Second interview with Clark Anderson

The Safri Zone had the pleasure of meeting Clark Anderson on the 29th of November 2003!
We thank Clark for taking the time to speak with us and thanks to the Safri Zone news letter members who submitted some questions for the interview.


When did you first realize that you have an amazing voice and that you wanted to be a singer?
"Well, I never realized, that I have an amazing voice, but I have wanted to sing ever since I was a little kid. My mother told me, since I was 3 years old.
I started playing the piano and the violin, also when I was 3. I stopped playing the violin when I was 10 or 11 but I played the piano ever since....going on 13 years now.
All the music kinda happened at once, very young."

Did you have other ambitions as a child?
"Ehm.......If I wanted to become something else...., I remember as I child thinking I either wanted to become a lawyer or psychologist. And I don't know why, because now I don't want to be either..... and I loathe them both probably for reasons that will haunt me in my future, but those were the two things I wanted to do back then. But now music sort of overpowered everything else!"

So you didn't go to law school or anything?
"No, no, no...I didn't even finish high school. Dropped out of high school when I was 15 to do music.
My mum and I, we had a kinda  rocky relationship when we were younger and she was the only parent I really...like..identified with even thought we were having problems at the time.
She said: You know, go do your music, I'll let you go. Go do your thing.
And I did and now, of course, we talk like 5 times a week and are as close as we can possibly be."

How did Safri Duo get to know about you?
"I was out here on my other job besides singing and trying to do the artist thing: Song writing!
Song writing is one thing I have been very interested in, since I got into the music business, and I came out here on a song writing trip.
And I wrote a song...or two..or three for a team called DK, who are apparently pretty big in Denmark, and they are really, really, really talented.
We wrote some songs, and I sang the songs, that we wrote, and they went to Universal to play them for Michael Guldhammer and Michael said; Hey these are really good songs, who do you want these songs to be for?
And I said: I don't know...you tell us!
Michael said: In the meantime, let me play this for Safri Duo, because they are looking for a vocalist.
So..........that's how it happened!"

Had you heard about Safri Duo?
"Nope, not at all! I didn't know them.
In fact, when they first e-mailed me the first inclination, that I had was that they were a boy band! "Hey we are Safri Duo and we are looking for a vocalist for our next record! " So I thought they were looking into replacing an old vocalist. My first inclination was no; I was too busy writing. But then I looked further into it, you know, with the advice of my publisher and my mum. And it was the most wonderful thing I could have ever done, I think."

Tell us about your first meeting.
"We met for the first time after we had written and recorded actually 4 songs, the 3 that are on the record and then also "Walking Away", which didn't make the record.
After, they were all done, we did all the recording over the Internet, in fact we didn't even speak, we did all the contact over the Internet, recording the songs and everything and then we met in September of this year and the record came out maybe 15 days later....
We met and then we went and did a show in Mallorca for 35.000 people 2 days later! Never even practiced, never even rehearsed...let's just do it!
They were like: Come on Clark, you can do it!
And I was like: No, I can't!!
And they were like: Yes, you can..."




So you were the one most nervous?
"Oh, absolutely!!! Most nervous!! Yeah, they had more faith in me, than I had in myself, ever,... in the last 10 years being in this business.
You know, that's also due to them being so confident with themselves. They are amazing musicians as well....yeah, they are great.
They still, to this day...like everyday...even when we go on stage, they say: Clark, stop being an idiot, you can do it!
I say: No, I can't....
And we go through the same battle...and then we go on stage and it's o.k."

So you are still nervous when you go on stage?
"Oh yeah, every time."

You look really confident?
"Yeah, but it doesn't matter where we are, what audience, what country, what show...I'm so nervous before! Like it's a new thing.....if they are not gonna like me, you know...."

What was your first impression of Safri Duo?
"My first impression?....What was it?.....I don't know....I mean, I'm trying to remember when I first walked out of the airport and I saw them.
Oh, I had seen a picture before, so: O.k., these are the guys! So now what? And then we got to talking.
I think the first impression was more like matching a face physically with a picture and then after that, it was just all learning about them. Learning about their personality and learning about how easy it was going to be. How this was gonna be great!
You know, not only are they amazing percussionists, but they are also amazing musicians and I'm not by any means an amazing musician at all, but I mean.....I do have some musicianship and there was an understanding there right from the get go. That we were on the same level and in fact they were maybe even a little bit higher. So it was really, really like.....WOW, not only can I identify, but I can also learn something."

