MM - The new album ‘Walking on H20’ sees a change in the bands overall sound, was this intentional or do you see this as a natural progression within the band? 
Daniel: We started to make that change during our last album 'A Work of Art', then I still played around with it in another release Xsavior 'Caleidoscope', and now I and the rest of the guys have come full circle with the new album.  Everything we do must come natural even though some steps where kind of forced this is the most natural released ever by Mind’s Eye and I think people can feel it.

MM - What are you favourite tracks from the new CD?  If you had only one chance to turn people on to Mind’s Eye, which song would you have them listen to, to get a feel for what you guys are all about? 
Daniel: Well there are allot of different choices depending on what you like.  If you you like Metal like songs then I would offer you 'Sacred Rules', which is one of the heavier songs in the album.  If you are into the progressive style then I would have you listen to 'The Nazca Lines', and if you want the instant hit song I would recommend 'A rabbit in the Hat'. 

There are so many songs I like on this album it’s crazy, I think I love them all and could never decide which is the best or worst.  One thing is for sure, when you listen to a Mind’s Eye song, any one of our songs, you will feel us no matter what.

MM - At what age did you become interested in being a performer and what/who inspired you to join a band? 
Daniel: I started at the age of 16 to play drums. The main reason why I started was the band Genesis and Phil Collins a man I have great respect for.  I remember listening to the 'Invisible Touch' album with Genesis thinking: “from what planet are these guys from!!!  AMAZING!!!”  Others who inspired me later on were John Williams and Alan Silvestri, who are both some of the most accomplished score music composers on the face of the planet.

MM - There have been some phenomenal concept rock albums over the past couple of years I think ‘Walking on H20’ is among them, does the band feel that this album can stand the test of time?   
Daniel: Yes, we do. I think we can at least look at a bright future in front of us after having released this album. This concept that we choose to write about will never get out of date and who knows maybe in the future we all can walk on water and laugh about the time when a small band called Mind’s Eye released an concept album about the evolution of human kind.

MM - Would you like to tell us a few thoughts or stories behind some of the songs off the new album?
Daniel: Well, The intro has what I really was looking for: “a cinematical style”, one which I wanted to introduce with this album. The fact that one of Sweden’s hottest group right now Crucified Barbara’s singer did the talking in the intro, that's just great to me!

The story behind the next song 'A rabbit in the Hat' is about the Moon landings and it asks the question “have we been to the moon?”  The next song is about the 9/11 and drops the veil on who is the real terrorist.

Another song which I feel has a strong political point of view is the song 'Umbrellas under the Sun'.  The lyrics really point out that we all must do something to change our behaviour regarding the way we treat this planet.  The pollution must stop and it’s a big smack on the governments face these lyrics.  I still think we are doing way too little about it.

Other songs I feel strongly about lyrically are 'Sacred Rules' which takes up the lost arts of honour and respect and the song 'The Nazca Lines', which takes up what happens when we take over other peoples countries with force, leaving them with almost nothing to build it back with.

There are so many songs other than these songs in the album doing magical stuff for the listeners. What I can only say it’s that this is a personal trip and if you buy the album you will know what I’m talking about.    

MM - Were you really looking for a mixture of modern metal and classic influences when writing songs, or did this just come out that way?
Daniel: I have been asked that question several times and I still feel that music should come without a master plan, I certainly didn’t have one before starting to write the songs.  We play what the songs need and then we see what kind of mood we want the production to have, it’s an awful lot of work behind some of the instrumental playing but I wouldn’t say anything more than that was planned.

Most of the songs came out naturally and I’m really proud of that fact as most of the Mind’s Eye fans would say that this is our best album up to date and therefore we will continue work this way in the future.

MM - Are there any plans to tour outside Sweden to promote the new album?
Daniel: None at the moment but I see a little tour with a couple of other bands coming ahead. I’m not closing that door instead I’m giving you a hint of that we might go on “Touring on H2O”.  Keep checking the Mind’s Eye website for further info.

MM - You took on the task of writing, producing and recording the album yourself, do you think this gave the band more control of the overall content of album?
Daniel: We have never used a producer in Mind’s Eye.  If I or Fredrik wasn’t producing then we were all as Mind’s Eye producing the records. The fact that I took on the wheel now just felt naturally for the other guys as I have been producing a lot of albums lately and they surely felt comfortable with me behind the console.  I also produced Andreas Novak’s solo album last year.  After that I feel I had enough horse power to take on a task such as Mind’s Eye.

