Nosdrama

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Interview : Ari from Nosdrama

When and how was your band created?
It was autumn 2003 when Juhani and I decided to create some new songs. We had a Finnish band before, but now we wanted to make some darker metallic English rock. We liked our creations so much that we searched bass and keyboard player to move the band to the next level – playing live.

Where is the name of the band coming from?
I'm not saying, but I'll give you some clues. We are all friends of sci-fi and horror movies and Nosdrama is a wordplay from the very dark movie where Sigourney Weaver is an actress.

What musicians or artists did have a major influence in your life / work?
There are plenty of influences. We are all music collectors in some level. To mention some new great bands: Tool, Opeth, Katatonia, Anathema. And older favourites are: Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Yes, King Crimson

What are the positive and negative aspects of being a musician in Finland?
First of all a small population in Finland affects that there are not so many musicians who could live with their record selling. The same thing is also in live shows. The distances are long between towns and because there are not so many good concert places, you can't get enough good rock gigs for the full time living.
The showtimes are usually very late. To starting a concert in the midnight is quite insanity for the day job customer. That has been a habit, which is luckily nowadays changing to the more reasonable direction.
The positive thing is that in Finland we have a lot of high level bands. The competition and a big amount of internationally excellent musicians push people to try harder and give a great starting point extend to abroad.

How could you define your style of music?
We like to play long dark epic songs. The beautifully cold atmosphere is present many times in these songs that can't be categorized to any box. The basic is in rock, which changes easily to metal and back to the calmer landscapes.

During the years how has your musical style changed?
This band is so new that the musical style is surely changing a little bit to some direction. We have just done our debut album, but as we are composed already some new songs the tones are changing to heavier impression. There is still lot of orchestral elements but we have heard dark metallic call very attractive.

How do explain these changes?
We want to keep our minds open for the things we want to play. The honesty of the music must start from yourself. If you are happy with it, then someone else might like it too.

What are topics you treat in your songs?
Things I see all around and things I feel. For examble "Xen omm" is a very anti-war song that isn't point a finger to any direction, but judges all kind of fascism and asks what do you fear? Then another song "The Cradle" handles a ruminative touch of our life and our long climb to happiness.

What is your favorite song in your repertoire and why?
Maybe it is "Nemo ante mortem beatus". It is our first song and it has very powerful dynamics from whisper to scream. There is a traditional story from a king who doesn't realize that in the end the soil is home for all of us.

Do you actually prefer performing your music live or in a studio?
It's always a great feeling to record music in the studio. You really don't know what kind of pieces you'll get when you walk inside the studio. It is also a funny feeling when you realize that the songs that you have been doing for months or even years are finally ready and it is time to move on for the new adventures.
The playing live is a very different situation. There is the battle of yourself against excitement and the feeling you get from the adrenalin is just great. Also immediate response for the work is refreshing. I really can't say which I prefer. Maybe doing some improvising songs on live might be fun…if we could…and had the guts ;)

During the process of making a song, what is the moment that you prefer?
Nights are working fine, the only problem is that you must not be too loud because of neighbors. Hangover and every kind of situation when you can be surprised by your own subconscious are working fine.

A stupid question but... what is among all the songs you've been listening
in your life the BEST song?
Not stupid at all but very interesting. It changes all the time. In one part of my life it was Björk and Thom York duet "I've seen it all". But let's say "Imagination", Lennon's song performed by A Perfect Circle. There is excellent conflict between beautiful peace song and pessimistic mood.

What is your opinion, as a musician, regarding internet?
Internet is an unbelievable source of knowledge. It gives you a change to get to know all kind of new music. I don't courage people to download whole albums, because musicians' living depends on record selling. I for example try some new bands and if I like them I buy the record. That's because the bits do not feel real there are also the lyrics and album graphics.

What are your projects?
This, Nosdrama is the only musical interest at the moment.

What "image" do you have of French music?
Accordion in the jazz café, somewhere in Paris.

Is there one French song that you prefer? If so, what song is it?
Sous le ciel de Paris

Interview by Vincent Lefrançois - 2006