“The live-feel has been an essential part of the recordings, and the plain joy of playing music. A song doesn’t have to be three minutes and fifteen seconds long, it should be able to demand more space than that. My songs are a combination of groove and composition. At the same time I wanted to leave the classic love lyrics for a while and instead write about society today, about being human.”

He gathered his old friends in Jideblaskos, experienced and established session musicians in their own right, with whomhe ran a live music club in Stockholm for several years and with whom he has played in numerous different constellations. During a few intense days in his own place, Studio Monïca, the music was recorded. The house gods Marvin Gaye and Prince are always present, but inspiration has also come from Parliament & Funkadelic, The Meters and Ry Cooder.

Andy P was born in Stockholm, Sweden, and raised by two parents deeply involved in music. His mother was a classical piano teacher and his father played the violin in the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, both having received their musical training in Vienna.

So, Andy started off playing a bit of both violin and piano in his early years (and actually made his debut in Swedish National Television, playing a short sequence of an Alban Berg violin concerto at the tender age of five). He also spent several years playing the trumpet but his true passion for music didn't start to evolve until the age of sixteen, as he borrowed a friend's old acoustic guitar.

Falling in love with the instrument was the steppingstone for Andy's future musical career and alongwith the guitar playing came also the will and desire to sing and write songs.

Two years of musical studies in Skåne, in the south of Sweden, gave Andy the opportunity to hone his skills as a guitarist and vocalist as well as the experience of performing live on stage through loads of gigs in bars and clubs. After that he moved back to Stockholm and started getting work as a session musician, touring with various Swedish artists but also got more and more into the world of producing. His first major gig as a producer was with Swedish soul artist Kaah and right after that Andy got signed as a solo artist to Edel Records.

Unfortunately Edel closed down their business in Sweden in 2002, right before the release of Andy's album, but instead of being beaten down, this gave birth to his own record label, Daion Recordings. And in 2004 he released his solo debut, Day One. He then continued to be productive and wrote and produced the score for Fire/Det Brinner, a mini-series for Swedish National Television, which was rewarded with an international Emmy nomination.

2010 was an intense year for Andy P. Besides working with his own project, he also did a world tour with The Nils Landgren Funk Unit, where Andy P is a steady member working as a sideman, playing the guitar and singing. And 2011 will be just as busy! In collaboration with Skip Records and O-Tone Music (booking), the international release for Music & Movement is set to February 25, 2011. The international collaborations with various house music producers will also continue. Together with fellow Swede John Dahlbäck, Andy P managed to create an international club hit with the song “Everywhere” and in January 2011 their new song ”Turn Down The Lights” was released worldwide on Spinnin Records.





Andy P on his own music:

I have always had a weak spot for strong melodies. I play some kind of funk and soul mix with a jazz touch, but I also incorporate pop melodies. Even though it's fun to create funky grooves, I prefer to write songs that are proper songs. I like music that you can listen to a hundred times without getting tired of it. Take Prince for example. He is one of those artists who is able to combine really strong melody with a funky groove. Prince is definitely one of my musical heroes.

Andy P on mixing various musical styles:

My music is a melting pot of different styles, although it's not a conscious decision. The number one priority is to make tunes with strong melody but also to make people want to move. On my new album I haven't censored anything stylistically. It's easier to capture the joy of creating music that way. That is something that I am missing in a lot of modern music, the feeling of people having fun doing what they're doing.

Andy P on his musical background

What really made a difference to me was when I started playing the guitar as a teenager. From the moment I picked it up, I was completely hooked. I used to prac- tice for 10 hours a day, until my fingers hurt so much that I couldn't play anymore. But what really made me take the step to becoming a professional musician was when I met Kaah. We worked as assistants to a wheelchair-bound man and discovered that we both were making music, so we decided to start playing together. He had just recorded an album and had a deal with a major label. So we collaborated on his next one. To record and produce the album ourselves, release it on a major label and then back it up with extensive touring afterwards - that was my one-way ticket into the music world.

Andy P on playing to different audiences across the world

I have played in places like Thailand, China, Russia and a lot in Germany with the Nils Landgren Funk Unit. The reception in Sweden depends on who you are playing with, but generally people are more reserved here than in Germany for example. In Germany we usually play to quite big crowds that are very dedicated. In Thailand it was completely hysterical, we played to a whole football pitch of people. After the gig we sat for two hours just si- gning autographs. They probably hadn't ever heard of us before, but were really excited anyway.

Andy P on playing in small clubs

I always like when there is some kind of improvisational vibe and an interaction between the people in the band and the audience. On a small stage it's easier to create such a feeling. I have had the biggest kicks in my life playing in cramped, sweaty venues where the floor is jumping. But bigger gigs are great fun too.

Andy P on the perfect gig

After the touring with Kaah, my band Jideblaskos and I used to run a funk club night at the Mosebacke Club in Stockholm. We always used to have guest artists with us on stage. At our two-year anniversary we invited back as many of the guests as we could. The venue was packed with people. We played for almost three hours non-stop. During the last song I was completely exhausted and was almost about to faint. Everybody was dancing, we had a fantastic time on stage and it was all just one hell of a party. I think I slept for a whole day afterwards.

Andy P on the future

After my last solo album I felt rather burnt out, and al- most said to myself that I would never do another. But when my daughter was born a few years ago, I got a new way of looking at my musicianship. I found myself more self-confident and relaxed. The new material is a footprint of what I want to do right now. I now have as my goal to make a new solo album at least every two years. And I want to come out and play live as much as possible because that is what I do best.

Interview conducted by Niklas Bergstrand.