This band is a duo, formed in 2013 and has unleashed a string of self produced recordings on the world. Their latest release, HOLY WATER, is the perfect crossroads of hard rock blues and southern whiskey soaked blues. Shades of Skynyrd, AC/DC, and Ted Nugent abound on every song.
This pure American blues rock.Check out “Aces High”, “You Aint Gonna Take Me Down”, and the title track, ” Holy Water”.
Any fan of heavy guitar driven music should check this band out.
This band is a duo, formed in 2013 and has unleashed a string of self produced recordings on the world. Their latest release, HOLY WATER, is the perfect crossroads of hard rock blues and southern whiskey soaked blues. Shades of Skynyrd, AC/DC, and Ted Nugent abound on every song.
This pure American blues rock.Check out “Aces High”, “You Aint Gonna Take Me Down”, and the title track, ” Holy Water”.
Any fan of heavy guitar driven music should check this band out.
Toronto’s ONE IN THE CHAMBER is a perfect composition of rock swagger and full on hard rock groove. These guys know when to pull the trigger and when to walk away. Their sound is their own and they are taking no prisoners. “I’ve Got Bills To Pay” is an incredible searing salute to the future of modern rock and roll. Check this band out. This band gets 9/10 wolf Howls ONE IN THE CHAMBER
1. Take us
through your mindset when composing your songs. Does everyone
contribute?
Gerrod: All four
of us are songwriters and contribute to everything we do. Normally it
starts with one of us bringing in an idea, a riff or something, and
then it evolves in the practice room. We’ll jam on it until it
becomes something that we never thought it would after the initial
idea.
Christian: We all
come from different musical backgrounds, so we sometimes clash in our
songwriting, but in the end, I think that’s what makes our songs
sound unique.
2. Being
compared to Led Zeppelin and Motley Crue as well as others..does it
add pressure to your writing or is it more of an inspiration?
Gerrod: This is
the coolest thing for me. I don’t think it adds pressure to us,
we’re certainly inspired by these and many other artists, but we
are always trying to keep things exciting. We aren’t here to rehash
the past, we just wanted to make a record that we would want to
listen to.
3. are you
active with social media and do you see it as a positive or negative
force in music today
Gerrod: It’s
what they’d call a double-edged sword. It’s never been easier to
get your music heard, but now, everyone and their mum has a band.
4. What
inspired you initially to become a musician
Gerrod: I’ve
been listening to rock bands like The Chili Peppers, Aerosmith,
Zeppelin, and The Stones all my life, but it was watching Chad Smith
at a drum clinic which made me want to take drumming seriously. That
and the girls.
Christian: I
remember watching Metallica’s “Live Shit: Binge & Purge”,
when I was a kid, and being absolutely blown away by the show. I
wanted to be just like them, so I quickly picked up guitar and drums
after that, and then eventually, bass. The girls came after.
5. what
has been the most rewarding aspect of making music for you
Gerrod: Playing
live always brings an unparalleled feeling – some shows more than
others, but it’s always there. It’s also just incredible to have
our music out there; it’s real and it’s out there for someone to
hear it.
Christian:
There’s no better feeling than having a crowd reciprocate the same
energy you’re giving out, on stage. When they’re feeling it, then the
show is that much better. Putting out “I’ve Got Something To Say…”
has also been tremendously rewarding for us. To see all of our hard
work and planning come together is a great feeling.
6. What has
been the hardest part of being a modern musician
Gerrod: Getting
attention and maintaining momentum while remaining entirely
independent. It’s a steep curve, but I think we’ve caught on.
7.
Something in your music collection we would not expect
Gerrod: Hip-Hop.
Wu Tang Clan has been on steady repeat all year. Just today alone, I
went from Sound garden to Prince and then to Ice Cube. It’s always
an interesting mix.
8.
Strangest thing you have ever experienced at a gig
Christian: At one
of our last gigs, a really drunk guy started doing push ups on the
front of the stage. He did it a bunch of times that night.
