"L.A. Project II" has gathered raving reviews in every AOR/WestCoast site around the net. To me this album is WestCoast of the highest order and one of my top-10 albums for 2008. It is the sophomore album of a most talented Swedish guitarist and songwriter, Peter Friestedt. Welcome to our webzine, Peter.

Thank you for your kind words Stefan! It's a great honor to be here!

Let’s take things from the beginning. You studied at various Music Conservatories in Sweden and then in 1998 you went to Los Angeles Music Academy. Those studies and those places must have played a significant role in your evolution as musician. Is it so?

Being in LA with all those wonderful musicians and that great music around you was very inspiring! It had a huge impact on my way of creating music, everything from starting to care about sounds to go for a more up to date musical approach!

During your stay in Los Angeles, you were introduced to Bill Champlin (Chicago). That acquaintance must have been crucial to your career.

Meeting Bill was huge for me and Bill's help has been invaluable, to me he is the ultimate musician, watching him work is the greatest lesson in music you'll ever get, Bill comes up with the most fantastic and unexpected stuff and that is why he is one of the finest and most indemand vocalist/musicians around!

Later on, your first solo album was released, featuring a dreamy line-up that featured Joe Williams (Toto) and Bill Champlin among others. How did you feel when you first heard those legends singing and playing your music?

It was a treat! Having some of your absolute favourite vocalists/musicians singin/playin' on your first record at the age of 25 was very cool! I think anyone would be excited about something like that!

The first take on "Livin' In Your Eyes" for instance, hearing Bill [Champlin] sing my music for the first time was incredible, sitting in the room playing with that fantastic band that where grooving crazy, There was a certain chemistry in the studio when we recorded this song that is hard to describe, I remember thinking to myself at the last chorus of the song, I don’t ever want this to stop! Later on Bill invited Joseph to participate and that was very exciting as I have always loved his singin' and the records he did with TOTO!

You’ve played the guitar on AOR’s "L.A. Concession" and "L.A. Attraction" albums. You were also the producer on one fine track for "L.A. Attraction" ("Give A Little Love" featuring WestCoast legend Dane Donohue). What do you recall from that collaboration with Frederic Slama?

It was great working with Frederic! I remember doing alot of rhythm programming and guitar/keyboard work at my home studio on that song, I'm very proud of my guitarsolo there as well!

2008 found you with a new excellent album, which established you as a top musician in the genre. Many of your distinguished friends are in it this time as well. Where to start? From Joe Williams and Bill Champlin to Randy Goodrum and Tris Imboden (Chicago), they all played their part in making L.A. Project II a high-class release. I can only imagine what was going on at the studio recordings. Could you share some info with us?

We had a wonderful vibe in the studio, Abraham Laboriel and John Robinson have become my favourite rhythm section team, they are really fast nailing everything and takes your music to another level and working with Bill Champlin and Joseph Williams at Bill's Goldmine Studio was fantastic!

Were you aiming at that spiritual atmosphere that certain songs breathe?

Yes especially on songs like "Closer to Home" and "There Ain't Nothin".

You blend WestCoast with jazz, blues and soul timbres. Since when you’ve been a connoisseur of these genres?

I've always been enjoying/listening to these different genres, my music hopefully, as you say, feature this, I think that's what made a band like TOTO so great, they could go from a Heavy rock song to a jazz groove with Miles playing his trumpet to a straight radio tune! Paich could really write great hooks man!!

I am also very happy that I did my homework as a music student so that I know how to write a horn or string arrangement as well as how to spice up a song with chords that includes more than 3 notes!

Do you think the album presents some surprises, compared with your debut?

Yeah I think the LA PROJECT II CD has more of a straight Pop/Rock feel and might appeal to a wider audience even though I'm proud of LAP 1 as well!

You’ve been performed or recorded, besides the aforementioned musicians, with Steve Lukather, Michael Thompson, Tommy Denander, Michael Landau and Greg Bissonette. Were there any specific moments that you could call to mind?

I like to mention the new David Foster Tribute album! It is a great record and I was honored to participate on it as well as playing with all the guys you are mentioning above!

Which guitarists have been the most influential on your playing?

I really love Michael Landau and Larry Carlton!!!

Your favourite guitar?

My Fender Stratocaster with EMG pickups and my new Passkey guitar from Atsushi Komaki/Japan!

You live in Sweden and you work as teacher in a Swedish music academy. Seems like you can’t do without music, can you?

Yes music is a major part of my life and I enjoy sharing my experiences with students, it also keeps your shops up playing every day!

Besides AOR & Melodic Rock, WestCoast made a fabulous comeback this year with several excellent releases. Do you think 2008 could be the beginning of a new era for the genre?

I really hope so! There has to happen something with the whole recording industry soon!

What are you working on today and which are your future plans? Are there some gigs on schedule?

I have written new songs that I am very excited about with genius songwriter/musician Randy Goodrum!!! I am going to LA in January to record!!! Right now there is a worldwide live broadcast from the LA PROJECT tour feat Joseph Williams that we did this spring! Check out link on www.myspace.com/peterfriestedt.

Dear Peter, I’d like to thank you for taking the time to speak with us. May your musical journey continue to provide inspiration for more great albums to come.