Hannu Lepistö about his inspirations and long path to success

“Hannu: …Music is a consolating thing and bringing hope as well, and everyone listens and interprets it and the lyrics their own way.”

You come from the small village of Hausjärvi. You achived so much being a normal guy that has to work hard instead of taking everything the easy way. How do you see your career with no history of a boy from a big city? And what do you think about all the artists that get it so easy?

Hannu: No artist can get anything easy, no matter where one is from. Music is calling, passion and curse and Life. 🙂 At least to me it is, well I’m a Singer-Songwriter. 🙂 One has to have an urge to play, write and rehearse constantly. No easy way for anyone. Musical talent helps in the beginning. There were also benefits to living in a small place. Not so much competition at school with your instrument, mine were drums, so I had the opportunity to perform much – and at high school era we were “living” in the music class. Skipped classes (whenever it was free and booked it after school and jammed and played with my band mates then. My lead-guitarist Petteri Mård was my real partner in musical crime 🙂 already back then, as well. And when we were good enough and our demos were good enough, we got some gigs in Helsinki as well and near cities. No matter where we were from. But of course we all moved to Helsinki after High School to go universities etc.

And then, after compulsory military service, we formed The Matt Pistol Project (tMPP) and my big brother came in and a new drummer (they already lived in Helsinki), so we continued the hard work and became better. And logistic-wise it was easier to Helsinki’s rock clubs and generated little buzz among labels and agencies as well.

Music was always a part of your life. Also your brother was playing piano. It was kind of obvious for you to go in this direction in your life. But what was that precise moment when you decided to make music the most important thing in your life?

Hannu: The most breathtaking mind-blowing experiences for me as a kid were seeing the documentary of Hanoi Rocks, Elvis “rock’n’roll” era movies, and The Boss’s Born In The USA and other great albums bro brought home. when I was about five. Of course, I was irritated and bored of my big brother Markku’s constant, mostly classical, piano playing and my father’s (vicar) voice practice and hymns. And I swore then when they practised , “I don’t ever want to be involved in music!” Well the rock’s energy, looks and totally different opposite attitude and compellingness left a stain to me. And here I am now. 🙂

You’ve been listening to great music by Bruce Springsteen, Johnny Cash or Dire Straits to mention a few. You’re also called the Finnish answer for artists like Nick Cave, Tom Waits, Lou Reed, Leonard Cohen. These are great names in music industry. Were they all an inspiration for you or do you have other influences?

Hannu: Of course, all these great artists and bands you mentioned, but there are so many influences for me, from country, to hip-hop, to rock, to metal – every genre rocks 🙂 – it is just a matter of the songs. One has to see beyond the production, it’s the songs that count ,to me. But to define me best maybe: I’m an alternative genre-bending singer-songwriter rocker. 🙂

Influences other than music: life, death, love, relationships, guilt, mercy, people’s stories, ladies, bible, God, angels, existence, and of course a post-modern view so everything I see/read/interpret: I look through my eyes and experience things my own way, so my life and the roller coaster ride it is and has been, inspire me the most, although in writing process I tend to write the lyrics bit more universal and not so personal…

How does it look like from your perspective in Finnish music community: do you know any other artist or band in a friendly way or you don’t keep contacts with one another? Also I’d like to ask if you know any musician from other country in Scandinavia?

Hannu: Oh, yeah indeed – I know lot of Finnish artists and players in friend basis, as well. And like on my debut EP, there is players, producers and friends from USA/Sweden; Messers Blair and ‘Rockis’ Ivarsson. And on my soon to be released debut LP there are Blair and Rockis, as well, and there is Canadian female backing vocalist. Won’t reveal her name yet. 🙂 And via Reverbnation – I’ve become friends with lots of great artists around the world. One of my most best friend there, Mr. James Ferris, passed away while ago, so lot of love and hugs to Texas to his partner my dear friend, Patty. And I’ve been very ill during (now recovered well from the depression etc.) this year (and now 24/7 working on the album), so want to apologize to my dear musician and other friends that You are on my mind and I love You all, although I’ve been quiet and living low.

During high school you’ve been playing drums in several bands. What made you decide to leave drums and becoming a solo musician playing guitar?

Hannu: I felt like I could write better songs and wanted to be more in charge. And when we were at studio with the band prior tMPP – I had started to write and sing. So I sang the melody of one of my songs as a reference to our vocalist and then the recording-and mixing engineer praised my voice and tone. That gave me lot of courage to continue on this path.
Maybe not a smart move from engineer considering our vocalist who had just started to record the final vocals to the song. But to me personally it meant a lot and one of the sparks on this path I’m.

Before you became known as Hannu Lepisto, you’ve been playing in The Matt Pistol Project that made you recognizable as a musician. When you look at the past what do you think make you different now, once you’re a solo artist than when you’ve been a part of a band?

Hannu: Freedom artistically, don’t have to make too much compromises. Will be able to play with different great players and not be stuck on “the same band sound”. Though I’m very happy with my living/versatile band and the steady members my new bassist Tuomas Kuusniemi, Petteri, Markku, still secret female backing singer 🙂 and huge legends Michael Blair and Rockis, and as well few other top-notch players; and I’ve really wanted to bring their magic and they’ve gone even more far with the craziness production- and soundwise. Which is great!

Apart from being a musician, you’ve studied Theology in the University of Helsinki and you’ve got a Master’s degree in this subject. What made you choose this direction in education?

Hannu: I wanted an easy way to get to Uni and continue concentrating on music. 🙂 Well, I’ve always been very interested about religions, philosophy, Christianity. And as a son of a Lutheran priest – the religion was always big part of our lives and in “safe” Low-Christianity/ way. Bishops, etc. visited our home, so religion/Christianity was normal part of life while growing up. And religion as a school subject was very easy to me. But no I’m not a master of Theology – but just a thesis away. Concentrating fully on music now. Got good memories of Uni and it was great to learn how to read New Testament/Novum in its original written language Koine Greek. Gives lot more out of it.

