Misty Shade of Green

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Interview : Niklas from Misty Shade of Green

When and how was your band created?
Misty Shade of Green was born in 1999. It was the outcome of a need to express viewpoints musically and to take a stand for human and environmental rights. I just felt the time was right for us, so Misty was just something that had to be.

Where is the name of the band coming from?
The name came up just like that with no apparent reason at all. I think I was in the grocery store at that moment... But at that time we were Misty Psychedelic Shade of Green, but that was changed after a year or so.

What musicians or artists did have a major influence in your life / work?
We have to start with The Beatles ofcourse, especially John Lennon and his political phase. Jimi Hendrix, King Crimson, Led Zeppelin have had a major influence on what we are musically. But most of the sixties San Fransisco scene, British 60's and 70's rock, blues and avantgarde culture has left the trace in us, though we were born a decade or two later.

What are the positive and negative aspects of being a musician in Finland?
Well, the pros are that the scenes are wery small, so you can puch thru more easily than if the competition would be very tough. The downside is that for example record companies in this country don't have clue of what rock is today. They launch a bunch of housbroken lollipopbands they call rock or metal, but comes out as slightly amusing products of capitalism. I mean where's the revolution that should come with rock. So the real interest in art and rock comes very much in second hand here. But that's not a big downside anyway, you get to do you're thing here and you get to speak out your poin of view loudly.

How could you define your style of music?
It all comes down to rock.

During the years how has your musical style changed?
It hasn't really changed so much I think, it has developed. And since Misty has a very wide range of shades, nuances it's very hard to talk about changes. I'd say we're in a constant movement.

What are topics you treat in your songs?
We take a lot of strong stands. Political, humanitarian and environmental. Casualties of war has lately been a topic that we have strongly taken stands against. The situation in Iraq is a reason for this I'd say, but it's a topic that there's never too much noise about. One casualty is one too many is my statement. The government talks about peace but prepares for war, what a great hypocrisy.

What is your favorite song in your repertoire and why?
It's either "Dreamland" or "How do you sleep at night" at the moment, in the other hand i like evry song we do, otherwise I wouldn't do it. But Dreamland is a very personal and intimate song, while How do you sleep at night has such a strong message given in a such a brutal and realistic way. Nothing is covered up.

Do you actually prefer performing your music live or in a studio?
Live Live Live, that's when you communicate with the world around you. When we go to the studio we do it live anyway, organic rock you know. It's the only way we know how to do it.

During the process of making a song, what is the moment that you prefer?
It just comes. Sometimes straightly as a result of something that has happened and sometimes just a story that needs to be told.

A stupid question but... what is among all the songs you've been listening in your life the BEST song?
Well... I have thought about that sometimes... It's a very hard one and cannot really be given an honestly anwser, but I'd say... The End by The Beatles.

What is your opinion, as a musician, regarding internet?
As long as you use it in a constructive way it's super tool to reach the world.

What are your projects ?
For the moment.... changing the world to a slightly better place.

What "image" do you have of French music?
I have really no oppinion about that, sorry.

Is there one French song that you prefer? If so, what song is it?
I really don't know any that I'd remember right now, oh yes, one a real great one, from David Crosbys "If I Could Only Remember My Name" album a song called Orleans.

Interview by Vincent Lefrançois - 2006