Scandinavian Music Group

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Music
Interview : Joel from Scandinavian Music Group

When and how was your band created?
Our band was a direct off-shoot of our previous project Ultra Bra, which grew to be possibly the most decade-defining musical phenomenon of the nineties in Finland. When the 12-piece Ultra Bra decided that it was time to quit, there were four of us who felt the need to put together another kind of a rock group.

Where is the name of the band coming from?
We are fully aware that Finland does not belong to Scandinavia, nor do we sing in English, so it is just nonsensical play with words. I have always been of the opinion that rock bands should be name like you were 13 years old and coming up with something "cool", rehearsing in your dad's garage. then fighting the rest of your career trying to overcome the stupidity of that "cool" name.

What musicians or artists did have a major influence in your life / work?
Sonic Youth would unquestionably be the band after which I knew I had to be a musician. I'd been listening to a lot of heavy metal in all of it's myriad forms, but always sensed there was something a little too comical about it to be doing it grown up and for real (I still do, though, play in a fairly successful Iron Maiden tribute band, and yes, it's still comical).

In recent years some huge influences have been Johnny Cash, John Frusciante, Brian Eno, Aphex Twin, Underworld and a lot of other electronic artists, Sufjan Stevens right now is the artist I'm completely immersed in.

What are the positive and negative aspects of being a musician in Finland?
There's not a lot of star culture, I guess that counts as both a negative and positive thing. On the other hand the times i've gotten a limo ride have been way too few and far between, but seriously thinking, it brings the musicians and the audiences a lot closer to each other. You get direct feedback and you are more likely to be respected as an equal - instead of a feared and distant icon.

How could you define your style of music?
We're mellowing out all the time, lot of folk influences with this latest record. I grew completely and utterly disillusioned with heavy metal and rock as a form of rebellion and alternative culture. the musical climate in Finland has gotten so dark, pretentious and serious it's like the 80's without the fun. That is the mainstream right now, so I guess we might be reacting to that in some ways. Finland undoubtedly exports the best heavy metal in the world right now, but that's just not us.
I guess were trying to find the most direct ways of expressing love and beauty without ending up schmaltzy.

During the years how has your musical style changed?
I think we started off not far removed from bands like Garbage or Muse, with a very modern and hard drive -based approach to rock. We threw in trip hop and played around with a lot of musical directions. It was pretty stadium sized. the second album was pretty non-stadium, more of a love letter to Sonic Youth, Stereolab, Philip Glass and all things alternative.
Then, instead of emulating other bands or following set directions we just decided to listen to what the songs themselves wanted to be. Also, the songs I wrote were easily the most direct ones, so there was a lot of stripping down of "musical armor".

How do explain these changes?
Old age, receding hairline, liwer levels of testosterone - it's a slow death after you're born isn't it? Seriously, i have no idea. I think a true confidence has started to emerge after all the chest banging of the past.

What are topics you treat in your songs?
Definitely love and friendship, but also death has crept in there somewhere. Terhi is a very impressionist lyricist, so the settings and surroundings are often described to establish a mood. Lot of nature has crept in lately instead of urban settings. Most often it's not symbolic in the sense of, i don't know, a fox symbolizing deceit and cunning, it's more about trying to recreate the atmosphere of a certain situation in itself, without any overbearing symbolism. One of the working titles for this album could be translated to "Every song is about love", and it's pretty much true with this record, but also, I think, of art in general. I'm not talking about Hollywood happily-everafters, but the need to connect with others.

What is your favorite song in your repertoire and why?
Right now it could be "Katu päättyy aurinkoon" which kind of sums up things that are different about this album. it's a slow paced cinematic folk waltz with huge lyrics about, well, life itself. I like how sometimes Terhi writtes lyrics that are impossible to reduce to catch phrases and headlines. This is definitely one of those.

Do you actually prefer performing your music live or in a studio?
I just came back from one of the most incredible gigs we have ever done, so I'd be inclined to say live. But it's a question not dissimilar to "Do you like giving speeches or making them?" - one half is very much redundant without the other.
The difference is between creating something and then recreating and reinterpreting it. One is for forever, the other is tied in the moment.

During the process of making a song, what is the moment that you prefer?
When i know somebody else will love it - which can happen early on strumming some chords. For me there is no "doing things for yourself", like art for artist's sake. it's always the moment when I know somebody else will "get it", that I've made a connection.

A stupid question but... what is among all the songs you've been listening in your life the BEST song?
Quite simply, right now, it is Sufjan Stevens' "For The Widows In Paradise, For The Fatherless In Ypsilanti". It seems to be a sort of a consolation for the underprivileged dwellers of these two cities, written from Jesus' perspective - I can't be sure about this. Four chords to it, two banjos, a piano and a trumpet and it's the most breath taking piece oif art I know of.

What is your opinion, as a musician, regarding internet?
Love it, absolutely. Internet and file sharing does represent some problems regarding, like, getting paid for your efforts, but so what? It means due to financial difficulties the major labels will streamline many artistically interesting projects the hell out of their catalogue, but it also gives these projects a direct outlet and channel for their music.
I think a new kind of fandom or fan based loyalty is emerging, where the music consumers download anything left right and centre to get a taste of things, then make a point of legally downloading the stuff they like the best and want to "vote for" or "sponsor" - or they buy a shirt, go to a gig or buy a cd, whatever. The internet is like a huge library, basically.

What are your projects?
the fourth SMG album definitely, also i've taken tentative steps into producing some stuff outside SMG but I'm not talking about that yet.

What "image" do you have of French music?
You guys can't rock, but that's okay, I'm bored with that. I remember Mano Negra's gig in here, after they first started out - that left a lasting impression on me. Manu Chao's later work is pretty fantastic too isn't it? And you completely rule the world of filter disco. Air is something to be really proud of, and my life would be wholly different without Jacques Brel (albeit I preferred the Scott Walker -crooned versions)

Is there one French song that you prefer? If so, what song is it?
Well let's say Jacques Brel's Mathilde, it's the most gorgeous love song ever written isn't it?

Interview by Vincent Lefrançois - 2006