by Alexandra Mrozowska
— Senior Columnist —
If your shelves are bowing under the weight of AOR, Melodic Rock and Westcoast albums you amassed over the years and if these genres are your poison of choice – you probably don’t need to be told who Frédéric Slama is. And yet, you might not have known that this multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and producer is also an accomplished photographer, music and culture journalist as well as a book author. This artist of many trades – and the mastermind behind an all-star project called simply AOR – returns in early 2021 with yet another album, this time chasing the ghosts of the past down the city streets of L.A.. However, The Ghost Of L.A.. coming out in January was only a starting point in our conversation with Frédéric, as we caught up with him to talk many dimensions to his artistic activities.
Hardrock Haven: When we talked for a different media outlet years ago, I was cruel enough to ask you to choose your favorite among AOR albums. After some hesitation, you picked 2013’s The Secrets Of LA. Would you still say the same today? Why/why not?
Frédéric Slama: After all these years I was hoping you will be less cruel with me, but it seems not! I’m going to take risks again and tell you that my favorite AOR album ever is… The Ghost Of L.A.! Yes, the latest album is for me the best I’ve ever recorded. The melodies and the lyrics are great and the ‘80s sound of the album is exactly what I wanted to do for a long time. All my Survivor, Whitesnake, Journey and Foreigner influences were put into this one. It’s a little bit harder than the previous ones and I love it – at least that makes one person (laughs).
Hardrock Haven: Classic answer! It’s been five years since the last AOR album with original material. Why did it take you so long to come up with a follow-up to 2016’s LA Darkness?
Frédéric Slama: It didn’t feel right to release an album right away. I recorded many songs and finally chose these ten best ones for the album. In the meantime, I had a couple of compilations released, three “new” CDs with demos and also four reissues of my older albums, so I was quite busy. During that time I also wrote twenty books including fourteen music books called The Westcoast Bible(s) or The AOR Bible (all exclusively on Amazon) which are the biggest references books about the subject ever done. There are also two volumes of The Japanese AOR Bible and one about High Tech AOR. So it took me quite some time to self-publish all these books on Amazon, and I also wrote some thriller and science fiction novels in French. At the same time I opened up a reissue label called Sunset Dreams Records, so as you see, I was quite busy all these years.
Hardrock Haven: Definitely, and we’ll get to all that side activities in a while. You’ve just mentioned demo compilations. Do you see them more as a collector’s item for the die-hard fans of AOR, or maybe a starting point for those who haven’t heard the regular albums yet?
Frédéric Slama: These three albums are in fact more for the die-hard fans with different versions, different singers and never released demos. It does not reflect the quality of the regular AOR albums since most of them are only demos. But at the same time you can find real gems on these three demo albums and there is something for everyone. But for someone who’s never heard my work before, I would advise to start with albums like L.A. Darkness, The Secrets Of L.A. or The Ghost Of L.A.. of course.
Hardrock Haven: Speaking of the latter, it’s said to be built around a theme of “the ever changing city of Los Angeles that lost its soul for a brand new world”. Could you please elaborate on that? How does it translate into songs on the album?
Frédéric Slama: Remember the world when we were young and free? Remember the ‘80s and the American dream? The cool way of life in California in the ‘70s and ‘80s? All that is unfortunately gone since at least twenty years. Los Angeles and the world have faded into a globalization where everything is the same from L.A. to Paris to London. People are all traveling at the same places and doing the same things. The world has become a giant Disneyland with no soul. And L.A.. has lost everything that made it a great cool city to live in. You can only find the ghost of the city we once loved so much. It’s different, it’s more international and for me L.A.. lost its soul. The world today became a mix of 1984 and Matrix. Most of the songs, even if they keep a positive message, talk about the end of an era where love and dreams are gone forever. We won’t find back the freedom of the ‘70s and the ‘80s, and young generations will even never know they live today in a golden cage and there was a “free” world before their time.
Hardrock Haven: You certainly have a point here. So, who or what do you think is the eponymous “Ghost of LA”?
Frédéric Slama: Tower Records on Sunset Boulevard is the perfect example. In the ‘80s, you could hang around there until midnight and you crossed paths with all the greatest musicians and singers in the world who lived nearby and came to buy some records. It was one of the coolest places you could ever imagine! Now it’s a ghost! There are just the murals left with the painted LP covers outside the store, but of course inside it’s closed and no one hangs around there anymore!
Hardrock Haven: Speaking of the past haunting us in a way, throughout the last two decades we experience certain nostalgia for ‘80s music – including AOR/Westcoast. It was much different in the early 2000s when AOR started. Why do you think it happened and what makes people interested in it again? And what was so special about the ‘80s?