 

Your debut EP “Run Away With Me” consists of songs that tell a story of what you’ve been through since The Matt Pistol Project split up. You wrote songs about your journey from divorce to your addictions; to your knocks at heaven’s door and finding new love in your life. Was it hard to share such personal emotions to others in your songs?

Hannu: The writing was actually therapeutic, had really rough times then with everything. I believe when You write from the heart, it touches lot of and people and people’s lives. One can relate. We all got so much shit on our shoulders. Music is a consolating thing and bringing hope as well, and everyone listens and interprets it and the lyrics their own way. Oh, and finding the new love in my life brought me hope and solutions that I’m still alive and feeling now better than ages and pushing 110% to bring you guys new music. Been a long road but rewarding at the end! Life is a gift and one-time experience.

You recorded your EP under Homeward Records, Oy label. Do you think it was helpful for you or – because you always wanted the best and got the best – you think it would be easier to be your own boss, your own producer?

Hannu: Well, I am my own boss and the label have given me free hands, concerning everything which is reasonable financially and everything musicwise. And by the way I am the head producer of the coming long play album that I’m now working on! That artistic freedom is a great advance when signed to a small label.

Now, when your dream came true, do you think about conquering Europe with your music or you’re concentrated on Finland?

Hannu: I would like to conquer the whole world. 😉 That’s one reason I sing and write in English.

And last question: is there anything you would like to share with Black Water Project readers?

Hannu: My forthcoming album’s title is “Have A Beautiful Life” – not publicly announced – so You are among the first ones to hear the title, 🙂 It would be great if You’d listen to it and if you like what You hear, please buy it and spread the word!

And I want to thank You for finding and featuring me. This has been joy and an honor! Keep following the cool Black Water Project, and most importantly, take care, everyone!

Thank you, Hannu.

Hannu Lepistö
Official website
Official Facebook Page

Review: Unzyme “Brainforest”

Have you ever found yourself in a situation when at first you didn’t like a song, but once you’ve listened to it few more times, you got literally addicted?
Have you ever found yourself on a accidental website reading about music genre you’d never listen to, because it’s not the music you used to listen and after a while you fell in love with it?
Unzyme is one of those kind of unexpected addictions.

Founded in late 2008, the band itself describes the music they play as biomechanical pop, which is a mixture of pop with electronica, indie and alternative music.
Their debut album “Brainforest” was composed between 2008 and 2010 and was released on 10th of October 2010 under their own label, Unzyme Laboratories.
The album consists of 12 unique songs that turns you on with catchy melodies and true and intelligent lyrics.

From the first beats of “Lose your place” you simply want to move along as the song goes. But when you close your eyes and listen to it wisely, the lyrics are very positive and makes you feel like you are really not going to lose your fight and you won’t show off your fright to anyone.

As you’re listening to the album, you hear songs full of lyrics that shows up a whole portrait of it’s author. Words written by someone that exactly knew how it was supposed to look like from the beginning. Strong and a bit perky yet the musical background makes it brisk together. And lyrics perfectly cooperate with the music whole the way.

The album ends up with relaxing sound of of instrumental piece called “Universal Constructor”. And after 11 songs with a powerfull kick it makes a listener chill out the best way.

 

Brainforest
Released 10/10/2010
1. Lose your place 02:26
2. Everything is a lie 03:45
3. Jesus in my trunk 03:20
4. Another crossing 04:44
5. After years of ecstasy 03:56
6. Excuses ran dry 03:34
7. Crush this relic 04:46
8. Covered clearance 04:09
9. Terracentric 03:34
10. Trespassers 03:45
11. Anniversaries 03:11
12. Universal constructor 07:33

All songs has been written by Joona Nuutinen, except “Excuses ran dry” and
“Universal constructor” that has been co-written by Ville Hoikkala.

Unzyme is

Joona Nuutinen
Lead Scientist
Vocalist, songwriter

in close co-operation with

Ville Hoikkala
Throb Controller
Rhythm Programmer &
Live Drummer

Mary Violet
Polytone Investigator
Live Keyboardist

Iwona

An interview about career choices, musical inspirations and future plans

“Kärtsy: The hardest thing in is to create a perfect three minute song.”

Everything started in 1978 with your first band Draculas. Today, when you look at your musical past, it looks like everything has changed. Have you ever thought about “what if I made different decisions in life? Different choices?”.

Kärtsy: Of course I could have made a lot of different choices but I did what I did and at least I’m pretty proud that musically I try to keep the standard very high all the time and the quality. But business wise I could have made much better choices many times.

But it goes like it goes, right?

Kärtsy: It goes like it goes and I have been the full time musician like more than 20 years already, so it’s not bad J  I can’t blame (smiling).

Singing has always been your biggest love. That made you put aside your bass guitar and become a front man. Do you still play the guitar from time to time or do you rather focus on singing?

Kärtsy: With my solo band I prefer to sing only, especially on stage. But in studio I play with my solo band and with Waltari also in a live performances I play bass guitar still. Bass guitar is ok J

So you didn’t leave this instrument.

Kärtsy: Yeah, yeah, yeah, and in studio I play a lot of instruments.

 

What kind of instruments for example? I heard this “shaking instrument” when you were playing your solo performance.

Kärtsy: Tambourine, yeah, but keyboards is my original instrument. And piano is my first instrument. I can play piano quite okay. I use keyboards and then I program.

Ok. And when you started being interested in music what was your first instrument?

Kärtsy: Piano. And singing. Singing was the first, I was told that I sang before I talked, so I’m a kind of music guy (laughing)

So you were pretty young when you started.

