A1 same old, brand-new

MANILA, Philippines - Remember the boyband that thrilled teens in the ’90s with hits Like A Rose, Same Old Brand New You and Take On Me?

The British-Norwegian A1 — made up of Mark Read, Ben Adams and Christian Ingebrigtsen — is so back with a brand-new album Waiting For Daylight. It has a fresh concept and mature and more experienced songwriting, but expect it carrying the group’s same old passion for music that is only fortified through time.

The STAR had a phone interview with Christian wherein he talked about their “unplanned” return and reunion, their latest album Waiting For Daylight that’s released here by MCA Music, Inc., and why more heads are better than one even as they happily took on solo careers during their time apart after splitting up in 2002.

“We’re having a fairytale of a ride,” Christian says of his reformed band which will be holding a Manila concert on Feb. 25 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, alongside fellow Brit boyband Blue and Jeff Timmons of American boyband 98 Degrees. “We did not have any plans of reuniting or getting together. But (we’re having) lots of fun now hanging out together as a group. We just enjoy what we have been doing together. So, here we are (with) another album. We’re back, and we’re gonna go on.”

A1 enjoyed eight Top 10 singles, two of which — Take On Me and Same Old Brand New You — were No. 1 in UK charts and elsewhere in the world, plus three Top 20 albums between 1999 and 2002. When original member Paul Marazzi quit the band in 2002, it reportedly precipitated the band’s demise that same year.

Nevertheless, the idea of a comeback was sparked by a TV appearance made by Christian, Mark and Ben in a Norwegian show on the 10th year after A1 was born. It felt just right to share the stage again, and with the fans hankering for more after that auspicious TV guesting, what followed was a series of shows, first in Norway — and more.

“There’s something about us and in what we experienced when we got back together. We become better when we’re together than we are individually apart, you know what I mean? There’s that really, really special thing. The same counts onstage, we kind of complete each other,” says Christian.

The three-piece band’s fourth studio album is now available here, and Christian says that the concept has changed. “I think we all have become better writers and performers and everything consists of another level. We were the ones who wrote the songs back then, and we’re writing them now. (The album is) more of a rock-pop vibe. And I think we really ended up with a great pop-rock album with some really awesome songs.”

Prior to their comeback as a group, Christian, Mark and Ben were doing other creative stuff, including writing songs and producing albums for other artists, mostly British acts. Christian, for his part, also pursued a successful solo recording career, although largely concentrated in his home country in Norway. He also ventured into the acting field via musicals. “I absolutely love acting. I thought it was really great, since I evolved from a singer to being a performer. (Acting) is so much different. When I was still studying at the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts, I had the option to pursue acting or singing. But I decided on music as my first love and that’s what I really want to do.”

Interestingly, Christian’s father, Stein Ingebrigtsen, was Norway’s biggest-selling recording artist in the ’70s. As young as three years old, he used to tag along with his father to work, but growing up, he never felt pressured to eclipse his father’s achievements or capitalize on them to gain his own foothold in the music industry. “I made it on my own. But it has always been a joy (to have someone like him as a father). I’m working right now on my dad’s new album, and I’ve made songs for his album. Working with my dad, one of the greatest singers in Norway, is just the greatest honor for me.”

Meantime, Christian’s busy promoting Waiting For Daylight and touring with A1. The group’s trip here isn’t the first, though.

“Are you asking me what I remember about the Philippines from our previous visit? I remember that everyone speaks perfect English and I actually find the girls in the Philippines amazingly beautiful,” says Christian, who also reveals that all of them are still single.

What can Pinoys expect from the concert?

“We’re definitely gonna perform all the hits that people will remember from back then, but we’ll also perform new songs. We’re really excited to introduce our new album,” says Christian.

And what about the synchronized moves that became the signature of boybands in the ’90s? Christian says, “The live show will be a bit different. We prefer performing as a band and playing the instruments ourselves, like I’ll be playing guitars, Mark plays the piano, etc. (We) don’t do much dancing anymore, but there’ll be a lot of energy.”