Soul Tattoo

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Interview : Jussi from Soul Tattoo

When and how was your band created?
Soul Tattoo started to reherse in spring 2003. Bands history before that can be found on our netsite: www.soultattoo.info

Where is the name of the band coming from?
Before Soul Tattoo we had with Samuli (soul tattoo composer/guitarist) a band called Hearthill.
Sasu (drummer) and Jukkis (bass) played along the way in that group too.
And Hearthill's forth album have a song called Soul Tattoo. We tought that name tells a lot about us: We are kinda guys who can't get rid of each other. Together we are something else.

What musicians or artists did have a major influence in your life / work?
Uh, a long list... to mension a few: Charlie Feathers, Muddy Waters, Hank Williams, Billie Holiday, Nick Cave, Bod Dylan, Jefferey Lee Pierce, Tom Waits...

What are the positive and negative aspects of being a musician in Finland?
Positive - It's a small country with a lot woods, lakes, summer festivals and crazy creative people.
Negative - It's too small nation to live in the marginal.

How could you define your style of music?
Country-Billy-City-Voo Doo Blues

During the years how has your musical style changed?
It's progress, I'm always trying to find a new aspect... Guess my style it's changing to be more edgy, slow and silent - when needed and the otherhand - furious and raw.

How do explain these changes?
I'm closer to the source now.

What are topics you treat in your songs?
mmmm... at latest soul tattoo album Pile Of Bones:
Metamorphose, Man or machine?
Heavenly creature or flesh and bones?
And for the surprise: Love and Death.

What is your favorite song in your repertoire and why?
There are so many... in Soul Tattoo repertoire... I always fell in love with the newest ones... Jack In The Box.

Do you actually prefer performing your music live or in a studio?
At live music is a part of the show, a performance - it's a creative situation, where anything can happend, and must happend. At studio at it's best it's kinda same. But without the audience - so... You must find the different way to get the idea out.
During the process of making a song, what is the moment that you prefer?
In soul tattoo I'm a lyricist, so I make lyrics to Samuli's music. The best moment is when I get the glue of what the demo version song is all about - then put me and my vocal into the song - and at the same time that Samuli's song turns to be our song. As making my own songs, the starting moment just me and the guitar.

A stupid question but... what is among all the songs you've been listening in your life the BEST song?
uuhhh...

What is your opinion, as a musician, regarding internet?
It's ok.

What are your projects?
Right now I'm making weekend gigs around Finland with Soul Tattoo. And recording albums with J.Hearthill Trinity and The Hel-Gators. Wich are my other two bands.
www.kolumbus.fi/pyros / www.hel-gators.com

What "image" do you have of French music?
Well, Edith Piaf, Jaques Brel, Falling Leaves, A lot of passion... Then 80's Mano Negra and so... the same thing...

Is there one French song that you prefer? If so, what song is it?
Well, Piaf's Padam

Interview by Vincent Lefrançois - 2006