Paleface

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Interview : Paleface

When and how did you decide to become a musician?
I've been into all things creative since I was old enough to walk. My folks and siblings are all big singers and my extended family has a number of members in the Arts(including my uncle Jouni Hirvonen, a renowned modern artist and my great-great-grandfather Alfred Ferdinand Ruotsalainen, who studied under the guidance of the legendary Hugo Simberg). So be it performing, singing or playing - it all came in the blood. I started my first bands in the early 90's, though i had sput some prepubescent rhymes back in 88 as a 10-year old. Hip-Hop swept me away in the arly part of the 90's and I've been rhymin' and designing ever since. I hooked up with BMG and the cruel world of music business in 2000.
However - I haven't really decided yet what I'll be. A musician or not - An MC I'll be for eternity. (which rhymes - coincidentally)

What musicians or artists did have a major influence in your life / work?
Hip-hop-wise: Public Enemy, namely its leading figure Chuck D, De La Soul, Eric B. Rakim, EPMD, A Tribe called Quest, Jungle Brothers, 3rd Bass (first white boys I ever heard rapping!), then later Everlast and House of Pain, Funkdoobiest, Cypress hill and the whole Soul Assassins sound. Then came Rawkus Entertainment (a New York based underground hip-hop label) with a series of artists whom I admired, including El-P and Company Flow, Mos Def and Talib Kweli, Pharaohe Monch and Polyrhythm Addicts - just to name a few. Some years later I found british hip-hop which is still a big influence (the legendary Pied Rhymer of London: Blade, JC001, Hi-Jack Crew, London Posse, Rodney P... the list goes on and on.)

Otherwise: old progressive rock, my all-time favourite band being Jethro Tull, Ian Anderson - the lead singer and mad flute player is still an idol, the Beatles (I collected all the original LP's in Grade School!), Old Motown sounds (Diana Ross and the Supremes, Marvin Gaye, the Temptations etc.) thru my dad's extensive collection which later served as a basis for my own record collection, all sorts of shit like Joe Cocker, I've always liked powrful voices. All in all I love music - these are just some names mentioned.

What are the positive and negative aspects of being a musician / singer (in Finland)?
Negative things: A Tiny market. Gold record 15,000 copies. Gold Single 5,000.
Record Sales don't mean shit. MusicMedia is a list of about 25 people (also a positive thing), I rap about this stuff on the up-coming album on a track called Too Much: "...people think you're loaded when you're noted and famed, some get so zoaded they end up bloated and maimed, celebrities sugarcoated and tamed at gunpoint like housepets, loaded and aimed..."

How could you qualify your style of music?
Conscious Hip-Hop with a melodic twist - i guess

Have you ever considered the possibilty to change totally your style of music?
If so, what style of music would you choose?
I want to be versatile, fluent in many styles. i do sing as well you know. I think people should be more open for new ideas and combining styles and musical genres. This is how classics are made - create a cultural potpourri - combining elements from different situations, backgrounds and timeframes. People tend to have their heads so far up their asses with their purist doo-doo - I can no longer tell which is which.

What are stories/topics you tell/treat in your songs?
Hip-hop is lyrics. Lyrics is hip-hop. Most anything. Anything from Global topics to everyday routines. Colossal philosophical ponderings to personal issues. Again I want to be open with this as well.

What is your favorite song in your repertoire and why?
There's a couple. A song called "Colgate Soulmate" is a particular favourite, since it's a new addition to the live set. I like it because the lyrics burn!

Do you tour regularly? Do you actually prefer performing your music live or in a studio?
Hip-Hop is about the Live environment. So even when I'm not busy touring massively I try and keep my ear to streets and go rap at Open Mics at hip-hop parties or throw small private shows for smaller crowds. I love rocking the mic live, even though I do enjoy working in the Lab as well.

During the process of making an album or a song, what is the moment that you prefer?
When all tracks are just about finished as rough demoes and then picking out the actual album material out of a greater number of tunes. Then I love putting the master together. Which song comes after which etc. Finalizing an album is beautiful.

What kind of music / What artists do you currently listen?
Besides being a professional rapper, I work at GROOVE FM Radio and dj in between, so I really live and breathe music. I have a collection of just over a 1000 vinyl and some hundreds of CD's. My G4 laptop is also packed with shit. Right now I'm listening to some material by the late great Johnny Cash, which i've found quite the source of inspiration, old school hip-hop-legend Biz
Markie also came out with an album entitled "Weekend Warrior". The new Biz sounds exactly like hip-hop should! French tango-triphop-outfit Gotan Project is also spinning quite a bit. And then california punks Transplants new album is hot!

A stupid question but... what is among all the songs you've been listening in your life the BEST song?
Couldn't really pinpoint one. The Beatles come close with A Day in the Life.

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?
A double-edged sword. Read my thoughts on the subject at:
http://www.wallirocks.fi/walli01/w01_13_paleface.html

What are your actual and future projects?
My second solo album QUARTER PAST is released on the 31st of October, through BMG Finland. We will then start work on the CNNNG LNGSTS (the Cunning Linguists) 12" vinyl "THE JOINT OF NO RETURN" with my sidekick MC Jinx. Then there's some other projects with Dj Slow and producer-extraordinaire Jukka Immonen. Other than that - gigs, shit loads of gigs.
Interview by Vincent Lefrançois - 2003