ENTWINE
By Falber Teles • Feb 21st, 2009 • Category: Featured Band, Interviews
SOURCEWEBZINE – I’d like to start with talking about your new album, “Painstained”. Congratulations first of all, it’s fucking excellent, one of my current favourites! How long did it take to record?
Jaani Kähkönen (G) – Thanks a lot! It took us nearly the whole summer. We started in early may and finished in July. There were some breaks though because we had some problems with the studio where we mixed the album. But that gave us the chance to finish the keyboard parts properly. In general we used quite a few studios for the recording and mixing and then the album was finally mastered in Stockholm.
SOURCEWEBZINE – How has Entwine’s sound evolved on this album?
Jaani Kähkönen (G) – Well as you probably know Riitta (keyboards) left the band two years ago. Although Riitta never composed any keyboard parts it affected Tom’s writing style. In case you didn’t know, Tom writes 98% of all the keyboard parts in Entwine’s music. Anyways, Riitta’s departure might have affected Tom’s state of mind in a way that he didn’t spend that much time with a keyboard in the rehearsing place. Therefore, the new album is definitely more guitar orientated than any previous Entwine album. There are some parts and riffs that are more heavy than ever and some parts that are quite pop in Entwine style. In my opinion, once again quite diverse record.
SOURCEWEBZINE – What are your expectations for the album?
Jaani Kähkönen (G) – Well we hope it’ll sell more than the previous and that hopefully we can make a headline tour in Europe. It’s just simple as that. Of course there are always hopes within the band that what if this album will sell like 100 000 or so but nowadays we are quite realistic. We just do our best and hope that we are able to lure more and more fans into the Entwine world.
SOURCEWEBZINE – What makes “Painstained” Entwine’s best album to date?
Jaani Kähkönen (G) – I believe we found our own sound with “DiEversity” so to speak and we went even further with ‘Fatal Design’. This time we were able to combine all of the elements we have had during the last six years or so. I also had to mention that this time we had probably the best producer in Finland, Hiili Hiilesmaa. We cannot underestimate his contribution for this album. He’s so professional yet really easygoing.
SOURCEWEBZINE – Do you make any money from the legal paid downloads from iTunes and other online sources?
Jaani Kähkönen (G) – Of course. Although the majority of downloads are illegal. Therefore, there are a lot challenges for music business workers to find solutions to make that disadvantage disappear.
SOURCEWEBZINE – In what country does Entwine have the most fans?
Jaani Kähkönen (G) – In Finland of course because it is our native country and we have done a lot of gigs during the last eight years and that has resulted in a quite solid fan base. But if we are talking about the fans outside our home country then probably Germany.
We have toured there the most outside of Finland. I believe Spain is quite alright too. Our record company Spinefarm opened a new office in the UK recently and we are planning releasing either ‘Painstained’ or ‘Best of’ compilation there. Naturally we are looking forward doing some shows in the UK also.
SOURCEWEBZINE – Are you guys able to make a living at music, or do you have day jobs when you’re not on tour?
Jaani Kähkönen (G) – Everyone else but Mika is working or studying at the moment. It is extremely difficult to make a living in the music business. Especially in Finland where there is quite a low population. The amount of gigs we are able to do is limited. Actually I’m studying music and media management so I’ll probably be working in the business also in the future. I mean if I stop playing some day.
SOURCEWEBZINE – What kind of feedback have you gotten so far internationally, especially from Brazil, since this interview is mainly for a Brazilian webzine?
Jaani Kähkönen (G) – We have received very good feedback from all over South America. We would be thrilled to play some gigs over there. The thing is it is so far that it’s very expensive to travel there. But hopefully we are able to do it some day. As a support act for some bigger band, for example. Actually I just heard that there is some Brazilian dude who is really eager to get us there so we’ll see what happens.
SOURCEWEBZINE – What is your most prized possession (not including family or pets)?
Jaani Kähkönen (G) – It’s my G&L Legacy Special guitar. I’ve had it some 10 years and it has served well. I believe I won’t ever sell it.
SOURCEWEBZINE - Who are some current bands you admire?
Jaani Kähkönen (G) – Slipknot, Stone Sour, Papa Roach, just to begin with. Anyways I listen to a lot different kind of bands, not just metal.
SOURCEWEBZINE - As you travel the world, do you see metal being on an upward track now?
Jaani Kähkönen (G) – At least in Finland it’s probably bigger than ever. It is doing quite well all over the world I guess. In my opinion, there isn’t the same sort of ups and downs in metal music that there is in other musical genres, you know. There is always the same amount of metal heads in the world.
SOURCEWEBZINE – Thanks for the time you gave to me! All the Best!
Jaani Kähkönen (G) – De nada! (I know you speak Portuguese but that’s the closest I can get). All the best!
Falber Teles
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