Posts Tagged ‘harald zwart’

Morten on the inspiration behind “Brother”

From the music video

From the music video

The “Brother” music video, which leaked online earlier this week, had its official premiere on VGTV in Norway today.

“Harald Zwart got the idea for the music video immediately after hearing the song for the first time. It’s based on a classic movie by the Swedish comedians Hasse & Tage. We have arranged for a copy of the video to be delivered to the Hasse & Tage museum”, Morten tells VG.

The song itself started with Peter Kvint getting the idea for the melody:

“It was developed from there and to its final version by Peter and myself. The lyrical identity came to me – at the same time – after having just read the biography of Majiid Nawaz, “Radical”, about growing up as a young muslim in England, faced with European, Western culture and politics, and his personal confrontation with fundamental values after years of going down an uncompromising and dangerous road internationally as an islamist. And then choosing an even more dangerous road later on”, Morten says.

“Brother” is about love and respect, as it is shown when recognizing everyone’s right to become who they are. About the right to follow your own conscience. “Brother” is about respecting diversity – and how this is a fundamental value”.

“Brother” music video

From the music video

From the music video

Although the “Brother” music video hasn’t officially premiered yet, it has now started appearing on YouTube.

Apparently the video was posted prematurely on Vimeo by someone involved in the production, but has since been removed. The same thing happened with the video for “I’m The One”.

The music video was shot in Ernest E. Debs Regional Park in Los Angeles last month, and directed by Harald Zwart. The song itself is a heavily shortened edit version.

Harald Zwart directs “Brother” music video

"I'm not sure what's in the water", Morten told VG.

“I’m not sure about the quality of this water”, Morten said afterwards.

Morten was in Los Angeles last week, to do a music video for “Brother”. The video is directed by Harald Zwart, who previously did the a-ha videos for “Velvet” (2000) and “Forever Not Yours” (2002). VGTV has a video report from the set at Ernest E. Debs Regional Park, which can be seen here (at 3:50).

Zwart drenched Morten in water in both of the previous a-ha videos, and “Brother” is no exception. Wearing a wetsuit, Morten had to spend hours floating in what appears to be…uhm…a manmade lake.

Harald Zwart

Harald Zwart

“Harald is not interested in my body. It’s only the area from the neck up that counts now”, Morten jokingly tells VG.

“If you don’t make it challenging and exciting on the set, it won’t be an exciting video. Harket is sporty to be doing this. It’s cold and difficult to be floating in the water for hours, while pretending to sing”, Harald Zwart says.

The Brother album is now scheduled for release at the end of March, an album that has reminded Morten why he got into music in the first place:

“This has been an unusual year for me. The process of recording this album is the best I’ve ever experienced. I’ve really had a unique collaboration with the Swedish producer and songwriter Peter Kvint. When the material really hits you, when the songs have a distinctive character, that’s when I’m reminded why I got into music in the first place. It hits that guy inside me who started out 30 years ago, that guy who really wanted to do this.”

“I’m really enjoying myself at the moment, and I’m looking forward to getting started and playing live with the band”, Morten tells VG.

Prior to the music video shoot in LA, Morten and his team appears to have done a week-long photo shoot on the Caribbean Coast of Mexico. Make-up artist Kelly Thorpe has posted some info about this on Twitter and Instagram.

Morten attends The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones premiere

Inez and Morten in Fredrikstad last night

Inez and Morten in Fredrikstad last night

Morten and Inez attended the Norwegian premiere of Harald Zwart’s new movie The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones in Fredrikstad last night.

“Harald is above all very talented, which he has proven time and again. But he’s also got an incredible drive and an impressive staying power. And they’re also a great team, Harald and his wife Veslemøy. It’s all very impressive, and that’s why I’m here tonight”, Morten told TV2.

A few of the actors from the movie were also present in Fredrikstad; Lily Collins, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Jamie Campbell Bower and Robert Sheehan.

Pictures: VG 1   VG 2   Fredriksstad Blad   Video interview: FBTV

 
Earlier this month, on August 3rd, a-ha fan Ari Benjamin met Morten in Kristiansand. The story of his meeting with Morten can be found on his blog at aribenjamin.net.

 
Magne, who will be showing his Norwegian Wood exhibition in Oslo next month, also appeared in public recently. On August 16th he attended the Moods of Norway 10th anniversary celebration in Oslo Spektrum, where the fashion label presented its latest collection called Pop Factory.

Magne and Heidi could be seen in the audience in the live webcast from the show, where they enjoyed the Moods of Norway house band – featuring Matt Sorum (drums), Nick Perri (guitar) and Maya Vik (bass).

Magne pays tribute to Harald Zwart

 

The Norwegian director Harald Zwart, who has made movies such as One Night at McCool’s and The Karate Kid, was the main guest on the talkshow Litt Av Et Liv on NRK1 tonight.

a-ha fans also know him as the director of the “Velvet” and “Forever Not Yours” music videos.

In addition to having friends and family of Zwart in the studio, the show also included several video greetings from people he has worked with, such as Michael Douglas, Steve Martin, John Cleese
– and Magne Furuholmen.

 
Here’s what Magne had to say:

Hi Harald. Congratulations on all your amazing success. In many ways you are the film industry’s equivalent to a-ha; a Norwegian with success abroad. You are also similar to us in that you just keep getting better and better with time. So I’m happy to see that you are succeeding, which I never really doubted you would.

Harald Zwart

We have worked together on a few occasions, we have been to Cuba together and you have also made what is possibly a-ha’s most controversial music video…in a freezing morgue in Hamburg. And each time we have worked with you has been a very enjoyable experience.

I am sure that you will keep making even greater things in the years to come and make a lot of people happy with the things you do. You have the guts, you are skilled and you are fearless. And you also have a great wife to support you – just like I have. So then you’re all set.”

 
Litt Av Et Liv can be seen on NRK’s web-TV here (only available for viewing within Norway).

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