DAVID AKESSON,
MOONLIGHT AGONY's vocalist

Interview - July 2007,
Denmark - Russia

- How can you describe the band’s style in a couple of words? What can you answer, if anybody asks: “What is the ‘Moonlight Agony’ band?”

Well, it’s always hard to describe your own stuff, but critics and fans sometimes call us progressive powermetal, and I think that’s pretty close. So I would say “Progressive powermetal with some dark symphonic stuff baked into it”. Variation is very important for us, we don’t want to make songs that always sounds alike.

- ‘Moonlight Agony’ today – this is…

Martin Mellstrom on keyboards. A very ironic guy with a thing for videogames and blondes. Robert Willstedt on drums. The funniest guy I know. Loves history and beer. Karl Landin on guitars. A very smart guy with a thing for Paganini and Ardbeg. Rikard “Peson” Petersson on guitars. A truckdriving metalhead with a lot of anger inside. Christer “Zigge” Pedersen on bass. A tall quiet guy with a thing for evil music and sound-engineering. David Akesson on vocals. Flawless personality, and without any doubt the most goodlooking guy in 'Moonlight Agony', haha.

- When did you come to the ‘Moonlight Agony’? Was this chance or not?

I, like many others, saw an ad about 'Moonlight Agony' seeking a new vocalist. I think it said something like “Can you sing like this” and I simply answered “Yes”. I had an audition, and we drank some beers, and a couple of months later I got the word that they wanted to hire me, and that’s about it.

- BTW, how many yeas you know these guys?

We first met during the fall of 2005, I joined the band officially January 2006, so since then. I didn’t know them before I joined the band.

- ... and are you happy by this choice? ;) What's about your relations with other guys? How lots of time usually we spend together?

I’m very happy. This is the greatest band ever. I enjoy the music, but most importantly I enjoy hanging out with them. We have such a great time together. Since we live in different cities it’s not as often as you want, but we try anyway, especially now when we are starting to think about the next record.

- Tell me about your musical experience before the ‘Moonlight Agony’. Where you have had your musical education and what do you do for now? Are you studying yet?

I’ve always played music, ever since my childhood, and I’ve played many different instruments in numerous bands, both metal, rock n roll and in orchestras. I attended a music-highschool and after graduation I made auditions for Malmo Academy of Music where I study at the moment to get a Masters Degree in Music Education with a profile towards classical vocals. I have about 1,5 year left.

- From our short talks before I know, you have some students already. Tell me more about your teacher’s way, please.

Well, I have students at the moment because it’s a part of my education. We train on them, like test animals, haha. But I also have some private ones. I think the most important thing to think about as a vocal or music teacher is to be open to what your students want. They are the ones heading somewhere with the lessons, not you. My job is to help them reach their goal (and if they don’t know what their goal is I help them to find out) and be a guide and helper, not a bossy asshole who tells them what is right or wrong.

- The band had other vocalist before. Chity has another genre of singing, I think. As you felt, was the ‘Moonlight Agony’ ready to a new manner of their next vocalist? May be they have wanted to hear something like Chity’s voice? Or not? What about your first steps – were they difficult to you or not? As you remember?

Hmmm, I don’t think I’m the person to answer that, really. I think they wanted something new and fresh, but still in the same line as Chity. I don’t really know, ask the other guys, haha. I really love Chity’s voice, he’s a great singer. He has a lot of experience from earlier recordings and several great bands. I don’t, and I think that’s the main difference between us. This is all new to me, but I try to do my best. At first I only sang the songs from “Echoes” and it’s always hard to do other singers stuff, but live I try to make the songs a little more into “mine” but still preserve the wonderful work Chity did. I don’t really feel that I had any “shoes to fill” or something like that, I just do my thing and hope for the best, and if I’m lucky people will like it. I wasn’t nervous at all, and I think that’s the reason why it wasn’t difficult.

- What’s you favorite song of the Band from the past album?

The first song I heard was “Vanished” and I still think that song tops my list from “Echoes of a nightmare”. It’s a massive song with catchy melodies and a lot of variations.

- Which song do you like more from the current “Solemn Waters”?

Oh, my god, don’t make me answer that, haha. Do you ask a mother which one of her babies she likes the most? But if I have to I think I have to say either “Solemn Waters” or “Different Stories”, both of them turned out great and I loooooove the intro to “Solemn Waters”

- Well, let's tell about the new CD for now. What about your personal impressions of this CD? Are you glad by your work?

I’m very pleased with it, it turned out great. Nowdays if I listen to it just makes me happy. Time is always a factor, and if we’d had more time maybe some things would be different, but still I think it’s a good record.

- How many gigs do you have for the supporting of this album to the current moment?

I can’t really answer that right now, we are still in the middle of discussions, both within the band and with promoters and labels.

- How many gigs did you have with the 'Moonlight Agony' already? Which are your impressions?

I’ve had three gigs with 'Moonlight Agony' so far and my impression is; Oh my god, I need to shape up and start to work out, haha. Its like going to the gym or running and all that hard stuff. I can deal with it vocally, but I need to shape up, haha. I love to play live, especially with these guys, and I hope it will be more of that soon.

- Has your life changed after this release? As are you feeling? At the next morning after release you’ve got up as a famous guy, and million fans have expected of you under the doors?.. ;)) Is it not so? What does this album mean in your life?

I hope it hasn’t changed me, but I don’t know really, It’s hard to tell. You should ask people who are close to me. But I think I’m still the same asshole as I’ve always been, haha. But to answer your question, It feels great. I love this music and I’m very pleased to have been a part of such a great album, and I’m looking forward to the next one. I think you should stay with both your feet on the ground whatever happens, and I hope I wont change too much. Like I said, I just do my thing and have a great time doing it and if people like 'Moonlight Agony' and 'Silent Waters' it’s only a big bonus for us all.