Waltari

[ WWW.FINPOP.NET ]

THE FINNISH POP CULTURE PORTAL

Music
Interview : Kärsty Hatakka from Waltari

When and how was your band created?
Three guys in Helsinki, March ´86, Kärtsy, Jari and the original drummer Sale, bored from the Finnish music scene, wanted to form a band which would be different from all the other bands! The guys had many different musical ideas, and they wanted to form a band where they could be able to share and reflect all their different ideas!

Where the name of your band is coming from?
From nothing really. It was very spontanious (like most of the things in our band!). It´s just the last name of one famous Finnish writer from 40´s.We had our first gig and got no name, and were forced to pick up something very quickly. We were not satisfied with it at that time, but decided to leave it like that in the end because everybody seemed to like it. Later we heard its an old langobardian word meaning KING.

What musicians or artists did have a major influence in your life / work?
There has been/will always be some heroes in all times. When we started yer 86 we listened lot acts like PIL and Cult, indie/hard rock kinda stuff, nowadays I enjoy most the acts like Rammstein, Clawfinger, Linkin Park, latest Madonna...we listen to radio pretty much and we/I like most of todays hits. F.e.Destiny´s Child is great.

What are the positive and negative aspects of being a musician / singer (in Finland)?
Positive aspect is sure freedom of my own work and that you have no dying rhythm in your life.
Negative aspect is that you have no decent "pay-day" in month and you´ll never know which will happen tomorrow.This is a very hard job, being an artist.

How could you qualify your style of music?
Rock band.The ultimate cross-over version.

Have you ever considered the possibilty to change totally your style of music? If so, what style of music would you choose?
Of course we could change that, why not, who denies.This is the creative work! But sure we wouldn´t think these things beforehand.Some kind of rock music we would still always play in some level.I personally would like to play some day 100%electronic music.

What are stories/topics you tell/treat in your songs?
Normal people´s (like me!) too narrowminded wiev for living!! (shortly). Of course I normally reflect the experiences I have had in my own life, but mostly they are more feelings, inner thoughts, than stories, I don´t consider myself as a storyteller and/or any kinda sing-a-songwriter.I take lyrically everything which moves in the air...

What is your favorite song in your repertoire and why?
It changes every year. At the moment it is Your Nature Is Wild from So Fine album. One of my all time favorites is Purify Yourself in Space Avenue.And Every Bad Day from the last one I usually enjoy...

Do you tour regularly? Do you actually prefer performing your music live or in a studio?
I prefer both. They are two totally different worlds. Studio is the place where you try to create something immortal, and to play live is to achieve one single immortal experience which is just here and now in a VERY intensive way, but gone after the moment. We love performing, and always tour after the new album as much as we are able.

During the process of making an album, what is the moment that you prefer?
There is no specific moment: Like in our every day life, any moment can turn out to be surprising or special.

What are your actual and future projects?
Making the new album for W (starting very soon actually), and then as a side project I make music for a very succesful computer game called Max Payne

A stupid question but... what is among all the songs you've been listening in your life the BEST song?
I really can´t say best, but maybe the most remarkable one i can try to find.....Maybe Beatles´s Helter Skelter and Revolution 9 from The White Double album: They totally blew my head off when I was 3 years old, and really....for good. They showed the total, even scaring, intensity, what music/rock band can create in a young boy´s mind.

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?
I´m not afraid of copyright systems. Somebody has to pay the music anyway which has been created for the internet.When there won´t be any music around then it starts to be time to worry of thes things.

Do you use computers or home studios during the process of making an album or a song?
Yes, We have our own rehearsal studio with some older analog technical equipment, also including some MIDI stuff f.e. ASR 10- sampler and MPC- sequencer, which we can hussle with as much it is needed before stepping into a studio.
Interview by Vincent Lefrançois - 2002