Kärtsy: Yeah. In fact me and my brother had a band already before Draculas.

What was the name of the band?

Kärtsy: It was Captain Mouse, and in fact we have done some releasings in 90ties.  My elder brother in fact taught me most of the basic things about music when I was a kid.

So he introduced you?

Kärtsy:  He was like my real music teacher, my elder brother. And he taught me to play and to sing too.

That’s interesting.

Kärtsy: It’s very important and big thing. He’s been playing keyboard with Waltari on stage some times in early days, in the nineties. But nowadays we have full time keyboard player.

Ok.

Kärtsy:  But before that, when we were only four originally with Waltari, my brother played keyboard on stage. But now we have five guys, so we don’t need my brother anymore.

Does he have his own band?

Kärtsy: Not any serious projects, but he’s been playing quite much. He always plays in a way or another. But he’s not so ambitious like I am in a career wise.

I see.

Kärtsy:  He is more like an artist of life. But very big one.

So my next question is, are you planning any new album?

Kärtsy: As I told you before, now I’m preparing for the second solo album. And it will come out in spring 2013.

In late 80’s influences of the band were artists like U2, Cult and Devo ja PiL. Do any other bands inspire or influence your music today?

Kärtsy:  Today?

Yes.

Kärtsy: System of a Down, Corn, Origin, Suffocation lots of new metal bands and then Muse a bit, lots of, lots of new bands. I can’t remember them all now, you know.

Ok.

Kärtsy:  Even Lady Gaga.

That’s interesting.

Kärtsy: I was watching her show in Helsinki.

Really?

Kärtsy: Yeah. I enjoyed it, It was good. I think she’s a competition for Madonna

I think she still is a bit different than Madonna.

Kärtsy: Yeah, yeah, of course a bit different

I wouldn’t put Madonna and her in the same category

Kärtsy: Me neither, they are stylishly very different, but people are always talking about

Yeah, both are controversial musicians

Kärtsy: Yeah. But I’m also interested in these kind of shows. I think it’s boring if it’s always just a rock show. I like…

So you like to perform, to show?

Kärtsy: Mhm, yeah.

The more is happening on stage, is better.

Do you design your shows before you go onto the stage.

Kärtsy: No. Not with Kärtsy and not with Waltari.

So it’s like improvising more?

Kärtsy: Yeah, yeah. We are more like a show. I try to be the show.

That’s always more interesting when somebody is more like “alive” on the stage.

Kärtsy: I know, but for example Lady Gaga is also a very strong character and if it’s a good show it supports your personal performance and your character. Of course if it’s a bad show it kills your performance but if it’s made in a good way it can feed the performance too.

Yes. You combine many different styles in your music. Which style is the closest to you, what kind of music do you listen to the most often?

Kärtsy:  I have maybe kind of fifty-fifty. Fifty percent from me is metal guy and then fifty percent which I do with solo music is more like pop rock or anything else than metal. I like all kinds of different music but maybe pop and rock music is the most closest to me. But I listen to classics, electronic I love very much and old school pop music, ethno I like too. I like many types of music but maybe the rock and pop music is the most closest. Guitar music, you know?

Ok. But has your music taste changed with time, like when you were young, you were listening to different types of music than now?

Kärtsy: Yeah, it’s changing all the time. And that’s why I think it’s very important if I want to try to be an innovative musician, I think it’s very important to listen to all kinds of music and follow what is happening. I started with Beatles when I was five years old and now I’m into very loud death metal or Lady Gaga, something like this.

So it’s like a real change.

Kärtsy: Yeah. But I like the both, I still listen to Beatles. It’s my, like, childhood heroes. Everybody has his childhood heroes.

Yeah, yeah.

Kärtsy: And these guys of course, it’s like the first real rock band. So I must have my hat off for them. Because they started it all. Without Beatles there wouldn’t be anything, you know, any rock bands.

Yeah.

Kärtsy: So, it’s very important.

Or maybe there would be another rock band?

Kärtsy: Yeah, but not like that. Not like that, in another way for sure.

Some of your songs seem to be playing between chaos and harmony. Are you a chaotic person yourself? The one who likes changes, doesn’t keep things in an order. Ore are you rather the type who needs to keep everything organized?

Kärtsy:  I’m kind of both, you know. Maybe I’m not really chaotic, but quite restless I am. And I get tired very easily, to repeat things.

So you prefer something new happening?

Kärtsy: Yeah. I’m always longing for something new. So I’m not very stable.

Ok. So, do you carefully plan the future steps of your artistic creation or is it sometimes a matter of chance, a coincidence that you start creating music in this or some other way?

Kärtsy: I think it’s many times a matter of what I’m listening, where I got influenced by, because I don’t hide my influences in my music. If I listen to a certain band or certain style, I always want to have influences from that style to my music too. And maybe that leads it a bit. And I want always to be in the nerve of what is happening in music scene, so maybe that influence my music too. So, maybe the time influences me very much. What time we are living in each year, or I very much try to be the talk of this day, you know, a talk of what is happening around at just very moment.

So you reflect the nowadays?

Kärtsy: Yeah, exactly. Reflect what is happening around me at this moment. So I try to, like my management told me, I try to move in time.

It is impossible not to mention the fact that you made the soundtrack for “Max Payne” in 2000 and “The fall of Max Payne” in 2003 PC games with Kimmo Kajasto. Was it difficult for you to create music for games or was it a challenge?

Kärtsy: It’s very strange thing but, to be honest, I think it’s more easy to.. the all this like experimental projects that I used to have, like symphonies and computer game music. The staff what we did with computer music was more like a soundtrack stuff, so it was pretty similar to what I have been doing with the classical orchestra before. So, to be honest, it was pretty easy. I think the most hard

So was it easier from composing music for album?

