The result of this Q&A with Magne was published on February 17 in Wiken, a magazine dedicated to Arts & Entertainment that circulates every Friday with El Mercurio (Chile's most important newspaper).
El Mercuirio: What is it that encourages you to keep on writing music today?
MF: The hope that one day your life will make sense.
El Mercuirio: What do you think has been your contribution to pop music?
MF:Light and shade; sad songs in major and happy songs in minor - plus a great number of tedious interviews about how misunderstood we were in the 80's.
El Mercuirio: Is there a present band that deserves the A-HA of the new millennium?
MF: Every band is different - no one should have to feel like the new anything. We, however, get to feel like 'the old a-ha' which really hurts.
El Mercuirio: Is it different to compose songs now than it was 20 years ago? I read in the Times newspaper you do it separately because of the tensions between you, haven't your tempers calmed down after all these years?
MF: Any more than 5 minutes in the same room together and there's knives out. No, not really. We write separately because when we are together all we want to do is the cha cha.
El Mercuirio: How do you feel when bands like Coldplay say you had a huge influence in their decision to become musicians?
MF: Responsible.
El Mercuirio: Are there going to be any other collaborations with them, besides the one Magne had in his solo album?
MF: Ah, yes - they won't get off that lightly. Being an a-ha fan comes at a price.
El Mercuirio: Are there any current bands you'd like to collaborate with?
MF: I didn't know that currents had formed a band!? Over here we still only get the raisins (good as they are).
El Mercuirio: You've had great reviews on your last records, why do you think it hasn't translated into huge sales?
MF: Because we can only have one thing at a time; we had the sales already, now it is time for the reviews...
El Mercuirio: When Duran Duran got its original members together, they received a Lifetime achievement award from MTV and sold out every concert they did. Do you wish something like that happened when you got together?
MF: MTV doesn't like us, because we remind them of themselves as a younger organization. No one wants to be remembered for their childhood - MTV least of all.
El Mercuirio: About your show in Chile: What made you decide to come to the Festival Internacional de la cancion de Vina del Mar, and what do you know about the festival?
MF: Money and the chance to come back to Chile. Last time was too long ago.
El Mercuirio: Have you figured out the set list?
MF: Yes, but so has everyone else!
El Mercuirio: What do you expect from your Chilean fans?
MF: The usual Chilean nice politeness, enthusiasm, smiles, singalongs, plus food, alcoholic beverages and be taken to see everyone's family. If you realy want, you can get us a house by the sea, a pet llama, and trip to the Andes (but stop me if I seem greedy).
El Mercuirio: U2 will be playing in Santiago (a couple of hours away from the city were you'll be playing) on February 26, do you have any plans of going to the concert? U2 seem to be big fans of your music, have you ever planned some kind of collaboration with them? Are there any plans for the near future?
MF: They will probably think we have become U2 stalkers. In every interview we do we are asked about their relationship with a-ha. Just because poor Edge out of pure embarrassement gave a-ha a virtual pat on the back with regards to 'The sun always shines'/'Beautiful day' comparisons....how he must bite the remains of his tongue!