Gerrod: That was
wild! Dude was a tank
9. Where do
you see the future of music and performance heading?For more info, here is our website:
https://www.oitcband.com/
Gerrod: I don’t
think anything can replace the real thing when it comes to
performance. We leave our house to hear music live because we crave
the human interaction, the danger, we want to see the safety net
removed. As for music, I think we are entering a rock & roll sort
of revival and while Greta Van Fleet may be the hot new thing, there
is plenty of amazing independent bands making waves every day.
10. Are
holograms OK with you?
Gerrod: I think
that’s about as lame as it gets; I think live shows are supposed to
thrill the audience. There should be a sense of danger or
unpredictability to it. Holograms are far to calculated. I’ll take
the records every time.
Christian: I
think they’re creepy as hell.
11.
Anything you wish to convey to your fans
Gerrod: We are always so grateful for each and every one of them.
Thank you for making our 2018 so fantastic and here’s to an even
bigger and better 2019.
Toronto’s ONE IN THE CHAMBER is a perfect composition of rock swagger and full on hard rock groove. These guys know when to pull the trigger and when to walk away. Their sound is their own and they are taking no prisoners. “I’ve Got Bills To Pay” is an incredible searing salute to the future of modern rock and roll. Check this band out. This band gets 9/10 wolf Howls ONE IN THE CHAMBER
1. Take us
through your mindset when composing your songs. Does everyone
contribute?
Gerrod: All four
of us are songwriters and contribute to everything we do. Normally it
starts with one of us bringing in an idea, a riff or something, and
then it evolves in the practice room. We’ll jam on it until it
becomes something that we never thought it would after the initial
idea.
Christian: We all
come from different musical backgrounds, so we sometimes clash in our
songwriting, but in the end, I think that’s what makes our songs
sound unique.
2. Being
compared to Led Zeppelin and Motley Crue as well as others..does it
add pressure to your writing or is it more of an inspiration?
Gerrod: This is
the coolest thing for me. I don’t think it adds pressure to us,
we’re certainly inspired by these and many other artists, but we
are always trying to keep things exciting. We aren’t here to rehash
the past, we just wanted to make a record that we would want to
listen to.
3. are you
active with social media and do you see it as a positive or negative
force in music today
Gerrod: It’s
what they’d call a double-edged sword. It’s never been easier to
get your music heard, but now, everyone and their mum has a band.
4. What
inspired you initially to become a musician
Gerrod: I’ve
been listening to rock bands like The Chili Peppers, Aerosmith,
Zeppelin, and The Stones all my life, but it was watching Chad Smith
at a drum clinic which made me want to take drumming seriously. That
and the girls.
Christian: I
remember watching Metallica’s “Live Shit: Binge & Purge”,
when I was a kid, and being absolutely blown away by the show. I
wanted to be just like them, so I quickly picked up guitar and drums
after that, and then eventually, bass. The girls came after.
5. what
has been the most rewarding aspect of making music for you
Gerrod: Playing
live always brings an unparalleled feeling – some shows more than
others, but it’s always there. It’s also just incredible to have
our music out there; it’s real and it’s out there for someone to
hear it.
Christian:
There’s no better feeling than having a crowd reciprocate the same
energy you’re giving out, on stage. When they’re feeling it, then the
show is that much better. Putting out “I’ve Got Something To Say…”
has also been tremendously rewarding for us. To see all of our hard
work and planning come together is a great feeling.
6. What has
been the hardest part of being a modern musician
Gerrod: Getting
attention and maintaining momentum while remaining entirely
independent. It’s a steep curve, but I think we’ve caught on.
7.
Something in your music collection we would not expect
Gerrod: Hip-Hop.
Wu Tang Clan has been on steady repeat all year. Just today alone, I
went from Sound garden to Prince and then to Ice Cube. It’s always
an interesting mix.
8.
