Dan Swano interview, the man with a million bands

by joseangeles@muchomail.com, like in 2004

-Out of all your bands and projects, which would you say had the most
impact on your life?

It's a good, and tough question!! Unicorn is the only band I have ever
been a part of. We had true band magic going on and some of the songs we did are 'funeral
material' to me. I can't deny the impact Edge Of Sanity have on my life.
All major breaks have come through those channels. If I have to choose
and see things on a larger scale, it's Edge Of Sanity.

-How much time do you spend your life on music? Is music something on
your mind like everyday?

Since I work in a musicstore all I do all day is talk about music and
the gear you use to rock. When I come home I spend a few hours knocking
about in my homestudio. There's been just a few days of my life when I
haven't been dealing with my music. Those days where often spent with
high fever or something….

-A lot of older people I know say they like your music but the growls
are too much for them, would you ever make an album without the death
growls or would you just stay true to what you think is right for the
songs?

I have made a bunch of non growling albums such as 4 Nightingale albums,
2 Unicorn albums and I am about to do my most important album (Totally
free from metal and of course growling) with my new project SECOND SKY..

-Do you have any projects or bands that nobody else knows about yet?

Maybe SECOND SKY then. It's pretty low key because nothing is really
finalized yet. We are negotiating with some cool labels and pretty much
the whole of the first album is written. Apart from that, nothing really.
I'll keep the other stuff (Nightingale, Bloodbath etc.) floating a few
more days.

-What is your greatest achievement so far in your career?

To me, personally it's the Unicorn "A collection of worlds II" demo. To
do such a masterpiece at the age of 17 is scary, it feels like another
me that did that stuff..it's so much harder these days. I think bits and
piece of other albums are great stuff, but as a whole that demo kicks!!!
Available to download for free from www.swano.com

-What was the hardest album to make? What was the easiest?

Moontower was a bastard because nothing felt good enough at the time.
But once I got past the first two songs everything just flowed out of me.
Technically all albums have been a bitch. The two last Nightingale
albums nearly cost me my sanity in the mixing…

-You've had a pretty long career, has there been any regrets through
your long history?

Yeah, lot's of them. But there is no timemachine available just yet so I
move on and try not to think about them..

-What are some bands you listen to that nobody in the metal community
would expect?

Right now?? Def Leppard!! I listen to a lot of stuff. Anything works as
long as it's got a great melody. Some people are upset about me liking
stuff like Faith Hill, Avril Lavigne, Jewel, Richard Marx, Lisa
Miskovsky etc. But I am really a pophead dabbling with metal on the side.

-Crimson II was one of my favorite albums of 2003, what are the odds that
Edge of Sanity will ever make a new album again?

1/1000000000000000 at this time. I have made a promise to never take
advantage of the name again, and I'll keep that promise to the guys, but
if my life depended on it, maybe….

-What are you most concerned and busy with at the moment?

To prepare the new Nightingale album "Invisible". At the moment I am
dealing with a possible lyric writer, and this far it rocks…some titles
for the new album is "Still Alive", "Atlantis Rising" ,"To The Very End"
,"The Wake" ,"Kursk (Buried in Steel)" and probably "Invisible". It
will be recorded and mixed at Studio Underground by Pell Saether in June
Produced by Myself and Nouga.

-thanks for replying back, it's been a pleasure to speak with a legend

Good talking to you too….hope you enjoyed my answers.
Don't forget to check out the most generous webpage ever…www.swano.com
Over 1,3 GB of free rare downloads!!!