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TED POLEY : "Beyond The Fade"

TED POLEY -  The story of "Beyond The Fade" starts after DANGER DANGER's acclaimed performance at Frontiers Rock Festival in Milan in 2014, when Ted and the label developed the idea to work together on some new music. Ted says: "I am absolutely thrilled with the way the whole album came out. If I have one quote: 'It's awesome!' My great friend and co-producer Alessandro Del Vecchio brought my sonic vision to life and no request from me was too great for him toward his goal of making 'the ultimate Ted Poley solo album" and he surely delivered on his promise. We had a lot of fun making the album and its obvious when you hear it. You can practically hear my smile while I am singing. We decided to make it sound big and there are a ton of backing vocals (in some cases more than 80 tracks of them!), along with great songs, soaring melodic guitar leads, pounding bass and big drums, all layered with cool keyboards... like a delicious musical cake! Save some room for dessert, I know that you are going to love this one!". With songs penned by the brothers Tom and James Martin (VEGA) and "Hands Of Love" written by Tony Bruno/Joe Lynn Turner, the sound of the record is nothing else but Ted Poley and total '80s attitude!. Find out more about his 3nd solo album and the songs. Here's the impressive frontman and singer:  TED POLEY

How has the reaction to your latest CD been?

AMAZING! I AM THRILLED WITH THE REVIEWS AND THE FANS COMMENTS, OVERALL FROM START TO FINISH -THIS HAS BEEN MY BEST SOLO ALBUM EXPERIENCE. MAKING IT WAS FUN AND RELEASING IT IS ALSO FUN.

Its entitled 'Beyond The Fade' can you explain the meaning or story behind this?

THE TITLE REFERS TO THE FACT THAT I AM STILL RELEASING NEW MUSIC LONG AFTER MY STYLE OF MUSIC IS NO LONGER THE MOST POPULAR. IT FADED OUT IN 1993... BUT I AM STILL DOING IT.

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

ALESSANDRO WAS AWESOME! HE ARRANGED AND CO-PRODUCED THE ALBUM WITH ME. HE IS MAINLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OVERALL SOUND BUT THANKFULLY HE LET ME DO WHATEVER I WANTED BECAUSE HE SAW THAT I KNEW WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT AND TOGETHER WE CO PRODUCED THE CD INTO WHAT YOU HEAR.

You actually went down to Italy to record the vocals? Why? That's unusal nowadays.

I WANTED THE INTERACTION WITH ALESSANDRO THAT YOU CAN ONLY GET WHILE WORKING TOGETHER IN THE SAME ROOM. ALSO I WAS ABLE TO WORK ON OTHER ASPECTS OF THE MUSIC SINCE I WAS THERE IN THE ROOM. THE ALBUM IS MUCH BETTER BECAUSE I WENT TO ITALY TO SING IN PERSON. SENDING FILES DOESN'T HAVE THE SAME RESULT.

Would you say it's difficult to find decent songwriters?

YES. I AM VERY PARTICULAR ABOUT SONGS. SONGS ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT OF AN ALBUM, IF YOU DONT HAVE CATCHY SONGS, IT DOESNT MATTER HOW WELL IT'S RECORDED.

Any favourite tracks or lyrical highlights?

I LOVE THE SONG "STARS", IT CAME OUT MUCH BETTER THAN I ORIGINALLY THOUGHT [Urban's note: that's also my favorite. Excellent schtuff]

You're not worried that some might think of this as just another Vega album?

NO. THAT'S RIDICULOUS.

You actually started out as the drummer. But you don't bang all the drums on your solo album?

NO BUT I WAS VERY PARTICULAR ABOUT THE PATTERNS AND SOUNDS.

What kind of goals would you have in mind and how do you measure success in the digital era?

I HAVE NONE! ONLY THAT WHOEVER BUYS IT WILL ENJOY IT! I AM HAPPY AND I SUPPORT MANY CHARITIES SO I AM A SUCCESS.

What did you learn and experience from your previous solo albums?

NOTHING... I KEEP DOING IT OVER AND OVER! HAHA.

What was the most difficult (music?) period in your life, and how did you deal with it?

TOO PERSONAL OF A QUESTION. I DONT SHARE MY INNER MOST FEELING WITH PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF MY OWN INNER CIRCLE. SORRY...

How much of an influence has KISS had on your music and wanting to be a musician?

ON MY WRITING? NONE. ON MY LIFE? A LOT! I LOVE KISS AND THEY WERE THE REASON I DECIDED TO BECOME A ROCK MUSICIAN. I SAW THEM IN 1975 AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN IN NYC AND IT CHANGED MY LIFE. LATER I GOT TO TOUR WITH THEM AND THAT WAS A DREAM COME TRUE!

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

THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR SUPPORT-SEE YOU ON THE ROAD, AND PLEASE DONATE TO A LOCAL "NO KILL" ANIMAL SHELTER NEAR YOU!
Ted Poley

Interview by: Urban "Wally" Wallstrom,
Photos by Mira Suutari-Toivonen, from the RockUnited.Com archives  

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