Strangest thing you have ever experienced at a gig
Christian: At one
of our last gigs, a really drunk guy started doing push ups on the
front of the stage. He did it a bunch of times that night.
Gerrod: That was
wild! Dude was a tank
9. Where do
you see the future of music and performance heading?For more info, here is our website:
https://www.oitcband.com/
Gerrod: I don’t
think anything can replace the real thing when it comes to
performance. We leave our house to hear music live because we crave
the human interaction, the danger, we want to see the safety net
removed. As for music, I think we are entering a rock & roll sort
of revival and while Greta Van Fleet may be the hot new thing, there
is plenty of amazing independent bands making waves every day.
10. Are
holograms OK with you?
Gerrod: I think
that’s about as lame as it gets; I think live shows are supposed to
thrill the audience. There should be a sense of danger or
unpredictability to it. Holograms are far to calculated. I’ll take
the records every time.
Christian: I
think they’re creepy as hell.
11.
Anything you wish to convey to your fans
Gerrod: We are always so grateful for each and every one of them.
Thank you for making our 2018 so fantastic and here’s to an even
bigger and better 2019.
One of the best up and coming metal bands to come out of Rhode Island in a long time. These guys are a force to be reckoned with. They have a sound that is uniquely their own and they are a killer band live. One of the few local metal acts that still hold true to the flag of heavy metal. Looking forward to great things from this band.Check out the band when they open for “Fatal Portrait(king diamond tribute) this Friday 12/21/18@ the bar in New Bedford Ma.
First
and fore most who came up with the name:
Ron: That would be our
singer George.
How
would you describe your music?
Ron: Our music is
a mix of classic Metal from the 80’s such as Iron Maiden & early Metallica combined
with some progressive rock such as Rush, Tool & Dream Theater all fused
with some modern flare forming an original sound that is truly our own.
Take
us through the writing process. Does everyone contribute?
Ron: Ideas either come
in the form of riffs or full songs from either myself or George. We then work
on them as a full band and lay out the arrangements. Lyrics are either
worked on separately after the music/melodies have been composed or while the
initial song was written.
Something
in your personal music collections that fans might not expect?
Ron:
80’s Top 40 music & some Country and Western
George: Van der Graaf
Generator
Sean:
Evanescence (don’t judge me J )
What
has been the most challenging aspect of being a musician?
Ron: The biggest
challenge as a musician/artist in general is being able to go with the ebbs and
flows, the good and the bad, and being able to take the punches and still be
able to get up, fight and continue to persevere. Not many musicians can do that.
It takes hard work, a never say die attitude and never settling for less than
the best and never taking no for an answer.
George: For me it is
working full time construction and having the energy to give and do what the
music deserves. I try to practice daily but sometimes my energy is spent and it
kills creativity. On the other hand, when I do work on music, I bring that same
work ethic as do Sean and Ron. It’s a lot of work recording-practicing-playing
shows and promoting. It is worth it 1000 x over if I can make a living doing
what I love one day. No matter what though there is nothing like sharing a part
of you in front of people and creating that experience I fell in love with when
I see my favorite band play. It’s on a level of a Religious experience for me.
Is
the New England original music scene positive for your music?
George:
Absolutely! We are so lucky to have so many places to play. New England has a
lot of clubs just a few hours away from one and other. Also, there are so many
great musicians to network with and that’s what it’s all about, to get gigs
together and help one another out.
We have been able to work
with some venues that primarily book cover/tribute acts. Some of them have been
willing to book original acts as openers for cover and or tribute bands. We
praise these venues that have been willing to help us, along with the acts that
have been willing to take us under their wing to allow us the opportunity to
get in front of more people to show them what we can do. It’s a hybrid music
scene!
By mixing in our songs
with some crowd please rs/covers that people are familiar with has allowed us
the advantage to bring our music in front of more people and to pick up new
fans. This has open dozens of new doors for us.
What
makes a perfect song for you? What are the elements for your ears?
