{"id":1121,"date":"2020-04-17T12:22:41","date_gmt":"2020-04-17T10:22:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aormusic.de\/?p=1121"},"modified":"2020-04-17T13:11:25","modified_gmt":"2020-04-17T11:11:25","slug":"interview-hartmann","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aormusic.de\/?p=1121","title":{"rendered":"Interview: Hartmann – Good Music For Hard Times!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Hartmann – Good Music For Hard Times!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oliver Hartmann was always a force to rely on. Take his work as touring guitarist for AVANTASIA, as the leader of PINK FLOYD tribute band ECHOES and as a solo artist \u2013 the man delivers since 2005 and – to be precise – even before as the frontman for the neo-classical rockers AT VANCE. Reasons enough to share a word or two about his jubilee record \u201c15 Pearls And Gems\u201d.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I think it was yesterday when I reviewed your first solo effort \u201cOut In The Cold\u201d 15 years ago. Time has passed so quickly, but which have been your personal highlights?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

God \u2013 there were so many, Standing on stage as a headliner of the greatest metal festival of the world in Wacken was something I never dared to dream about. But the work with ECHOES and HARTMANN and the great reactions from the fans over the years fulfill my aspirations as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Do you see yourself more as a solo musician or as a band member?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I absolutely see no difference because I enjoy both.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You could have easily done another \u201cBest Of\u201d-CD with a bunch of new tracks for this anniversary but you give your fans five new ones, five cover tunes and – guess it – five live versions \u2013 all recorded in SASCHA PAETH\u2019s studio. High quality all over the place. How much time did it take to realize this project? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes, I could have done this. But when thinking about this event me and my boys were absolutely sure to give something back to the fans and we came to the decision to choose this format. But I have to correct you – the live tracks were mixed by Dennis Ward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCan\u2019t Stop This Train\u201d is a great kick-off to start the record. Seems you are unstoppable musically?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You might say so \u2013 but I\u2019m not quite sure. At the moment during the corona crisis, this train stands at the sidetrack. Hopefully not too long, but we had to postpone the CD release party scheduled for April 23rd<\/sup> to June 26th .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So that means the release of the CD will be delayed as well?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

No, because the promotion campaign has started already with the release of two singles and the launch of the video \u201cWhen The Rain Begins To Fall\u201d. We decided to leave the release date as planned because the people outside are longing for some good music during these hard times!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who had the idea of choosing \u201cWhen The Rain Begins To Fall\u201d for the cover section? A very famous track back in the 80s but not very often redone since then. The rockier approach impresses me very much!<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thank you for the compliment. The initial plan was to take five pop songs of the 80s and play them in the HARTMANN style. But this failed because Toby \u201cstole\u201d \u201cManiac\u201d from me for his latest album. So I started to rethink my schedule and took this one \u2013 an idea Toby had years ago. I am glad that Ina Morgan, who I know for 25 years now and who is in the AVANTASIA touring band like me, was more than enthusiastic to join me. I think the result speaks for itself! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cStreet Cafe\u00b4\u201d by ICEHOUSE and \u201cI Go To Extremes\u201d from BILLY JOEL are great tunes as well and cannot be found very often on any cover\u2019s list. Reasons for your choice?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I had so many suggestions for the cover tunes from my band mates and my personal list, so it was quite a task to put the five tracks together. My aim was to record a bunch of songs a lot of my fans may know, but which aren\u2019t covered a hundred times before. So \u201cStreet Cafe\u201d was a logical choice. And because I am a huge FREE and PAUL RODGERS fan as well, I had to have something from \u201cFire And Water\u201d on my album. Everybody knows \u201cAll Right Now\u201d from that record, but the title cut is far less known. And I am proud of our version.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

AVANTASIA, ECHOES and HARTMANN \u2013 seems you\u2019re constantly working. How do you find the time for a break or just for sleeping? You did nearly everything musically \u2013 electric, acoustic even played with an orchestra. Is there any dream unfulfilled?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are right \u2013 I really tried a lot during my career and nobody knows what will come next. I don\u2019t know any boundaries musically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where do you see yourself in 15 years \u2013 still on tour with TOBIAS SAMMET\u2019S AVANTASIA? And what can the fans expect from Mr. HARTMANN?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maybe I\u2019m sitting on my patio doing nothing apart from a few gigs with Toby. Joke aside, I\u2019m turning 50 this year and admire all the artists like Mick Box and ALICE COOPER, who are already in their 70\u2019s and still love to do their job. To keep the same flame sparkling in 15 years is my aim!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Andreas H\u00f6hn<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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