Adam & Santtu

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Music
Interview : Adam and Santtu

When and how was your band created?
J: I jumped a bunjee-jump and felt relaxed.
V: Got dumped and felt suicidial.
J: Oh and this was the summer of 2003

Where is the name of the band coming from?
V: It derives (much like our music) from the name of the great comedian Adam Sandler. We just twisted his lastname to a finnish name "Santtu".

What musicians or artists did have a major influence in your life / work?
J: I've been always been influenced by black rhytm music especially rap and it has always been a part of my life, ever since I was a little maggot.
V: The reason I picked up a guitar was because I really dug just basic singer-songwriter types of songs which you could play with an acoustic guitar. If I had to name bands who've had the most effect on me I'd say Apulanta & Don Huonot, both finnish bands.

What are the positive and negative aspects of being a musician in Finland?
J: Right now there's nothing positive about it, because I'm in the army.
V: I like the "family" type of feeling that you get in Finland, because the business is so small. Everybody know everybody. Of course, this means that if you screw up everybody knows... ;) And of course, because the business is small it's REALLY hard to make a living out of it.

How could you define your style of music?
V: Acoustic, moody, rich in flavors, mostly vanilla, bits of chocolate and mayby a hint of a poets hart.

During the years how has your musical style changed?
V: Well we've only been going for three years and done one album so not much. But I can tell you that our next album titled "Uneton Viherlaaksossa" will have some eurodance, gangstarap, punk, emorock and those sorts of things.

How do explain these changes?
V: When you can't do one thing right, blind them with quantity!

What are topics you treat in your songs?
J: Summer. I like summer. Fortunately, we have much of that in Finland.
V: Amm... I would have to say women.

What is your favorite song in your repertoire and why?
J: Kodissain, because I get to show off what a great rapper I am. But for some reason, no-one ever tells me I'm a great rapper.
V: Annoin Pikkusormen... because I wrote the lyrics to that one and I really feel that I've captured the essence of women in that one.

Do you actually prefer performing your music live or in a studio?
V: We never intended to go live with this project. This started out as our own mental therapy so in that sence we really enjoy the studio-part of our little get-together. But then when our homemade-album got to the desk of a drunk-enough record company boss and that way to the stores, we of course had to do some gigs. We took the same approach on those, as we did for the album: VERY relaxed. And it's been great. They've been the most relaxed gigs we've done. And for some reason (alcohol?) even SOME of the audience have enjoyed our shows.

During the process of making a song, what is the moment that you prefer?
J: Maybe when the idea of song gets some kind of "shape" and it's not just an idea in your head.
V: Depends. Usually it's the part when it's finished, and you can let go of it. But if you're in a really bad mess / a really happy place and just want to pour that in to some music, the best part is when that inspiration translates to something semi-musical.

A stupid question but... what is among all the songs you've been listeningin your life the BEST song?
J: So many... dilated peoples - worst comes to worst, Killswitch engage - Self Revolution, Outkast - atliens, Peter Andre - Mysterious Girl, Dave Matthews Band - As you Are, Ben Lee - Catch My Disease...
V: Don Huonot - Sininen Yö

What is your opinion, as a musician, regarding internet?
J: One REALLY great site is www.adamjasanttu.com
V: It's the future.

What are your projects?
J: Well when I get out the army, I'll start to make my second rap album and I'll be continuing all the projects that are frozen right now.
V: We both are also in a band called "Formed". In addition to that you could say my other projects are starting our own company, recording friends demos, mixing gigs, doing all sorts of "behind- the-curtains"-kind of stuff.

What "image" do you have of French music?
V: The songs I've heard are wery vibrant. I think it's because of the french language. It has such a unique flow to it.

Is there one French song that you prefer? If so, what song is it?
J: Doc Gyneco feat. Mc Janik - Né rue case nègre is still a huge hit
V: Is it too much to say "Voulez-vous coucher avec moi"?

Interview by Vincent Lefrançois - 2006