{"id":80803,"date":"2017-02-23T12:12:46","date_gmt":"2017-02-23T20:12:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.djangobooks.com\/blog\/?p=80803"},"modified":"2017-02-23T16:57:51","modified_gmt":"2017-02-24T00:57:51","slug":"interview-with-andreas-oberg","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.djangobooks.com\/blog\/interview-with-andreas-oberg\/","title":{"rendered":"Interview with Andreas Oberg"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>By Nuno Marinho<br>\r\nwww.nunomarinhomusic.wixsite.com\/jazz\r\n<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.djangobooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/andreasobergmainpic1-300x256.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"256\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-80807\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.djangobooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/andreasobergmainpic1-300x256.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.djangobooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/andreasobergmainpic1.jpg 720w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><p>When we think about   musical virtuosity amongst guitarists, the name Andreas Oberg   immediately comes to mind. The Swedish is one of the most balanced and   versatile musicians, ranging from super blazing speed runs to soft   melodic passages along the instrument, and Gypsy Jazz is just one of the   multiple styles he played throughout his career.<\/p>\r\n<p>Like the   musician, the person is as clear and objective has one can be. Thank you   Andreas, for your time, sincerity, and golden insights shared in this   interview.<\/p>\r\n<p><strong>1 \u2013 What have inspired you to start playing music? Tell us about your influences and what was going on around you at the time.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p>My   grandfather played me a lot of records when I was young, everything   from classical to pop. Then later on when I started with guitar I was   lucky to have a guitar teacher who loved fusion music and blues so that   was my introduction to that world which a few years later led me into   jazz.<\/p>\r\n<p><strong>2 \u2013 What motivated you to keep practicing? <\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p>It   was fun and I felt I was making a lot of progress. Also playing a lot   with other musicians was probably another reason why I developed fast.<\/p>\r\n<p><strong>3 \u2013 What were the biggest challenges you have faced in order to progress in your practice, performance and musical career?<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p>The   biggest challenge as a young aspiring guitarist in Sweden was to make   myself heard outside the country to be able to have an international   career. Back then I think sites like MySpace and YouTube helped me a lot   to get recognition and gigs all over the world.<\/p>\r\n<p><span data-mce-object=\"iframe\" data-mce-p-data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-p-allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-mce-p-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/2gf200PyuSk?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;fs=1&#038;autohide=2&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;wmode=transparent\" data-mce-p-class=\"youtube-player\" contenteditable=\"false\">\r\n  <iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/2gf200PyuSk?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;fs=1&#038;autohide=2&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" width=\"474\" height=\"297\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\r\n<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><strong>4 \u2013 Do you feel that those sites allowed you to be found by influential people or the masses? How did it happen for you?<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p>Yes   I would say both. A lot of people from all over the world discovered my   clips and videos who otherwise maybe wouldn&rsquo;t have heard me. But I was   also contacted by an American record label (Resonance Records). With   them I recorded and released a few albums that led me to a solo career   in the US.<\/p>\r\n<p><strong>5 \u2013 How do you see the web nowadays, considering there&rsquo;s a lot of good content but also a lot of noise?<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p>These   days there is so much material on YouTube that it&rsquo;s quite hard to   discover the really good stuff because all of the other more mediocre   stuff that people upload. But it&rsquo;s still a great resource for all genres   of music. If something is extremely good though, like Dirty Loops or   Jacob Collier, it will sooner or later become big.<\/p>\r\n<p><strong>6 \u2013 Do you remember your practice process when you started playing? How much did it change through the years?<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p>I   have always practiced a lot of songs, and foremost how to outline the   changes of a song within a single string line. This is one of the most   important things to know if you want to become a good soloist, I think. I   used to practice that and I still do.<\/p>\r\n<p><span data-mce-object=\"iframe\" data-mce-p-data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-p-allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-mce-p-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/QnITpsh42Ks?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;fs=1&#038;autohide=2&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;wmode=transparent\" data-mce-p-class=\"youtube-player\" contenteditable=\"false\">\r\n  <iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/QnITpsh42Ks?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;fs=1&#038;autohide=2&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" width=\"474\" height=\"297\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\r\n<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><strong>7 \u2013 <em>&ldquo;How to outline the changes of a song within a single string line&rdquo;<\/em>. You mean building a solo using only one string or something else?<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p>With   this I mean the ability to outline chord changes and harmonies through a   single note melody. J.S Bach and Charlie Parker were both masters of   this, even though the styles and genres were different.<\/p>\r\n<p>Just from   the solo line you can hear the chord progression. This is something I   really think is important and a lot of instrumentalists are lacking this   ability.<\/p>\r\n<p><strong>8 \u2013 Tell us about your routines. How does a regular day in your life looks like?<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p>These   days I don&rsquo;t tour much since I do a lot of writing\/producing for the   big K-pop and J-pop artists on the Asian market. So on a regular day I   have a writing session with my co-writers, making a new song\u2026 often   following the leads I get sent from the labels and publishers.<\/p>\r\n<p><strong>9 \u2013 How do you balance work and rest? How long are your working sessions and pauses?