Verner

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Music
Interview : Toni from Verner

When and how was your band created?
I started singing and writing lyrics about four years ago. When I started I did songs for my lyrics by myself. the music that i did was not so good or "rich" so I thought that It would be better to try and find some real musicians to do the difficult job like composing and playing the music. I wanted to focus to the lyrics and singing. So I put a application to the internet to find players. And I found them. It didn`t take so long when we had the whole band together.

Where is the name of the band coming from?
It is my grand father`s name. I haven`t met him because he died when my father was ten. I heard that he liked to play violin and he wanted that some of his children would become singer. That didn`t happen so I think I will do that and at the same time honor his memory.

What musicians or artists did have a major influence in your life / work?
I like Atomic Swing, The Flaming Sideburns, The Soundtrack Of Our Lives, The Doors and some finnish bands like Tehosekoitin. I don`t want to copy them but if you hear the influence of those bands in our music it`s okay.

What are the positive and negative aspects of being a musician in Finland?
We have only 5 million people here so there aren`t so many record buyers or listeners. It`s hard to make a living out of that, but it also means that it`s easier to get to the top.

How could you define your style of music?
I would call it rock music. But usually I hear that it is finnish rock or finnrock (Suomirokkia). It is hard to say in english but we have a word to define rock played in finnish. The word is kind of old fashion and I don`t like it because we do something new. I would say that we do it in our language but it`s something people would call universal rock music. I know that it does sound so new but that is the point. I want it to be timeless too.

During the years how has your musical style changed?
When we started we played songs that I had made. Now we have our own songs, the real Verner songs and I think that finally we have found our way. We have found that Timeless Universal Rock Music.

How do explain these changes?
When five people go and do music and there is no certain leader, the influences of each one of us put together creates something new. When we don`t force it, it will come.

What are topics you treat in your songs?
What it is like when you are young person in Finland. We have good social care here and everything is fine. So everything can`t be fine. That is what it is all about. What a hell I am doing here? Why I don`t have to do anything if I don`t want? Why it`s so easy? And of course the usual stuff people fall in love and divorce and blaa blaa blaa.

What is your favorite song in your repertoire and why?
Usually the favourite song is the song that we have just made. The newest is the best.

Do you actually prefer performing your music live or in a studio?
I like to perform live. That`s the idea of playing music. The studio is something you have to do to promote your music. But if I could earn my living just by performing live it would be great.

During the process of making a song, what is the moment that you prefer?
The moment when you have a brand new song. Just when the whole consept is clear. You can perform it but every time it`s something different. That is the best part.

A stupid question but... what is among all the songs you've been listening in your life the BEST song?
Back Door Man performed by the Doors.

What is your opinion, as a musician, regarding internet?
Well, first we had a radio and then we had a television. Now we have the internet. It is the way to present the stuff you do. If there is internet we use it. If there wouldn`t be internet we would find some other way.

What are your projects?
I don`t know if I understand the question? Our project is to be the number one finnish band of all times.

What "image" do you have of French music?
I have a image that French music is more technical and more kind of trendy. In my point of wiew there is usually more digital sound equipement being used. I haven`t heard how the real French Rock`n`Roll band sounds like. Or French punk band. I would like to hear. I have also heard lot`s of French rap from finnish radio.

Is there one French song that you prefer? If so, what song is it?
I don`t know about the song but I like French band called Phoenix. All of their songs are avesome.

Interview by Vincent Lefrançois - 2006