Kärtsy: Yeah, I think the hardest thing in the whole music world is to create a perfect three minute song. It’s the most difficult thing. If you just want to play around, like do do do do, you know, I think it’s easy. It’s easy to paint music like to be a painter of music and to create the atmosphere but have a perfect melody for 3 minutes, that is difficult.

Kärtsy:  The Max Payne project was very enjoyable. But it wasn’t very hard to do it. It was very nice and easy. I enjoyed that very much. And again, you know, I was much into electronic music that time, so I found it very interesting to work only with computers.

So you tried different effects on computer?

Kärtsy: Yeah, yeah, of course. And Kimmo Kajasto who is like a godfather of Finnish electronic music from 80’s, late 80’s and early 90’s, he had a great equipment. So it was nice to work with this kind of guy, who really knew about everything, so I was just like enjoying myself there. So it wasn’t difficult at all.

If you could add one unusual instrument to your music, which one would you pick?

Kärtsy: One? I wouldn’t say one. I don’t know, horns would be interesting.

Ok, like really deep sound?

Kärtsy: Maybe saxophone, yeah.

Ok, this could be interesting

Kärtsy: Yeah.

If you were asked to sing in a duo with another singer, it can be male or female, who would you want to cooperate with?

Kärtsy: Oh god, many, many people. Maybe duet with Lady Gaga or Madonna. We have played Madonna in fact, with Waltari. In our second album we played a cover song from Madonna’s “Vogue”.

Were you singing Madonna’s vocal’s?

Kärtsy: Yeah, and in fact it was our first bigger hit, you know, in radio, when we covered Madonna, so maybe duet with Madonna would be good.

It could be interesting.

Kärtsy: Yeah.

In 2007 you decided to start solo career, but at the same time you’ve had live side project in WAX Real Time Orchestra. What made you decide to have such side project and was it reflecting on your musical direction as a solo artist?

Kärtsy: In fact I’d started my solo project already in year 2000 when I did Max Payne stuff, because that was my first project outside Waltari. After 15 years working only for Waltari. And I did some electronic disco singles at that time.

In 2000?

Kärtsy: Yeah, but then of some reason I kind of got tired of it and went back to Waltari, because we were planning to starting to do already something together, so I forgot my solo career for 5 years. And then in 2007 I kind of made a decision that if I will made it one day I must start now, because otherwise I never will do that.

You mean, solo career?

Kärtsy: Yeah, yeah. Because I had a feeling that I have also something to say outside this musical formula Waltari cross over stuff, so I want to do as much variable music as possible. And with my solo project I can try the thing which I couldn’t try with Waltari.

So that’s why you decided to start your solo career?

Kärtsy: Yeah. Yeah, because I wanted to all the things, anything.

Yeah, that’s a nice idea.

Kärtsy: But, as long as I will do solo material, It always must be a different for Waltari. Otherwise there is no sense.

So if you create something more similar to Waltari, do you then decide to..

Kärtsy: To make it with Waltari.

Yeah. And your fist solo album “Duty Freedom” was released in 2010. What would you say this to people that had never heard of you before or to those that connect you with Waltari?

Kärtsy: With my solo material I try to achieve totally different audience than with Waltari. I want to achieve more like a normal persons, more like a mainstream persons, you know, who maybe are not into metal or are not into art music, what I do with Waltari. So the achievement with these two projects are totally opposite. With the solo career I want to try to more like normal people. Whatever it means J But anyway, the people outside Waltari fan base. I’m very happy if Waltari fans like my solo stuff and I’m very surprised, because it’s very different, but mostly I want to try to make music to everybody. And that’s why the guys who doesn’t like the Waltari, I want I want these to like my solo material.

So it’s any kind of music for any kind of people.

Kärtsy: Exactly. I want to try to reach all kinds of people.

So you are planning to release your solo album in May, do you expect to play in some countries outside Finland?

Kärtsy: Definitely. That’s the aim, because we did it pretty much with “Duty Freedom”. We played in Sweden, Germany, England, Czech Republic, China, Finland, so we played in six countries.

But not Poland yet…

Kärtsy: Not Poland, but we haven’t been there with Waltari either, we should come there, but, you know, maybe we don’t have any… maybe our booking agent doesn’t have real connections to Poland. I don’t know why, because I could come to Poland any day at any time.

Maybe we could change it…

Kärtsy: Mhm, would be nice, because I know with Waltari we have some fans in Poland.

Do you have any last thought for Black Water readers or Polish fans? 

Kärtsy: Stay open minded and try to always challenge yourself, because that’s the best way to survive.

Thank you for your time.

Agnieszka

Kärtsy
Kärtsy Official Website
Kärtsy Official Facebook Page

Interview with George Downloved from SadDoLLs

SadDoLLs – I have to admit that I didn’t expect such a name of band consisting just men. Don’t you consider yourselves as humans but dolls, unhappy because they’re controlled by for example politicians, which can be themselves only through creating own music? And that’s why your band name come from?

George Downloved: Well we used to have a girl on board during the creation of Happy Deathday but she’s out and now we are full “boyband” 😛 In 2006 when we started, there was no such thing as economical crisis, or shit like that. Yes, currupt and dirty officials allways ruled the earth, but this was not the reason we started composing music like that. The reason was our love and admiration for Finnish metal bands fucked up goth German artists, industrial metal bands and the goth culture in general. The band’s name was Paul’s (lead guitarist) idea, and it was the name we appeared with in a HIM tribute live. After that we considered titling the band as “LovingdeaD” but the audience knew the SadDoLLs title so we just kept it

This year your new album “Happy Deathday” was released. Title is pretty interesting. Why did you decide to name like that your album and intro, which can be found on album?