Ron: A great memorable
melody, infectious grooves and high energy riffs, being able to write a piece
of music that keeps us interested and challenged as musicians but doesn’t go
too far to end up going over the heads of the average listener as well as
having subject matter they can identify and relate to.
Favorite
local club to perform in?
Any venue that is willing to have and allow us the opportunity to
get in front of a live audience.
Name
one band that you would love to tour with?
George: If we were
offered a national tour it could be a band that made music by farting
underwater and we would Love em…LOL, but seriously, I would love to open for
Metallica. I know its cliché but they were my first concert and are my heroes.
It was the And Justice tour. I don’t care what they did after that or how much
of a dick Lars is. LOL
On a local level,
FirstBourne out of Boston would be awesome!
Sean: The Winery
Dogs. I’ve always been a huge fan of Mike Portnoy, and since The Winery
Dogs are also a 3 piece act I think that’s a bill that would make sense.
Ron: For me on a national
level, Iron Maiden, as Steve Harris is my main inspiration for becoming a bass
player, locally, Death Rattle.
Strangest
thing that ever happened at a gig
Ron/George: We had
played a show at a club after they just had a Fetish Night, (whips, chains, and
most likely sex), and the venue reeked of semen. It was so bad that Sean had to take his drum
cases outside the next day to air them out as the stench had fully permeated
them.
Is
social media a positive or negative impact on your music?
Ron: It’s a double edged
sword. Overall, Social Media gives any musician free exposure to the
world, versus the days when bands had to do tape trading and such to get their
music out there, so the net and the web has certainly made it easier to spread
one’s music and name. On the down side, some listeners rather just stream
a song or full album instead of downloading and buying it or watch live videos
on you tube instead of coming out and seeing a band.
Any
subject matter you will not write about?
Ron: We’re not a band
that has a particular stance or belief on certain matters. We write from
what we see, observe or experience. Inspiration for lyrics can come from
anywhere, an event, a story, a movie, or just personal experiences. There
are some fantasy related things that we write about, but we try to stay away
from the cheesy and cliché.
Anything
you would like to say to your fans?
We would like to thank
them all as if it wasn’t for them we wouldn’t be able to do what we do. They
make it all worth the while. They can continue to expect to get the best
from us and for us to keep them moving. www.threepointsofmadnessmusic.com/
One of the best up and coming metal bands to come out of Rhode Island in a long time. These guys are a force to be reckoned with. They have a sound that is uniquely their own and they are a killer band live. One of the few local metal acts that still hold true to the flag of heavy metal. Looking forward to great things from this band.Check out the band when they open for “Fatal Portrait(king diamond tribute) this Friday 12/21/18@ the bar in New Bedford Ma.
First
and fore most who came up with the name:
Ron: That would be our
singer George.
How
would you describe your music?
Ron: Our music is
a mix of classic Metal from the 80’s such as Iron Maiden & early Metallica combined
with some progressive rock such as Rush, Tool & Dream Theater all fused
with some modern flare forming an original sound that is truly our own.
Take
us through the writing process. Does everyone contribute?
Ron: Ideas either come
in the form of riffs or full songs from either myself or George. We then work
on them as a full band and lay out the arrangements. Lyrics are either
worked on separately after the music/melodies have been composed or while the
initial song was written.
Something
in your personal music collections that fans might not expect?
Ron:
80’s Top 40 music & some Country and Western
George: Van der Graaf
Generator
Sean:
Evanescence (don’t judge me J )
What
has been the most challenging aspect of being a musician?
Ron: The biggest
challenge as a musician/artist in general is being able to go with the ebbs and
flows, the good and the bad, and being able to take the punches and still be
able to get up, fight and continue to persevere. Not many musicians can do that.
It takes hard work, a never say die attitude and never settling for less than
the best and never taking no for an answer.
