Artist: TXS  

Date:  20 March 2009 

Norway has always been a hot bed for talented musicians and TXS are one of those bands.  Featuring former members of Hush together with some new faces TXS release their debut album 'Transmission X' which is both melodic rock and radio friendly and is sure to delight all fans of the melodic rock fraternity.  Today we catch up with lead guitarist Kenneth E Kristiansen to find out more about the band and their music ...

Firstly congratulations on the new album Transmission X!
Kenneth - Thank you! You’re welcome.

MM - For some of the band this is the second time around, what makes TXS different from Hush?
Kenneth - A lot, The main thing I think, is that Dag and Terje had 6-7 songs written when they did ask me if I wanted to produce the album for them, and that Dag sings and writes different from Patrick. At that point, they had no name or plan so we had to work that out. We knew that we wanted to do something else than Hush. More in the pop direction but keep it rocking. I guess that there will be some common ground here. I play guitar, writes a bit, producing, mixing and Ragnar plays the drums, so that have to show some similarities.

MM - The album has that more commercial/modern feel to it, was this the intension from the beginning?
Kenneth - Yes, it was the intension. But, the way it sounds is how it ended up because of what we are as a band. We use real instruments, loads of acoustic guitars, piano and REAL drums, as we did in Hush, but the songs are written and produced as rock tunes with more radio appeal.

MM - How long did it take to put the whole album together from its initial conception to the final product?
Kenneth - I did hear the first 3-4 demos March 2008. Then we carved out the direction and made a plan. I sent Escape a mail earlier on asking him if he wanted to work with my company (Raido) to release my productions. So, I sent him some demos we did, and he said YEA!

About the production, we were actually writing and recording at the same time. No rehearsals. We had Ragnar coming in to do the drums 1-3 songs at the time. Actually, the entire album was done that way.  About September/October it was ready. It just had to be mixed. I mixed it in November/December the master is done in Dallas, Texas. January 09.

MM - What has been the reaction so far from the fans and media regarding this new album?  
Kenneth -  Pretty good! We are happy. 200+ people came to see us at the release gig. We had an hour+ signing session, wore out some pens, had some drinks... and...Yeah...Well, we hope we can get enough publicity to make people aware of the album and a lot of airplay. We have had some of that, but, we want more!

So, now you know what songs to ask for when you call your local radio stations.

MM - When putting a new band together it must have been easier with three of you already familiar with each other.  Has this helped the band on a whole?
Kenneth -  Yeah, I guess it did. I have known Ragnar since we were kids. Playing in different bands. Dag and Terje, from hush and other projects as session musicians. Kjell on bass and Robert (Ragnar's brother) on guitar, is fresh blood! And that is good. Now we are six in the band! It sounds HUGE!!!.

MM -  Who’s idea was it to put a new band together?
Kenneth - I think it just escalated; it became a band along the road. Dag and I spoke about making an album for years, and Dag and Terje wrote some songs. Here we are!

MM - Since the Hush days things have changed in the whole music business, did you find it harder second time around?
Kenneth - I don’t know, we did not have to start at the bottom with TXS as we did with Hush. Hush is a bit known, so we had a kind of jumpstart with TXS because of that. The main difference is that the album is not out in Japan/Asia at this point.

But! the whole “thing” is a bit weird; suddenly you can download albums all across the world! You just have to make people aware of it.

It is a jungle! Millions of releases.

MM - What do you feel has been the bands biggest accomplishment so far?
Kenneth - 

  • We did have a plan, followed it, and a year after, the album is out.

  • That is the main problem for a lot of good bands.

MM -  What made you do the Def Leppard song ‘Unbelievable’ on the album and are there any other covers you’d love to feature on future releases?  
Kenneth - I did that song with my x girlfriend a couple of years ago, Dag heard it and said: “can we do that song?? I love it! I know she's going to kill us, but!!!”

I think it is a well crafted tune. The backing vocals, the arrangement...It got it all.  And, no one in Def. Lep. did write it! Some Sweeds did.. Max Martin and company.

Other covers? Hmm, actually there is. If it was up to me, I would record close to all the songs from “The Rover” (J.W.)

Live we are playing “Whiskey In The Jar”, “White Wedding”, "Rough Boy”, “Relax!” And other fun party songs...

MM - Will we be seeing TXS on the road soon and if so where and when?
Kenneth - We really do hope we can do some gigs in UK, Germany... Everywhere.  But right now, there`s only plans for Norway.

MM - Finally where do the band plan to go from here?  
Kenneth - We will promote this album for a while, do gigs and stuff   and have a second album ready in 18 months from now.    Some songs are ready actually. But, you know, we are simple guys, one thing at the time.

Peace

Kenneth 

MM - We wish Kenneth and the rest of the band the very best of luck with their new album and hope to catch up with them when they hit these shores some day. 

 

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