“CAST IN STEEL” ALBUM AND TOUR
At a press conference in Berlin today, a-ha announced a reunion and a new album and tour. The album is called ‘Cast In Steel’ and is a-ha’s 10th studio album – their first in six years.
The first dates have been released for the ‘Cast In Steel’ tour – 15 dates in Germany, Austria and Switzerland in 2016, with more international dates to be added. And of course a-ha will return to Rock In Rio to perform during the festival’s 30th anniversary this September.
British music journalist Tom Bromley interviewed the band, asking about their activities since a-ha’s dissolution in 2010, as well as their plans for the future. Morten, Magne and Paul talked about their working relationship for the album, and where they are creatively at this point in their career.
On the time apart
Morten: Myself I have had a great run the past 4-5 years now, doing my own stuff musically. That’s been my own focus. It’s partly because being able to do that I feel comfortable going back to work with Paul and Mags for a very concise, focused set up. I am very pleased with what I have done, so I am kind of in a good place.
Paul: I have been super busy, I mean in the last five years I have released one song. It has been busy for me (laughs).
Magne: I’ve been working on writing songs with many promising young artists, and then it has happened that some songs have got me to thinking: “It might work as an a-ha song.”
On getting back together
Paul: I think we always run ourselves through the ringer when we get together. We always need to step back, and every time we step back it seems that is what does our career a lot of good […] Creative crisis is the best thing, without that we’d be nowhere.
Magne: To a certain degree, our common history and legacy is like a common fate, like a marriage. Some people stay married for the right reasons or the wrong reasons, some people have to try other venues. I think for us whenever a situation occurs that feels like it is going to go in to a stalemate or an unproductive situation, it forces us to think long and hard about whether we want to do it or not. I personally would be uncomfortable about doing something without feeling that it was the right thing to do. And that does change. What is right in 2010 is clearly wrong in 2015, I am happy to admit it.
Paul: If there is more to say, why wouldn’t we say it? If the band in itself has more to present, why wouldn’t we do it?
Magne: One good thing about history is that it can’t be taken away from you…It has been a hell of a ride, I wouldn’t trade it.
Morten: There’s magic in the music … Everything else wears you out, the music itself doesn’t.
http://a-ha.com/news/articles/cast-in-s ... -and-tour/
