A Band Without Compromises
(rozhovor nejen o Mtv Unplugged...ale i o botách...)
Quite a number of voices claim that they’re the ultimately biggest band of the present. Their performances speak of exaggerated self-confidence and a pinch of sexy arrogance; it’s unclear though whether there’s a bit of self-irony mixed with it. Mando Diao, a group coming from a Swedish town of Borlänge, is in a way an absolutely normal rock band, and still – it isn’t. Because they were granted the chance to play an MTV Unplugged. SneakU met Björn Dixgård and Carl-Johan Fogelklou in Berlin to have a talk about the acoustic treat, fashion and forgotten sneakers.
You have recorded your album “MTV Unplugged – Above and Beyond” in the studios of Berlin Union-Film. Why did your choice fall on the German capital?
Björn: Well, it wasn’t Universal Music’s last word as many would probably love to think. It was our own decision to record the album here.
CJ: I think that one of the main reasons was that it’s really easy and uncomplicated to set up everything here. MTV Unplugged is highly popular in Germany so this was another reason to make the whole thing here.
How did you like the location in the studio?
Björn: We just needed a good location where everything would function well. It was not about finding the best or the most stylish place. We needed a place where everything would work in the best way.
In the TV programme you can see small rooms in the background. What was the meaning of this?
CJ: These are rooms where things from the history of our band are collected. You can find our trousers there, as well as furniture, pictures and guitars.
Björn: It’s like a small museum of Mando Diao. One room is like a garage, the other is like a lounge, and the third one is really private.
How long did it take on the whole to record the entire album?
CJ: I have no idea. It was a long take. Planning for this album began already in spring but the intensive phase lasted only two weeks. MTV came to us and the fans have also put some pressure on them, to do an MTV Unplugged with us.
Björn: From the very beginning it was our clear aim to make everything in one recording session. It was not just about us but also about the entire team that the whole thing would go in one take if possible. It’s also more convenient for the guests of course to be able to enjoy the whole concert in one go.
You are now in the Art Hall of Fame together with Nirvana and Eric Clapton who all had the honour to record an MTV Unplugged. How proud are you?
Björn: Oh man, how cool is that! We’re really very proud. But we don’t think much about who has already recorded an album before us. On the contrary, we enjoy the result. Nirvana was of course superb but we don’t want to wriggle to that.
CJ: Yes, exactly. It’s always about what comes out at the end. Of course we know who has recorded an album before us but we have made something totally new. It’s like an acoustic rock album in a cool atmosphere and not with bar stools and candlelight. We wanted to invent something new.
Is the connection with the audience in the MTV Unplugged different from a normal concert?
Björn: Yes, it’s a very warm feeling. Such events are attended only by fans, and you have a special, deep connection with them.
Is it not more difficult to make fans feel relaxed in this in a way unusual situation?
CJ: I thought about that too but from the very beginning it was very easy…
Björn: The advantage of the immediate closeness to the audience hat a positive effect on the mood. You can just hold the mic to the crowd, so that they sing along, and the communication with people shapes considerably easier and in a more harmonic way.
The German rapper Sido also has his “MTV Unplugged” album. At his performance I had the impression that the fans weren’t allowed to stand up and dance.
Björn: Yes, we know Sido. At our performance it wasn’t like that. People could stand up, enjoy themselves and during the concert a part of them also stood on the stage. We didn’t give MTV any power to decide what we had to do or let happen. It is our show. Only in this way we could feel ourselves free and be as good as we are.
CJ: We had decided everything and if they didn’t like any suggestion, we had to make them change their minds. As simple as that. There were no compromises for us, we didn’t want to sell ourselves. As soon as we gave power to the record company or even MTV Unplugged, we’d lose the battle. Mando Diao fans would notice that and feel themselves cheated. Even the support artists such as Ray Davies or Juliette Lewis were selected by ourselves.
Were you more excited before the show than before a Rock am Ring performance?
Björn: Yes, absolutely. It’s actually not more complicated because it’s very natural for us to sing. The excitement goes down to the fact that there were simply so many things that could go wrong, not only on our behalf – the sound, the cameras, the tape.
Do you have a favourite track on the album?
Björn: Difficult question. I like the new songs a lot. I really like “Losing My Mind”.
Most of all I like your outfit in the show, it is similar to a toreador’s outfit.
CJ: Well, not completely. This is typical Swedish fashion, probably around 1890ies. We just wanted to introduce some culture and show the roots where we come from.
Whom would you like to see in MTV Unplugged?
Björn: I think Franz Ferdinand would fit well, and you, CJ?
CJ: Yeah that would be really cool.
Your shoes in the photo album “Dancing Shoes” by Gerrit Starczewski are also cool. What do shoes tell about you?
Björn: During our concerts we wear mainly black outfit to be as natural as possible. It’s the same with sneakers. For me, they must be very comfortable.
CJ: I like sneakers. During concerts I usually wear what… I like Adidas, but also Clarks. They’re really fantastic. And I have cool jogging footwear.
So which shoes do you wear during jogging?
Björn: Wait, CJ, you have jogging shoes?
CJ: Yes, of course. I really love running. Among jogging footwear I rely on my Asics with gel soles. I’ve seen recently black Asics that I want to have by all means. And now and then I also wear my Nike Air Pegasus.
How are the things in your case, Björn?
Björn: Do you know “Tiger of Sweden” here in Germany? It’s a Swedish brand, really stylish leather shoes, not really sneakers. They make cool shoes. But lately I have bought this remake of Brazilian Adidas of 1985 that look so football. Adidas is also really good.
CJ: You mean the Adidas Samba, right? I have Adidas Samba of 1980.
I know Tiger of Sweden but do you know Onitsuka Tiger?
Björn: Unfortunately no, what’s that?
CJ: We do know, Björn. At one of the concerts we have received a present. They’re the ones that Uma Turman wore in “Kill Bill”. They’re really very comfortable, I’d like to have a pair again.
Björn: It also came to my mind that I really like Converse. At home I have a red pair of chucks.
At least since The Ramones chucks are considered to be typical indie-rocker shoes.
Björn: Actually yes, but I don’t want to wear them onstage.
CJ: I like these shoes of Fila that were so in about 15 years ago. They’re really cool, with this enormous fucking “F” on its side.
Fila brand still exists, it’s located in South Korea.
CJ: Really? Cool. I really miss them. I didn’t manage to buy myself a pair back then.
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