George: For me it is
working full time construction and having the energy to give and do what the
music deserves. I try to practice daily but sometimes my energy is spent and it
kills creativity. On the other hand, when I do work on music, I bring that same
work ethic as do Sean and Ron. It’s a lot of work recording-practicing-playing
shows and promoting. It is worth it 1000 x over if I can make a living doing
what I love one day. No matter what though there is nothing like sharing a part
of you in front of people and creating that experience I fell in love with when
I see my favorite band play. It’s on a level of a Religious experience for me.
Is
the New England original music scene positive for your music?
George:
Absolutely! We are so lucky to have so many places to play. New England has a
lot of clubs just a few hours away from one and other. Also, there are so many
great musicians to network with and that’s what it’s all about, to get gigs
together and help one another out.
We have been able to work
with some venues that primarily book cover/tribute acts. Some of them have been
willing to book original acts as openers for cover and or tribute bands. We
praise these venues that have been willing to help us, along with the acts that
have been willing to take us under their wing to allow us the opportunity to
get in front of more people to show them what we can do. It’s a hybrid music
scene!
By mixing in our songs
with some crowd please rs/covers that people are familiar with has allowed us
the advantage to bring our music in front of more people and to pick up new
fans. This has open dozens of new doors for us.
What
makes a perfect song for you? What are the elements for your ears?
Ron: A great memorable
melody, infectious grooves and high energy riffs, being able to write a piece
of music that keeps us interested and challenged as musicians but doesn’t go
too far to end up going over the heads of the average listener as well as
having subject matter they can identify and relate to.
Favorite
local club to perform in?
Any venue that is willing to have and allow us the opportunity to
get in front of a live audience.
Name
one band that you would love to tour with?
George: If we were
offered a national tour it could be a band that made music by farting
underwater and we would Love em…LOL, but seriously, I would love to open for
Metallica. I know its cliché but they were my first concert and are my heroes.
It was the And Justice tour. I don’t care what they did after that or how much
of a dick Lars is. LOL
On a local level,
FirstBourne out of Boston would be awesome!
Sean: The Winery
Dogs. I’ve always been a huge fan of Mike Portnoy, and since The Winery
Dogs are also a 3 piece act I think that’s a bill that would make sense.
Ron: For me on a national
level, Iron Maiden, as Steve Harris is my main inspiration for becoming a bass
player, locally, Death Rattle.
Strangest
thing that ever happened at a gig
Ron/George: We had
played a show at a club after they just had a Fetish Night, (whips, chains, and
most likely sex), and the venue reeked of semen. It was so bad that Sean had to take his drum
cases outside the next day to air them out as the stench had fully permeated
them.
Is
social media a positive or negative impact on your music?
Ron: It’s a double edged
sword. Overall, Social Media gives any musician free exposure to the
world, versus the days when bands had to do tape trading and such to get their
music out there, so the net and the web has certainly made it easier to spread
one’s music and name. On the down side, some listeners rather just stream
a song or full album instead of downloading and buying it or watch live videos
on you tube instead of coming out and seeing a band.
Any
subject matter you will not write about?
Ron: We’re not a band
that has a particular stance or belief on certain matters. We write from
what we see, observe or experience. Inspiration for lyrics can come from
anywhere, an event, a story, a movie, or just personal experiences. There
are some fantasy related things that we write about, but we try to stay away
from the cheesy and cliché.
Anything
you would like to say to your fans?
We would like to thank
them all as if it wasn’t for them we wouldn’t be able to do what we do. They
make it all worth the while. They can continue to expect to get the best
from us and for us to keep them moving. www.threepointsofmadnessmusic.com/
Nothing
great ever comes easy & the most rewarding way is usually the hard
way, which is the essence of “The One You Leave Behind”. Four years ago
when my son was 8 months old, my wife & I mustered up the balls to
leave everyone & everything we knew behind and move 7000 miles away
to start a new chapter in our life. The task was so momentous that I had
to cruise through it at times. What I left behind was the person I had
always been, everyone I knew, and who everyone knew me as. Everything I
experienced in the last few years, becoming a dad twice over, starting a
business & relocating again has been new and foreign to me but in
the end I came out the ringer a much better & more fulfilled person.
