Biography

Secluded Place from Södertälje (Sweden) was founded by Michael Masus (born 1970) back in 1992. It all started with a strong desire to write synthpop songs. Michael creates the music for Secluded Place on synthesizers, samplers and computers by mixing own musical visions with influences from bands such as Depeche Mode, Camouflage and The Mobile Homes. The mood of the music is mostly depressive, but sometimes catchy. A lot of attention is given to the lyrics to get the right expression.

After a few years of development the first demotape "Some Songs" was released in the end of December 1994. It was reviewed in Release, a swedish music magazine. Three of the tracks was rerecorded and appeared on CD-compilations. "Something Isn't Right" appears on "Monument/1" (Powerspot/ Memento Materia) and "Can't Deny the Reality" and "I Miss You" appears on "iNTERkO" (Delta/October).

Secluded Place was meant to perform in Flen (Sweden) on the 17th of February of 1996 at the Monument/1 releaseparty, but the merry party was interrupted by violent skinheads. Michael and the temporary keyboardplayer Daniel Ågren had travelled in vain.

Secluded Place performed in Umeå (Sweden) at the "Illusions Festival -96" supporting acts like Dark Side Cowboys, Malaise, Project-X and Seven Trees. The leadsinger Michael and the livekeyboard-player and backvocal-singer Torny Gottberg got good response from the wonderful audience of Umeå.

Two songs (rerecorded in SoundArt Studio) from the second demotape "Some More", released in January 1996, appears on CD-compilations: "But I Have To" (Geigersounds#1) and "I Remember" (Monument/2). The demo was reviewed in swedish magazines. Secluded Place was interviewed by Sauna Magazine (June -96). The track "I Remember" was later remixed and re-edited to be released on the american label Strangers Thoughts CD-compilation "Synthpop The Next Generation". The remix also appeared on the "SaunaCD1" that came with the summer 1997 issue of Sauna Magazine. A Secluded Place article was published in the same issue.

Secluded Place supported Project-X in Västerås the 16th of February 1997 at Club EMB. In May 1997 Michael was back with a demotape titled "A Place To Belong In". An interview was published in Wanted and "I Soothe You" appeared on the CD-collection SaunaCD2.

Secluded Place performed in Hässleholm the 25th of April 1998 at Klubb Binär. A modern exiting sound was developed in the summer of 1998 which in November resulted in the promotion-CD "Oxide".