Your first reaction was to say no to teaming up with Safri Duo...what made you reconsider?
"Well, I heard what they did, and the one thing that I've always sort of really, really been interested in, is someone, who combines two different genres of music into one and makes it possible for everyone's ears and that's what Safri Duo had done.
You know, they had done it in the past and of course I didn't realize that, because I didn't know their history. But by listening to it and then looking at their history, I could tell that the two definitely went together and it was something I could hopefully maybe add to a little bit.
And they continue to amaze me...and they are really funny!!

How does it feel to be associated with the worlds greatest percussionists and masters of rhythm?
"I think I've said "earth shattering" (in the Clark Anderson profile under Crew Files, Ed)......and there were 2 other words, I can't remember, but I should be able to make two other words up.
It's just absolutely a wonderful feeling, because aside from being such amazing percussionists, I mean.....you have 10 million percussionists in the world, that are making percussion for whatever band and whatever type or genre or whatever music, and then you have Morten and Uffe, who are percussionists and selling millions of records based upon the fact that they are just percussionists. But at the same time they are so much more and people realize that they are so much more, by listening to them play percussion and then also the music they put on top of it.
The vision that they had was so much bigger than anybody could have imagined and because they imagined it, now everybody is imagining it."

Are you a bit of a Safri Duo fan yourself?
"I am!! Yes, I am, and I become more of a Safri fan everyday! Absolutely!"

Describe a day on the tour bus?
"The tour bus! Yeah, I had to get used to it a little bit.
It's actually very routine....you wake up, and all of a sudden you are in a different country or maybe a different city, take a look at the venue that you are gonna perform at, have a look at the food, go up to the hotel, take a shower, go look at the city a little bit, take some pictures for your mum or you family or friends, come back, do rehearsal, 2 hours later you perform in front of so and so many people, get back on the bus, watch a movie, go to bed and the next thing you are in another city!
We do watch a lot of movies. After the concerts are done, we pick a movie and it's a lot of fun.
Everybody is in the mood to watch it and just hang out and chill out....and take time to get ready for the next show, and I think that's the best part about it, the routine.
You know you get a tour routine and you start to feel comfortable with being on the bus, ´cause being on the bus is not that comfortable! Not a lot of room and I'm a bit claustrophobic myself.
It was a bit difficult, but  not so much, because everybody has a good sense of humor and everybody gets a long and there's a great energy."

      


Have there been any extra-ordinary tour experiences?
"Well, the two for me would have to be both Spain.
The first concert which was Mallorca. There were 35.000 people that I mentioned before, the show were we sort of kinda went on and did it; the first time I performed with Safri. There were just so many people I didn't even know what to do!
The second best for me on the tour so far was Barcelona. The energy was great there, people were great there. We had done 4 or 5 shows before that; and there was magic at every show, but for some reason...I can't put my finger on it....this show was the best for me."

Is there a different vibe depending on which country you perform in?
"Yeah, different every time. Some of them warm up faster,..some of them warm up waaaay later!
It's definitely a different concept, you know you've got a vocalist, you've got Morten and Uffe. Then you've got another percussionist, Andy, and a bass player and a keyboard player. And you know we are swopping back and forth between instrumental tracks and vocal tracks, something an audience has to get used to, and they've got by the end of the show. They really like it. That's been the outcome so far.
But in some countries it's taking them longer to warm up than in others, but always the same result, everybody is really, really excited."

Isn't it hard being in a Danish band and being so far away from home?
"Yeah. I didn't travel for 2 1/2  years. I stayed in L.A straight through. Didn't move; felt so comfortable there, but I knew that someday I would have to leave, but I didn't know when that was gonna be and I didn't know why that was gonna be, and then "when" came 5-6 months ago, and "why": Safri Duo!
It's been hard, but the fact, that the "when" and the "why" happens to be those two reasons, it's been much easier."