Iv’e always gone with the flow in life, never could have imagined it
would take me from Helsinki to Hawaii.
“The
One You Leave Behind” has been a very difficult yet rewarding song to
write & record. I completely changed my approach with this one and
dug deep. If you harness the spirit that your inner voice represents you
can achieve anything. Your gut feeling is fire. Don’t make plans just
do. The song took on a life of it’s own and consumed me and I gave
it my all. The song contains some of the actual demo recording as I
wanted to keep the songs authentic feel alive. It was recorded on three
different continents and is raw, honest and a testament of who I have
become, showcasing a different side of me. I actually recorded my vocals
on my balcony at night, and I have to say I liked singing this song as I
wasn’t belting all the way through. I’m happy and relieved it’s finally
released.
What
started off as a nice little riff inspired by attending what was to be
Tom Petty’s last show ever at the Hollywood Bowl, made me question my
sanity at times, adding to it the fact that I recorded this song between
1 and 3 AM exclusively, like a hermit isolated deep in the jungle of
Hawaii Island. I had every technical set back under the sun with
this one, broken hard drives, crashed drones & lost tracks. I almost
died falling into the river above a 40 feet tall waterfall, only saved
by grabbing onto a rock at the last second. The video is something I
am very proud of, the coolest thing I have ever created up till this
point. It really showcases how magical the place I now call home is.
While filming and recording “The One You Leave Behind” we were hit by
hurricanes, floods and a volcanic eruption, yet beauty & life
prevails. Part 2 of the Trilogy is about giving into the universe
and grabbing life by it’s balls and riding that wave from infinity till
beyond, if you dare. Trust me, you’ll be better than fine. Life is
magical so enjoy it.
1.
Take us through your mindset when composing a song like “the one
you leave behind”
The
original inspiration struck after I left Tom Petty’s last show ever.
Got home, picked up the guitar in the video and started playing the
intro riff. I thought it was cool and then left it alone for a month
or two. Then when I was deciding on the second song for the Trilogy I
picked up the track again and started recording it section by
section. That’s how I write & record. I’ll complete the song
section by section, I never write the whole song. I like to see where
it takes me. For the lyrics I ended up writing a song to myself from
myself. In a sense the now older me singing to the younger me if you
will. I thought that would be cool to identify with, not that I gave
it that much thought initially. It just came from somewhere, worked
out well and I dig the concept. I usually write the music first and
the lyrics based on the vibe of the song. This song took a while to
complete as I only worked on it between 1 and 3AM.
2.
During the video shooting you mentioned almost falling into a river.
Tell us about that
Not
almost, I did. I was waiting for the drone to film me on top of this
40′ waterfall and I saw it coming so I took one more step trying to
make the shot even more epic. I misstepped and fell into the water
above the waterfall. I was 2-3 seconds from the fall. I saw a rock
that I grabbed onto. Then I realized I had nowhere to swim and the
current was pushing me over the rock so I emptied my lungs and dove
straight into the undertow kicking the rock as hard as I could, I
managed to dive upstream and climb out. While this episode unfolded
the drone crashed into the cliff wall…. Needless to say we chose a
different waterfall to film at once the new drone arrived in the
mail. Was very lucky that day.
3.
are you active with social media and do you see it as a positive or
negative force in music today
I
should be more active, seems to be the thing to do but I don’t have
the need to post all the time, I post when it has to do with my
music. I’d rather make music and hang with my kids than to be glued
to my phone fishing for likes, I’m ok with myself, I don’t need likes
to feel good about myself. I do post if I have some cool content but
you won’t find me posting what my mood is haha. It helps reach people
who would never find out about you because of all the stuff online
today. So it’s all good.
4.
