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Artist Interviews
Q&A: Alberta Cross
By CMU Editorial | Published on Thursday 17 September 2009
Guitarist/vocalist Petter Ericson Stakee and bassist Terry Wolfers, aka Alberta Cross, made some modest waves with their folky acoustic EP, ‘The Thief And The Heartbreaker’, in 2007. Since then things have shifted somewhat. The duo have enlisted the help of guitarist Sam Kearney, drummer Austin Beede and keyboardist Alec Higgins to turn the volume up several notches, while still maintaining the solid songwriting that first peaked people’s interest. ‘Leave Us And Forgive Us’, a track from the resulting album, ‘Broken Side Of Time’ (out 21 Sep), is available as a free download on their website, and you can check them out covering John Lennon here. We spoke to Petter Ericson Stakee to ask our Same Six Questions.
Q1 How did you start out making music?
Music has always been a constant presence in my life. Being around my father, who is a musician, travelling with him around Europe, it’s what I grew up with. Making music to me is as natural as breathing.
Q2 What inspired your latest album?
We were definitely influenced by existing in the shadows of Manhattan… late nights, early mornings. Lots of low blood pressure and panic attacks. This album for us is a desperation album, a darker album; it’s definitely angrier. We were in a crazy place during the whole album, and you can hear that.
Q3 What process do you go through in creating a track?
It varies from song to song. Some ideas and songs are immediate, they come right to me. Other times I have an idea and bring it to the band, we jam it out, arrange and re-arrange until we love it or hate it.
Q4 Which artists influence your work?
Loads, man… Every artist I ever loved – James Carr, Depeche Mode, Scott Walker, Sonic Youth, Michael Jackson and Prince…
Q5 What would you say to someone experiencing your music for the first time?
I hope it eases their minds and gives them a break from reality. Like so many great records have done for me.
Q6 What are your ambitions for your latest album, and for the future?
We are really looking forward to taking this record on the road and getting the chance to share it with people worldwide. We are really exited about this record and I think it’s going to be a grand year for us.
MORE>> www.albertacross.net
