z Oskari, Ville i Haiwe

A-N-N-A: A lot has happened for Flinch in the past year. How long did it take to find the new band members?
Oskari: I knew Ville before and during the whole stand up… and things went like they went, and so the guys broke up as a band. Me and Ville decided to put a band together. At the start it was quiet hard… it was hard finding the right guys. At first we had like a couple of guitar players and one bass player before Haiwe, Jaako and Tommi but they didn’t suit for the band. But when we found Jaako - he was the first guitar player in the band - than we found Haiwe and after that it was quiet easy, but I don’t know…
Haiwe: We didn’t know each other at all. I’m not from Tampere.

A-N-N-A: So where are you from?
Haiwe: Valkeakoski, which is near Tampere, around 30 km to the south. I met Ville a few times. We were doing gigs but in different bands.

A-N-N-A: What band did you play in before?
Haiwe: Filthy Sixx.

A-N-N-A: But you’re not with them anymore?
Haiwe: Ahh, yes I’m with them.

A-N-N-A: Can you tell us a little bit about each member of Flinch? Any secrets?
Oskari: Tommi is the oldest one. I’m the second oldest one. I knew Tommi from years ago, he’s my good friend. I think he’s the best bass player in Tampere... he might be. And he’s also a great guy, he’s adorable.
Jaako is the youngest and sometimes you can tell he’s the youngest, but he’s also a nice guy, a good friend also.
And Haiwe... Haiwe is the best. Haiwe has a 4 year old boy/child. He’s a happy father and I don’t know … anything else...
Ville is my dearest friend, he’s like a brother to me and we have had lots of great moments together and we will have lots of great moments... He’s sensitive… a bit shy but sometimes from time to time he’s the craziest. He’s a funny guy. Sometimes we have to take care of him, but he will take care of us too, if we need some help. He’s great.
Wanna say something about me… please? (This is followed by a conversation in Finnish about Oskari, with lots of laughs from everyone ending with Oskari’s „Next"!...)

A-N-N-A: So it must be great for you both and also the others to be friends and be in the same band together?
Everybody: Yeah it is!!

A-N-N-A: Has anything changed through the transformation of Flinch - musically or style wise? Harder, softer or even more Rock ’n Roll?
Oskari: Compared to the old band, the sound has changed to more rock. It’s more like old school traditional Finnish rock compared to the one before. I think Ville is the best person to describe the changes because we don’t know anything about the old band.
Ville: The music and the whole spirit between is like night and day.
Oskari: It should be funny, you know. It should be a hobby that you do for a living. But the most important thing is that you have fun.

A-N-N-A: And I’m sure you guys have fun.
Ville: Little!
All: Yeah!

A-N-N-A: Your new single „Taivas Tähtiverhoineen" was released on 09.01.2008. Have you received any feedback and what was the reaction to it?
Oskari: Yeah, I think there’s been lots of feedback. I think some people like it and love it a lot and then there is the other side, who doesn’t like it at all. It’s like – I don’t know how to say it in English – there’s two sides to it… like a love-hate relationship. I think it’s nice to have feedback. It’s on the internet - on MySpace - there have been discussions, which were fun to read. And it’s important to have feedback.
Haiwe: Good or bad.

A-N-N-A: So you can learn from the bad…
Oskari: Yeah, exactly. If there’s always just „looking great and good sound and good song" and stuff like that, you don’t get it, you don’t get anything…

A-N-N-A: … about things that should be changed or could be changed…
Oskari: Yeah…

A-N-N-A: After the single the new album release will follow soon - any specific date set yet?
Oskari: We don’t know the exact date yet. But it’s April, early April. (The official release date for „Irrallaan" has been set for 09.04.2008.)

