fans, any chance to have some cd reissues in the near future ?
After the release of 'Good times' I think it will take some time,but of course specially 'Commandos' should have been rereleased.

You took 11 songs for “Get A Life” from a batch of 25, so I suppose you already got some material for the next album ?
We do. Some of them are already recorded and we really look forward to do another album.

Finally, there is something I always wanted to ask you : what exactly is a "hot bat commando" ? ;-)
He he.....it's the opposite of a cold one :)

Thank you for granting this interview to Rockmeeting.com !

Individual pictures (from the top) : Torstein Flakne, Terje Storli, Morten Skogstad.

More information about STAGE DOLLS

© Rockmeeting.com - June 2004