Jerkem

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Interview : Lappe from "Jerkem"

When and how was your band created?
Jerkem was born in the summer of 2000. Some of us had played together earlier but that's when we took on the name, and more importantly that's when Nicklas joined the group. This was a watershed for us. It was the first time all of us in the band had a mutual goal – to make it in the world of rock'n'roll.

Where is the name of the band coming from?
JJ's middle name is Jerker, so that's the inspiration behind this somewhat peculiar name. Of course, Jerkem can also mean "jerk em"! Now, I probably don't have to explain the meaning of that.

What musicians or artist did have a major influence in your life/work?
Skidrow, Hanoi Rocks, Guns & Roses, Mötley Crue, Thunder and well, the list is endless.

What are the positive and negative aspects of being a musician in Finland?
The one positive aspect is that there hasn't been a Finnish ''Beatles'' yet. So we can still be the first one's to achieve the ultimate stardom. The negative aspect is that the markets over here are relatively small, and if you sing in English you're competing with every big name coming from the U.K and U.S.

How could you qualify your style of music?
Melodic hard rock. When writing songs, my collaborator and I always go for choruses. We're always trying to find that right hook. Something that would stick in people's minds.

During the years how has your musical style evolved?
I think we've evolved in many ways. Our songs have gotten better – better melodies, better lyrics. All of us have improved as musicians. Upon O.J.'s arrival, about two years ago, we were finally finding ourselves musically. Having him on board really completed the chemistry. In retrospect, it's clear that he was the missing link.

How do you explain these changes?
As I said, we finally have the right line-up and songs that, in my opinion, are out of this world. The Jerkem family is already bigger than the sum of its members. There's no reason why it shouldn't continue to grow.

What are stories/topics you tell/treat in your songs?
Love and soul search. The best songs are about love, hate, nightmares…you know…things that we can all identify with.

Have you ever considered the possibility to change totally your style of music?
No! Our style is who we are.

What is your favourite song in your repertoire and why?
At the moment, "Painless". It has got a great chorus, and it's a lot of fun to perform because it's a monster played live. It's got a nice lyric to it as well. You know, the Angel of Death coming for you like in a nightmare.

Do you tour regularly? Do you prefer preformig your music live or in a studio?
We do gigs regularly. We like to play live but we like being in the studio as well. Working in a recording studio gives you more control over the final product because especially nowadays, you can have countless retakes. I like working on harmonies and my guitar solos. I don't like playing stuff "off the cuff". My solos are always planned out.

During the process of making a song or an album, what is the moment that you prefer?
In that process, there really isn't a moment that I don't enjoy. But perhaps the most magical moment is when you're listening back to what you've accomplished in the studio. The true spirit of Jerkem coming through the loudspeakers of my BMW always turns me on.

What kind of music / what artist do you currently listen?
At the moment, Hanoi Rocks, Whitesnake, Mötley Crue, Creed and David Bowie. Tomorrow, who knows. Maybe, it'll be Gary Glitter (A JOKE!). No, seriously, if it has balls and sex appeal, it's my kind of stuff. I'm not that interested in music that's too arty, even though I like Pet Sounds and some of the far-out stuff of the sixties.

A stupid question but… what is, among all songs you've been listening in your life, the BEST song?
Impossible to say but "Until I Get You" by Hanoi rocks is definitely in my top-five. If you listen to that song,, you'll know why - the lyrics, the melody…everything. It makes you laugh, it makes you cry and…well, it just totally does it for me. To use an expression from the sixties – it blows my mind.

What is your opinion, as a musician, regarding internet?
Internet is not my bag, baby (get the reference?). I like to buy my CDs, so I have the liner notes and all that jazz. But I suppose, it does work for promotional purposes. Take our homepage, for example. It's a nice add and a great source for information. For our fans, it's a cool and quick way to find out about upcoming gigs.

What are your actual and future projects?
Jerkem, Jerkem, Jerkem and Jerkem! We're going to the studio in September to lay down some new material. We're really devoting all our time and effort to the band. This means that other projects will simply have to wait.
Interview by Vincent Lefrançois - 2004