George Downloved: We allways like to describe the mood of each album by it’s title. When we did About Darkness back in 2009, the tittle we chose suited the album perfectly. The songs were dark, depressive and evil, so i think it was the best title we could ever think of. This time we used irony to describe our newest album. Happy Deathday has more mellodic groovy and uplifting songs, but they are full of dark lyrics and they are heavier than the one’s we wrote for About Darkness. In this album we are playing metal and not goth rock. So in my opinion this album has happy, electronic, deadly songs filled with hardcore breakdowns and heavy guitars. I think Happy Deathday suits it perfectly.

How did the process of working on “Happy Deathday” go through? Everything was as planned or there were misunderstandings and unexpected accidents?

George Downloved: Things like the one’s you described happened to us during the recordings for About Darkness because we were younger,unexperienced and we had never recorded a full length before,so we started recording in Summer 2008 and the album was ready in September of 2009 😛 We also changed 2 keyboarders during the recordings so it went pretty bad actually 😛 Recording Happy Deathday though was really easy and without problems or misunderstandings because we had all the songs ready in a home studio months before the studio recordings,so when the time came each one of us played it’s part his part perfectly so mixing was done pretty fast.We entered the studio in June 2011 and the album was mixed in September 2011 to have the master ready for realease in December.

Among great compositions from “Happy Deathday” one song differ from rest, namely “Psychedelic Love”. Where the idea for putting on album one so different song come from?  It sounds like kind of Deathstars or The Kovenant.

George Downloved: We are long time Deathstars fans (they have Happy Deathday copies as well, as i heard of they love it) so we allways wanted to make one song as a tribute to them,and this song was Psychedelic Love (witch is the second video we will shoot from Happy Deathday to be revealed in November 2012,and it will be the direct sequel of our 2010 video “Misery”) It is also a tribute to our former work,About Darkness.It’s a mix of our old sound with the new one 🙂

 On your album took part guest famous Morgan Lacroix from Mandragora Scream. How did you cooperation come about? Anyway, your album is full of guests, for example guys from To/Die/For:  Jape Von Crow or Juska Salminen.

George Downloved: We met Morgan Lacroix and Terry Horn because we share the same label (Lunatic Asylum). The guys listened to our first album and loved it,and this is how this feauturing came up. Actually we were ready to re-record Watch me crawl behind as a bonust track for Happy Deathday, played again from the new members, just to suit the other songs in the album,but we recorded Embrace the Dark instead… After that the featuring came up, but we did not had the time and studio hours anymore so, Terry Horn just remixed the old one adding Morgan’s voice. With Juska and Jape we are old friends, we talk on facebook all the time, so when we were at the pre-production status we send them over some songs so they can decide in wich one they would like to participate,so Jape chose “The Drug” and Juska chose “Dying On The Dancefloor”  We also needed a guy to do the screams part on Psychedelic Love, so we asked Sakis Tolis (Rotting Christ) to do it be he passed the offer due to contract restrictions about featurings. We hope that he can scream a part in one of our songs in the future 🙂 As we are also Scar Symmetry fans we contacted Roberth Karlsson on facebook (Roberth will also play a small part in the upcoming video of Psychedelic Love) and asked him to do the part,and so he did. He is a very cool guy and a great artist!

Your music video to song “BloodRed” is really interesting. Can you reveal where the idea come from and where did you shot it?

George Downloved: As you know the “hidden surveillance cams” horror films are pretty “in” nowdays, so the idea of having a ghost in the video that is only visible through recording devices sounded interesting. We shot the clip in one day period starting at 09.00 in the morning and ended at 03.00 nightime. It was shot at Artworks studios in Athens,this is also the place that we do our rehersals 🙂

 

Checking your facebook page, I noticed that your drummer has similar nickname to drummer of Finnish band HIM, Gas Lipstick. Was it intentional?

George Downloved : No.It was not intentional, and i must say that you arevthe first ones to notice 😛 The Greek name of our drummer is Kostas. The name Kostas in English is Gus (not Gas), so he is using his Greek name in English and a part of his real surname as a nickname for the band 🙂

Tell us, how did your adventure with music start?  When you decide that music is what you want to do in your life, what make you happy?

George Downloved: As i told you before i was allways a fan of the Finnish metal scene, and i used singers from bands like (The 69 Eyes, Negative, Charon, To/Die/For, HIM, For My Pain, Entwine) as my infulences. I among a small number of people i know,were the first fans here in Greece of those (then unknown bands) and i allways craved of doing my own band one day,and that day came during summer 2006 when i met Paul Evilrose and former basist Miltos Demonized and started this band as a HIM Trubute (only because we did not have any of our own songs yet)

 To be honest I don’t know much about Greek music scene. Are gothic metal bands, like yours, popular or is it treated like underground?

George Downloved: First of all you must know this. Greece has NO music. Greek music is a total zero and makes people from abroad laugh at as. Greek music is only loved within Greece and only by Greeks and immigrants living here. The good thing is that Greece has a very good metal scene, many great bands (not many goth bands) and we pay attention to the detail, thing that is missing sometimes even from other European releases. The bad thing is that metal music in Greece (including names like Rotting Christ or Septic Flesh) is treated like underground. Why?  Because we are living in Greece and pseudo pop, rap and rnb “songs” with Greek lyrics rule the clubs an the media, unfortunately…

Tell me something about your tour. Where in near future we will be able to see you? Is there any chance that you will come to Poland?

George Downloved: At the moment we have no tour plans, we are focused on making two new music videos, and getting ready for two support gigs with Moonspell in Greece. We are allways open though to invitations, we really want to play shows in European countries, and when the proposals will pop up, we will do some shows, and why not in Poland as well 😉

Thank you very much for your time ! Any final words for our readers?

