The Dance

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THE FINNISH POP CULTURE PORTAL

Music
Interview : Olli from The Dance

When and how was your band created?
It happened in the spring 2004. For about six months before that we´d had some drum and bass rehearsals with Tero until we met the guitar players. Soon we noticed that the chemistry between guys was quite good and there was even few songs to play.

Where is the name of the band coming from?
If you´ve ever danced without worrying about your moves or clothes you´re wearing, you might have a slight idea of things that had effect in the birth of the name.

What musicians or artists did have a major influence in your life / work?
Speaking of myself, the main influences have come from the groups with selfconfident view to what they´re doing and what they want to say about issues surrounding them. And ability to laugh to yourself isn´t bad thing either. I see the bandlife always through the live thing; it´s hard to explain the emotions of a good gig. Whether you´re in stage or in audience, it´s just different but at their best, both can be indescribable experiences. To name a few bands: The Clash, The (International) Noise Conspiracy, Division of Laura Lee, Moneybrother, No Shame, Damn Seagulls, Evilsons, The Slackers. But this is just me. If you list together all influences of our band, you´ll probably find a huge scale from black metal to Mozart.

What are the positive and negative aspects of being a musician in Finland?
The negative ones first. I think the size of population makes the feeling that the musical circles are too small, you know the "I´ve seen this band too many times" –feeling. Although we´re a young band which has a lot to achieve, so I can´t really complain yet. The positive side is that it´s still quite easy here to get your name. Of course it requires hell lot of a work but in bigger cities (not to mention countries) you do that work in quiet and only after that start hoping that someone right person could have an ear on you.

How could you define your style of music?
It´s energetic pop. And naturally there´s tons of definitions more than just that...something between punkrock and Abba. Black metal for the whole family. Kajal-country. Gaypop. Seriously we´re not trying take ourselves too seriously.

During the years how has your musical style changed?
We are too young group for style changes...we´re basically trying a lot of views how to face a song, but finally they always come out as a pop-rock ones. Main reason for that is naturally in the music we all listen. Maybe someday it all start to change.

What are topics you treat in your songs?
Most of our lyrics are about the hedonistic lifestyle that one or more of us is experiencing...but sure there is some basic adventures of a human heart as well. In some cases these two means the same.

What is your favorite song in your repertoire and why?
That have to be the brand new number, Street Corners, with its depressing mood which grows during the song. It´s a story about how vulnerable human being can be. We´re really excited to bring it to the gigs. Our repertoire isn´t too wide anyway, so it´s worth of celebration every time we have some new songs to play.

Do you actually prefer performing your music live or in a studio?
As I mentioned earlier, definitely live. If someone gets strong feelings out of our show, that´s the best response you can get. In some kind of weird way, gigs are truly great way to show people that you guys could do this too. It could be sort of encouraging gesture to them to find their thing. If it´s not music it could be whatever as long as you stand for it. And if you´ve possibly found it and proud of it you can just dance along. It´s hard to explain the appeal of gigs.

During the process of making a song, what is the moment that you prefer?
I prefer the one particular point where the first version has come out and song have found its first shape. It´s funny how this can sometimes take few months, sometimes it happens within an hour.

A stupid question but... what is among all the songs you've been listening in your life the BEST song?
I can´t really pick the best one, but one song that nearly blew my head was the finnish skarockers´ Monica´s lips` "Life gone wrong". I saw them live one day and I think the melodies did the trick.

What is your opinion, as a musician, regarding internet?
That´s a very irreplaceable announcement channel for a band and an endless source of new music as well. I don´t use it that much, I rather visit a record store and listen some new stuff there.

What are your projects?
I´m playing bass in the modern rock trio called Cosmobile, which is a refreshing thing aside this young men dance club. And vice versa.

What "image" do you have of French music?
Well that´s not much what I know about French music...there is that one art-pop band...and that´s right, I can´t even recall the name. Not much of an image in my mind, right?

Is there one French song that you prefer? If so, what song is it?
One french song...I can recognize the national anthem sometimes.

Interview by Vincent Lefrançois - 2006