"All About The Album - 15 Questions" - a brand new section at the RockUnited site where any recording artist with an recently released CD is confronted with 'album'  questions (15 of them, duh!). If you'd like to have your material up here, email: urban "at" rockunited.com (simply replace "at" with your standard @ )

Julian Angel's BEAUTIFUL BEAST: "Adult Oriented Candy"

BEAUTIFUL BEAST  and their debut album, "Adult Oriented Candy" is in fact the brand new band project by singer/guitarist Julian Angel, a Germany born rocker who has been stuck in the eighties ever since I first heard and reviewed his solo album back in 2001. So what to expect from the very energetic rocker in twenty eleven??? Right on brothers and sisters, it's big hair, tight pants, ripped shirts, cowboy boots, fast guitar solos and sing-a-long melodies. It's Hair Metal, AOR, Glam and Sleaze 'ala 1989 and he's certainly not afraid to prove you all wrong... the eighties never died!!! Find out more about the album, the band and their influences, here's their vocalist/guitarist,: JULIAN ANGEL...

How has the reaction to your latest CD been?

Oh, yes. It's the best CD we've ever made. Everybody loves it. We're so excited, hahahaha! Always wanted to say that; start an interview like the big ones always do. Indeed, "Adult Oriented Candy" has been very well received. We had a huge number of pre-orders and quite a few media guys even got the idea that this intentionally sounds like a late-eighties relic.

How long did this CD take to make from start to finish, recording-wise?

About one and a half year. We have blown out six figures to rent that studio for so long. Seriously, it really took us that long since we only recorded sporadically. When a good song idea had come in, we tracked it down. I did all my vocals at the end at once, though. 

What kind of 'sound', production wise, did you have in the back of your mind, prior to entering the studio?

We wanted to build a bridge from 1989 to 2011 sound wise. A cross between Bon Jovi "New Jersey" production (yes, that was 1988) and Steel Panther's sound. That means old-school room and space plus modern tightness. We just had to add some modern elements, we hate it when the critics rant… 

What kind of input did the producer have during the process?

I was the producer and I acted like a dictator. I had the last word. The only word J. For the mix we hired Rolf Munkes (Tony Martin Band, Empire, Razorback). I played the aforementioned Bon Jovi album to him, Steel Panther's "Feel The Steel" and "Rockin' With The Radio" by Blue Tears. Then I said "mix it!". 

And are you pleased with the final outcome? (sound - production wise)

Absolutely. I think that bridge has been built really well. 

Did the producer (you) use any (weird) experimental miking and/or recording techniques?

Yes, we did. But I cannot tell you how we have cheated… Okay, we have re-amped the guitars and re-miked the drum overheads. Pretty normal, I guess. Oh, and I have stuffed an old Garfield pillow right behind my vocal microphone to eliminate sound reflections coming off the walls…

How did you go on about capturing your 'live sound' in the studio, or perhaps you didn't

I'm not a fan of live albums, so having a "studio sound" was just fine for me. Since we have recorded different songs at different times all over the year we still managed to deliver different emotions.

Please inform us about your favourite songs and lyrical highlights and why?

My very own favorites on "Adult Oriented Candy" are "Do You Want It" for being a cool, tight groove rocker with a wall of sound. It is Def Leppard meet Poison. "Wild Tonight" is probably the catchiest tune on the album with its huge choirs and I loved doing the acoustic guitar solo in the outro. Oh gee, I think I love every song on it J. The greates lyric line is "She wears rock band shirts with the sleeves cut off" from "Singer And Guitarist In A Hair Band". Is there any better way to describe Hair Metal fashion? 

Any overall theme of mood that you're trying to capture while writing songs?

Not really. Okay, it had to sound like an eighties album. But I just love to write and record and see how the song turns out. Usually it's a good surprise…

Does your vision for coming up with music get affected at all by time?

If you mean "time" as the time we live in, then my answer is "no"! I don't care about what is happening around me music wise. I probably cannot name a single band that's in the charts at the moment. I don't care. I am stuck in the eighties. I got long hair and wear cowboy boots. And so the music sounds… 

Did the record company interfere with anything on your "sound" and songs?

No! There is no record company. Stay away from us, we can well screw ourselves

Are there any 'crazy' behind the scenes anecdotes from these sessions that you can share with us?

I fear not. We’re probably really boring to get along with in the studio. We have fun outside, but when it comes to being inside the studio it is professionalism that counts for me. I'm quite like "Stop talking, hit record and play your instrument! And do it right this time!". I'm also pushing myself this way…

How would you describe the sound of your new CD to any potential new fan?

It looks, sounds and feels like 1989 !!! 

Who are your influences and heroes? (music-wise)

Bon Jovi (especially circa "New Jersey" era), Autograph (The Plunk's a genius), Def Leppard, Dokken, Poison, some Motley Crue maybe. And I love George Lynch and Steve Stevens as guitarists.

If there's anything you'd like to add, say, please do:

Is this the time to shamelessly advertise? Beautiful Beast "Adult Oriented Candy" is available through renowned mail order retailers that specialize in AOR and Melodic Hard Rock. You can also order your copy directly through the band's website, which is www.beautifulbeastrock.com  and I will sign the booklet for you and give you a free download of my 2001 solo album "angel-rock.com" on top. 

Hey, we want to bring the eighties back. Not just music wise. I love what happened back then (even if I had been way too young myself) and I'd just love to experince that again (now that I'm allowed to stay out late). No, it's not being retarded. This is having an opinion… Rock out, folks, and thanks for letting me share my two cents worth
Sincerely,
Julian Angel

Interview by: Urban "Wally" Wallstrom,
Photos from the band's website www.beautifulbeastrock.com

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