Scrit: I understand that as of December 2005, both Par Hallgren and Christian Lundberg are no longer in the band. If you�re comfortable talking about it, when did both of them leave precisely, and why?
Eduardo: P�r, Kricke (Christian), and I decided to go different ways in the summer of 2004 after playing at the Erfurt Festival in Germany. It just didn�t work musically anymore.
Scrit: How did you come upon these two new musicians - this Chilean bassist Michael Mino and Egyptian drummer Robin Rubio? They�ve now been with Sgt. Sunshine how long?
Eduardo: Robin Rubio and I met at Bassos Studios in Malm� (Sweden), both of them had moved down from Stockholm with their band called Yindi Garra. While listening to the recordings of Vega, he reacted very positively (just the way you want your music to act on people you don�t know). Soon we were jamming together with Wille Hyrk�s and this came to be the first Black Hole. Wille moved to France to keep on with his studies. Michael Mino had come to Sweden, playing with his former band called Misticlan. They toured Sweden and that�s when we came upon each other on M�llev�ngs Square and I asked him to join us, and he agreed.
Scrit: You have a favorite retreat? The barn-jamming photos that adorn your website, is that a popular spot you rehearse or play for friends?
Eduardo: Actually this was Robin�s place at the time, outside Malm�, in an area called Rockarp. Now he�s moved to a new place also in the surroundings.
Scrit: Sgt. Sunshine doesn�t play live shows all that often do they? Even during your heaviest period of rehearsal, recording and productivity, the sense I get is that you did not.
Eduardo: If you have the same songs to play and no new song has been written then you feel you have to go home and stay there for a longer while and write new songs so this needs time too. That is exactly what we�re doing now, concentrating on getting our work done. We hope to come out soon and play as many gigs as we can get a hold of.
Scrit: How would you say the direction of the music has evolved from the self titled album to the upcoming Black Hole? Certainly two-thirds of the band changing will impact the sound.
Eduardo: I�d say that yes, certainly they have impacted the sound in Sgt. Sunshine and the overall feeling, in my opinion to the better, will sound different from the self titled album.
Scrit: How did you find your way to Sweden being from Cuba originally? On that same train, how about the new members from Chile and Egypt?
Eduardo: Cuba is swimming in salsa music, I wanted to play rock n� roll so that�s mainly what drove me to leave the sweet Habana behind.
Scrit: Are you going to release Black Hole on Elektrohasch Records? I know there has been interest. Stephan knows something good when he hears it. :)
Eduardo: I guess so. I talked to Stefan and he is interested and I am too, but the record is not ready yet.
Scrit: You have pets? You strike me as an animal-lover.
Eduardo: Ha, ha, no but I love animals.
Scrit: Any of your fellow Swedish rockers you leave your house to go support and see play? The scene there, though still pretty below the pop-cultural radar like it is in the States I imagine, seems to be enormous. At least reflected by the number of Swedish bands who play this kind of heavy 1970�s-influenced rock.
Eduardo: Malm�, and especially where I live, M�llan have been quite populated by all kinds of artistic movements. But suddenly everyone has just disappeared! I don�t know, before I used to go to see for example Big Elf, American friends who lived here for some time.
Scrit: Do you like to travel much and if so, where ordinarily? The winters in Sweden must be back-breaking. Or are you totally a winter person?
Eduardo: Yes I enjoy traveling but I haven�t done it since 2003, when I was visiting my mother in Cuba.
Scrit: Can I fly over there and stay with you and you can feed me and put me up and all that shit? ;)
Eduardo: Sure you can fly over and I will fix something for you here. That won�t be a problem at all, you do so; we�re always here.
Scrit: Do you listen to the dub reggae?
Eduardo: Not often, rarely, like Bushman?
Scrit: Like the original - King Tubby. Back to the 1970�s. I strongly recommend him and think you of all people would dig it. Can we count on Sgt. Sunshine to play some shows in 2006? Maybe a festival appearance?
Eduardo: Yes, of course!
Scrit: Who would you ideally love for Sgt. Sunshine to play a show with?
Eduardo: Love itself, Arthur Lee maybe, I don�t know, I haven�t thought about it, have any suggestions?
Scrit: Thank you Eduardo. All the best completing Black Hole (which we can expect a spring 2006 release date) and thanks so much for your time on this.
|
