AOR PRESENTS L.A. SUSPICION
Interview by Ken Morton
L.A. Suspicion, Frédéric Slama’s brand new AOR album is now available from Perris Records. The CD features an incredible line up such as Tommy Denander (Alice Cooper, Steve Walsh), Steve Overland (FM, The Ladder), Paul Sabu (Only Child, John Waite), Robbie LaBlanc (Blanc Faces, Find Me), Steph Honde (Hollywood Monsters, Scream Taker), and more - celebrating the timeless genre of AOR! Highwire Daze recently caught up the mastermind Frédéric Slama to find out more about the current happenings of AOR, and the musicians behind the auditory world of L.A. Suspicion. Read on... Is there any overall story or concept behind the new AOR album title L.A. Suspicion? As you may know, all my 21 previous albums have the word “L.A.” in it since the first of the AOR series in 2000 was called “L.A. Concession.” Except for a couple of compilations without the word “L.A.”, one out of two albums starts with “L.A.” (“L.A Concession”, “L.A Attraction” etc..) and the other one ends with “L.A.” (“Dreaming Of L.A.”, “Journey To L.A.” etc…). So after “The Ghost Of L.A.” it was time for “L.A. Suspicion,” who’s main theme (but not the only one) revolves around people who have a suspicious nature. The cool way of life of the 70’s & 80’s have left its place to a tougher world where people look at the other as a potential enemy, not anymore as a friend. So several songs, but not all, talk a little bit about these changes. Who did the cover art for L.A. Suspicion and how much input did you have on it? As for all the previous covers since album number 1, I did the artwork myself. I like to be in control of my music and what I release. That’s why I do all the artwork, the booklet and everything else, so the release is perfect to my eyes. (If there are any mistakes it will be my fault). This perfectionism drove crazy some labels and I’m sure several CEO’s are locked down in mental health institutes after working with me ha! ha! Luckily Perris Records still hold out, that’s why we did more than 10 releases together. But it’s not excluded that you will find Tom Mathers, the head of Perris Records, in a madhouse in a few years from now ha! ha! What has it been like working with Steve Overland of FM over the years and what is the background behind the track Stronger Than Desire? I met Steve 15 years ago and we hit it off right away. 38
Strangely his band is called FM, and mine is AOR, so we had a lot in common ha! ha! Steve Overland is someone I really admired as a singer since the 80’s, so I was overwhelmed when he accepted to sing for the first time in my 2009 album “Journey To L.A.” (that by the way will be re-released in May by Perris Records in a brand new edition with different tracks and artwork, fully revised). Then after 2009 I had the honor to have Mr. Overland on several other albums and he was the perfect choice for the song “Stronger Than Desire”. This song is about the hardness of a breakup and the indecision in a relationship. The girl wants to move on, but her past is still grasping her by the arm, so the desicions are tough. Robbie LaBlanc of Find Me has such an amazing distinctive voice. What has it been like working him and what is the background behind the song Cold Logic? May/June 2022
HIGHWIRE DAZE
