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 Following the critical success of their 2007 release “R U Naughty Enough?” writes Krissy Stixx, Swedish Rockers Naughty Boys have been working and playing hard across Europe, taking their unique brand of rock 'n' roll to ever more promising heights, culminating in the release of the simply SHIT HOT “Destiny Calls” album in September this year.
Love the album, love the 80's influenced sound, with big guitars and synths, and the smokey vocals. They're obviously in it for the long haul, oozing sleaze and professionalism in equal measure. So it seemed an email was in order, to find out their next move and get a bit more intimate with the guys...
Can you remember why you wanted to be in a band, back in the beginning?
Valentin (keyboards): We were all very young when we started to play music. Everyone in the band has practiced some kind of music since we were kids. We were about 13-14 years old when we started our own band, and like many other bands it was just to get all the girls! But we all loved to be on stage and appear in public already in our early years, so the best way to let everyone see us was to start our own band and become rock stars! Just like the bands on MTV , long hair, boots and ragged jeans... We felt safe and strong together, nothing could stop us. Every day and night we simply played music and we still love to do that. It´s the same feeling today, even if we are just a little older.
Which other musicians are your greatest influences? Can you see those influences in your music, or do you think you have a totally fresh sound?
Valentin: I don´t think we have one particular musician or band that we can say is our influence, we listen to all kinds of music and we all have different favourites, but we grow up with bands like Bon Jovi, Whitesnake, Ratt, White Lion and other Rock bands who were the big names in the 80´s, so of course those bands have made a impact. I do think we have a sound that no one has these days. Our sound is modern with a touch from the best of the melodic rock of the 80´s. Heavy guitars, good melodies and big choruses. My influences are very varied, I listen to all kinds of music, Hard Rock, Jazz, and Classical. Artists like Frank Sinatra, Pink Floyd, The Doors, Pantera, Queensryche and of course Bon Jovi .
Mikael (vocals): Mötley Crue. I can see elements of Crue in some of our songs, I like the attitude they have, and this is one thing I think we really have on Destiny Calls.
Hasse (guitars): I´ve been listening to Ozzy and his guitarists, Randy Rhoads, Jake E. Lee and Zakk Wylde, plus some other guys like Stevie Ray, Jimi Hendrix and Joe Satriani … Maybe you can hear some influences, it´s hard for me to say.
Ludde (drums) : I have many! I can name only a few: Mötley Crue, Guns 'n' Roses, and all the grunge!!! Drummers I like... Tommy Lee and Niclas Sigevall (Electric Boys). I can see a lot of these influences in our music.
Do you feel as a band you are doing everything you want to do right now? Is there anything you would change?
Valentin: Everything is moving on like we want for the moment. We released “Destiny Calls” on 9th September and the reviews for the album have been superb. Now we are just wait to see how this record sells, and hopefully we will hit the road soon for a tour. We have started to write some new songs and we are moving in to a new rehearsal hall. So it feels great at the moment.
Do you feel it is as important to release a CD these days as it used to be? Is downloading music the way forward, in which case how does a band hope to make money?
Valentin: Somehow I think it´s important. I grew up with vinyl and I still buy them. I love to read who´s the producer and who mixed the album etc, look at the pictures and hold the record in my hand. It´s the same with a CD. I think there are many people like me out in the world who love that. Things get a little impersonal when you just download a record from a website . But I don´t think music industry will survive without the internet now. To make money today a band has to tour and appear live. I also hope that people someday understand and realize how much time, energy and money there is behind a record and just buy the album legally to support their band.
Is music still the soundtrack to our lives? Do you think people respond differently to music these days, do they want something different from it?
Valentin: Everyone is a different individual and everyone responds in different ways no matter what our world looks like. Of course music is still the soundtrack to our lives. It always has and it always will be that way. How would the world be without music? Fucking boring…..
So what can you give people, as a band, that no-one else can? Why should we care?
Valentin: We will give people a journey of the best days of the 80´s in a modern time with a fresh sound. A great show with a fabulous live band and it doesn´t matter if you are 18 or 50 years old, you will love what you hear and see.
What is the single most important thing about you as a band that will make you international superstars? Why?
Valentin: Great songs, we simply have great songs.
If you had a day off tomorrow and all the money in the world, what would you do? Why would you choose that?
Valentin: I would get me even more money and a big hangover …
Mikael: I would buy the biggest promotion and record company in the world and tell them to make superstars out of us! Why? Why not?
Hasse: I don´t know for sure.. Time will tell.. ;-)
Ludde: If I had a day off!! Hmmm... I should improvise and do what feels right for the moment!!! Doing nothing means a lot to me!!!!
Finally, why do we want to buy your CD or go to your shows???
Valentin: If you are a fan of a big chorus, great melodies, Hammond organ, heavy guitars, great backing vocals, a huge rhythm section and a lead singer who simply doesn't sound like anyone else - you will buy our records and see us live! You won´t regret it...
Thanks guys!
Destiny Calls is out now through N-Records and via musicbymail.com
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