20 Questions: Sandy Mouche
Sandy Mouche is a breath of fresh air from the Swedish music scene. They've put out a few demos, a number of singles, an ep and an album called "White lucky dragon" which was one of my favourite albums of 2004. They just released a new French single called "Une histoire" ("A story") which will only available online at www.cdon.com. The single is a pop dream delight, filled with sweet hooks and beautiful melodies. It's taken from their forthcoming album called "…and poems for the unborn" which I can't wait to hear. Sandy Mouche sing in both English and French, sometimes even in the same song. I asked them 20 questions that will hopefully explain what makes Sandy Mouche tick... we'll see if they consider themselves more "pop" than "rock", why they sing in French and what inspires them.
a little side note: vocalist Helena has also worked on Per Gessle's (Roxette) new project.
another side note: these questions were answered in December 2004.
01. Where does Sandy Mouche come from? name? concept? meaning if any?
The name was born on a Greek island when Martinique, Helena and Per were there on vacation. They decided to start a band. Per played with the sand and came up with Sandy and Helena saw that all three of them had Mouches (brown Madonna dots in the face). The result was the band's name Sandy Mouche. We have realised that it's not just a name but a person as well. A person who lives in every member of Sandy Mouche and who helps them when time seems pointless and grey. We're all together on a journey to make the world a better place. (See website for fairytale version).
02. Do you prefer to be described as pop or a rock band and why?
Pop. Our music is a bit softer than standard rock and it's not all based on loud guitars.
03. What Swedish bands have most influenced you?
None. Only Fairytale music for films of the Swedeish writer Astrid Lingren.
04. What band (outside of Sweden) would you all agree is a big influence on the band?
The French singer Joe Dassin, France Gall, Cindy Lauper, The Twin Peaks music, Beatles, Michael Jackson, Type o Negative.
05. Besides music, what influenced the band to start making music? movies? books? media? sex???
Some movie music is just great. We have all grown up with fairytales and music to the fairytale movies and that is very powerful. Besides that it's the fact that we just love to create music and play together. We have always had a dream about music being our daily job.
06. What movie would best describe Sandy Mouche if you had to pick one?
Astrid Lindgren's "Bröderna Lejonhjärta"
07. Why did you choose to sing in French and English? Is it popular in Sweden to sing in your native tongue nowadays? why not sing in Swedish? Did you make a conscious decision to sing this way?
We like both the English language and the French language so we do a combination of the two. French is beautiful. Martinique has relatives in France and he went there every summer when he was a little boy. So he has great memories and inspiration from that time. We want our music to fly over the borders of Sweden and reach the whole world so therefore we don't sing in Swedish. But if you want to break in Sweden, Swedish is probably the best way.
08. How has technology influenced the band?
We can do simple demos at home very easily thanks to computers, so that is great.
09. Do you prefer analog or digital? for recording, gear and aesthetics?
"White lucky dragon" was recorded in an analog studio. We liked it. But it's not a must for us. I think you can create magic digitally as well. When were playing live it's a mix of vintage and digital stuff.
10. How does Sandy Mouche fit into the Swedish music scene? Are you considered underground or outsiders?
Hmmm... We think we fit in perfectly but we need more money (for promotion) to break through the fog of all mainstream radio hits that torture the Swedes every day. At the moment we are somewere between underground and overground we think.
11. What are the other cool bands in Sweden these days?
Logh.
12. Describe an average Sandy Mouche fan. What kind of person would dig Sandy Mouche?
Maybe a person who needs a little more love in life? Maybe a really macho guy with bad self-confidence. Or maybe the average person with a 9-5 workday that enjoys life. Hmmm, I think all kinds of people actually =)
14. How does art affect your daily lives if at all?
As in paintings it doesn't affect but maybe plays at the theatre or ballets. Everything that makes us react.
15. If you would describe the band in only 3 words (no more no less) what three words would they be?
White lucky dragon (It has nothing to do with rasism I assure u =)
16. In your opinion, who is the most famous swedish person? (alive or dead, musical or non musical)
Abba or Alfred Nobel maybe?
17. What is the coolest places in Sweden that most Swedes don't know about?
An island called Valö with orange cliffs and a big bird.
18. What does the future hold for Sandy Mouche? (keep in mind these questions where answered in December 2004...)
We have just finished the video for the song "Papillon" and it will be out in Sweden in the beginning of January. In February we return to the studio to do our second album. We will try to get a deal with a major company here in Sweden so that they can help us reach other countries.
19. Since I'm from Canada... what do you think of when you think of Canada?
We think of a calm beautiful place where you can speak french and where there is snow. Calm in the sense of more calm then USA where it seems that everyone must own a gun to feel safe and so on. Maybe a place more down to earth. Icehockey! We like Canada =)
20. Since I'm French I have one last little question: What would be your favorite French word or phrase? (each member please list at least one)
Helena: Tarte au pomme
Martinique: Planche a voile
Per: Révolution
Ola: Amour
Official website: http://www.sandymouche.com/
.:About the author:
Marc Xavier Leblanc... aka Bones is a photographer, freelance reporter, promoter, self-professed Scandinavian fanatic, DJ and host of his own radio show called (((la photo sonore)))... at CKUM Radio J 93.5fm... in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada. he's also co-hosted and hosted shows on Radio Canada and CBC Radio 3 over the Canadian radio airwaves. This is the second installment of his "20 questions" feature on IAT.