| Interview
with the guitar and vocals Patrick Salin, the new hero of Borlänge
By Sergio Vilar Q How does Watertouch begin? Was there some previous project?  A
This release was initially meant to be released on the Swedish progressive
APM label a couple of years back. But they went bankrupt together with
my publishing company, so after much hastle I decided that it would
be better to release it myself. Basicially I like all kinds of music
and I tend to write songs in all musical areas, so I have two projects.
Watertouch, for the songs that I think would suit in the Watertouch
vain. Mainly intsrumental, lengthy pieces with a jamming attitude. And
of course with the occasional organ solo! The other project is vocal
oriented, more pop-funk stuff. Something completely different to Watertouch.
And of course, I’ve been in bands before. Mainly Junction, toghether
with Jan-Erik Liljeström of Anekdoten. We released a seven inch,
and had two tracks out on a compilation CD back in the day. Nowadays
we are in a tribute band to Thin Lizzy (Fred’s Perfect), Jan-Erik
does a mean interpretion of Phil Lynott! Actually we are going to play
two gigs next month. It’s gonna be a lot of fun. Q From where does the name come from? A From the beginning it’s a song title from a Junction demo we did in 1993. A straightfoward rock song with a pubertal "zappaesque" lyric to it. The name stuck with me and when I decided a wanted a project for the music that would not fit into the Junction calendar I chose Watertouch. I think the name has a nice ring to it. After all without water there wouldn’t be life on earth, so in a sense it’s the beginning for eveything, at least of all music. Q In what musical line do you identify the sound of Watertouch? Do you agree on being considered how a band of progressive rock? A Good question! But like many good questions hard to answer. To me it’s just music, I think it was Miles Davis who said that there are only two kinds of music, good and bad. Hopefully people will place Watertouch in the first category. But in a sense I guess it’s progressive, due to the mix of musicstyles on the CD. It ranges from everything from 70’s hardrock, Swedish, Oriental, Irish folkmusic, jazz, funk, symphonic, etc. If people wanna label us as progressive, fine by me, and if not, it’s just as fine. As long as they appreciate the music. Q Then how would you define your music? A I think almost everything I write tend to be influenced by the 70’s tradition, whatever it will be Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, Zappa, Focus, Pink Floyd, etc. So there is definetely a strong 70’s touch to it, both composition and sound wise. Maybe due to the vintage keyboards which I always prefered before synths. Instruments like Organ, Fender Rhodes, Clavinet, Mini Moog, etc. Always makes my heart beat a little faster. I think crossover music is the best term I can come up with. Music for the openminded. Q Please Patrick, count us something about "We Never Went to the Moon", yours magnifes album premiere. How would you describe it? A Well thanks for the praise! Ohh... tough question! I’ve had people make references about the album from everything to Focus, Ekseption, Yes, Zappa, Gentle Giant to Kebnekaise, Deep Purple, Jethro Tull, Pink Floyd and so forth. Maybe we are the missing link between Deep Purple, Zappa and Focus, it comes close anyway. I guess the only thing to do is to hear it and make up your own mind. Q Did reason decide to call the album "We Never Went to the Moon" that message behind the name? A Well there is this crazy American, Bill Kaysing, who insisted that the americans never succeded to put a man on the moon. There is nothing like a good conspiracy theory! (laughs). Me and a good friend of mine wrote the lyric together that maybe the astronauts were watching the empty rocket go up into space on the TV, while themselves were tucked away secreteley in a far away hotel engaging in other loose activites. Such as getting drunk, celebrating that they soon would be the name of everybodys lips. Q As much as there is written material and all of improvisation in what we can listen in the CD? A All the melodies and basic structures of the songs are worked out properly, but almost all the solos and some intros and outros are improvisation. I remember that we recorded three different pianoimprovisations for the beginning of "The Burning of my Ashes". And we choose the best one. It’s more of improvisation when we play live. Was something that got me a lot the attention the lyrics. Q What type of situations did they inspire them? A The lyrics of "The Burning of my Ashes" is about delicate topics such as selfhate and selfabuse. Sometimes your worst enemy can be yourself ! And sooner or later time will catch up with you, and you will have to face your inner demons. And if you don’t start reflecting on your own behaviour and changing it, it often ends up with suicide. Henceforth the title of the song. The lyrics to "We Never Went to the Moon" is probable due to my Zappa influence. And it was partly written during a hangover, well who says that nothing good comes out of alcohol... (laughs). Q Who does write the songs? Does somebody have an idea and does the band work on her or is a team task? A I’m the main songwriter. I ususally sit at home a fiddle around with ideas and then I bring them to the band. Sometimes I have most of the arrangement ready and sometimes we work on them together. If someone else has an idea regarding the song we try it out and see what’s gonna happen. It’s not important who writes the songs as long as it’s a quality composition. Foxhunt on the album is not written by me, but I thought it was a good song that would blend in very well with the other material on the CD. Q Until where do you plan to arrive with the band? Which is the goal to reach? A Well at the moment it’s to sell some albums so i can pay off the loan and hopefully earn some money so I can afford to make a follow up to "We Never Went to the Moon". And I would not say no to some more livegigs either! Q What activites outside of the music do you develop? A Well besides writing and playing music I naturally listen to a lot of stuff. Otherwise I’m trying to get a degree in behaviour science. Other interests are books, films, hanging out with friends, enjoying good food, watching football in the sofa. Wolwerhampton Wanderers is my favorite team. I’m in good company because it’s also Robert Plant and Glenn Hughes soccerteam. Maybe I can talk them into recording a hymn for the Wolves... (laughs). Q Lastly was something what they meant them to our readers? A Well I’ve never been to South America before, so this is the closest I’ve got so far. It’s good to know that there are people there taking the effort and time to support underground bands like ourselves. There’s a lot of good music that is coming through other channels than the major record companies and without your readers it wouldn’t be possible for bands like ourselves pursuing our musical dreams and directions. Hats off to you Sergio and to all your readers for making it possible! By Sergio Vilar "Nucleusprog" |