Finpop.net

When and how was your band created?
The band started in 1996. The three of us had been jamming together for a while and then we just decided to form a real band. We had known eachother for about ten years already, went to the same class in school and stuff like that.
 
Where is the name of the band coming from?
It’s just a combination of two words, “cosmos” and “mobile”.

What musicians or artists did have a major influence in your life / work?
Well, there’s a whole bunch of them! I try to keep my ears open to every direction, listening everything from electronica to world music, from the 50’s to today’s new music. But if you think of Cosmobile, there are some bands that have perhaps had more influence on our sound than others. I used to listen to bands like Fugazi and Karate a lot a few years back. I guess that affected to what we did at that time, although we’ve always been quite melodic. Recently, I’ve been listening to more danceable stuff, the early postpunk bands like Liquid Liquid and Talking Heads for example, and some African popular music.

What are the positive and negative aspects of being a musician in Finland?
The good thing about the Finnish scene being so small is that it’s pretty easy to get to know everyone and get yourself heard, at least in the underground scene. The negative thing is that Finland is so small that there are only the few big cities where you can have shows and find people who will be interested in this type of music. You can tour for a week or two and that’ll be it.

How could you qualify your style of music?
Some people say that our songs differ from each other a lot. I guess that’s the good and bad thing about us. Our musical line is quite loose. It’s always been like that. Anyway, we are rock, we are melodic and we try to make the kind of songs that need to be listened to a few times before you know what’s going on. Not the disposable hit stuff you hear on the radio all day. 

During the years how has your musical style evolved?
Certainly. In the beginning we had this sort of grunge pop thing. And we’ve had a lot of other things after that. A bit of garage rock, a bit of emo, a bit of indiepop, a bit of lo-fi aesthetics, a bit of post rock. But nothing that would really define our stuff thoroughly.

How do explain these changes?
I guess it’s just that I don’t want to write the same song twice. I think every band has to evolve and change to make the whole thing interesting for themselves and for the others too.

What are stories/topics you tell/treat in your songs?
Personal issues and general issues, but most of all just complete nonsense. I think I’m just beginning to learn to write lyrics. Or maybe I never will.

Have you ever considered the possibilty to change totally your style of music?
Hmm. Maybe it would be best to start another band in that case. I’d love to have at least 20 projects going on at the same time, but I guess it’s a matter of time and energy.

What is your favorite song in your repertoire and why?
I think as a songwriter, your favorite song should be the most recent song you wrote. If you don’t like it that much, perhaps you should write another one.

Do you tour regularly? Do you prefer performing your music live or in a studio?
We used to tour regularly. Now we’re having a break. I like them both, although I’ve never been fully comfertable in studio.

During the process of making an album, what is the moment that you prefer?
Well. I guess it should be the moment when you have the whole thing ready. But I think then you should feel fully satisfied with it and I’m not sure if I’ve had that kind of feeling ever.
 
What kind of music / What artists do you currently listen?
Well, as I said I try to listen to as many types of music as I can. I’ve been listening to different world musics a lot recently. And the danceable stuff of the postpunk era, the wonderful “New York Noise” compilation from Soul Jazz for example. 

A stupid question but… what is, among all the songs you’ve been listening in your life, the BEST song?
Argh! Too difficult to decide. There are so many good songs out there.

What is your opnion, as a musician, regarding internet?
Internet is great! I see it as a huge library, where you can find all the information and music that you’re interested to know about and hear. And if you like the music you hear, you can go and buy the record. Libraries are not illegal, why should internet be?

What are your actual and future projects?
Cosmobile will probably go and record some stuff we’ve been playing in our gigs. Apart from Cosmobile, I would like to do a lot of things. Some world music stuff, and some duo stuff with my girlfriend, Veera. Something that is new and refreshing!

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