What
can you tell me of how familiar were you with Diana Express [a band that's
been around for years in Bulgaria?], and how you ended up working with them?
Actually I wasn't familiar with them at all
(it wasn't until I was introduced to the band and their previous material that I
go to know theme. Milen Vrabevski (the writer and producer of the POM)
asked me to have listen to the songs to see if I was interested in singing the
album in English. After a few spins, I thought yeah I can bring something to the
table, let's do it.
You are credited with lyrics [along with Dr
Milen Vrabevski]. This album [from my understanding] was previously recorded
with Bulgarian vocals[!?] So you interpreted the lyrics to English for this
release? Did you change any of the wording or arrangements? And was the music
redone as well?
I had nothing to do with the lyrics, they
were translated by a Bulgarian lady who lives in the USA. She has done a good
job in the translation and thank God not Google translated! All I had to
do was basically tweak the lyrics as I was recording the vocals. Of course
I had to redo all the backing vocals as they were also sung in Bulgarian, but
the actual music tracks were left as they were.
What
was your initial reaction to hearing the songs and concept? and was the concept
something that was easy to get in to for you?
Well, I loved the songs from the beginning,
well played and well recorded. Regarding the concept, it wasn't until I started
recording the vocals that I realized it was like reading a book to a friend,
every song seemed to become a different chapter in the book.
You've been working in Bulgaria for some time
now. So, I take it you've learned the language and enjoy the country[!?]
Learned the language okay, I speak a bit but
not that much to be able to hold a conversation. It's the alphabet that's the
problem...it's Cyrillic and that's hard to learn and most of the younger
generation either speak some English or they want to learn to speak English.
Bulgaria its self has suffered some hard
times over the centuries and is only now slowly finding it's feet in the world,
but the people are great and the land is very picturesque and varied. I
know this after having made 17 travel documentaries for Bulgarian TV.
Dr. Milen Vrabevski came up with the concept,
but is not an actual band member, merely guesting on the album, on
guitar. Can you tell me a bit of what you know of him?
Milen is a very nice guy, not only a good
keyboarder but guitarist as well. He is head of his own pharmaceutical company
in the Balkans and also a member of Bill Clinton's World Wide initiative. He
does a lot of work for the underprivileged not only in Bulgaria but throughout
the Balkans.
The Power Of
Mind is quite a varied album, from the acoustic stuff, lots of
piano, orchestrated pieces, hard rock. Were you involved and in
studio for more than your own vocals? And how different was this
experience than working with a straight forward rock band?
I was in the studio for about 10 days doing
only the vocals and re-doing the backing vocals. The tracks were already
there and it was just a case of slotting them in. I have worked like this
before so it's not a problem, it just means I can get on without any
interference from other band members. We had a lot of fun in the studio, it's
not all serious stuff!
'
Fairy
Tale' was the first single [and there have been 2 further
video/singles?]. This is a great melodic tune that stands
out. What can you tell me about this song?
Good song, and a stand out as a 1st single I
suppose, I sang it slightly different from the original but still very
close. The video was shot in a club in Sofia / Bulgaria with the guys,
interesting as it's been a long time since I shot a video.
Can you tell me a bit about a few other
tracks from Mind Power? - to the old style hard rocker 'Rock N Roll Is
My Thing', and the ballad 'Loves Light Shining' this album
offers a lot of classic varied songs.
I think there is not so much variation as a
listener would hope for, but it is all there in terms of musicality and
interest. I do like the rock stuff, but ballads have always been a strong
point with me and there are a few on POM. I was suffering from a bout of
flu as we started recording which didn't help but it did give a slight edge to
the vocals and also helped with the spoken part at the beginning of the album.
'The
Search' is another standout, and it really contains 3 parts from the
orchestrated intro, to the ballad duet, and then the rockier half. Can you tell
me about putting this one together? [or was it all together before you laid down
your vocals?]?
This track is actually my favorite from the
word go and I spent a lot of time particularly on this track. It was all there
when I started and I just got into it immediately, beautiful song. We
recorded a video for it on a cliff overlooking the Black Sea, just stunning
scenery.
The album is a very uplifting release,
musically and lyrically. Do you have any favorite moments on it?
It is as you say - very uplifting, especially
in today's music scene, it goes totally against the grain as far as what current
now, but maybe that's a good thing all the moments I had doing this album were
good and memorable.
Is
this a 'one off' project with Diana Express and will there be some tour dates
[perhaps in places like the UK or North America (]? And/or future
collaborations?
How we progress musically, we will have to
see. There is new material on the table which I will get round to listening to
soon, but right now getting POWER OF MIND out there is priority. Of course we
are looking to go on the road and I am hoping that we get some tours together
pretty soon.
I know the guys themselves have other
commitments, so we will have to find a way to bring it all together.
How well is this album doing in the bands
home country? Any radio play or chart placings?
It's done pretty well and lots of radio and
TV play, they don't really have charts as we know it, but the album has done
well as far as I know.
Over the past few decades you've done a lot
of great projects that really didn't seem to last long [beyond one or 2 albums
like - The John Lawton Band, OTR, Lawton/Dunning Project, revised Lucifers
Friend], and I'm curious if you have any desire or plans to restart or work with
any of these projects in the future?
There have been some great combinations
in the past and I have worked with some absolutely stunning musicians from the
Lucifers Friend guys, Steve Dunning from JL Band and Jan Dumee on the OTR
album. It's never been a case of 'well we have recorded something so let's
move on to something new'.
I am still in touch with all of these
wonderful musicians and ones should never say never and I would love to work
with all of them again, but I feel time is against us.
You've always kept busy – recording,
performing live, TV, etc., what else is there you'd still like to accomplish
musically? Any future goals or intentions?
I would still like to duet with Paul Rogers,
that has always been an ambition of mine! Hey who knows.
Legendary
Rock Singer John Lawton is back with his first new recording since 2008s OTR
project. With Bulgarian band Diana Express, Lawton provides the vocals for
their latest album – this one sung in English, titled 'The
Power Of Mind' [on Intelligent Music]. This album [like the OTR 'On
The Rocks' disc] – is a very different sounding album, featuring plenty of
orchestrations, piano, and classy melodies. For those who haven't heard anything
from The Power Of Mind [3 videos have been made and can be found on youtube.com],
John Lawton's vocals sound great, as always on this 14 track disc of ballads,
progressive tracks and blues rockers.