What inspired you initially to become a musician
The
gatefold of KISS Alive 2 when I was four years old.
5.
what has been the most rewarding aspect of making music for you
The
whole process of hearing a melody in my head, actually writing a
functioning tune, arranging it (which is my favorite part) recording
it, releasing it and then getting feedback that someone was either
inspired by a song or has a special memory attached to it. That is
magical in many ways.
6.
What has been the hardest part of being a modern musician
Being
blinded by not being awesome enough in the past and the frustration
that brings with it.
7.
Something in your music collection we would not expect
My
favorite album of the last two years has been “The Golden Hits”
by “Duke Kamoku & His Islanders” I have worked up mad
streams on that album. It’s the soundtrack to my daughters first year
and a half. Check it out for awesome vibes.
8.
Strangest thing you have ever experienced at a gig
We
were playing in Russia with NAKED about a decade ago and when I went
up to the mic to start singing the first song I got electrocuted in
my face by the mic. The full juicy jolt hit my front teeth as the PA
was not grounded, didn’t understand anything for a good 30 seconds
and the pain was like dynamite toothache times 1000.
Few
other highlights are playing a sold-out show in Tokyo and our first
US tour as a whole. Oh and once a coked-up promoter in Italy locked
the whole band in a room filled with snakes for 6 hours and didn’t
pay us.
9.
Where do you see the future of music and performance heading?
It’ll
keep keeping on. Hopefully, it heads towards more live
instrumentation at some point.
10.
Are holograms ok with you?
Since
no one has ever asked me that before my answer is yes they are.
11.
Anything you wish to convey to your fans
I’m
a guy from Finland who rode the flow of life all the way to Hawaii
somehow and I love making music. Give my music a listen as you’ll get
to experience me giving you my all, to create memories and let my
music be the soundtrack.
Nothing
great ever comes easy & the most rewarding way is usually the hard
way, which is the essence of “The One You Leave Behind”. Four years ago
when my son was 8 months old, my wife & I mustered up the balls to
leave everyone & everything we knew behind and move 7000 miles away
to start a new chapter in our life. The task was so momentous that I had
to cruise through it at times. What I left behind was the person I had
always been, everyone I knew, and who everyone knew me as. Everything I
experienced in the last few years, becoming a dad twice over, starting a
business & relocating again has been new and foreign to me but in
the end I came out the ringer a much better & more fulfilled person.
Iv’e always gone with the flow in life, never could have imagined it
would take me from Helsinki to Hawaii.
“The
One You Leave Behind” has been a very difficult yet rewarding song to
write & record. I completely changed my approach with this one and
dug deep. If you harness the spirit that your inner voice represents you
can achieve anything. Your gut feeling is fire. Don’t make plans just
do. The song took on a life of it’s own and consumed me and I gave
it my all. The song contains some of the actual demo recording as I
wanted to keep the songs authentic feel alive. It was recorded on three
different continents and is raw, honest and a testament of who I have
become, showcasing a different side of me. I actually recorded my vocals
on my balcony at night, and I have to say I liked singing this song as I
wasn’t belting all the way through. I’m happy and relieved it’s finally
released.
What
started off as a nice little riff inspired by attending what was to be
Tom Petty’s last show ever at the Hollywood Bowl, made me question my
sanity at times, adding to it the fact that I recorded this song between
1 and 3 AM exclusively, like a hermit isolated deep in the jungle of
Hawaii Island. I had every technical set back under the sun with
this one, broken hard drives, crashed drones & lost tracks. I almost
died falling into the river above a 40 feet tall waterfall, only saved
by grabbing onto a rock at the last second. The video is something I
am very proud of, the coolest thing I have ever created up till this
point. It really showcases how magical the place I now call home is.
While filming and recording “The One You Leave Behind” we were hit by
hurricanes, floods and a volcanic eruption, yet beauty & life
prevails. Part 2 of the Trilogy is about giving into the universe
and grabbing life by it’s balls and riding that wave from infinity till
beyond, if you dare. Trust me, you’ll be better than fine. Life is
magical so enjoy it.
