Miqael Persson aka Hicks is a Swedish Country Rock artist. Interview June 1, 2014.
Hicks Interview
1. What’s new in the world of Hicks?
There’s a lot of stuff going on in the world of Hicks… Just signed with MTS Management and MTS Records in the US. Michael Stover is just great to work with. Hardest working manager in the business. Won “Europes Best Country Act” in London at British CMA Been nominated for “Best International Artist”, “Song Of The Year” Hayride, and “Video Of The Year” at Independent Country Music Association Awards. Just found out that Hayride debuted on #73 on Yallwire over most watched videos. And it also made it to their Hotlist. Amazing… CMC TV just added Hayride to their playlist. So it’s all goooooooood.
2. How was it working with on the new US single Hayride and the album Rock N Roll Cowboy?
I never had more fun working on an album. It’s been really effortless. Everything just fell into place by itself. I hand picked all the players on the album. Guys that I knew would lift it to another dimension. And they sure did… Me and Erik Martensson (producer) just let everybody play and contribute with their creativity and it was so much fun seeing how the album grew. And some songs took another direction and what we had in mind when we wrote them, but they became so much better. And working with Erik is just a blessing. I mean that guy has such an ear for production, songwriting, mixing and playing. No wonder the line is miles long with artist that wants to work with him…
3. Working with Survivor’s Jimi Jamison, W.E.T. and Little River Band must have been a great experience. Tell me about it?
Wow… That was a dream come through for me. I grew up listening to those guys and they inspired me to start writing music. And then I’m writing songs for them. Unbelievable…
Jimi Jamison is to me one of the best rock singers in the world. Period. They way he approaches a song and really sings it, is just off the hook. When me and Erik wrote the album we wanted to write songs that would capture Jimi not just write songs. He’s not 25 so we wanted to write about things that a guy that has lived a little, been around the block can relate to. Songs about life… When Jimi started singing those songs we were so blown away, we couldn’t believe what we heard and felt. He took those songs and sang his heart out. I hope we get to do another album with him.
W.E.T is one of Eriks bands. And again here’s another great singer Jeff Scott Soto (Journey, Talisman) What’s cool to work with such amazing singers is that we can write what ever we want to. Never have to worry if they can hit the notes. They can. We won “Album Of The Year” and “Song Of The Year” Brothers In Arms at Melodicrock Awards for the their debut album and the latest album Rise Up from 2013 also won “Album of They Year” it also won “Album Of The Year” in Brazil.
That Little River Band decided to record my song “Cuts like Diamond” and name the whole album after that song is just simply UNFREAKINGBELIEVABLE…
4. During a year how many shows do you do now?
I haven’t done that many shows this far. My focus has been on getting the album finished and just play festivals. I represented Sweden at last years CMA Fest in Nashville. Playing the Global Stage, Bridgestone Arena, Whiskey Bent and a fund raiser show. I also headlined Scandinavian Country Music Festival here in Sweden. Been down to France and rocked the American-Journeys country music festival. Went back to my hometown and played at the HD-Galan. That was so much fun. Got to share the stage with Bobby Kimball (Toto). And to go back to my hometown and play my own songs was incredible.
5. Could you describe some of your earliest influences?
I grew up listening to Johnny Cash and Jim Reeves… and then AC/DC, Kiss, Journey, Eagles, Def Leppard. Survivor, Toto.. I guess that’s why I sound the way I do. It’s a mix of everything that I like. But I think the common denominator is strong melodies…
6. How is the music scene in your area nowadays?
The music scene in Sweden is alive and well. We have a lot of acts making it here and abroad. And there’s a lot of bands that I never heard of that’s doing really well.
7. How many hours a day do you spend on social media and the internet?
I guess two to three hours…
8. What could we find interesting in your music collection at home?
There’s of course a lot of country and rock. But I listen to classical music and opera too. Big fan of Vivaldi and Mozart. Again here we find strong melodies.
9. Could you describe what goes on in a day in your life as a musician on tour?
We chill a lot. If we’re playing festivals we try to catch some of the other bands. Have a few brews. Talk to fans, meet new people. Hang with other artists. I think we try conserve as much energy as we can cause when we hit the stage it just explodes. We are a totally different band on and off stage.
10. Where do you see music in general going in 100 years from now?
There will always be music. We need that to express how we feel. But other than that I honesty don’t have a clue. Everything is going in cycles. So maybe fifties rock n roll is back in style with some sort of twist to it. Business wise I don’t see big labels being around. I guess there will be some sort of labels/managements. But not like what we have today.