Andreas Moe is a Stockholm, Sweden based singer songwriter who had just stepped off the stage at the Exeter Phoenix Arts Centre after playing to a near sell out crowd as support for the awesome Lewis Watson. We caught up with Andreas outside the 'Green Room', we did try and get in but Lewis was preparing in there, probably some form of meditation or yoga and was not to be disturbed, instead, we found a nice quiet spot backstage and chatted about multiple instrumental skills, working with DJ Tiesto and playing gigs in Swedish back yards, here's how we got on....

It's a pleasure to meet you Andreas, please take a moment to tell us about yourself and your music....

Hi, I'm a singer songwriter from Stockholm in Sweden, I play many instruments such as drums, bass and I try to play the violin but I find it quite tricky.

Are you planning on bringing these 'multi instrumental' skills onto the stage?

It's just me and my guitar when I play live, I'm not good enough to play the violin on stage just yet, maybe someday, give me about ten years and I should be alright by then!

What's the music scene like in Stockholm right now?

It's a very diverse scene at the moment, so many different acts, it's like everyone is doing music in Stockholm, mainly a lot of folk, metal and rock is very popular in Sweden. It's nice that you can hear lots of stripped down organic music in Sweden, especially on the radio stations.

 

Do you receive much airplay from the local stations?

No I don't, not at the moment, but to be honest, we are yet to really release anything that they would be able to get their hands on and play on a show so it's not as if I've been sending material in that is going unnoticed. We're slowly building things up, creating an awareness and raising my profile.

 

Are there many stations out there that embrace new music?

Yes absolutely, the National station 'P3' which is similar to Radio 1 for the volume of listeners, they're always on the lookout for new acts and they host some specialist shows so I should be able to get something on air soon.

 

One of your key influences is Jeff Buckley, what is it about his music that you really like?

I like that it's guitar driven, I've always played guitar and I always used to dream about standing up on stage playing it in front of people. About a year ago I decided that this is what I really want to do, in the past I did more electronic material, one of the EP's was called 'Collecting Sunlight', this was a far more electronic project that what I do at the moment. I just figured that I wanted to play guitar and do what I love!

 

Well you've just come off stage and from what I saw standing side of stage, you looked like you were having a great time up there, some might say you're 'Living the Dream'

Yep, exactly!

 

I read that you're signed to SONY in Scandinavia, how did that come about?

Yes, I am signed to them and also SONY Benelux (Belgium Netherlands Luxembourg), how did this come about? I guess it's because I am surrounded by some pretty amazing people, my friends and family, my management team who really believe in the project, they've always been around to support me and they are all so cool, this has really helped to lead me to the right record label.

 

There was a dance remix done of one your tracks 'Long Time' by DJ Tiesto, care to expand on this for me?

These days you kind of have to do something to get that little push, get yourself noticed, whether it's going on a TV talent show like X-Factor or Pop Idol (or whatever it's called these days), I kind of needed that push and I have worked on a couple of hits in Sweden and America and that made me get in touch with a recognised Swedish DJ and together we wrote 'Long Time', Tiesto then picked it up and now I 'm working with him, providing material that he is using, it's not the exact place that I want to be but it's another feather in my cap and it was the push that I was looking for.

 

You sing in English, have you always done this or was it a choice to widen your audience base?

I've always sung in English, it's been one of my dreams to take it abroad and spread my message further afield. I love Sweden but I also want to get out there and hit different countries, I love the UK and I am wanting to get noticed a lot more here.

 

You've just come off stage, you did really well tonight, no fear of the fans not warming to you (especially the ladies!)

Ha Ha, well, what can I say?

 

How have you found Social Media has assisted you as an artist?

It's a great way to communicate, you can even show people who you are by using various channels of social media, it's really easy to share videos and chat to your fans.

 

Do you find that playing live creates more of a physical 'connection' that people are more likely to stay as a 'follower' on Facebook for example as they feel that they know you a little better?

The experience is certainly a lot more intimate and that is so important for me, to get that relationship with the audience is key to being invited to play at a venue again. I just completed a round of 'Back-Yard' dates in Sweden where I take the set to people's back yards and play for a small number of people, I think you call them 'Home Gigs' in the UK? I have done so many shows where you get up on stage and half the battle is 'winning' the audience, almost having to prove yourself to them before they start to listen to you and what you're singing about. I get quite anxious, "what if they don't like my songs", but in the Back-Yard gigs, you don't really have that problem as everyone is enjoying themselves and are more than happy to lower their defences and sing along to the songs.

 

If you could setup your own 'Supergroup' who would be in it?

I would have John Mayer on acoustic guitar, Stevie Ray Vaughan & Jimi Hendrix on lead guitar, Steve Jordan on drums and on bass, I'd have Pino Palladino....I could go on and before you know it, there would be a stage full of people!

 

If you had to compare your music to a cartoon character, who would it be and why?

Johnny Bravo, he's a really nice guy, very honest and genuine, you see him and you think he's a bit of a joke but he has real depth, there's more to him that meets the eye.

 

Are you a fan of ABBA?

Yes I am, my favourite track is Waterloo (which was odd as this is the very track that I was serenading my photographer with earlier in the evening - he was wearing earplugs and I felt it was lost on him, one day he'll appreciate my talent).....

 

We'd like to thank Andreas for taking his time out after a very successful gig to chat to us and we wish him every success on this tour and future dates in whichever countries he finds himself!

 

Interview by Steve Muscutt

Images all © Julian Baird 2014 www.julianbaird.com