<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p>I   often take some time off during the weekends. Then I do a lot of sport   activities like hiking, running, tennis etc. When I work in the studio   it&rsquo;s often daytime, like 10 am to 7 pm etc. Trying to cut down on the   night sessions <\/p>\r\n<p><strong>10   \u2013 What do you value the most in the music\/musicians you love to listen?   What key ingredients you love to hear when listening to some new album,   musician or student?<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p>I value the ability of a good   improviser, someone who surprises him\/herself and the listener. Players   who can combine a great sound with technique and feeling have the right   ingredients. I also like musicians who have a great understanding of   chords and harmony.<\/p>\r\n<p><span data-mce-object=\"iframe\" data-mce-p-data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-p-allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-mce-p-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JqVz3l2qoi4?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;fs=1&#038;autohide=2&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;wmode=transparent\" data-mce-p-class=\"youtube-player\" contenteditable=\"false\">\r\n  <iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JqVz3l2qoi4?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;fs=1&#038;autohide=2&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" width=\"474\" height=\"297\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\r\n<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><strong>11   \u2013 Do you meditate? Do you perform any kind of practice or activity that   pulls you towards a more focused, clear or mindful state?<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p>I don&rsquo;t meditate but I think that training all those other sports activities mentioned take my mind off the music while I do it.<\/p>\r\n<p><strong>12 \u2013 What would you consider to be the most important advice, quote or reference someone ever gave to you? <\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p>Imitate,   Integrate, Innovate\u2026 learn from the history\/tradition, mix it up with   what you already know and then, after that, try to do something brand   new.<\/p>\r\n<p><strong>13 \u2013 What would you like to be   acknowledged for? What&rsquo;s the most important aspect of your life&rsquo;s   journey that you&rsquo;d like people to remember?<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p>I would like   to be remembered as a guy who managed to do everything from playing   advanced jazz for a smaller audience to writing\/producing big pop hits   with millions of sold records. That&rsquo;s actually where I&rsquo;m at right now. I   want to show that one thing doesn&rsquo;t exclude the other and you can try   to do everything you do with quality. Quincy Jones is a grand example of   this. He&rsquo;s one of my role models.<\/p>\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.djangobooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/1415553126_2a3e9f66f4_b-300x241.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"241\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-80809\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.djangobooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/1415553126_2a3e9f66f4_b-300x241.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.djangobooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/1415553126_2a3e9f66f4_b-768x617.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.djangobooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/1415553126_2a3e9f66f4_b.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>\r\n<\/p>\r\n<p><strong>14   \u2013 Tell us more about that Asian Pop Market experience. How did this   opportunity come up and how are things going for you and your artists?<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p>The Asian pop music market is amazing. The fans are very devoted and they still buy physical albums to support the artists.<\/p>\r\n<p>The   musical taste over there is sometimes more advanced than in the west.   As a writer you are not as limited when it comes to the possibility of   using more intricate chords and harmonies.<\/p>\r\n<p>I have now been   fortunate to have had many (close to 20) Number 1&rsquo;s on the single\/album   charts in Japan\/Korea combined as a writer and I really enjoy writing   the songs for the artists.<\/p>\r\n<p>It started happening for me when I   wrote a song with a few Swedish friends, which was close to getting   placed over there. Even though this song never got placed it gave me   many connections over there and in 2012 I got my first big placement. To   this date I have sold around 5 million physical albums (+numerous   downloads) as a songwriter, which is a quite good number these days.<\/p>\r\n<p><strong>15   \u2013 What about Django and his music, what would you say to Django if you   had the chance to meet him and which kind of music would you show to   him?<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p>I would probably just want to play a song with Django if I got the opportunity.<\/p>\r\n<p>I&rsquo;m sure he would have loved to hear Coltrane. They both had that unique tone with so much feeling and depth to it.<\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"By Nuno Marinho www.nunomarinhomusic.wixsite.com\/jazz When we think about musical virtuosity amongst guitarists, the name Andreas Oberg immediately comes to mind. The Swedish is one of the most balanced and versatile musicians, ranging from super blazing speed runs to soft melodic passages along the instrument, and Gypsy Jazz is just one of the multiple styles he [&hellip;]","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":80807,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-80803","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-site-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.djangobooks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80803","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.djangobooks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.djangobooks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.djangobooks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.djangobooks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=80803"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.djangobooks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80803\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":80815,"href":"https:\/\/www.djangobooks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80803\/revisions\/80815"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.djangobooks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/80807"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.djangobooks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=80803"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.djangobooks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=80803"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.djangobooks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=80803"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}