In The Labyrinth Interviews

Interview with Peter Lindahl

by Christian Lamitschka

Ch.L.: How would you describe yourself and the music you play to someone who'se never seen or heard you before.

Peter Lindahl: Innovative, experi- mental but at the same time melodic.

Ch.L.: How was the last year for you? What were the highlights?

Peter Lindahl: Not much happening "live“, not anything worth mentioning here anyway.

Ch.L.: What's your latest CD and how's it doing?

Peter Lindahl: "Psychedelic Sweden" by Peter Lindahl, which is a solo album covering my early demo recordings from the early 70s and beyond.

Ch.L.: How did you choose the title for the CD, is there a story behind it?

Peter Lindahl: I didn't choose it. British producer Fran Ashcroft did, him reasoning that this album would appeal to the more freaked out audience of the Proggresive movement.

Ch.L.: Do you write the songs yourself and if not, how do you go about finding the songs for the your CD?

Peter Lindahl: I do write them myself, sometimes together with friends who are musically inclined.

Ch.L.: Please tell us about the songs on your album.

Peter Lindahl: I've gotten 4 CD albums released by now plus a whole lot of single tracks contributed to various CD compilations. So I don't really know where to begin! But this I can say, that the In The Labyrinth music is based on a concept where one song often leads to another seamlessly, just like on the Beatle's old gem "Sgt Pepper's lonely hearts club band".

Ch.L.: What's the difference between your last CD and the current one?

Peter Lindahl: A huge difference as the latest one was recorded mainly during the early 70s while my In The Labyrinth albums were put together between 2003 and 2002. While these latter recordings were also made on a much more ambitious level using professional equipment along with the fact that I have become a far better recording engineer and producer over the years.

Ch.L.: What kind of songs do you like to record the most?

Peter Lindahl: Songs which you cannot put a label on, that cannot be easily categorized.

Ch.L.: Do you have any interesting stories about how fans have been affected by your music?

Peter Lindahl: I have a few very devoted fans around the world who seem to connect fully with what I do, but generally speeking I do not get that much response, not lately anyway. Which has basically to do with no new items having been issued from my side for a whole lot of years.

Ch.L.: Who do you look up yo musically and how deep do your musical roots run?

Peter Lindahl: My favourites are still the Beatles and the Beachboys although I listen to all sorts of music as long as it makes me tick! But everything from 60s to Oriental to renaissance music works well with me.

Ch.L.: What do you think about today's Country Music versus its roots and where do you see it going in the future?

Peter Lindahl: Traditions is fine with me, but it's just not where I'm heading. I prefer to be rootless, if you pardon the expression!

Ch.L.: In your opinion, what is the biggest difference between „traditional“ and „new“ country music?

Peter Lindahl: I do actually appreciate it when there is a streek of Country in pop music, especially in the 60s. But clean cut Country music is not for me.

Ch.L.: If you had the chance to change something about the music industry, what would it be?

Peter Lindahl: To become less oriented on making profit and try to enhance for a situation where true acts with a profile of their own can see the light of day, not just what „the music trade thinks is right for the kids!“

Ch.L.: What inspired you to become an artist?

Peter Lindahl: Like Bob Dylan or the Rolling stones there is virtually nothing else I can do. Music and art has been such a big part of me for as long as I can remember. So if I've gone public with some of the things I do, it's because that is what I have to give.

Ch.L.: What inspired you to become a songwriter?

Peter Lindahl: Mainly those wonderful acts of the 60s, such as the Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel, the Beach boys and all the rest. But also parts of the folk scene which in those days held such a high quality, also spanning over a wide variety of styles.

Ch.L.: What drives you?

Peter Lindahl: 90% creativity, 10% selfishness.

Ch.L.: What's unique about you that differentiates you from other artists?

Peter Lindahl: That what I do is really different, by this emphasizing really different! Not like those who say they mix blues with jazz and gospel or house with acid and psych or whatever, which would make them totally unique in the face of the planet!

Either most artists are scared out of their brains to really pick out the hidden talents they nuirture or they are simply to concerned about trying to hang on to what they have accompished as far as record sales and profits from touring goes.

Ch.L.: When you get time off, how do you like to relax?

Peter Lindahl: Listening to music, reading books, meeting friends but for the most of it I watch movies on the telly or DVD player along with my wife.

Ch.L.: Is there anything in your life that you would change if you could?

Peter Lindahl: I would get me a manager who could take over public relations for me so I can stop worrying about that and just go on with my music (and art). However, a manager is something you don't even think about unless you're really making progress, because they demand their piece of the cherry cheese cake too!

Ch.L.: What Prive hopes and desires do you have?

Peter Lindahl: That I could be 100% professional within my field but also that all the madness that's going on in this world would immediately come to an end in order to save this planet.

Ch.L.: What has been the biggest disappointment in your life?

Peter Lindahl: The way the current music business is becoming more and more digitalized, hence making way for a new attitude where everyone should have access to far more music than they can handle, which to me is a totally absurd situation! This means that if you're a fairly unknown artist it's vitually impossible to break new ground for yourself unless you pay loads of funds for a highly successful campaign or if someone else does. Because in this day and age of over consumption and „ free music“ marketing is everything!

Ch.L.: Many music fans today get their information about artists via the internet. Do you have your own website and what will fans find there?

Peter Lindahl: Yes I do, at www.inthelabyrinth.com where one can find both my art, my music as well as lots of photos, videos and information about the many travels which my wife and I have undertaken.

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