George Downloved: Goth’s dead? We’ll ressurect it 😉

SadDoLLs
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Review: Iconcrash “Enochian Devices”

ICONCRASH – Enochian Devices

Inspiring, honest, deep and emotional. “Enochian Devices” leads us through a journey that many people identify themselves with.

TRUE WILL shows listeners all the emotions that every one of us goes through at some point of life. From fear and hopelessness, through anger and congestion thoughts to deeply hidden hope for better tomorrow.

CIRCLE OF SIGILS begins with a song full of burning anger and dissapointment caused by the fact that someone important for us is no longer the same person and that relations between two people once perfect changed for worse and cannot be rebuilt again. But first two lines: “Rise after centuries of hate/ Stop, no need to be afraid of falling” gives hope that we are all able to move on even when we’ve been hurt. Further on the album we can hear songs filed with hopes and fears of what would happen but ended too soon. Yet still it shows that we are getting stronger while we might see ourselves weak.

Deep, poetic lyrics, inspiring and soft but still strong melodies and charismatic vocals make this album one of the best ones I’ve ever heard in my life. It reminds me what I’ve been through in life and while it still hurts, “Enochian Devices” helps me get through, calms me down and leads my self-esteem back on the right track.

Rare version of the cover

Enochian Devices cover

Iwona

Interview with Gared Dirge from Lord Of The Lost

On your EP there are seven rare unreleased songs for example rocking cover of Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance” or an orchestral and cinematic version of “Dry The Rain”. Does it mean that you can start recording new album, without looking back for past and ballast in the form of unreleased songs which have been requested by fans for a long time? Is it a new chapter for you?

Gared Dirge: Well, i wouldn’t consider those songs as ballast or any sort of oppression. It was rather an attempt to shorten the wait for the new album for the fans so they don’t “starve” until we finally released the new album. Actually, the recording for “Die Tomorrow” had already begun at that time. Especially in case of “Bad Romance” it felt like the end of a chapter because we had waited a long time for the permission to release it. So one of the biggest wish of the fans was finally fulfilled and we/they got ready for something completely new!

It’s unusual to hear gothic band singing their own version of a pop song. Tell us where did the ideas for covers comes from for you and where are you looking for inspiration when creating new music?

Gared Dirge: The idea for “Bad Romance” in particular came indeed while being completely boozed and hearing that song by chance. Since Chris is a huge sucker for Lady GaGa, he suggested to do a cover of it and the others immediately agreed. As for inspiration, any music we like has an influence on us. Be it pop music, be it classical music. If we like it, it also finds a way into our music.

Where did the idea for making such a controversial music video as “Beside & Beyond” came from? Haven’t you think about such idea as risky? In the end it’s availabe to watch (for example on YouTube) for “+18” watchers.

Gared Dirge: We assumed in advance it would become an +18 video, but we accepted that because this idea was the only idea that perfectly mirrored the lyrics and the emotion behind that song. There was some skepticism here and there like “Do you support domestic violence against women”, but i guess in the end everyone understood what we were trying to tell with that song and video and that we do not in any way support stuff like that.

You already made around 60 episodes of “TV Of The Lost”, have you thought about releasing DVD and put there some of those backstage videos?

Gared Dirge: You never know… Up to now there are no plans to do so with the TVOTL episodes. They have grown to over 8 hours of pure nonsense by now, and i guess no one would survive watching so much bullshit at once. But if we were to put out a live DVD, some kind of backstage report (independent from TVOTL) is always a nice gimmick for the fans. Let’s see…

In artistic area, do you occupy yourselves with something else for example: writing, painting etc. ?

Gared Dirge: If you wanna call it “painting” what we’re doing to our bodies when going on stage… But no, not at all. We’re all musicians through and through.

Can You describe in a few words members of Lord Of The Lost?

Gared Dirge: We’re a bunch of sexy guys having more fun at what they’re doing than the gothic scene has ever allowed… A common goth-boy-band you might say. wink

Is there anyone you would like to cooperate? Any bands, producers?

Gared Dirge: Lots! There will a few surprises in the future, you will see!

You’ve released new album “Die Tomorrow” on 31st of August this year. It includes 2 CD’s and it’s released limitedly. The album is promoted by videoclip to a title song “Die Tomorrow” that was published on 10th of August. Fans might be suprised of the mixture of genres you put into that album. You mix gothic music with pop, death metal with disco, industrial with electro. But what can you tell about this album to people that have never heard of your music before?

Gared Dirge: I guess, the mixtures you’ve mentioned are able to perfectly describe this album to someone who has never heard us before. We’re not very good when it comes to categorize music, because in some way it just restricts oneself. So to all of you who haven’t heard our music before: If those above-mentioned genres don’t scare you off, just give it a try. wink

Between January and February 2013 you have plans for “Darkness Kills” CO-Headliner Tour. It’s located all over Germany. Do you plan any gigs outside your country? I’ve heard you had some contacts with organizer of Castle Party in Poland.

Gared Dirge: Well, actually we plan to play all over the world sooner or later, but it’s always a matter of booking contacts you have and how cost-effective it is. You don’t wanna lose all your money just to play in, let’s say, Japan.

Thank you very much for your time ! Any final words for Polish fans?

Gared Dirge: Thanks a lot for your support! We’re looking forward to play Poland. One day, our tour bus will also lead us to you! Stay tuned and see you soon!

Lord Of The Lost 
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Interview with Stala&SO.

Stala&SO was founded back in 1997 and since the beginning is known for melodic rock tunes and positive attitude. The band is fronted by by their charismatic vocalist, Stala. Other musical projects sadly forced the band to be on hold for a while but now they are back with even more energy than ever before.
The band is strongly influenced by the 70’s and 80’s glam rock bands, such as Sweet, T-Rex and Ziggy Stardust -era David Bowie, although Stala&SO shows their fans their own image and style and infects them with positive vibes through the shows.
And those 5 great guys found some time during the sessions in the studio where they are busy working on their second album, to answer some questions for us, so here they are.
“This is the show by SO” – enjoy it!