What reaction did you get from your family?
"I've been so far away from my family, for such a long time, that this was only geographically further away. Time wise we are still far away from each other, but they are very supportive...my mum and I e-mail each other everyday and talk.
She's very happy, and she sees the fan site. She is just so excited that I get to see so much of the world. I can't think of a better way to see the world, than this. It's just amazing!"




There are some "Andersons" writing in the guest book. Is that your family?
"Summer Anderson is my best friend, no 1, back at home. -And writing partner. We met on the school bus in 7th grade. We've been best friends ever since and have written songs for movies together. She's my best friend, yeah."

.....Anderson sounds European?
"Yeah, my mum's family is from Belgium, I believe. They named me Clark Anderson...out of all the names they could have picked, they picked that one!"

Have you always lived in America?
"I have always lived in America, however I was born in Seoul, Korea. I'm adopted so my family are Caucasian and I'm...the dark one (laughs)!"

Do you have any brothers or sisters?
"I do have one sister. Her name is Erica and she is 22 years old, and she's in Washington D.C.
She is actually the exact opposite of me....she is 6"2, which is a lot taller than me and has blond hair and blue eyes. She's a total politician. She is working towards her goal to work in politics, so we are very, very opposite, and we haven't spent a lot of time together in the last 7 or 8 years, but she's a wonderful, wonderful girl."

When you have a break from touring, do you go back to L.A?
"Finally, I will get to go back to L.A in a few days,  and it will be the first time in 2 months."

Will you stay there for Christmas?
"I will go to see my family for Christmas and I have not been with my sister and mum for Christmas in 7 or 8 years. It's gonna be a lot of fun. Then I come back here for that sports show on the 28th and then I go home to L.A for 14 days, before I come back."

What do you think about Denmark?
"I really, really like it! I have had a lot of opportunity to check it out, and I can truly say, that I really do like it here, and not just because Safri Duo is here! The Winter time....even though I don't like the weather, which is really hard to get through, I still enjoy it and I'm very much looking forward to the Summer time!"

How is your Danish going?
"I have tried to figure out the best way to learn and the best way to "enter the gate", and there have been many suggestions.
Actually one guy, from El Paso, Texas, who spoke fluently Danish, told me, that the quickest way to learn is to pick up a Danish newspaper and then go from there.
Maybe that'll be something I'll explore in the future.
Otherwise I just have no idea, because it's so difficult.
I think it's more difficult to speak than listen to, because after awhile you get used to listening to it, but when I try to pronounce something I feel really stupid!!
Besides Spanish, it's the one language I should learn, and it seems that the most Danish people I've met, know Spanish and English, so why can't I know Spanish and Danish?"

Do you know any Danish words?
".........Tak?........"

How have you experienced the response and accept from the Danish audience?
"It's been so amazing! I could never have dreamed of being accepted, first of all from a band that is already established.
It's been really.....open arms. Of course there have been a few critics here and there, but you have to expect that. It's just really been amazing."

You have a pretty funky stage show, is that something you rehearse?
"No....I never did at first, and then when you perform the show over and over, you sort of get into a groove a bit. There are something's you do in one show, that sticks for the rest of the shows.
There have been a few things I've done, where Morten and Uffe have said: That's really really great. You should stick with that!
So I stick with it. And it's great that they think it's great, because I feel like an idiot!
A very, very, very big idiot, but the audience seems to think it's ok, so I have a few.......shaking moments...(laughs)"

So maybe you could teach Uffe and Morten a few moves?
"Oh, no they have to teach me a few moves, I think!! They move around the most in the show. I just move my hips a little bit here and there!"

So are you going to be on tour throughout 2004?
"I´ll be touring until next September. And then there are possibilities of working on a solo project in between the time we have off. That's looking very, very possible."

Are you also going to release a record in Europe?
"That would potentially be the audience that we would go for at first, absolutely! Because that's been the audience that has been receptive to me and obviously because Morten and Uffe gave me my first break as an artist here."

So what happens after September 2004?
"It scares me to think about it. I would love to do another record with the boys....another project with the boys, that would be great.
I don't even know what will happen next year, but I know what I hope will happen next year..that we just tour, tour and tour and perform in as many countries as possible. That's  so much fun!"

