Miljoonasade

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Interview : Heikki Salo from "Miljoonasade"

When and how was your band created?
My band, called Miljoonasade, was created in 1983 and our first single was published in 1986. It was called "To my Childhood hero" and was telling about Juri Gagarin. We were young students in the University of Jyväskylä .

Where is the name of the band coming from?
Our name "Miljoonasade" means heavy rain (rain of millions). It was my father in law who said that to me in 1983. It was a very dry summer and everything was dying because of dryness. He said: If rain comes now, it´s a rain of millions!

What musicians or artists did have a major influence in your life / work?
I like the 70´s. Slade , Sweet, T.Rex, Bowie. Black Sabbath, Uriah heep.

What are the positive and negative aspects of being a musician / singer (in Finland)?
I like writing lyrics. People in Finland respect high level lyrics.
Negative is that Filnland is so small country. You never get money enouhg to live in peace and you have to work hard. But you can live as a songwriter.

How could you qualify your style of music?
Lyric oriented pop/rock music

Have you ever considered the possibilty to change totally your style of music?
If so, what style of music would you choose?
I do it all the time. I have also a band for the children and then I have a band called "SaloRantala Soi" with Iiro Rantala (jazz pianist, Trio Töykeät). Our music style is cabaree songs and comic songs. I also play alone.

What are stories/topics you tell/treat in your songs?
I have made about 500 lyrics so topics are quite different. I really like to tell a storie which have a start, a middle and an end.

What is your favorite song in your repertoire and why?
Nowadays it´s "Muurahainen taivaassa" (Ant in heaven) which is a story about a blind little girl who´s standing on a christmas shop window, and her father is telling about things on the other side of the glass. So, this is a new one and I think it will be succesfull.

Do you tour regularly? Do you actually prefer performing your music live or
in a studio?
I try to tour less and less. I´ve seen those bars and hotels in Finland. But I like live because I can meet my audience.

During the process of making an album, what is the moment that you prefer?
First writing in peace at home. Then moments in studio where you can hear musicians play. we have so many good musicians here in Finland.

What kind of music / What artists do you currently listen?
I mostly listen to radio. Everything. More Finnish music than outbroads.

A stupid question but... what is among all the songs you've been listening in your life the BEST song?
I can´t say that. There´s so many. Hooks, you know?

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?
I use internet nowadays every time I write lyrics. I google about topics of a song and so on. I´m working with my own personal homesights.

What are your actual and future projects?
I do nowadays more theater. I write my own plays, musicals, dramatize and so on but in 2004 I will start again writing new songs.
Interview by Vincent Lefrançois - 2003