Velvetcut

[ WWW.FINPOP.NET ]

THE FINNISH POP CULTURE PORTAL

Music
Interview : Velvetcut

When and how did you decide to become a musician / singer?
Well, it came naturally. I remember when I first saw Twisted sister's "We're not gonna take it" on TV and I was stuned. I was really young and I wanted to wear Twisted sister T-shirt all the time.. I wasn't very tall kid, so it looked just like a skirt on me. After that came KISS, W.A.S.P., IRON MAIDEN and all the normal stuff.. I formed my first band when I was 10 years old. I have been in different bands, but it took a long time to put all the pieces to its right place.

Was this choice difficult to make?
When music has got you so tight, it isn't that big decision to make. I've always wanted to create music that I love and hopefully someone else as well. It's real challenging to try to make a progress in all areas all the time. But that is my goal. So, at the moment it's quite hard to think about not being in the music industry at all. Hopefully I have a chance to continue my work with music as long as possible.

What musicians or artists did have a major influence in your life / work?
I have had so many favourites over these years, but rationally thinking maybe I woudn't be here without my early favourites like KISS and TWISTED SISTER. It a cliche to say, but that's the way it is. After few years I got really hooked with METALLICA. James Hetfield is a great composer. In the beginning of 90's I was really into "Grunge" movement and bands like ALICE IN CHAINS, NIRVANA, PEARL JAM, STONE TEMPLE PILOTS. Basicly I'm still a big fan of those bands. In the past years the biggest things for me has been bands like NINE INCH NAILS and RADIOHEAD. Trent Reznor is a genious and RADIOHEAD's OK computer has been almost like a bible to me. Well, I quess I have to mention also HIM, that I consider one of the best things that has happened in the Finnish music industry.

What are the positive and negative aspects of being a musician / singer (in Finland)?
Music is way of life for me. Making music is like my privat room where to escape from the outside world. It's a possiblity to create something new with your mind and emotions.A secret friend that you share everything. Sometimes I may succeed in my work and the feeling is fantastic. I may come up with the song I really like and would like to the whole world to hear it. Of course the world don't always agree with me. That's the shitty part. Sometimes you have put your heart and mind into something and people come to you and tell this is total crap. And sometimes you can tell that they have already judged you before hearing a thing. But I think Finland isn't an exception in this.

How could you qualify your style of music?
Emotional and catchy deeper rock/metal... Some people have called it 21st century metalgrunge.

Have you ever considered the possibilty to change totally your style of music? If so, what style of music would you choose?
You'll never know;) I try to listen to music without prejudice, so I like several kind of acts. My CD collection includes all kind of acts from Tori Amos to Slipknot, from Black Sabbath to Sigur Ros. My roots are in rock and metal but I'm always willing to try something new as an artist. As long as it comes from the heart it's Okay.

I have also planned a totally new way of making music, but that's very ambitious project. If that will one day come to reality, quess that would be the new music style I chose. It just don't have a name yet:)

What are stories/topics you tell/treat in your songs?
Usually lyrics comes from my life. They are emotion I have to put on the paper. I write them away from my mind. Sometimes lyrics are just fictional, and I tell things in sarcastic way. Sarcasm is quite common thing in my lyrics in general. Sometimes lyrics are just sentences from my mind and they become pretty chaotic.

What is your favorite song in your repertoire and why?
At the moment it may be the song called "Dominoes".. It will be introduced first time on our web site (www.velvetcut.com) next week.. Of course you get tired of old songs and new ones seems the best, but I really like Dominoes because of its unik nature.. It's warm, melodic and catchy but is still rocks and has lot of edge.. And that's what Velvetcut is mainly about. Combination of warm and edgy elements. Our goal is to create the own sound and "Dominoes" are pretty close to what we are searching for. That warms me a lot.

Do you tour regularly? Do you actually prefer performing your music live or in a studio?
Our band is quite young, so we haven't done any bigger tours yet. I hope we will one day tour in Central Europe and enjoy the magic atmosphere of Paris.. Maybe it will be in tittle of our album then;)

Studio and playing live are two worlds... Music is like a empty painting when you come to a studio. Sometimes you find all the right colours and the feeling is fantastic.. Sometime you seem to be lost and nothing satisfies you. In general I love to be in studio. I'm quite a perfectionist what comes to my music, so sometimes it costs me all my fingernails.. But after good studio session I'm mister smile. After founding the final shape for the song in studio, it's pleasure to play them live. The feedback from the songs comes right away, so after good gig feeling is great. Other hand if the sounds are bad or we have to play to the walls, it doesn't make me feel very comfortable.

What kind of music / What artists do you currently listen?
The latest CD I bought is SILVERCHAIRs Diorama. I've been listening to lot of Rammstein and I saw them live on last November and this summer. Their visual show are awesome.. SYSTEM OF A DOWNs Toxicity is also interesting album. I also like to listen music that are well produced. And I don't mean Bon Jovi or Def Leppard by that. I bought PAPA ROACHes new album, because I really like the sound that Brendan O' Brien does.

What are your actual and future projects?
Hopefully we will start the recording of our debut album in Fall. We are starting to have enough good songs for a strong album. I writing songs quite slowly, but try to make sure that everyone is good enough. Today we'll finishing the mixing of "Dominoes".

A stupid question but... what is among all the songs you've been listening in your life the BEST song? Why?
There are lot of good songs, but if I had to name just one, probably it would be "Smells like teen spirit". Not very clever answer, but NIRVANA charged the course of whole music industry with that song. Kurt was genious writing simple songs with those same chords that had been used million times before. He managed to do something new and unik with it and with his amazing warm voice. And could you honestly say that the song doesn't rock?

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?
Like in all other things there are always two sides of the coin.. For a newcomer internet is effective way to promote a band to a larger audience. Sometimes the results and specially financal results are shown after the first release, after people have had a chance to get to know the band through internet. Usually for free. People don't invest their money so easily on artist, they don't know much about. Usually they have heard only one song, and wouldn't like to buy an album based on that. Internet is a good way to get better picture from a band. Sometimes you may download the whole album for free and thats the difficult part of this question. Some people hear the album and want to go and buy it. And maybe buy all the bands records after that. Internet has serve the band. I mean without internet this guy/girl wouldn't buy record at all. On the other hand some people stop buying records based on they can get them free from internet.. Which group are bigger? I honestly don't know, but at the moment I'm willing to let people download clips from our music for free. Maybe we'll put the whole songs also to our web site...
We'll see..

Do you use computers or home studios during the process of making an album or a song?
I bought 4-track Mini-disc recorder and usually I make some home recordings with it. I have also noticed that nothing really beats old simple casette recorder and acoustic guitar. If the song sounds good on tape with just acoustic guitar and vocals, you are on the right tracks!
Interview by Vincent Lefrançois - 2002