Well it looks as though the USA will have to suffer through more lame music this year, as yet another AHA record will not be released here. That is not 100% definite, but in a recent interview with Magne Furholmen, the USA doesnt seem to be on the agenda. Universal which signed AHA to a 3 record deal has done a good job so far in the UK, the Album charted top 10 in many markets and currently their second single ANALOGUE is in the UK top 10, which is A-has first UK top 10 since 1988, when they scored 13 straight. To date A-ha has sold 30 million albums worldwide and charted 27 singles. But the USA still remains an obstacle that AHA cannot get over, but at this point it just may not happen, for any further releases in this country which is sad and goes to show how lame this country has gotten that a band like AHA who is responsible for COLDPLAY, KEANE, SNOW PATROL, alot of Radiohead stuff, and as BONO said if it wasnt for them, Beautiful Day wouldnt have existed. But in the US market AHA would need a Gimmick to be introduced here again, but AHA is too proud of a Band to go that route, so dont expect some sort of TAKE ON ME 2006 KANYE WEST mix to get them back here. Some things are better left untouched. The only thing that really sucks about this is the fact that AHA probably wont Play the states again, i was LUCKY to see them last September in NYC, so there is a chance they will come back since one member has an apartment in the East Village in NYC, so if U dont live in NYC u probably wont get a chance to see or hear them.



a-ha.com: Finally - and not a moment too soon - the new a-ha.com site is rushing headlong, blinking, towards the sunlight. What do you think of the new site design?

MF: It's very nice - but then I'm biased. (pay up, Frode!)

a-ha.com: The site designer is none other than Frode Lamøy, who also designed and maintains your official solo website, and is your drummer to boot. Were there any other designers in consideration for this project, or was he the obvious choice?

MF: I thought Frode was the perfect guy for the job, so I suggested he work with Martin Kvamme's design for the album as a base. No one in the band complained too wildly, which is the ultimate sign of warm acceptance around here.

a-ha.com: A number of other people contributed to the new site; notably fan Wesley Myers, who provided the entire video discography, and the a-ha.com translation squad, who provided translations of the new material. What do you think about having fans who are so involved in creating an official site for the band?

MF: It is very nice of fans to dedicate time to this. Without their input the site would have been poor indeed. There has been some criticsm of the lack of band input on the site. For a while there, I tried to be more present, but in the end I felt as if it was turning into my personal project, and that's not fair on the fans either - they deserve a 'balanced' band-site.

In general involving fans or friends in doing anything of an official nature means you will have some who are upset for not being included, but what can you do...? It's hard to please everyone all the time. Ask any fan/friend who has tried their best to stay 'neutral'!

a-ha.com: Are there any future plans to include downloads or other exclusive material on the site?

MF: Plans, schmans - there are always plans, but to turn them into reality takes time and money. In most people's mind there is never enough of either...

a-ha.com: Everyone always asks: will the web diary ever return?

MF: See above - rightly or wrongly, I started to feel that I was becoming really irritating - both to fans and to the other two in the band - because of my continous presence.

I thought my output on the site would bring Paul and Morten out of hiding, but it kind of had the opposite effect, so I canned it.

I really had a good time with it, but the second I started to get the vibe that it was not appreciated internally, but treated with some sort of suspicion I quit. I also started to get paranoid about fans splitting up into camps - pro diary/con diary, so I thought do I really need to spend the time and effort AND feel like a schmuck for doing it? Who knows...maybe I should think and care less and write more.

a-ha.com: The new official forum launched in November of 2005, and has over 2700 members and continues to grow - it is currently the largest online fan membership around. Have you guys considered interacting with fans via the forum?

MF: Hey..these questions are all one question - just worded differently!

a-ha.com: Back in fall 2000, when the last version of a-ha.com was launched, it was said that a-ha were "prepared to put a lot of energy into the building of the site." Does a-ha still value having an up-to-date, dynamic site? Will the new version see renewed participation from each of you?

MF: I would like to take this opportunity to thank my mum, the academy and all my supporters out there for this award. Without you it would not have been possible...



a-ha.com: a-ha are currently in the UK doing promotion for the January 23 release of 'Analogue (All I Want).' Polydor has a very busy schedule for you. What has it been like working with Universal and Polydor this time around?

MF: There is real commitment on a personal level from Polydor UK based on the record - which is always really nice. All the more rare to have this from someone who did not sign the band themselves. They really make us feel like we belong with them, and share our enthusiasm and our joy of being back in the UK - Colin, Sorcha, Dan, Arlene and all the others - every department has been exceptionally commited to making this happen. Sorcha in particular. Without her we would be selling day-old flowers on the corner of Oxford street and Tottenham court road now. (and if I write the word commitment ONE more time, please make sure that I am committed!)

a-ha.com: Are you happy with the amount of promotion that's being done?

MF: Promotion sometimes reminds me how old I am. Shouldn't complain really, it's tough to get on those shows - but who could know I would ever get to experience the words "It was twenty years ago today..." and not think of The Beatles.

a-ha.com: Did you hear about the massive effort fans made to get 'Analogue' to the top of the CD:UK chart on January 7?

