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Subject: A-ha Interview from Sun Online
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From the Sun
Knowing you ... A-ha
By LOUISE COMPTON
Sun Online
THEY may have been making music together for almost 20 years - but 80s pop
heroes A-ha are far from best pals.
When we caught up with the Norwegian wonders for an exclusive webchat, they
REFUSED to be interviewed together and described their relationship as an
'unusual marriage'.
Speaking separately to The Sun Online, Morten Harket and Paul Waaktaar-Savoy
revealed they didn't speak to each other for most of the 1990s and that they
wrote much of their new album Analogue separately.
Despite their personal differences, the group are still phenomenally
successful.
They've sold a whopping 30million albums and count Coldplay's Chris Martin
and U2's Bono as fans.
Answering YOUR questions, the band told us how much they're enjoying being
back together following a seven-year break.
They also and filled us in on how they feel about being pop star pin-ups and
revealed which of their celebrity fans they would like to collaborate with.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi Morten and Paul. I've been a fan of A-ha for as long as I remember. You
guys are great. Are you surprised how popular you are after 20 years?
Vanya, Oslo
Morten: It's great that people like what we're doing because music has
always been the main motivation.
We've never really followed trends and we're just doing what we want to be
doing which is ideal.
Our fans obviously like what we're producing because they're buying our
records.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Does it annoy you that some people think Take On Me was your only successful
song?
Natasha, London
Morten: There's no denying it was our most successful song.
It's not our only successful song but because it has become such a cult hit,
it's what people think of when they think of us.
It is strange to think it's now a disco classic and that kids who weren't
even born when it was released know the words!
I completely understand why DJs like to play it at parties. It's a total
feel-good song.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi guys. How do the three of you get on these days. Are you best mates?
Morten: People think that because we're together as a band we must be
friends.
But that's not how it works.
We didn't get together out of friendship, the three of us couldn't be more
different.
We got together as a band because of the way the three of us respond to
music.
We don't do our interviews together and we don't write together but it's
always been that way.
The three of us have spent more time together over the last 20 years than
most married couples ever endure so of course, we do have a strong bond.
It's an unusual marriage.
Paul: We're like an old married couple, except there's three of us in the
marriage!
I don't think the term "best of friends" is accurate because it glosses over
so much of the relationships.
The way I look at it, most bands would have broken up decades ago!
But we have the years to lean on, I suppose. It means we're better-equipped
to ride out the bad times.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi guys. I've been a fan of yours for almost 20 years now - since I was 18!
Is it strange at gigs when you look out into the audience and see a crowd of
40 year olds?
Martha Hughes, Epping Forest
Paul: Our fan base differs according to which country we're in.
We've had more consistent success in Europe so our fans vary in age and they
come from all walks of life.
Some of those fans got into our stuff really recently and don't even know
our old stuff, whereas in the UK our fans are mainly those who have followed
us since the Eighties.
When we tour here it's based on our history in many ways. It's nice to have
a balance.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What do you think of your celebrity fan base?
Simone, Adelaide
Paul: It's great. When we started up again in 2000, we started getting
really positive reviews.
In the early days they weren't as favourable. People used to dismiss us as a
pop band which was inappropriate.
I'm a Coldplay fan so it was nice to hear that Chris Martin is a fan.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi Morten. Would you like to collaborate with Chris Martin from Coldplay or
Bono from U2?
Morten: If it made sense and it was a musically interesting idea we would do
it.
I wouldn't want to team up for a publicity stunt. I don't think it would
work.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi Morten. How does it feel to still be at the receiving end of such female
adoration?
Sven
Morten: It fills me with testosterone! I seem to be getting more attention
now than I did 20 years ago.
It's because I've become a man, I suppose. I've got used to it now and it
doesn't bother me.
It's just part of what we are as a band and I appreciate it. After all, it's
a bit of fun.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the past you've been described as boring. What do you think about that?
Toni River, Glossop
Morten: I don't think it's a fair judgement. Just because we don't jump up
and down doesn't means we're boring.
Magnes is a very funny guy and so is Paul, but in a different way. And a lot
of my friends find me entertaining.
I don't really socialise with music industry types and I never go to
celebrity parties.
In fact, I don't really party at all! Even in the Eighties, I was never one
for partying. I don't like going clubbing.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Do you like visiting the UK?
Anika, Rotherhithe
Paul: We really do. The UK is like our second home so it's great to be over
here with a great record to promote.
We happier in general now because we've signed to a record label which
believes in us.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Are you surprised at the support you still receive from fans who have
followed you since the Eighties? You all looked pleased with our support at
the recent CD:UK recording? I was the one jumping up and down madly, waving
the A-ha scarf!
Steve
Paul: The support we get is amazing. Last time we came over we sold out all
our shows. It actually seems that support for us is growing.
The UK is where we started and where we rose to fame all those years ago -
but I'm still surprised by the sizes of the venues we were filling.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I came to my first A-ha concert ever last year in Manchester - and may I say
it was the best concert ever! Do you have any plans to tour the UK again
this year?
Anne Marie, Manchester
Paul: We have a number of surprise gigs and events lined up so keep checking
www.a-ha.com
Depending on how the record does it would be great to come back here in the
autumn and do a great big tour.
But we'll have to see how the record does first.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Are you enjoying the music business more than you did 20 years ago? What's
different?
Alana Drefus.
Morten: We're a little wiser these days and we're definitely more outspoken.
When we started out we were naive to the record industry and we were pushed
around a bit too much.
Back in the old days we used to do whatever was asked of us and eventually
we just had enough of it.
That's why we needed to take a break!
I feel for a lot of the new bands because they're under enormous pressure to
churn out albums at ridiculous speeds.
It was difficult enough when we were starting out. It must be much more
difficult now.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You must have had tons of arguments over the years. Has there ever been a
point where you've just wanted to scrap the band?
Zander, Penzance
Paul: We didn't speak to each other for most of the Nineties. It was almost
five years actually!
But people still want to hear the music we make so we just deal with it.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Did you work together writing the new album? Are you pleased with the
result?
Justine Jones
Paul: We work quite separately when it comes to actually writing. It's the
way we've always worked.
We've spent a long time working on the latest album so I find it difficult
to detach from it, listen objectively and say whether I'm pleased with it.
Ask me again in a few years and I'll be able to give a better answer!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
At this stage in your career, with many fantastic albums down the line, what
gives you inspirations for the songs you write?
Ali Schippol
Paul: It really varies. There's always a specific theme for each song and it
can be triggered by anything. I tend to look for inspiration in everything I
do. I'm always looking for ideas!
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