Painting a musical portrait of expression with song is one of the most intricate
aspects of creating music. There is love in the air, regrets of the heart and unbridled
passion in the voice and lyrics of Anders Holst. He first EP of five songs aptly titled
Five created a whirlwind of praise in the jazz spectrum. Now, his first full-length
release called Romantica ebbs and flows in a swirl of romantic intensity. His voice
is unique and the jazz flavorings combined with a pop sensibility quite simply
sooth the soul. The Rage Monthly wanted to learn more about this man and his
talent to touch the heart with his music.
Rage: Your ability to communicate raw emotions through your voice and lyrics is what struck
me first about Romantica. Have you had your heart broken a few times or do you just imagine
the human condition of romance and all its entanglements?
Anders Holst: (laughter) Well, I think a part of it is probably that. I’ve actually
been married twice. Then in the Swedish national soul there is a big portion of
melancholic sentiments. In Sweden, you have the most number of choirs in the
world actually. They have a rich sort of floral folk music…maybe that’s part of it.
Rage: In writing these songs, there is both a strength and vulnerability, which is hard some-
times to convey. When you finish a song or feel that a song is done, who hears it first?
AH: It’s a partnership. I work with my collaborator Matt Bystrom. He’s a jazz
pianist. Usually I get a sense of a song. It’s almost like a download, it comes to you.
I work on it and send him a demo. Then he arranges it. He has a very sophisticated
palette. I think it’s for him that I present the idea first.
Rage: Right now, I have three favorites. At the top of the list is “Lovers in the Dark.”
AH: Ah, thank you. It’s Magnus Lindgren on saxophone. He is a wonderful
musician/arranger/producer in Sweden. He’s very young and very talented. I’m
very happy. When that song came along on the piano, I was thinking of Michel
Legrand. Then, I thought “Maybe it doesn’t fit with the other songs” but I said let’s
keep it this way. It has its charm so to speak.
Rage: Choosing a song to cover such as “It’s All About Soul” by Billy Joel…and release this
AFFAIRS
as your first single. It’s a beautiful song and you do a remarkable job of feeling the power
of the lyrics.
AH: It’s a song I first heard in 1993 and I bought the CD. I think it’s such a great
OF THE HEART
song and he does a very 80s arena rock version of it. I was thinking if you make
that song more intimate, I think it’s going to be a great song.
Anders holst
Rage: You are sort of “the Lothario of Love” in a way…Quincy Jones’ quote about your
by bill biss
performance ability really sums it up in such a distinctive and basic way.
AH: He’s a good friend of my former wife. That’s how I met Quincy. Quincy has
Swedish roots. His second wife was Ulla from Sweden. Also, he toured in Sweden
“His honest and original love songs can give romantic
in the 50s and 60s so he has lots of friends there. There were lots of sort of parallels
in our lives. He came to Sweden several times during our marriage and that’s how
music a brand new chance. Do your heart a favor and
I got to know him.
check him out.” – QUInCy JOneS
Rage: You took it upon yourself to create your own label for this release. How important was
doing this for you?
AH: Looking back, I think I always wanted to do this. I always had music running
around in my head when nothing else was going on around me. Maybe I should
start listening to what’s happening inside of me without any efforts. A few years
ago, I thought I’ve got to give this a chance. It’s pretty hard to do that at my age.
People were saying to me, “That’s a midlife crisis right there!” (laughter) If I’m go-
ing to do this, I want to do it right with sophistication and just the best people I
can. If it doesn’t work, we’ve had a lot of fun in the meantime. It’s a totally different
game today. You really have to be an entrepreneur as well as an artist.
FEBRUARY 2009 | RAGE monthly 29
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