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 AWOE Magazine
Andreas Sandlund Interview
AWOE: Andreas how did you end up moving to Stockholm Sweden?
Andreas Sandlund: I grew up in a small village in the Southern parts of Sweden. Early I started a band and we played in churches, at festivals etc. Later, when I was 16 years old, I moved to a city called Jönköping where I attended a music college. Then at 19 I moved to Stockholm basically because that’s where things happened in the music business. Then I also attended the royal academy of music there.
AWOE: Why did you decide to pursue music at 19 years old?
Andreas Sandlund: I believe I decided earlier. I guess when I moved to Jönköping I really started to practice a lot. I became determined. I there got opportunites to play in many contexts and my goal was to get in at the royal academy of music university in Stockholm, which I late did. Then when I was a19 years old, I moved to Stockholm to make contacts and develop my skills even more.
AWOE: What type of doors opened up for you right away?
"My testimony is that Jesus and God is a reality. But only
you yourself can find out if that is true."
Andreas Sandlund: I started playing with a group called ”In Service” that was all around Sweden performing. Then I started to work with some gospel choirs. Also had my own band etc.
AWOE: How has your faith influenced your musical career so far?
Andreas Sandlund: This is almost a too vast subject to go into detail this time. But my musical career and how I think of it has been affected by my faith. It gives you a larger perspective on what you're doing.
AWOE: You¹ve worked with some amazing talent! Tell me about some of the artists you¹ve worked with and how they¹ve blessed you?
Andreas Sandlund: I have been fortunate to work with some of the greatest artists in Sweden. On some occasions. I’ve also worked with a few artists from the US. One of the most inspiring things was to play with Michael Ruff. He is a keyboard player and singer that has toured with Lionel Richie, Chaka Kahn and has done several records as an artist as well. I listened to him when I was younger.
And when he was in Sweden a couple of years ago, I had the privilege to do some gigs with him as a keyboard player. It was inspiring. But I’ve also worked with many good musicians/singers that maybe aren’t that famous but still very good. Playing with a well known artist may give you some kind of confirmation and self-belief, but it becomes more familiar in a way when you’ve done it a couple of times so at first the fascination for it fades. And even if you knew it before you realize there is more to life than just striving for fame and recognition. It shouldn’t be the purpose of life. And certainly not for us as Christians.
AWOE: What has been your favorite gospel and worship album to have been apart of so far?
Andreas Sandlund: I can’t pick one. Been producing some albums but they have been like preparation in a way for
this album.
AWOE: What are some of your personal favorite albums to listen to personally, that encourages you?
Andreas Sandlund: I can’t say I listen a lot to music at the moment but here are some records I’ve enjoyed over the years. Elvis – That? the way it is, Donny Hathaway, Everything is Everything, Fred Hammond Pages of life, Yellow Jackets, Politics, and Marc Cohn’s – Marc Cohn.
AWOE: What is your favorite music genre and why?
Andreas Sandlund: Have no favorite genre. I can enjoy listening on many styles of music if it’s good.
AWOE: Now your debut solo album Diamond No. 1 took you three years to create, why was it such a long process?
Andreas Sandlund: From the beginning it was just one song: “We?e Miles Away”. I actually wasn’t sure if it would be a record at the beginning but this song like showed the way a bit.
Because I’ve written and played in lot of different genres I had to really find what I wanted to do myself. So it was a process finding the right expression and style that was a mix of things that I liked.
I of course worked with other projects during this time and I felt I didn’t want to write for this project unless I really felt I was on the mood. Then the last 6 months it became more intense with mixing, mastering, preparing for the release etc.
AWOE: Who has been some of your musical influences?
Andreas Sandlund: Of course many. It has varied through the years. I’ve enjoyed soul, gospel, jazz, house, pop, classical music, experimental stuff, and soundtracks. I like many singers, keyboard players but I’ve never tried to copy anyone. It’s more that you hear things you like from many different artists and musicians.
AWOE: You say you think of your songs as prayers, could you please tell me what that means?
Andreas Sandlund: When you read the lyrics you´ll see prayers for the world, for the church, for relationships, songs about longing to know God better etc.
AWOE: Love Goes On is a song that really sinks in. Makes one think about someone who’s withdrawn himself or herself from a relationship. Tell me what’s the story behind the song and what’s it’s meaning to you?
Andreas Sandlund: Yeah, the song is about a real experience in my nearness. Its not that I’m telling the exact story but it is more like the story triggered me to write the song.
Often I don’t decide what I will write about. I’m just letting the words come and then I try figure out what I like to say along the way. Sometimes it’s clearer in the beginning of the process.
AWOE: All of your songs seem to have a strong spiritual presence of God. One of the best ones is Embrace. Tell me, at what point did you embrace Christ into your life?
Andreas Sandlund: Grew up in a Christian environment but somewhere along the way it became a personal experience though I can’t tell the exact day. I think I was 14 or 15 when I was on a summer camp. There during that week something happened inside of me. When I came home I started reading the bible a lot and now it was alive. I felt it was a relationship now not only a religion. I then started to share my faith with my friends at school, my family at home etc. Wanted everyone around me to understand. Before it was something I didn’t really talk about that much. So it was definitely a change.
AWOE: What have you learned from your walk with Christ that you’d like to share with those through your music?
Andreas Sandlund: I try to write from my own experience. And not just say things you’re expected to say as a believer. That’s my starting point. Then maybe people can see different things in it they can relate to. But I believe there can be different levels in the lyrics that speak to people in different ways. And that’s ok for me.
AWOE: You have a very sincere song called We’re Miles Away, where it’s like you’re having a very real conversation with God when you say, “So here I am, I don’t know where to start.” Where should people start who are feeling far away or who don’t even know Him at all?
Andreas Sandlund: God is there. Sometimes there are things in our life that separates us from Him. The Bible says God is Holy. And for Him to just tolerate anything to have a relationship with us isn’t possible for him. It is we that have to adapt to him. Not the opposite. Luckily through Jesus and what he has done for us we can have a relationship with Him. Because of his righteousness not ours. But all the same even as believers, when we do things that grieves him he may feel distant until we learn something and ask him for forgiveness or a new direction.
My testimony is that Jesus and God is a reality. But only you yourself can find out if that is true. Ask questions. Talk to Christian people that you really thrust. Start praying for your needs. And you don’t have to behave in a religious way, just be who you are and try to be honest in seeking the truth. Maybe you´ve had some bad experiences of the church but try to get to the core and get to know Jesus yourself. Read the Bible about Jesus in the New Testament and try to get your opinion if things make sense.
Click here for Andreas Sandlund's Diamond No. 1
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