1.
Take us through your mindset when composing a song like “the one
you leave behind”
The
original inspiration struck after I left Tom Petty’s last show ever.
Got home, picked up the guitar in the video and started playing the
intro riff. I thought it was cool and then left it alone for a month
or two. Then when I was deciding on the second song for the Trilogy I
picked up the track again and started recording it section by
section. That’s how I write & record. I’ll complete the song
section by section, I never write the whole song. I like to see where
it takes me. For the lyrics I ended up writing a song to myself from
myself. In a sense the now older me singing to the younger me if you
will. I thought that would be cool to identify with, not that I gave
it that much thought initially. It just came from somewhere, worked
out well and I dig the concept. I usually write the music first and
the lyrics based on the vibe of the song. This song took a while to
complete as I only worked on it between 1 and 3AM.
2.
During the video shooting you mentioned almost falling into a river.
Tell us about that
Not
almost, I did. I was waiting for the drone to film me on top of this
40′ waterfall and I saw it coming so I took one more step trying to
make the shot even more epic. I misstepped and fell into the water
above the waterfall. I was 2-3 seconds from the fall. I saw a rock
that I grabbed onto. Then I realized I had nowhere to swim and the
current was pushing me over the rock so I emptied my lungs and dove
straight into the undertow kicking the rock as hard as I could, I
managed to dive upstream and climb out. While this episode unfolded
the drone crashed into the cliff wall…. Needless to say we chose a
different waterfall to film at once the new drone arrived in the
mail. Was very lucky that day.
3.
are you active with social media and do you see it as a positive or
negative force in music today
I
should be more active, seems to be the thing to do but I don’t have
the need to post all the time, I post when it has to do with my
music. I’d rather make music and hang with my kids than to be glued
to my phone fishing for likes, I’m ok with myself, I don’t need likes
to feel good about myself. I do post if I have some cool content but
you won’t find me posting what my mood is haha. It helps reach people
who would never find out about you because of all the stuff online
today. So it’s all good.
4.
What inspired you initially to become a musician
The
gatefold of KISS Alive 2 when I was four years old.
5.
what has been the most rewarding aspect of making music for you
The
whole process of hearing a melody in my head, actually writing a
functioning tune, arranging it (which is my favorite part) recording
it, releasing it and then getting feedback that someone was either
inspired by a song or has a special memory attached to it. That is
magical in many ways.
6.
What has been the hardest part of being a modern musician
Being
blinded by not being awesome enough in the past and the frustration
that brings with it.
7.
Something in your music collection we would not expect
My
favorite album of the last two years has been “The Golden Hits”
by “Duke Kamoku & His Islanders” I have worked up mad
streams on that album. It’s the soundtrack to my daughters first year
and a half. Check it out for awesome vibes.
8.
Strangest thing you have ever experienced at a gig
We
were playing in Russia with NAKED about a decade ago and when I went
up to the mic to start singing the first song I got electrocuted in
my face by the mic. The full juicy jolt hit my front teeth as the PA
was not grounded, didn’t understand anything for a good 30 seconds
and the pain was like dynamite toothache times 1000.
Few
other highlights are playing a sold-out show in Tokyo and our first
US tour as a whole. Oh and once a coked-up promoter in Italy locked
the whole band in a room filled with snakes for 6 hours and didn’t
pay us.
9.
Where do you see the future of music and performance heading?
It’ll
keep keeping on. Hopefully, it heads towards more live
instrumentation at some point.
10.
Are holograms ok with you?
Since
no one has ever asked me that before my answer is yes they are.
11.
Anything you wish to convey to your fans
I’m
a guy from Finland who rode the flow of life all the way to Hawaii
somehow and I love making music. Give my music a listen as you’ll get
to experience me giving you my all, to create memories and let my
music be the soundtrack.
