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Interview
Deutsche VersionInterview mit Scent (20.09.2001)
HH: I'm Andreas from heavyhardes.de, a German onlinezine. Patricia from sureshotworx told me, to make a interview with you. My choice was to make it via E-Mail, cause my English is not so good, also I come from Bavaria, so many Germans have problems with understanding my German - so how could you understand my English...? ;-)
At first, I would appreciate, if you could introduce yourself and your band to our readers.
Antti: So nice to hear from you. Patricia told you'd contact me sooner or later. You want to know something about us? Ok...
So we're called Scent and we're from Finland as you probably know. We started playing rock in the mid-90's. When we were about 7-8 year old kids we were heavily influenced by Kiss. Their cool looks and great songs were truly an inspiration. They were everything we wanted to be. The other band that has its mark tattooed in our spine is definitely Helmet. Catchy melodies, dynamic riffs and traditional Scandinavian melancholy, that's quite good definition of what Scent is about.
HH: Kiss... ;-) Erm, ok, but let me let me guess, what is located otherwise in your disk cabinet: Tool and Pearl Jam? Your sound is very original at all, but the models are not to over-hear.
Antti: Well yes, Pearl Jam and Tool have some elements that we like a lot. They've got melodies and power in their music. For me, those bands are not the main sources of inspiration. Great bands though.
HH: So Kiss really is for you the main inspiration? From the music there are not many parallels.
Antti: Well isn't it great that everyone can have an opinion of their own? You're right that we haven't copied Kiss' music style. But the idea of having a rock band with great songs came from there. We're the bastard breed of Kiss & Helmet.
Our current line-up is: Antti Kumpulainen (vocals), Tuomas Kumpulainen (guitar, backing vocals), Janne Markus (guitar, backing vocals), Petri Väliheikki (drums) and Ilkka Huhta (bass). The latest line-up change took place about a year ago, during the recordings of this album. The former bass player didn't have enough time for being a part of this band. Luckily, Ilkka had enough balls to step in.
We've recorded a few demos and two MCDs before this debut album "Period.". The response so far has been very positive. I can hardly wait what's coming for us.
Ok, in case you want to know more, I'm more than willing to share my thoughts with you. And if it's not too much trouble, could you please tell me what the review of our album was about. I don't understand German language, so I don't really know what you said. Was it good or bad?
HH: The review was good, look down!
Ok, some questions:
Do you think, Scent is a live or studio band?
Antti: We're a live band, although we like to hang out in studio and getting finally those crazy ideas out. But we prefer live situation more. The blood, the sweat, the tears.
HH: How would you describe your liveperformance - emotional or energy-loaded? Do you merge with the music, or are you the big entertainer?
Antti: We concentrate on the music, absolutely. We don't have any horror masks or giant robots walking on stage. No, nothing like that. Everything we do live is emotionally charged and based only on music. One moment it's calm and the next it's very energetic.
HH: Why should anyone care about your music? (Don't get me wrong with this question!)
Antti: To answer you question with a question: why should anyone care about music at all? Because at its best it really moves. Both emotionally and physically. And our music... well our music has a) soul and b) balls. And I don't think anyone who's listened our songs can doubt that. This is something you can identify with.
HH: Good description.
Unfortunately no lyrics are situated with the Promo CD. Are your lyrics personal? Over which topics do you sing?
Antti: Yes the lyrics are personal. Some of the things have happened either to me or to someone close. This is how we see, feel, smell and taste this world around us. Sometimes it can make us smile, sometimes not. We're not afraid to tell even if it gets ugly.
HH: Have you political lyrics, too? Are you a political band at all?
Antti: No. We've never been and never will be interested in being another band announcing political messages. There's enough political bullshit going on already and we don't want to be a part of it.
HH: Why are you making music? What was the reason?
Antti: WHY are we making music? Believe it or not but watching and listening to Kiss really rocked our world. These kids literally lost their souls to rock'n'roll.
HH: Hehehe, sorry, but I always was the AC/DC-fan! Kiss are pussies! ;-) Ok, only in my opinion! Kiss vs. AC/DC - an old fight through the decades! ;-)
How would you describe your music to someone, never heard from you?
Antti: Hmm... we're a band with a mission...hehehe, no way. Like I said, we DO have soul and balls in our music, and in case you're in need of a thorough musical love-making/spanking, check our album "Period."
HH: What's your opinion about the Internet? Do you think it destroys or supports new bands?
Antti: It's a bit complicated. But I think the Internet is a great way to get your new band known.
HH: If you get a chance to tour with H.I.M. would you join him? (you see the ambiguity? *g*)
Antti: HIM is a great band, no question about it. And yes, we would tour with them if there's ever an opportunity.
HH: Finland is for many Europeans a strange country. How would you make others tasty for the beautifulnesses of Finland?
Antti: Well this is truly a strange country with strange people living in it. So what else you can expect to come from here? One thing that has surely effected our music is this scandinavian melancholy.
P.S. AC/DC sucks!!!
Andreas