Special - Norway: the Glam and Teeny interview | Eurovision Song Contest News - 2008 Belgrade, Serbia 

'Glam' Åge Sten Nilsen and 'Teeny' Trond Holter, both of the group Wig Wam that represented Norway in the 2005 Eurovision Song Contest will compete against each other in Melodi Grand Prix 2008: Glam wrote the song Would you spend the night with me for Cube while Teenyis the man behind the song Get up! to be performed by Crash!. esctoday.com spoke exclusively with them.

What does it feel like to be competing against each other for the first time?

Glam:

It's gonna be a real cat-fight, right, he he. We never really planned it this way to be honest. In my case, I didn't even think about joining the competition in the first place. It happened accidentally. Cube approached me to send them songs I wouldn't use for my own project or Wig Wam, since they were ready to start recording their debut album.  They were Wig Wams support act at one of our Wig Wamania Tour shows and happened to collaborate with a company Wig Wam is collaborating with. It turned out that this company  had played one of the songs they picked, Would you spend the night with me, to the head of the Norwegian Eurovision and he loved it. So why say no. I thought both the song and the band deserved a go, you know. It wasn't until later I found out that Teeny also would participate. I received that information through the tabloids, believe it or not .

Teeny:

It’s going to be lots of fun, and I’m really looking forward to it.

Did you discuss entering songs individually before you wrote them?

Glam:

Not at all.

Teeny:

No, we have been working separately on different projects and haven’t really talked about other stuff than Wig Wam when we met.

Did you let each other hear the songs before entering them?

Glam:

I played my song to the guys in my own version this summer. But I have yet to hear Teeny's. I guess he likes to keep the secrecy. 

Teeny:

I just realized I heard Glam’s song on a demo tape a couple of years ago. Its a very good song. Me like.

If one of you wins, will you go to Belgrade to support the other?

Glam:

He he, I have 22 persons on the payroll for my Queen show The show must go on, and I don't think I'll give them that weekend off to go to Belgrade if I don't have to. But if Crash! wins I will surely support them, but through TV broadcast. But if we could put up the Queen show in Belgrade during Eurovision I would go. So, promotors!! Go ckeck out http://www.theshowmustgoon.no/ and give me a call asap he he.

Teeny:

I would love to. Glam and me steering up Belgrade sounds perfect.

Did you consider entering a song for Wig Wam this year? And would you consider entering ESC again?

Glam:

Nope! We haven't  even considered when to get back to the studio to record our third album.  We have kept the distance to each other for months now, and hopefully we'll get the Wig Wam train rolling soon before it dies. I dont know about the guys, but I'd love to get back into the Eurovision ring again you know. And maybe we have already made plans…to participate for Spain.

Teeny:

No. We haven’t talked about it. Just been busy working really. ESC has been a blessing for Wig Wam, and has brought us through Europa, Japan and now we are due to break grounds in North and South America. We are blessed.

The band (Wig Wam) is taking some time out and you’re all working on individual projects. Do you have a set date for getting back together to record a new album or put a tour together yet?

Glam:

I hate to say it, but no. But we did have a meeting just the other day and agreed on getting together in the rehearsal room to check out what we have written individually for the band. And we also talked about writing as a band later in the process. I'm eager to get started with new material you know. We have received lots of offers both for our third album and for a compilation album to become an American version with the best of both album.

Teeny:

Yes, we have set a date for recording an album, and when we see the outcome of it, we know when the tour is due.

Do you think the Eurovision is getting stronger or weaker since you participated in Kiev?

Glam:

I think it has loosened up a bit, yeah. I think we kinda paved the way for rock 'n' roll and loud guitars. AND ROCK became the NEW SCHLAGER in the end with Lordi. Even though it should have happened in 2005. Even though I think we finished in style.

Teeny:

You can see that there is a lot more rock music that participates each year, and there is more edge to the competition. It’s getting stronger.

What would you like to achieve this year both individually and as Wig Wam?

Glam:

I'm doing my first job as a presenter for a national TV show called Singing bee, and I'd really love to do more stuff like that. It's the entertainment business after all, so it's really very close to what I normally do on stage you know. And I get to sing too. But I'd love to make a GREAT album with Wig Wam this year, and to head out on tour again. And my personal goal would be to take Wig Wam on tour in more countries than before. I want us to do a full length European tour and start focusing on other markets than the just the Norwegian and the Japanese. I would also love to see my solo album grow into something spectacular, and for my Queen show to do great. We have already sold out every single show we have put up, and it’s a thrill to sing those songs live. More, more, more.

Teeny:

Making good records is what I’m working for every day of the year, and a good tour after each one.

What other projects are you working on and what excites you most with your work?

Glam:

I'm doing a TV show, Singing bee, as the presenter, I'm on tour with my Queen show The sow must go on, writing songs alone and with other well known artists and songwriters for a solo album, I'm working on the forthcoming Wig Wam album and tour, writing songs and doing drawings for the new outfits and stage presentation, working on a script, and doing guest performances. I'm actually going to Barcelona in the end of February to sing Zeppelin and Queen songs. So that will be exciting. I love my job!!!

Teeny:

I’m working on records for Crash!, Podium, Trond Holter band and soon Wig Wam, and every one of the projects are as important than the other. I write songs for, and with all of them. To create music that people like is what it’s all about. It’s a fantastic feeling.

What can we expect from the songs that you have written?

Glam:

Expect to be BLOWN AWAY, ha ha. I have no idea really. That's up to those who listen to the songs. My songs have already done their duty to me, simply by gathering my thoughts and my concerns and ending up like songs other person hopefully can use for their own benefit.

Teeny:

Catchy choruses on a good quality rock n roll package, with no lyrical message what so ever... ha ha. The true spirit to Rock 'n' Roll.