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Interview from December 2003

First, we reviewed the RAIN demo CD, then we reviewed his first solo record.  Now on the verge of releasing the new Jaded Heart record, "Trust", here is the long awaited interview the man himself, Michael Bormann.
 

1. Tell us a little about the new Jaded Heart record, “Trust”.
 
Like on all our records I wrote most of the stuff alone.  I wrote the rest with our guitarist Barish and one song with our new keyboardist Henning.

All was recorded and produced by myself in my studio, RMB Rock Studios.

Compared to the other albums, well, it´s still the direction, nothing really new, but in my opinion, “TRUST“ should have been THE album after "IV". If you listen to it, you´d agree. ;-) A little difference is maybe, that we all arranged the songs together during a really great time together in the studio. We almost slept in the studio for some time.

2. Have you had much difficulty dealing with different record labels over the years? Do you think any mistakes were made in the past, either by you or the label?
 
For sure... The only mistake, that I, we, did was, that we didn´t sign a contract with a Japanese company for a worldwide deal in ´95. By that time we´d been offered to record in Japan for 8 weeks, everything would have been payed for. We refused.....(stupid)

Honestly, after releasing "INSIDE OUT“, we never had any problems anymore to get signed. But it took years to get a deal for the first output.

Some record labels made a lotta mistakes. We had so many chances to reach some higher ground, but the labels refused to give it a try. I don´t wanna name the labels, but we´d really been thru big shit sometimes....ha

Well, I guess it´s a matter of our business. Either you have a big company with all the power behind you, or you just have those independent labels. These labels are happy to have a band selling more than 3000 copies..... Ok, we sell much much more.....;-)

3. During the last Jaded Heart record, you also had a record w/ the band RAIN, as well as your solo record. Was it difficult having 3 new records to promote?
 
Actually, no. The promotion is none of my business. And as far as I can say, I saw these things more or less as projects. So it really didn´t matter to me. I just wanted to do those records, because of the music. It´s a shame, that the RAIN CD didn´t get any attention here in Europe. That really sucks, but that´s life. I can´t complain about my solo tho´.

4. How did you hook up with RAIN, in the first place? What made you decide to take on that project, as well as Jaded Heart? Are you happy with the record, House of Dreams? 

I met the guys in 1997 on Rhodes, Greece, where I sing during the summer every year. They saw me on stage, asked me, and I was in Rain. I really like the music, as I´m sort of a softy...;-). Well, I like the songs on the record, but not every recording sound wise. Some have still the demo character... It would have deserved a "real" production.

5. Do you still perform with RAIN? Will there be more records with that band?
 
3 times, yes. Last show was 2 months ago. Album next year.

6. How do you feel about the way your solo record was perceived? Do you wish you would’ve been able to tour behind it? Will there be another solo record in the future?

The responses were great all over the world. I believe that some of the songs would have hit the charts with the right company behind, but whatever... I didn´t wanna tour with it. It was just for myself, my other Michael. I´ll start the recordings in February.

7. Besides the new Jaded Heart record, are you currently involved with any other projects, music or otherwise?
 
Actually, yes. The new CHARADE will come up soon. It´s all recorded and rough mixed. I´ll do the final in January. We can see a release in April or so.

Second is a project with Michael Voss (DEMON DRIVE, CASANOVA). We´ve recorded a tribute album under the name "20TH CENTURY BOYS“. Do I have to mention the band??? Ok, it´s T REX. It´s done as well, but we don´t have the release date, even tho´ it´s signed!
 

8. How many lives shows do you perform each year with Jaded Heart, or other bands? Where do you play and what are the shows like?
 
Well, with Jaded it was almost nothing this year, but if you´re touring let´s say 40-50 gigs, including the single shows. All in all, with my bands, cover and originals, I´m ca. 100-120 times on stage every year. Most of the gigs are in Germany and Rhodes. Mostly headliner shows, even tho´ it´s covers.

9. Have you ever performed in the U.S. before? Are there plans to do any shows here in 2004 to promote the new record? 

We played twice in ´99, during our recordings in Denver, that´s it. We´d love to tour over there, but to be honest, we´re too small to get over. Nobody really knows us in the U.S., but if we´d get a chance, we´ll be there.

10. What is everyday life like where you are in Germany? And what is the rock scene like in Germany? Are there clubs and tours? How popular is Jaded Heart there?

Life´s a bitch, ha ;-). I´m writing and producing a lot all different kinds of music. I have my studio and my own label since 6 month now (had the studio before) and that´s where I am all the time.

We don´t really have a rock scene, related to clubs and stuff. Here in Duisburg there´s nothing. In the south of Germany, there are some clubs. The next for us would be 50km away.

Well, Jaded is pretty known in that little scene, that we have, but in general ... forget it!

11. Many of your songs are very political in nature. How do you feel your songwriting has changed over the years?

Lyrically it changed a lot, because I grew up somehow. I still don´t believe that the words make a song (as you can see, when you look at the top 20). People buy music by the melody or the groove or whatever. The words are the last in that chain. But....

You can not write love songs all the time and why not write about something important?!     I do think more now than before. The turn for me was the SYGNET CD. I couldn´t write easy rock ´n roll love lyrics on a progressive and aggressive background. So I started thinking about other stuff and I kept doing this until now.

12. Write liner notes for the following 10 songs.

Inside Out: Great song, one of my faves. THE song on our first CD. Ah, that is not right...ha.

So Damn Easy: Should have been released on my solo..., not really a Jaded song.

Heaven is Falling: Again another great one.

Live and Let Die: Simply the best.

Perfect World: It´s very tough.  You chose all the songs that I like most... ;-). Great one.

Easy Lover: When I heard it first from Phil I thought,."Man, that's a rock song." It took me 10 years to try it out then..

On the Rise: Lyrically again, like Live & Let Die, Perfect World, very strong.

Anyway the Wind Blows: Not one of my faves, a good live song tho´.

Can’t Stop Missing You: One of the best songs, I´ve ever written. Should have been a hit single.

How Many Times: As it´s on my solo, I´m very personal here. This is more me. Love that song, another hit in my opinion..... 

13. I think you have one of the best singing voices in the business. Do you have any vocal exercises or special techniques or tricks you could share with the singers out there? 

This is funny. Thanx for the compliment. No, I have no exercises or so. I just open my mouth..., ha. I guess that comes with talent.

Of course I worked on all my musical skills a lot, when I was a young boy, but only in rehearsing with the band, not particular a single instrument. I found that boring...  

14. What are your plans for Christmas and New Years? What are your plans for 2004?

Christmas and New Year´s I´ll be out of the country for some vacation, yeaahh. 2004 will be a stressful year again. There´s gonna be some producing of other bands, touring with Jaded, recording the Rain and my solo stuff, and a lotta partying as well. So, it sounds great.
 

JADED HEART: www.jadedheart.de

RAIN: http://home.no.net/rain/