 

To Sampsa: Some people think you look similar with Sammy Aaltonen from Private Line. You had a chance to meet each other at Trash Fest. Are you friends or just mates from music bussiness?

We’ve known each other for many years now. We are brothers with different mothers.

To Niko & Sampsa: You are part of Stala&SO now, and there was a period of time when both of you were in Lordi. Do you think you could still be in that band (as far as I know one other member of Lordi is also in other band) or are you fully devoted to Stala&SO? Would you ever think about any collaborations with your ex-bandmates?

We are fully devoted to Stala & So. right now. We are also very busy with the other things in our lives too, so we really don’t have time for other bands right now. For the collaboration question; It would be really cool to do something with the Lordi-guys at some point, but at the same time we really don’t see it coming, at least not in the near future. But never say never!

To Sami J: Does the fact that you and Sampsa finished the same subject (studies) makes any argues between you two in studio about the production stuff?

Well, we would argue if we were not producers just because that’s what brothers do sometimes 🙂 But yeah, it’s not that much of an argument (it might seem like that to an outsider tho 🙂 rather than it’s trying to come up with the best possible solution for any given problem.

To Pate:
1. I’ve heard you have sheeps. How did you come up with an idea to have those animals?

I live in my grandparents old farm so it is kind of must to have some animals. Of course you want to hear I love sheep… and that’s So. true 😉 That’s also why couple of them are singing in our previous album!

2. Do you play any other instruments except for a guitar and bagpipes?

I play banjo, mandolin, bouzouki, tin whistle, low whistle, bass and harmonica.

If so, how did you learn to play those instruments?

Just by being interested in music and playing much.

To all:
1. If you were a woman, with which Stala&SO member would you like to have a date?

Pate: Absolutely a group date with Hank, Stala, Nick and Sami J.
Sami: i wouldn’t date any of those broke ass motherfuckers, hahaha!!
Nick: I would propably date Pate, because he is a country boy and I like the peace in the countryside. And the work in the ranch is not totally strange to me..!
Stala: Pate on Mondays, Nick on Tuesdays, a day off, then Hank on Thursdays and Sami on Fridays and Saturdays. He needs double the attention. Sundays I’ll rest.
Hank: Pate, because he’s body is so sexy.

2. During the tour, there must have been some funny situations. Can you remind yourself some of the funniest ones?

There is constant laughter and joking going on when the five of us are in the same table or dressing room or van or wherever. Many times the most hilarious things happen very quickly and they just keep on coming, so it is very difficult to remember what are the MOST funniest. For example: Hank + smoked beans = Dangerous quantity of greenhouse gas

3. If everyone of you had to describe each other with few words, what would you say about your bandmates?

Stala: Friend, leader of the pack, very charismatic lead vocalist and So. cute! Can be a bit percy at times.
Nick: The rock solid foundation of anything and everything. Stala’s left hand since the beginning. He might have been some kind of mysterious monster in his former life!
Hank: an awesome drummer, an awesome friend. Plays like an animal. Other half of our solid beat. Drinks beer like all the drummers.
Sami J.: Very talented, good looking and great lead guitarist, a friend you can trust. The baby of the band.
Pate: one of the great rock guitar players in the world with his Gibson Les Paul and his old and beaten Marshall-amp! A true partner in crime. Mysterious dude who sometimes ia a farmer, sometimes Captain America.

 

4. Tour questions: Does anyone of you snore or have smelly feet after every gig?  Who spend the most of the time in front of the mirror?

Sami is the biggest snorer but Pate smells like cowhouse all the time.
Sami J. can’t pass a mirror without posing at least a few minutes in front of it.

5. What would you do, if you were changed into a girl for a week?

Pate: I would marry a rich man and try to get his life insurance money.
Sami: fondle myself, a lot.
Nick: I would propably just be amazed by my tits!
Stala: I would spend my time in the ladies room.
Hank: Give some love to all the guys in the world

6. Who is the biggest joker in the band? Who’s got the biggest sense of humour and who has the best contact with fans while on and off stage?

Stala has the best contact with fans. We are all quite good contact takers on the stage, off stage we are just shy boys… We are all jokers, it’s 24/7 “Muppet Show” to be on tour with these guys. Humourwise we are pretty close to one another.

7. Who’s the “mascot” in the band? The baby for other band mates?

Mascot: Our tour bus “Ritva”. It became our shelter and mascot on the recent tour. It served us well so we just have to take her to another spin!
Sami J. is the biggest baby we’ve ever seen.

8. If you were a book, what title would you have?

Cross-dressing tips for the middle-aged men.

9. Who’s the biggest flirt in the band?

It has to be Hank of course!

10. After European Tour this March, what are your plans for the nearest future?

Rehearsing, a new record, domestic gigs and possibly (and hopefully) some gigs outside of Finland. Next single will be out in 7th of November. Album will be out in February 2013.

 

11. Any message for your Polish fans?

We are really waiting and hoping that we could come to Poland and play for you guys. Keep on rocking and spread the world.
And keep your nails polished 🙂

Iwona

Stala&SO.

Official website
Official Faebook page
Official YouTube Channel

Tytti’s questionnaire (Rain Diary)

 

Favourite songs?
Too many to write down here, but to mention a few:
– Rain Diary – Rape (naturally!)
– Combichrist – Brain bypass
– Bright Eyes – Method acting
– Rammstein – Rammstein.

Favourite computer/console games?
Tomb Raider (all of them, specially III) and Medievil.

