Finpop.net

When and how did you decide to become a musician / singer?
TK: I was maybe 3 years old or so when I already knew what I´d love to do. It was a dream.
But I didn´t really do that much to achieve this dream, I just kind of drifted in this.
I was first asked to play keys into this very different kind of band from what SA is. Then the guitarist of that band formed what later became Sonata Arctica and he asked me to join as a singer.

Was this choice difficult to make?
TK: No. Easy intrument to start with but maybe the most difficult to really master.
It was only a hobby until few years ago.

What musicians or artists did have a major influence in your life / work?
TK: When I was younger the biggest thing was Queen, then I found Midnight Oil and few other not metal acts. Stratovarius was the one band that got me into metal music. You can say that Sonata would not be here without Stratovarius.

What are the positive and negative aspects of being a musician / singer (in Finland)?
TK: In Finland? Well, hard question. For us living in such a northern part of Finland (Kemi) is negative in sense that we have to travel usually more than 8 hours to get on some venue here in Finland. There are few closer ones as well, but most of the places are in south. That´s really annoying. Long distances. Then you just wait to get your soundcheck done, then wait for a show and play for 1,5 hours and then wait to get some sleep, sleep a bit, then travel to the next venue or back home. Positive? There´s no business like show business! Generally this profession allows you to pretty much do what you want. Lot of free time, unless you´re writing all the music like I am…

How could you qualify your style of music?
TK: Our music is melodicmetal, that´s what I always prefer saying when this is asked(often!).

Have you ever considered the possibilty to change totally your style of music? If so, what style of music would you choose?
TK: I pretty much love all music, not all extremes though, but there´s good music in every genre. Sonata won´t change, there´s no chance for that. It should another band. I´d love to try my wings on some pop music.

What are stories/topics you tell/treat in your songs?
TK: Human relations usually. There are some other topics as well. I don´t have this thing I always write about. I draw a lot of ideas from movies and well, movies can handle pretty much anything. So do I. But for me it´s easy to write about one sided love. Happy love is not inspiring to me.

What is your favorite song in your repertoire and why?
TK: Own song? I don´t know. One of the slower ones I think.

Do you tour regularly? Do you actually prefer performing your music live or in a studio?
TK: I like studio more. I get to spend my nights home when recording here in Tico-Tico Studio and I love being home. Touring is sometimes nice, usually after a long studio sessions. We tour IMO too long a time with each album and too loosely. The ideal thing would be touring 6 months and have 20 shows a month and then end it there and start with the next album. Nowadays we have 3-4 shows in 2 weeks, or less, but we tour more than a year with one album. I hate that.

What kind of music / What artists do you currently listen?
TK: I don´t listen to music, really. While driving car I listen though. Senteced´s “Cold White Light” is an excellent album, Nightwish´s “Century Child” kicks ass.

What are your actual and future projects?
TK: We enter studio now on monday to record our 3rd album. So that´s my life for next 6 months or more. Then touring.

A stupid question but… what is among all the songs you’ve been listening in your life the BEST song? Why?
TK: I don´t have one. There so much beautiful music in the world that if I named one now, I´d remember another even greater song in a minute.

Internet is something interesting for musicians because it gives them the opportunity to touch a larger audience but it is also a threat for them (regarding the copyrights). What is your opinion regarding this medium?
TK: The quality is too good on the songs in internet. In would be ok if the songs were on quite a bad quality, then it would work as promotion. But now you can get album quality stuff from there for free. That sucks big time. If I got a saying, it would not exist. More negative things that positive ones. Naturally more people know us for sure, but I´m sure we lose more than gain from it. When you do something for a living, you´d rather get what is rightfully yours. Wouldn´t you?

Do you use computers or home studios during the process of making an album or a song?
TK: Not really, I have sequencer on synthesizer and I use it. And good old paper and pen.

Related posts:

1. Tony Kakko du groupe “Sonata Arctica”