MF: I know - and it worked too! Never underestimate the voting power of fans with a 20 year axe to grind! Gotta love'em. The checks are being faxed out as I write this, guys.

a-ha.com: During the webchat on GMTV, you mentioned the possibility of more UK concerts in spring if the album is received well. What about other countries/markets later in the year?

MF: Who knows - right now it's an open field (more like a vacant lot, really). I said those things in a panic - there are no real plans other than the show at Shepherds Bush Empire than to just promote more in the UK. We are playing it by ear as they say - not easy for a bunch of deaf guys.

a-ha.com: Is there any progress towards a US release of 'Analogue'?

MF: No. It seems the best chance of getting anywhere in US for us is on a tourist-visa.

a-ha.com: The fall tour took a-ha to 25 cities. Do any of the concerts stand out for you for any reason?

MF: Paris had a nice vibe. Musically, the best show was perhaps Hamburg. The ambience in London felt great...It was good to be back in N.Y. too - they all had something. What I missed most on this tour was the creative and playful soundchecks (try teaching us to even SPELL playful!)

a-ha.com: A number of fans followed a-ha to every concert within the UK and Germany. Did you begin to recognize people night after night? Is it gratifying [or a little bit creepy - or both] seeing the same people at gigs?

MF: You see a lot of the same faces down front - and it's both nice and a little weird.

It's like seeing old friends again except you don't really know 'em.

An odd few of them stake a claim in you in the sense that they expect to be treated differently than everyone else, but mostly everyone is always very courteous and sweet. We really have to get the business-idea of a tour travelling around with the same audience to play in different places off the ground - red, white, grey and black a-ha buses in convoy - what could be nicer...huh!?

a-ha.com: The 'Analogue' album art was created by Martin Kvamme. How did that come about? Was the selection based on his previous work with Savoy?

MF: Paul suggested we use Martin. He is one of the finest graphic-designers in Norway and has done a lot of great stuff - and he's an absolute pleasure to work with.

a-ha.com: The song 'Don't do me any favours' bears a striking resemblance to your poem, 'Sour grapes.' Are they inspired by the same emotion/experience, or is the similarity coincidental?

MF: Busted! Heck, all I really have is 3 chords and 2 different ideas for words, so you gotta make the variations work for you...A lot of people have taken 'Don't do me any favours' really personally, but hey - relax guys - ever heard of poetic licence?!

a-ha.com: A new live favorite for the fans, 'Cosy Prisons,' is also reportedly one of Morten's favorite songs on the album. What do you think appeals to people about such a psychologically heavy song? Is the song inspired by anyone in particular?

MF: Just as with the song above, inspiration may come from one source, one place/event or whatever, but by the time it has become a lyric and a song, it has absorbed strands from a conglomerate of other things, and stopped being of a private nature.

I know a lot of people who are afraid to take risks; in love, in life, in most everything - and I firmly believe you can worry so much about dying, that in the end you haven't really lived. I also know people so obsessed with health that they get sick from it. I am sure many with me feel desperation when they see through the bullshit that we try so hard to believe in; the belief that everything can be 'fixed' or improved upon - that by reading the 'correct' how-to guides, or thinking the 'right' thoughts (or not thinking at all), that conforming to the 'right' ideals you can somehow ease the underlying knowledge that we are all fundamentally alone and here for a short time.

You know - that sneaking feeling you get when you cannot really make yourself believe that another piece of design furniture or one more luxury article is going to make you a happier person. I'm as bad as anyone so it is as much reminders to self as about the people I modelled the song on.

I really don't see it as a psychologically heavy song. In fact, this is me at my most cheerful! Isn't it?

a-ha.com: How was the collaboration among the band members as the album was being recorded and mixed?

MF: Fantastic! Marvelous, wonderful, sensational, outstanding, superb, super, excellent. first-rate. first-class, dazzling, out of this world, breathtaking, great, terrific, fabulous, ace, magic, cool, wicked, awesome, brilliant, killer.. (what album was that again?)

a-ha.com: Graham Nash contributed vocals to the new album, to excellent effect. If you could choose any contemporary musician or band to collaborate with a-ha in the future, who would it be?

MF: Ouch ...the list is long of talented people it would be exciting to work with for different reasons - artists, producers...too many to mention.

a-ha.com: What has been your favorite new song to play live?

MF: For me, singing 'Cosy prison' with Morten was quite rewarding, and 'Keeper of the flame' sounded really good - I liked to play all of the new ones. It's a shame we didn't play a lot more from the new album.

a-ha.com: What's next for you in your solo career? Are you working on any art or music projects in conjunction with all that is going on for a-ha these days?

MF: I want to do another album pretty soon, as I have a few songs I wrote for Analogue that didn't make it on the album. Strangely, I have a zillion lyrics going and not enough of songs to go around these days...I mean, it used to be the other way around! What can you do...you just can't win.

From skateboarding idiot to sensitive poet - who's gonna buy that transition? I know I wouldn't. Oh well, the only thing I really need in life is this thermos...