Teräsbetoni

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Music
Interview : Jarkko from Teräsbetoni

When and how was your band created?
Well, I think it was a spring of 2003 when we first talked together about music and what kind of stuff we all would like to do. Then, after few talks, we saw what we had to: play Heavy Metal and sing in finnish, 'cause there was no such band in Finland at the time. We thought that the idea was fresh and the songs we soon wrote sounded fresh, too. That's how it all started.

Where is the name of the band coming from?
I really don't know. It was V.Rantanen who came up with the idea and we all said: "Yes, that's a great name." It describes our music well, too. Don't you think?

What musicians or artists did have a major influence in your life / work?
I can only answer for myself. I have always been into heavy rock music with lots of different influences from other styles, like blues, funk, classical and pop. So, my influences come from Deep Purple, Rainbow, Dio, Black Sabbath, Glenn Hughes, Manowar and Whitesnake. I also love Electric Light Orchestra with big choirs and large arrangements - it's pretty heavy stuff when you get it right. Vangelis is one of my favourites, too 'cause his music is different and yet very listenable, passionate and sentimental. ...There are so many artists that I could mention! Music is life and life is music.

What are the positive and negative aspects of being a musician in Finland?
A good question! I think many times the positive and negative sides are the same. Finland is a small country, so lots of musicians can't be famous or/and succesful, which is a shame. In larger countries underground bands can be very succeful in certain groups and that is often pretty good situation already. Here in Finland you have to be almost everybody's favourite before you can say that your job pays back something. We are lucky in this case. Our albus has sold platinum and our gigs are often sold out. So, because Finland is a small country, you could say that we are doing well, ha! 32 000 sold albums in France wouldn't be that big I guess?

Also the finnish circle of musicians and music field generally is pretty small. You meet the same faces in summer festivals and happenings etc. You could say, that it's a good thing to know people but easily these people start working together and they close new faces out from the circle. It's good to see that few new small record labels are doing well here, though.

There are not too many good places to play in, 'cause Finland is packed with small towns that have small population and no rock clubs. Rock music seems to be new thing here even today! Finland used to have a big tradition of "lavatanssi" - which had nothing to do with rock music, but with dance music like tango, walz etc. Those "lavatanssi" places used to be big and popular but that tradiotion is almost dead I think.

...Phew! This question is big. I think we'll move on to the next!

How could you define your style of music?
We play tradiotional Heavy Metal. We trust in the simplicity and power - and of course in our selves. We're also trying to bring the songs back. Nowadays there's so much music without a song inside, if you know what I mean. It's easy to produce music-like sounds today but writing good songs has never been and never will be easy.

During the years how has your musical style changed?
Well, we're soon going to studio to record our second album. We like our style, but I think the new record will be more versatile. More little references to different styles like eastern scales and anthemic might.
Our first album was the introduction to our world with tight riffs and powerful and punchy choruses. The second will be more musical but yet strong.

How do explain these changes?
I think every musician wants to bring something new into their music every now and then. There are no dramatic changes coming but our expression will sound wider. Finnish people want strong Metal music and we will give it to them.

What are topics you treat in your songs?
The first album contained songs about our music, our attitude and our world. It also had stories of vengeance and honouring the people who have fallen during the battle. I would like to see some of our songs very allegoric. For example Metallisydän tells about a warrior who is watching in fire and the sky and thinking about the loneliness and weakness in him. I see that the song tells about winning yourself. I have received lots of thanks from different kind of people. They have told me, that Metallisydän gave them power to carry on in their weak moments. That's the best compliment I can ever have of my songs.

The second album will... well, we'll see!

What is your favorite song in your repertoire and why?
I really love them all. Each song has a place in the palette. MetallisydÃ¤n is one my most ambitious compositions, so it has a special place in my heart.

Do you actually prefer performing your music live or in a studio?
They're so different things. In the studio you try to find the best possible performance to make the whole sound great. Playing live is playing together with the band to the audience. I think playing live is the REAL thing, so you have to love it to be a real musician. But I also love the modern studio work. It gives you many possibilties and a chance to polish up your arrangements. I have grown up listening records, so it's a big part of this whole scene!

During the process of making a song, what is the moment that you prefer?
I love the moment of discovering something new. While composing a new song you just might come up with this "Whoa! This is it!". You can find the same feeling while playing your instrument or just during the live perfomance. I also like making the demos. I like to make them well in my small home"studio". That is the last phase when I can invent something new to the song.

A stupid question but... what is among all the songs you've been listening in your life the BEST song?
I can't tell for sure. I have always loved Deep Puple's Burn. It is a perfect song and a perfect performance. Rainbow's Gates Of Babylon is wonderful, too. ...Damn. So much great music, but those songs I heard when my ears were fresh and I those I will always remember.

What is your opinion, as a musician, regarding internet?
It's a great way to make your music known among the people. Our band gained benefit from the Internet. On the other hand every band has their site online today, so it's getting harder and harder to get anything from it. Anyway, Internet is good.

What are your projects?
I've done music a long time under my own name as J.Ahola. I have never gained too much success, but I believe that day might still come. I also have a band called Cosmic Spell. My time is short because of Teräsbetoni nowadays, though. I also did one record with Dreamtale.

Check these out: www.jahola.com www.cosmicspell.tk and www.dreamatel.net

What "image" do you have of French music?
Whoa. Nothing much. I'm totally under the infuence of movies and television: men with mustache, berets and accordion playing on the backround. Hah! I'm sure your music has gone trough the Western influences as well as our music here in Finland. You must have your own metal musicians, rockers, hip hoppers and gangtas.

Is there one French song that you prefer? If so, what song is it?
Isn't Jean Michel Jarre from France? Oxygene it is then!
Interview by Vincent Lefrançois - 2006