Describe yourself with 3 words:
Artistic, sensitive, melancholic.

Favourite drink /smoke?
Coffee and water. And red wine.

Favourite albums?
King for a day… Fool for a lifetime by Faith No More. That album is perfect from the beginning to the end (that’s really rare)!
Rammstein’s ‘Liebe ist für alle da’ and System of a down’s ‘System of a down’ are perfect albums, too.

Favourite bands?
Again, too many to write down here. But here’s some:
-Rammstein, Combichrist, Puscifer, Lapko, Apocalyptica, Anathema, Riverside, White Pulp. …just to mention a few!

Favourite movies/actors/ TV series?
I love basically anything Tim Burton and David Lynch do. And Johnny Depp is a genius when it comes to acting.

Craziest situation on/off stage?
Off stage, probably every single second I spent with my lovely bandmates. Those guys are lovable wackos. ❤
On stage… maybe one of those moments when the sound system is completely fucked up and I cannot hear anything I play. Then I usually look at Tommi or Teemu and start laughing, seeing that they’re as confused as I am. However, it always turns out well.

What do you like to do on your freetime?
Listen to and play music, watch movies, walk with my dog, cook.

Favourite books?
Dracula, by Bram Stoker. Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien. The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy, by Tim Burton.

I’m amazed…
…by the nature. And by the way art (including music) still affects me.

When no one is watching…
…I usually do things I don’t tell anyone.

I’m afraid…
…of ghosts.

I love/like…
…music and art. Seeing and feeling new things and places, in other words, travelling.

I hate/don’t like…
Narrow-minded people who think everything’s black and white. And shower curtains!

I have always wanted…
…to pet a tiger. And to dive in crystal clear water.

The strangest thing in me:
I stammer. Is it that strange? Yes, if you ask me.

Teemu’s questionnaire (Rain Diary)

 

Favourite songs?
Anathema: Angels Walk Among Us / Muse: The Resistance / Opeth: Windowpane

Favourite computer/console games?
Fifa 11/ Nhl 09 / Ms Pacman

Describe yourself with 3 words:
Strange / Kind / Funny

Favourite drink /smoke?
Salty liquorice vodka shot (Salmari in finnish) / Menthol cigarets

Favourite albums?
Anathema: A Natural Disaster / Disco Ensemble: Magic Recoveries / The Doors: Strange Days (vinyl)

Favourite bands?
Anathema / Muse / Disco Ensemble / Placebo / Tool / HIM

Favourite movies/actors/ TV series?
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas / Goodfellas
Johnny Depp / Weeds / Californication / Da Ali G Show

Craziest situation on/off stage?
On stage: We were playing and for some reason I decided to walk backwards and I tripped over our bass player who had bend over to adjust his effect board. And in this other gig I forgot to switch my amplifier on when the gig started… and I was wandering why I couldnt hear my guitar.
Off stage: All the drinking tours with my band mates.

What do you like to do on your freetime?
Play guitar, watch tv and just chill out.

Favourite books?
On The Road by Jack Kerouac

I’m amazed…
…how much music makes me feel.

When no one is watching…
…I go insane

I’m afraid…
…of violence / I love music, friends, my family and peaceful dark nights / I like good food and alcohol.

I love/like:
I love music, friends, my family and peaceful dark nights / I like good food and alcohol.

I hate/don’t like:
I hate ignorance / discrimination,war and cruelness. / I dont like blue cheese,anchovy and flu.

I have always wanted… 
…to live forever.

The strangest things in me:
It dosent matter how much or what I eat – I never gain weight. / When I go on stage I always have my lucky charm amulet which belong to my great grandmother.

Joni’s questionnaire (Rain Diary)

 

Favourite songs?
It’s rather impossible to name any particular song but I could of course name such epic ones as Epitaph (King Crimson), Shine On Your Crazy Diamond (Pink Floyd), Achilles Last Stand (Led Zeppelin)… I always try to listen the whole album.

Favourite computer/console games?
Heh, I’m not really ”a gamer”… Well, I’ve played Angry Birds with my iPod to kill the time in bus stops so maybe that.

Describe yourself with 3 words:
Longing, loving & caring.

Favourite drink / smoke?
It depends about the mood and the place where I’m at: beer is always good, (decent) red wine is perfection without mentioning the rich world of peculiar drinks: Hallelujah! for a drink called Alabama!

Favourite albums?
At the moment: The National – High Violet, Riverside – Anno Domini High Definition, The xx – xx, Crystal Castles – Crystal Castles I & II, The Knife – Deep Cuts, Anathema – We’re Here Because We’re Here etc.

Favourite bands?
I’ve propably felt the highest impact trough Pink Floyd. Their music kinda lifted my ”spirituality” into a whole another level. Lately I’ve been listening music from IAMX, Placebo, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Magenta Skycode, Murmansk, Lapko, Scarlet Youth, Portishead, Arcade Fire, Blonde Redhead (+ of course the bands mentioned in previous guestion…) etc.

Favourite movies / actors / TV series?
Apocalypse Now!, Memento, Requime for a Dream, The Fountain…

Craziest situation on / off stage?
Stage is a setup for crazy things so nothing too crazy can happen there and what happens in backstage stays in backstage…

What do you like to do on your freetime?
I wish I would have some free time but if such luxury is been given to me, then to spend quality time with my dearest friends.

Favourite books?
Whole Milan Kundera’s bibliography: he’s genious. …and countles else – I love to read!

I’m amazed…
…by beauty.

When no one is watching…
…shh!

I’m afraid…
…of being afraid.

I love/like…
…fall into something.

I hate/don’t like…
…ingnorant and arrogant people. Love, people love!

I have always wanted…
…to write the most beautiful (and longing) song.

The strangest thing in me:
I think this is a guestion someone close one to me should reply…