RONNIE ATKINS: PRETTY MAIDS Vocalist Releases Second Studio Album ‘Make It Count’ (March 18th, 2022)

RONNIE ATKINS: PRETTY MAIDS Vocalist Releases Second Studio Album ‘Make It Count’
March 18th, 2022

Ronnie Atkins, vocalist of Horsens, Denmark-based hard rock / heavy metal band Pretty Maids, issued his second full-length solo studio album Make It Count on March 18th, 2022 through Frontiers Music Srl.

Having been diagnosed with incurable stage four cancer shortly before recording his debut solo album One Shot, Ronnie Atkins commented: “I still feel like I’m racing against time, so me and my team of musicians followed exactly the same procedure this time around. I sent my songs to Chris [Laney, producer], who worked on demos. Once satisfied with the arrangements, I would record the vocals and the individual musicians laid down their tracks. I already had quite a few ideas from the One Shot sessions and just carried on writing. The album was then recorded between April and October this year.”

Regarding the songs and the album’s lyrical themes, Atkins stated: “The melodies and toplines are the first priority. If I feel I’ve got a good song with the right chord structure and a strong melody that sticks in my head, then I know I’m onto something. To me, a good song is a good song and then it’s a matter of how you wrap it up.

The lyrics are always the hardest part from my perspective! Sometimes you already have the title and the topic when you’re writing the song and at other times you’re just out of ideas. This time around it was tough as my health issues are in my subconsciousness 24/7. No matter what I do, I’m confronted with it every day, so some of the songs are inevitably touching on this issue. That said, I’m also trying to give it a positive twist, meaning that we just have to get the best out of life and love the one we’re with while we’re here. It’s just impossible to write about sex, drugs and rock n’ roll or whatever living with a life-threatening disease and a dagger hanging over your head. It is for me, at least! Overall, the lyrical content is partly about the aforementioned topics, the climate, and other things that make sense to everyone without being too political.”

As to the merits of making solo records, the singer-songwriter observed: “I don’t have to argue with anyone whether it’s too pop or too lightweight. I’m my own boss and the only one to take responsibility if it doesn’t live up to people’s expectations. But, this is what I want to do at this stage of my life and I’m convinced that Make It Count is a great melodic rock album. I hope that fans won’t be disappointed.”

Healthwise, Atkins concluded: “I felt pretty good during the whole process, at least physically. And this time, I had the chance to actually meet with some of the musicians in-person because the Covid-19 restrictions were not as tough as they were when we recorded One Shot.”

The track listing is as follows:

01. ‘I’ve Hurt Myself (By Hurting You)’
02. ‘Unsung Heroes’
03. ‘Rising Tide’
04. ‘Remain To Remind Me’
05. ‘The Tracks We Leave Behind’
06. ‘All I Ask Of You’
07. ‘Grace’
08. ‘Let Love Lead The Way’
09. ‘Blood Cries Out’
10. ‘Easier To Leave (Than Being Left Behind)’
11. ‘Fallen’
12. ‘Make It Count’

Make It Count’s recording line-up was as follows:

Ronnie Atkins (lead and backing vocals)
Chris Laney (rhythm and lead guitar, and keyboards)
Pontus Egberg (bass)
Allan Sørensen (drums)
Morten Sandager (keyboards)
Linnéa Vikström Egg (backing vocals)
John Berg (guitar)
Oliver Hartmann (guitar)
Pontus Norgren (guitar)
Anders Ringman (acoustic guitar)

Music videos were filmed for the title track and the songs ‘Unsung Heroes’, ‘Rising Tide’ and ‘I’ve Hurt Myself (By Hurting You)’. All four clips can also be viewed below.

Debut studio record One Shot was released in March 2021 via Frontiers Music Srl.

Promotional photograph by Talle Savage.

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