A-N-N-A: How would you describe the new album?
Oskari: The lyrics are quiet sad, but it gives hope to people who feel the same way and with its tempo it’s quite fast and rock… like it’s not so dark music. It contains 10 songs and most of the songs are written and composed by Ville. And then there is two songs composed by Jonne… - interruption through Ville in Finnish, and then Oskari translating - that one song was composed by Jonne and for one song Jonne has done lyrics together with Ville. I think it’s good. I’m satisfied. It’s rock ’n roll.

A-N-N-A: What is your favorite song?
Oskari: Haiwe and I have the same song it’s called "1986". And Ville’s song is "Ansa". Jakko’s favorite song is his own. Tommi likes the song called " Irralla". We play the song tonight and Ville said "oh fuck!" He doesn’t like it.

A-N-N-A: You don’t?
Ville: I like it but it’s quiet hard.
Oskari: For singers it’s difficult.

A-N-N-A: What does the album mean to you?
Oskari: Yes! A new band and a new beginning. For me it’s important - I really look forward to the releasing date. I’m really excited.
Haiwe: I think it’s our first album not the second.

A-N-N-A: Have you been in a band before or is that your first released album ever?
Oskari: It’s gonna be my first released album ever but of course, I’m 26 years old, so I’ve been in different bands before. Haven’t started yesterday. Haiwe has played in many bands before. Tommi has played in many bands before… Tommi has played in some RAP artist bands. I can’t remember the names, but I think two. Yeah then the rock’n roll band, I think they have released two albums, but he’s the oldest one.

A-N-N-A: So he’s allowed to make mistakes?
ALL: (laugh) Yeah.

A-N-N-A: How did the collaboration with Jonne come about? Has it been easier or more difficult for you to work with him rather than someone un-related or unknown to you?
Oskari: It was the bands decision to invite Jonne to produce the album. We discussed it many times and compared some producers and there were some other names too, but we were all… I think it’s great that Jonne has cut the tape… and we’ve known each other, so…. he was helping us a lot and he played bass for about 2 months… I think it’s a natural choice and I don’t regret it. He’s done a good job… and when they are working they are not like brothers. But you can tell they are brothers, because they are very alike, they are both perfectionists. But especially because of this Ville and Jonne clashed more easily than the rest of us with the producer… but it went well.

A-N-N-A: Do you consider recording an English album anytime?
Oskari: NO!!

A-N-N-A: Would you tour with a Finnish album in Germany or anywhere outside of Finland?
Oskari: We are going to play in Berlin in Finnish. Yes May/spring, we don’t know yet. But I think it’s a secret yet, so…. I think we are coming, if everything goes right.

A-N-N-A: There’s a big Finnish wave going through Germany right now, so whenever you say „I’m a Finnish band", you’ve got lots of fans already?
Oskari: Yeah, it’s quite amazing!
Someday, when we’ve rehearsed enough, Ville wants to sing a song in English some day… one song only.

A-N-N-A: I think you don’t necessarily have to sing in English anymore, when you tour through Germany.
Oskari: No, of course…

A-N-N-A: You could sing a German song as well…?
Oskari: Over here it’s also that bands sing in other languages than English or Finnish. Kent is a popular band that sings in Swedish and then there is Tokio Hotel, of course…

A-N-N-A: When they (Tokio Hotel) tour in Finland, do they sing English?
Oskari: German… „Ich bin da"… (is followed by laughter from everyone)

A-N-N-A: What are your goals for Flinch? Where do you think Flinch will be in 5 years?
Oskari: Mhm… We hope that lots of people will like us. And by then we have done 2 or 3 albums and … keep on rockin’!

A-N-N-A: What are your personal wishes and plans for 2008?
Oskari: To stay healthy and to have fun, that’s a big part. Health is the most important thing for me… You know, there are so many young people getting some nasty disease… so that’s most important for me! And of course, that my family does not get ill and stays healthy, that’s important to me.

A-N-N-A: You’re about to go on stage - how does it feel?
Oskari: Great!!
Ville: Hyvää!!

A-N-N-A: Ok, that’s it. Thank you very much!
Oskari: Thank you!

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