Jaded Heart is a popular German melodic heavy rock band and was formed in 1990. In 2004, after 6 studio albums frontman Michael Bormann and Jaded Heart took separate ways. The Album “Helluva Time” started a new chapter for Jaded Heart in 2005 as it was the first major release with Johan Fahlberg (ex-Scudiero) fronting the band as new lead singer. This was followed by the releases "Sinister Mind" in 2007 and "Perfect Insanity" in 2009. The band's sound became darker and heavier, although the melodic elements never really were far away. Now in May 2012 the band is back with a new album "Common Destiny" released on the Fastball Music label. LazyRocker.com talked to bass player Michael Mueller about the band's new album and other stuff.
 

LazyRocker.com: First of all congratulations with your latest album "Common Destiny". How are the reviews so far?
Michael Mueller: Thank you very much! Well, it is so strange this time. We only got great reviews for "Common Destiny“ so far. Not ONE bad review. Everyone seems to like it. It makes us really proud.

LR: How is the writing process in Jaded Heart these days? Has this changed since the 2005 release "Helluva Time"?
MM: Yeah, a little bit. Since we have Peter Oestros in the band, he is the main riff-producer and songwriter in JH. He is such a talented musician. He starts to send around ideas to us and we all leave our comments and ideas to the song ideas. That´s how it all starts. All the latest albums, Sinister Mind, Perfect Insanity and now Common Destiny were done this way. Well, for Common Destiny it was a bit different I think. Everyone in the band was so motivated to write a great record this time. I was practicing and writing bass lines for this album for months. It was such big fun to try out different things and work with the songs. And also Johan and Peter were trying out millions of different melodies for every song together.

LR: For "Common Destiny" Erik Martensson (W.E.T., Eclipse) co-wrote a couple of songs and did some background vocals. How did you get in touch? Did he have more influences on the album?
MM: Erik and Jaded Heart are friends since Helluva Time. He is a long time friend of Johan and Peter. Erik already did backround vocals on all the records since Helluva Time. To pay him back, Johan did backing vocals on older Eclipse albums as well. It is great to have Erik and his great melodies on Common Destiny. It´s a small German/Swedish family we have here. We also have Fredrik Folkare on the record. He is playing a furious guitar solo on „No more lies“. He used to play bass in Eclipse and is guitar player in Unleashed.

LR: Just as "Perfect Insanity" this album has been produced by Michael Voss (Casanova, Mad Max) and Chris Lausmann (Bonfire, Frontline). How do they work? Do they have essential ideas? If yes, can you tell an example?
MM: Oh yes! They have massive ideas! I love to track my bass together with Michael Voss in his studio. He is also a great musician and has got a lot of ideas when it comes to record Peters guitars or my bass lines. On „Are we mental“ I played this pop-music bassline in the verse. This was completely a Michael Voss idea. I love it and turned out great in this metal-double-bass song.
Chris is the god of mixing ( called Lord-Fader... ) and he is very passionate when it comes to the mixing process. Lots of ideas came from him and also lots of keyboard effects.

LR: What's your favorite album track and why?
MM: Oh, I hate this question! hahahaha! Well... Maybe „Into Tears“ because of the distorted bass guitar in the beginning, aka my solo spot on the record, hahaha! It´s a catchy song with a lot of power and pretty heavy. Nice melodic, modern guitar riffing.

LR: It's your fourth album with vocalist Johan Falberg. Which one is your favorite and why??
MM: Another question I hate, hehehe: I love them all. Of course every time when a band releases a new album, the new one is the best. Well, all of the last albums have their special moments and feelings to me. Hard to say which one I like most. We have Sinister Mind with our little hit „Hero“ on it or Perfect Insanity, which brought us to Japan in 2010. Helluva Time with the change and everything. Hmm.. I like them all!

LR: Are you going to tour with Jaded Heart this summer?
MM: Not this summer because the release of Common Destiny was a bit too late for all the festivals. But in September, October, November there are plenty of shows. We are going to play a tour in October which is close to be confirmed. Gigs in the UK, Germany, Netherlands are already fixed. More to come...

LR: What are the future plans for Jaded Heart? Maybe a live album?
MM: It´s time for a live DVD and a live album. We had a meeting with our record company last week to discuss the possibility to release something next year. We have so much material on our cameras of all the backstage bogus.. hahaha!

LR: Besides Jaded Heart, you appeared on many other albums. For example on releases by Faro, The Sygnet, Constancia and Bass Invaders. Are there any new releases coming out filled with your bass guitar work?
MM: Unfortunately not at the moment. I did some TV shows togehter with Robin Beck and John Parr. I would love to play a little bass on some other record. It´s so much fun to get influences from other musicians and projects. I was proud to play bass on the latest Paul Shortino album. He has always been a hero for me. To hear my bass together with his voice is a big thing for me. Also to play a solo on Bass Invaders.. Markus Grosskopf is one of the best bass guitar players in Europe. To play on his album was great. On the same album togehter with Billy Sheehan, Rudy Sarzo.. wow!
On Common Destiny, Markus played a great bass solo on „Higher“ for us. Thanks Magge!!

LR: Is there anything you would like to say to our readers?
MM: Thank you all for keeping metal and rock alive! See you all on tour! Lets drink beer! :o)

LR: Thank you for your time and hopefully we will see you on the road soon!

Website: http://www.jadedheart.de/

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