February 8th, 2007


The following is an LTP Exclusive Interview with Máni Svavarsson, composer of the LazyTown hit-song, "Bing Bang"...

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   LTP: When did you first start getting interested in music, at what age?

   MÁNI: I think I got my first keyboard when I was 6 years old.  When I was 10, I remember myself sneaking in to my older sister room and listening to her albums.  I miss those days actually - when you would sit down and listen to whole albums for hours and hours.  What inspired me most at the time was David Bowie, Bob Marley, Rolling Stones and many many more.


   LTP: Did you go to school or college to study music?

   MÁNI: When I was 13, my parents gave me a Yamaha organ.  With that gift was a class at the Yamaha Organ School.  I went twice and then quit.  I didn´t want to play "Autumn Leaves" and "I left my heart in San Francisco" (altho both songs are beautiful).  I wanted to play with the built-in drum machine and experiment a little more.


   LTP: What is your main instrument, keyboards, guitar, or ?

   MÁNI: My main instrument is the keyboard and everything you can connect to a keyboard and a computer.


   LTP: Have you ever used a synclavier? If so, in what capacity?

   MÁNI: I have never used a Synclavier and I don´t think one exists in Iceland.


   LTP: At what point did you become involved with Magnús Scheving and Latibær?

   MÁNI: Magnús approached me 15 years ago and asked me to do music for his Aerobic routines.  He was starting his career in Aerobic competitions at the time.  We soon found out that we "clicked" and have been working together ever since.  I still remember Magnús telling me about his LazyTown idea.  I thought he had totally "lost it" - but soon I realized he was on to something extraordinary. I had never heard anyone talk so passionately about doing things for children before.  His passion still gives me a spark on long days.


   LTP: Which LazyTown scripts did you contribute to? And in what ways?

   MÁNI: In the new series I worked on every script.  I worked both on story developing and often I tried to add humour to scenes.


   LTP: How closely were you working with Magnús on the scripts?

   MÁNI: We worked very closely together. Since we know each other so well, it´s easy for us to "throw the ball" back and forth.  We worked on the scripts in three periods from 2005 to end of production 2006.  Some were written in Iceland and some in L.A.


   LTP: Who are the other script writers for LazyTown?

   MÁNI: The writing team for season 2 was Magnús, Mark Valenti and myself.


   LTP: Where did you get the idea for the lyrics in "Bing Bang"?

   MÁNI: That song was written for our second Icelandic play in 1999/2000.  We wanted Stephanie to sing something catchy - that kids in all ages could repeat after hearing it once.  The conclusion was "Bing Bang".   We also wanted the lyrics to represent her character; smiley, dancy, fun loving.   And there you have the rest of the lyrics.


   LTP: Is it true that Magnús does not sing "Welcome To LazyTown", and does he sing on "Energy"?

   MÁNI: Magnús does not sing the opening song.  It actually says in the credits that the singers name is "Jón Jósep Snæbjörnsson" (his nick name is Jónsi).  He is a famous singer here in Iceland.  We never meant for anyone to believe that "Sportacus" was singing that song.   Magnús is a quite good singer, but since we are always aiming for top quality, we decided to use an even better singer for the songs in LazyTown.  The name of the singer that sings "Energy" and "No one is Lazy in LazyTown" is Matthias Matthiasson.


   LTP: What's the story behind the music for "Secret Agent Zero"?

   MÁNI: I wanted to write a song that would call back memories from James Bond.  There are at least two such "hints" in the song.  The orchestral stabs from the "View to a kill" with Duran Duran and the guitar line from the main theme from James Bond.  We also decided to have Bessie Busybody (Julie Westwood) singing that song.  She did it in a Shirley Bassey kind of a style.


   LTP: Do you have future plans in other musical areas, such as a Máni solo CD?

   MÁNI: I have no plans of a solo cd (he said laughing.)  I feel we only have just begun on LazyTown and I want to keep on working there and write more fun songs.


   LTP: A family question -- How many kids do you have, and how does family life effect your career?

   MÁNI: I have three kids, 8 year old twins, a boy and a girl.  And a 4 year old daughter.  Production periods can be hard on family life but I try as much as I can to be home early and spend time with the family.  Sometime it works - sometimes it doesn´t.  My family has been extremely patient and supporting.  My twins are actually my mini test market.  if they give my new song two thumbs up - I know it´s good.


   LTP: What other musical artists have been a source of inspiration for you?

   MÁNI: The 80´s period had huge influence on me - and I think it can be heard in many of my arrangements and melodies.  The German computer group Kraftwerk was also a big influence.


   LTP: Is there going to be a LazyTown movie, and if so, will you be involved with the project?

   MÁNI: Nothing has been decided - but I truly hope that LazyTown will be a movie one day.  Of course I hope to be involved when and if the time comes.


   LTP: Are there any plans for new LazyTown DVDs or CDs to be released in America?

   MÁNI: Not that I know of - but I´m pretty sure there will be more.


   LTP: Do you think your music has more impact in the U.K. and Europe, as opposed to the U.S. market?

   MÁNI: I think the music has a more impact in Europe - and maybe because I´m closer to those markets.  For example, "Bing Bang" went to no.4 in the UK singles chart shortly before last christmas.


   LTP: What do you think of the Russian music scene?

   MÁNI: To tell you the truth - I don´t know much about it.  It doesn´t get alot of coverage in the Icelandic media.


   LTP: A question more close to home should be -- What do you think about Global Warming and its effects on Greenland and Iceland?

   MÁNI: There has been alot of talk lately about these things.  Here in Iceland the talk is finally beginning to evolve around what each and everyone can do to pitch in and turn this process around.


   LTP: What is an average day in the life of Máni Svavarsson?

   MÁNI: These days I´m working on the underscore for the last episodes of the new series.  I drive the twins to school and get to work around 8:45.  After a cup of strong coffee I write music - and after lunchbreak - I write more music.  The day may break up with meetings about something that has to be taken care of.   I usually go home around 18:00 and enjoy a nice evening with the family - helping the kids with the homework etc.  Pretty normal life.


   LTP: Do you anticipate being involved with the music scene per se, or more towards film soundtracks?

   MÁNI: I think I will be more involved in TV/Film music.  At least that´s my goal at the moment.


   LTP: When composing for LazyTown, do you do 'character-specific' songs?

   MÁNI: Usually - no.  I try more to tie the feel of the song into the theme of the episode.


   LTP: As you may have heard, Viacom (parent company of Nickelodeon) recently placed a 'cease and desist' order on certain videos being posted at YouTube.com --

What is your opinion about the music, the use of iPods, and other portable media downloading devices, involving the international copyright situation?

   MÁNI: I´m all for the use of Ipods etc.  But we have to realize that music/videos can´t be "free".  It would soon lead to less and less people making an effort to make a living out of it.  It will be exciting to see what happens in the next years as big companies try to come up with a way to make music accessible to new medias and turning it into good business. 

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Many Thanks To Máni Svavarsson and the LazyTown Productions Team.


© 2007 L.G. Wise (X RADAR Publ.)
All Rights Reserved

No part of this interview can be used, reprinted, copied or stored in any medium without the publisher's authorization.


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