Frédéric Slama: If we have nostalgia for the past, it’s because these two last decades has been harder on the people. Since 9/11 and the Twin Towers, the world seems to have gone mad, and a little bit more every day, with stupid new laws, insecurity for the people with millions of refugees and a nice, cool way of life gone once and for all. So we hang on to our past, to our dreams and we remember the good years of the 20th century, and most of us wish they could go back to these times, where you could speak your mind or say what you wanted without thousands of people on the social media spitting on you. We lost our real freedom and that’s what people miss about the ‘80s! This decade was mostly a time where everything was possible and no one would really hate you for what you did. Even if there were a lot of problems, most of the people were getting along. A solution was found for many problems. Now it seems there everyone is part of a clan (a group) and that’s not going to bring back peace or freedom because all these clans hate each other.
Hardrock Haven: What about the genre itself? You’re primarily associated with AOR/Westcoast as an artist, but what made you interested in it as a listener prior to that?
Frédéric Slama: I loved the cool melodies, the lyrics of course and the perfection of the musicianship. These musicians were hard working ones, always looking for perfection. From The Eagles to Toto or Journey or Kansas, it was always the best possible these guys could do. It was not “fast food” music like some pop hits, made just to have a one hit for acouple of months. These AOR albums were meant to last in time, and they did! And I’m not even talking about some recent releases or Rap, which I wouldn’t even call music!
Hardrock Haven: AOR/Westcoast as a genre has always had potential when it comes to storytelling. I remember you telling me about how important stories behind the songs are to you, so which AOR story do you think is particularly special?
Frédéric Slama: All artists have the power to influence and even to heal pain from someone who listens to a particular song at a particular time. Sometimes it’s better than seeing a doctor. There are some songwriters who delivers incredible messages and have writing talents no one can come close to, like Jackson Browne, Michael Franks or The Eagles. Most Melodic Rock/AOR artists are more straightforward in their lyrics but are sometimes as efficient. On The Ghost Of L.A.., the song that brings a very positive message is “The Easiest Way”, but there are many others in this album and my previous CDs which are positive too. “The Easiest Way” talks about someone who’s been hurt and who must learn how to let go, to start all over again. One of my favorite song and lyrics in the new album is “The Edge Of The World”. It’s the story of an arrogant man (but it could be transposed to a girl too) who thinks he is the best and that he knows everything. So he treats his friends and his family badly, as if they were servants or dogs. Money and power got to his head, and now it’s obvious he will end up alone with no one to love him for who he really was. A sad story in fact. But we all know people like that, don’t we?
Hardrock Haven: Unfortunately. And is there a link between particular AOR songs, like visiting a story from an earlier album and adding a new chapter to the story, or is every AOR song a finished story from a beginning to an end?
Frédéric Slama: Every story of every song is finished. I’m not making Progressive Rock with themes over four albums (laughs). But in two songs on different albums I can have different point of views on the same subject, so it could be interesting to see the evolution of the lyrics and how the theme is treated in the span of a few years.
Hardrock Haven: When writing for AOR, do you write with certain guest musicians or especially singers in mind?
Frédéric Slama: I usually do. That’s what I did for most of my previous albums. But for this one, I wanted to finish the songs before seeing who would fit best on them. And I had good talented friends like Paul Sabu and Rick Riso and also Steph Honde and Markus Nordenberg that were made for these songs, so I didn’t look anywhere else. They were perfect!
Hardrock Haven: Weren’t you tempted through the years to establish a regular band under the AOR moniker, especially after the project gained some recognition, instead of an all-star formula AOR still relies on?
Frédéric Slama: I was tempted, but you’ve got to understand that with AOR, people wants to hear and see different stars. They are used to that now (laughs). They want great singers and musicians and all these legends are touring with famous bands usually. So it’s quite impossible to get them at the same time. For a concert here and there, I sure can bring a great line up, but it will change everytime because these guys are all in high demand.
Hardrock Haven: Definitely. Speaking of the AOR formula, let’s take a look at the credits on the new album. You’ve already mentioned your longtime collaborators all featured on the album, from Tommy Denander (Alice Cooper, Steve Walsh) to Paul Sabu (Only Child, Kidd Glove, John Waite) and Rick Riso (Chasing Violets, AOR). What made you renew these collaborations?
Frédéric Slama: Tommy has been a good friend for almost twenty years and we did tons of albums together. He’s one of the most talented guitar players and producers in the world and knows exactly what I want to do with my albums. I couldn’t imagine recording without him. Paul Sabu is an artist and producer I admire a lot. He is one of my very dear friends and we did more than fifteen songs together since the last eight years. He is one of my favorite singers ever. This guy has so much talent it’s unbelievable, and is also kind, generous and open-minded – and always there to help me. It’s an honor to have him again on this album. I’ve known Rick Riso for a long time now. Even if he comes from a CCM Westcoast world, he has sung over the years some really cool Melodic Rock tunes with AOR and I can always count on him to do the job. He is reliable and a great human being and a top singer of course.