  


Are there any artists you would like to perform with?
"Yeah, I have always wanted to record with Lenny Krawitz; he is just my favourite. And Stevie Wonder. They are two of my favourite male icons. -And Jeff Buckley, but he died...but he actually wrote my favourite song in the whole world, ever written, called Lover should have come over. That's my favourite song."

How did you get a role in the Queen Latifah movie?
"How did I get that?........I was just being in the business in L.A, and they were looking for someone to play her boyfriend and also to sing the main title of the whole movie, and write it as well.
So, they just found me, kinda random like Safri Duo found me; Just got a call.
So I auditioned, it went well and I did the movie. -And I did a horrible job!! Did ok with the song, but a horrible job acting. But made a great relationship with Danny DeVito. We are still friends and I have spent Thanksgiving with him the last 5 years. This year is the first year I haven't been, because I was here."

Where did you meet Luci Lui?
"At thanksgiving! She is really a darling!"

Do you get a lot of female attention now you are with Safri Duo?
"It seems that way!! It seems to be growing?!"

What's your dream girl like?
"I have a list. I make lists of everything! If Catherine Zeta Jones, Keira Knightley and Carmen Electra were in one person...that would be my dream girl!
I'm never gonna find her, that's why it remains a dream girl.
I don't know...I have plenty of different dream girls. I'm a pretty picky guy and looks only last like...a week. Then you start wondering what they have in their brain. Intelligence and sense of humor go hand in hand and are very important in a long term relationship."

Do you have other tattoos than the one on your arm?
"Nope! I got it in Australia and I was 17 years old, and I just chose it because I wanted a tattoo. I still like it! I would like one on my other arm, an arm band, but I have heard it's painful, and I'm a big wimp....."

If you were to star in a movie what genre would it be?
"What genre? I would like it to be far away from anything I do now with music. Something that is totally opposite. Something that is so far out there, that's what I would like to do. But I don't think I'm ready.
After I have conquered what I feel that I need to conquer in music, then I can move on to it."

Who would you like to star with?
"I don't know, who I would like to star with, but my favourite actor and actresses are Jack Nicholson and Meryl Streep. But there's never going to be a point in my life time, where I will be great enough to be in a scene with those two people."

What's your favorite colour?
" Blue!"

If you could choose to be an animal, what kind would you be and why?
"One of the felines; a tiger or lion. I like them. It doesn't have anything to do with me being a Leo, I'm just really fascinated with those animals, because they are so nice and so mean at the same time.
Maybe I can identify..?..."

If you could choose to be a Safri instrument, which one would it be and why?
"I would be...the tea cup. It makes a really good sound and a nice cup of tea is great at any time!"

What is your favourite instrument?
".......I have to think about that, because that's really hard..........
I like that.....brrrrrrrrbrrrrrrbrrrrr....?"

-The didgeridoo?
"Yep!!"

Have you tried playing the drums?
"Oh yeah......I'm terrible......It's not even worth giving me a few pointers.
You don't really realize how hard it is, to do what they do, until you try to get on there and do it! It's so hard. It so hard!!
Even for someone, who understands music and rhythm, like me...can't do it!
It looks easy, but it's so hard!
It would be so incredible if every person, who listens to Safri Duo and loves and appreciates it...understood how difficult this was! Their appreciation would grow to another level, that they wouldn't even know about!
Of course there is no reason for it, because the appreciation is great as it is."

What song do you like performing the most?
"Eeehm...Sweet Freedom! It's very difficult to sing, but there is something about the chords and the configuration of the way the song was originally written, that just have something to it.
At first when I heard it, me and Summer were laughing about the original version being kinda 80´es, but it turned out to be the most fun song to perform with the guys.
I try to listen to the words and remember what Michael McDonald sounds like, remember how the song was and try to recreate that as much as possible with my voice as well. It seems to work!"

Do you do any sports?
"Don't do any sports. I used to run track."

Do you have a comment for the Safri fans?
"The fans are so supportive of Safri Duo. The people Safri Duo have attracted are so great for recognizing the difference and the similarity Safri Duo have created in their music and in everyone's lives. And I think that's the greatest support system to have, and I think a lot of musicians here today are lacking that really strong: "no matter what - balls to the wall - every time you come out with something"-support system.
Just to encourage that atmosphere...I wish that was the general attitude of the world."