I think to a certain point if you don’t mix your own albums and learn the craft of producing, arranging and mixing you are not doing your records yourself.  You're always going to depend on a another person to come and fill in with his knowledge or practice, and that person is always going to have another point of view of things and your music.  It’s not until you mastered all these things that you are starting to make your own music and style.  It takes time to come even near the big boys but when you are there it’s just the best thing.  I am still learning new stuff every day and probably will for the rest of my life, but today with this new album I feel for the first time that I have now taken one BIG steep closer to what I imagine myself being in the future as a producer and engineer.

MM - Are the band optimists or pessimists? Is your glass half full or half empty?
Daniel: Well, we can be both obviously.  We are just like regular normal people. Though I would say my glass is half empty when it comes to knowledge and it will probably still be half empty no matter how much I learn, but isn’t that what’s beautiful in life? Never to reach your ultimate goal … The planet is a beautiful thing and despite of what you read in my lyrics, you will always find a happy guy when talking to me.  I am currently enjoying my life as a drummer and producer.  I also just married and I’m enjoying that life a 100%.

MM - Making a living from music does not seem to be that 'easy' anymore as it was in the past. How do you predict your future as a musician?
Daniel: Don’t know really … I am just happy doing what I do. I would really like to see my self doing some score music for film and TV in the future.  It has been a dream of mine since I started to write music and I have always enjoyed score music, especially when it’s written by John Williams or Allan Silvestri.

I think it’s fair to say that I have a bright future in front of me, depending on how I take care of my future.  People who have been in the business for a long time tell me that I hold the torch now and what I do with it it’s my own decision.  I think I can labour a lot of good things out of my time left in this world and still have a happy life beside all this music things.

The fact that it has been getting harder and harder to make a living with music is just a great fact, because it washes out the ones without talent and without the will to work their butts off.  You have to know that there is a big difference of having talent and having discipline.  I say I have some talent but with a huge amount of discipline.  If it’s the other way around then I think laziness will take over as most talented people I know never get to do anything with their life and talent.  

MM - There is a big problem now of people copying and downloading albums instead of buying them. If you had the chance to speak to a room of people who copied/downloaded your music, what would you like to say to them?
Daniel: First of all! Did you enjoy the music? Ok, here a copy, listen to the BIG difference of the sound quality and then I would tell them a story of a poor farmer coming from Chile/south America to another country/ Sweden. He learned their unbelievable hard language and then he started to rot himself in this awfully different culture. Then I would tell them all the things he had to go through just to be able to do music and lastly I would say: “Now, how would you react after going through all these things in your life. To fight to write music and almost sell your soul to the devil, then a snotty little kid like you just took away all what he had fought for, would you feel ok?”

We all know what the answer that that will be.

MM - I’d also like to probe your conscience and ask have you ever copied or downloaded music?
Daniel: To be honest, I have actually tried it just to see what kind of quality it was. I quickly stopped as it can’t be compared to the actual thing. Though I still download 1 minute “teasers” when I thinking of buying an a new album.

MM - For you personally what bands do you think were the most influential from: (a) the 70’s, (b) the 80’s, (c) the 90’s, and (d) today – apart from Mind’s Eye of course!
Daniel: From the 70’s: ELO, Supertramp, Genesis, The Beatles, Elvis
From the 80’s: Winger, Toto, Giant, Def Leppard, Queen
From the 90’s: Queensrÿche, Rush, Jellyfish, Yes, Fates Warning
Today: Depeche Mode, Kip Winger, Linkin Park, Disturbed, John Williams

MM - Finally do you have any words of wisdom for our readers out there?
Daniel: No words of wisdom here… I’m just going to be really honest when I say this. If I could do it, ANYONE can do it!  Practice hard and learn as much as you can from everyone. Take your time to develop your skills, these things don’t work over one night.  Progress and teach others what you have learned.

Thank you for your great questions! I had a great time. Please visit the Mind’s Eye website for further info on what we do as a band and our sessions/projects.

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MM - We'd like to say a huge *Thank You* to Daniel for taking the time out to take part in this interview with us.  The Mayfair Mall crew would like to wish you and the band every success with the new album.    

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