Hardrock Haven: I believe Steph Honde (Hollywood Monsters) & Markus Nordenberg (Coastland Ride, Pearls & Flames) are the newcomers when it comes to AOR. How did you meet them and what did they bring into the project?
Frédéric Slama: It’s through Tommy that I knew these guys. I heard of them before of course and I loved their work. Tommy told me that was the kind of vocals I was looking for and he was right. Steph Honde is for me the new David Coverdale of his generation. He’s hugely talented, works fast and well, and has an incredible voice. He sings very well without overdoing it. Thanks to him a couple of my songs are more rock and are heavily Whitesnake-influenced. Markus Nordenberg is quite incredible too. With Coastland Ride, he released great AOR albums. In the ballad “Sarah’s Touch”, he brings all the emotions the song needed. He is very talented and has a great career ahead of him!
Hardrock Haven: The Ghost Of LA is actually the 20th album released under the moniker of AOR. Did you expect the project to continue for so long and with so much success when you released the first AOR album LA Concession back in 2000? What were your expectations back then and how have they changed throughout the years?
Frédéric Slama: Yes, I did! I wanted to surprise you with this kind of answer (laughs). Honestly, when I released the first album, I was very happy but didn’t see the future well. It was in 2002 when I released my third album L.A. Reflection and that I was also signed on a Japanese label that I knew I could make a career out of it. The sales were huge at the time, I mean HUGE. I would get several gold records today for the same sales, but it seems they give them away to anybody. I saw the fan base line expanding and with the era of the Internet it opened suddenly a brand new world where you could sell and talk with people from all over the world. I must admit that it helped a lot. At the same time, when I see all the stupidities written on the net, I wonder if we weren’t better off without it (laughs). Today, I’m happy that many fans really enjoy my albums. They are back to the ‘80s with me, and that makes us feel good!
Hardrock Haven: Sure it does. You’re also a Rock journalist and an author. I guess your series of music guides such as The Westcoast Bible are quite well-known in AOR/Westcoast circles, but what can you say about other books you’ve written so far?
Frédéric Slama: I’m very interested in Science Fiction, so I wrote a novel with original ideas never seen anywhere before called The Man Who Killed Death. I’m really proud of this one. I wrote another science fiction novel called The Ageless Planet and also, a violent noir police thriller called L.A. Obsession that would made a great film. Moreover, I wrote a book containing fifty advices how to get rid of your problems and keep a positive attitude as I’m very interested in that subject too. It’s called Pack Your Problems in Your Suitcase and See Them Fly Away. They are all in French unfortunately and I don’t intend to translate them for now. They had quite their little successes and if you read in French, I really recommend them to you if you’re fan of these styles. Most of them are small novels like Ray Bradbury used to write, but I’m far from having his talent – I will call you if it ever happens (laughs). And of course, there are all the music books – this time in English – all available and published by Amazon. Check them out if you like that style of music!
Hardrock Haven: Having tried so many different ways to express yourself artistically throughout the years, which do you think is the best for you and why?
Frédéric Slama: I like all form of arts and I’m really passionate about many things. Music is my life, so I express myself better with writing music. But I love movies more than anything else too. I’m a very big specialist about American cinema from the ‘30s to the ‘80s, and I’m ultra specialized about movies between 1939 and 1959. I could write tons of books about them. I’m also a big fan of nutrition, health and I’ve been studying this matter since I was a teen. I love many other things. I was a photographer too in the ‘80s and I shot many top models and stars for French magazines at that time. As you’ve mentioned, I was also a journalist specialized in music, movies and travels, so you see I love many different things and many more I don’t mention here.
Hardrock Haven: An artist of all trades! What else are you up to these days? Any other projects you’d like to mention?
Frédéric Slama: I’m recording another AOR album that will surprise you for 2021. Writing a couple of books and many other projects from producing to songwriting for some artists that I love. Maybe preparing a concert or two if we end up with Covid 19 in 2021…
Hardrock Haven: Is there any message you’d like to wrap our conversation up with?
Frédéric Slama: I’d like to say “thank you” sincerely and from the heart to all the musicians who trusted me for these last twenty years with my AOR projects and of course all the fans who keep on buying album and don’t download them illegally. It’s important that artists have your support and to get a physical CD is still a nice thing to own. By buying, you help the musicians and respect the artists for whom it took months to record albums that will give you endless pleasure. It’s nice in these troubled times to help musicians by buying their work. I personally buy as much records that I can. And I hope to meet some of you in 2021 in person for maybe a couple of concerts with AOR, but we’ll see what the future brings. But certainly something good, I’m always positive, never forget it!
Frédéric Slama’s website: www.slama101.fr
