Seremoniamestari

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Interview : Seremoniamestari

When and how did you become a musician?
I started making demos in 1998, and was the first to release a finnish-only rap EP (Edustaa edustaa, 1998) and the first to release a full lenght finnish hiphop-album (Omin sanoin, 2000).

Where is your name coming from?
Seremoniamestari = Master of ceremony, but I changed it to my nickname Sere, because there are so many mcs around nowadays!

What musicians or artists did have a major influence in your life / work?
Too many to mention, so here's just a few: James Brown, Rakim, and early Sting (Bring On The Night live!).

What are the positive and negative aspects of being a musician / singer (in Finland)?
Positive: a chance to let someone else pay for your hobby.
Negative: a very little market. I have a dayjob, which is not so bad after all.

How could you qualify your style of music?
Thinking man's rap with funky flavor.

Have you ever considered the possibilty to change totally your style of music?
No. It would't be my music anymore.
But I'd love to do a whistling album a la Roger Whittaker!

What is your favorite song in your repertoire and why?
Maybe "Se ei oo minä" (= "It ain't me"), from my latest album. It's a furious double-time bounce track. Fun to perform, and a display of skill.

Do you tour regularly? Do you actually prefer performing your music live or in a studio?
I do about 20-25 gigs a year. That's enough for a working father of a little baby!
You really can't compare rapping in the studio and doing it live. I like both.

During the process of making an album, what is the moment that you prefer?
A good, rare question! It must be the moment I hear a fat delicious beat (that is meant for me) for a first time! Another great moment is to hear your own new album from start to finish in the mastering room. You realise it's all been worthwile and it's a priviledge to have talented people working with you.

What kind of music / What artists do you currently listen?
Jazz, funk and 70's disco (not Boney M if you know what I mean...), some house and progressive rock. A lot of rap. Very little regular rock or pop.

A stupid question but... what is among all the songs you've been listening in your life the BEST song? Why?
Living Colour: "This Is The Life". I listen to it maybe twice a year and cry every time.

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?
It's a tool that can be used for many purposes. I have benefited from it, especially in my early days. On the other hand it allows rumors and crappy material to spread.

What are your actual and future projects?
Taking care of my family and making another album, when I feel like it.
Interview by Vincent Lefrançois - 2003