interview with Midnight Bullet

What´s the name of your band? Midnight Bullet

How was the band formed? It was back to 2009. I (Tuomas) and Mikko had been played together for many years in a different bands and one day we decided to put together a new band.

Can you tell about your band? We have four members. We released our debut album on November 2012 and the album was called Faraday Cage. Now we're about to release the second album.

Where are all band members from?/Who does what in the band? Three members lives in Mäntyharju (which is a small town in Finland) and Lauri lives in Lahti. Mikko Nokelainen - drums, Tuomas Lahti - vocals & rhythm guitar, Lauri Ikonen - lead guitar and Tipi Nokelainen - bass.

What was the ambitions of the band when you started? We wanted to write own music. Especially I (Tuomas) need to express myself by writing the songs. It's important to have fun too.

Could you explain your music to someone that haven't heard you? We play rock 'n roll heavy music that can't be categorized, maybe. Faraday Cage wasn't very easy album for the listener. There is a lot of energy and riffs and you really have to pay attention about what's going on when you listen to it. Second album will be titled Lose My Face and there are more melodic stuff and great choruses.

Where was your first gig? Our first gig was at Mäntyharju in a pub called Old Iiwar.

Where was the latest gig? Actually it's been a little while since we had last gig. The main reason for that is our personal life. But however we're about to do some gigs after we release the second album.

Who writes your songs?/ who writes the music who writes lyrics? I'm (Tuomas) writing mainly all the songs. I do the lyrics and melody. Lauri have helped me by writing some riffs for the second album and of course we throw some ideas together when we're playing the new song for very first time.

Who has the best since of humor in the band? I have to say that Tipi has.

What's good/bad with the band?/What genre do you feel you are? The best thing is that you can write your own music. And I'm honored to play with such a great musicians. I've always dreamed about releasing own album and now it's all coming together. However there are some difficulties because we have day jobs and sometimes there is not enough time to play and arrange some gigs.

Why did you pick that particular style?/What are your songs about? It just came from the heart. We're not trying to be anything else than what we are, we play what feels the best. The subjects in the songs are about the "struggle" and surviving in the life. Sometimes the lyrics are just my (Tuomas) thoughts about life and my attends to share my feelings. Psychology is also in a great part in the lyrics.

Do you write your own material or mainly covers? We do play some covers in the gigs but the goal is to write own music.

Have you made any albums?/If yes what are they? Yes, debut album called Faraday Cage was released on November 2012. We've finished the second album and it is titled Lose My Face but we don't have the release date yet.

Do you have any clips on YouTube?

Through the Iron music video;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcezxTZslbI

Making of Lose My Face;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niL1MWLb4aE&list=UUpLZ5GD-jtIjTyEBLEZUBOg 

How old are you?/What got you started in music? Tuomas and Lauri are 28 years old, Mikko 29 and Tipi 31.  I (Tuomas) started to play guitar when I was 14. I was attracted about write own music and there really wasn't anything more important than having own songs. The very first songs wasn't that great but at least they were mine. Offspring's album titled Smash was the first album that opened my eyes for the music. I was 7 years old back then. I've never experienced anything like that before and maybe I'm chasing those feelings all over again when I write my own music.

At what age did you start playing? I started to "play" drums when I was 7 or 8. Then I moved on to guitar when I was 14.

How old were you guys when you first stood on stage? I (Tuomas) played some drums when I was 11 or 12 but I think we all have first band experience at the age of 14 or 15.

What year was the band started? 2009.

Best/worst gig you've played? There are many memories from the gigs and you have to play the best you can every time. Sometimes all goes really well and sometimes all goes not so well. However all the good and bad memories belongs to this and every gig is important.

What places will you be playing in in the imidate future? We don't have anything scheduled yet.

Where have you played from then till now? We have played at Mikkeli, Heinola, Mäntyharju, Jyväskylä for example.

Witch band is the best you´ve seen? I (Tuomas) think it's the Finnish band called Stam1na.

Is it always the same songs live? No. We try to develop the set list and play little different songs. It keeps playing interesting but sometimes we also want to have some dynamics on the set list. We like to change especially the cover songs.

What has been the best/most promising gig so far? We've had some good gigs at Mäntyharju and Mikkeli. It's a little difficult to play in other city because we are after all quite unknown band.

Have you had any bigger tours from start to now? Unfortunately not, yet..

How big crowds do you usually play for? It depends. We've had about 100-150 people but sometimes there have been just 20 or so. But it really doesn't matter how many people are watching. You have to play the best you can every time.

What are the plans for the rest of the year? We're really trying to release the new album later this year but maybe it will be released early next year.

Where do you usually play? We've had gigs mostly in the small bars or night clubs. Our rehearsal studio is at Mäntyharju.

How do you get psyched up for a gig? I (Tuomas) like to do some vocal warm up, just singing and playing acoustic guitar. I also like to have a little calm moment on my own before getting on stage.

What are your goals with your music? Just write good songs that moves me (Tuomas). I want to play so long as this feels good.

When did you decide to go all in for the music? I think it's not really about making any decision. It's just a life style and the way you are.  You live from the music and it drives you forward naturally.

Is it easier to get your inspiration from older bands or from bands more modern? Older bands have something more unique. These days the music industry controls so much the new bands and money has a big role into it. I think we should challenge song structures more and try to create something that really comes from the heart. It's really hard to get your song in the radio's play list if that's not "radio hit" structured.

What are your sources of inspiration? Mostly I want to reach some motion first. Then I get inspired and try to create a subject. I also get inspired by picking a guitar and just playing it.

What's the first step when making a new song? It depends. Sometimes I just grab the guitar and start to play. Then some key words starts to form and melody as well. Sometimes it's quite opposite. I have already something in my mind and then I have to try to compose a song that fits in the subject. But pretty much always I like to write the lyrics last.

How do you feel about the downloading of music instead of buying albums? Downloading helps you to get your name known around the world even if you don't have much money. We are living the times when we really don't know where this music industry is going and how the artists are going to get their pay from the records. People doesn't buy albums anymore which is a shame. We are talking about piece of art right now. I would like to say that if you really like some band's music and want to support them, then buy the album. But it's not really worth of fighting back about downloading because so many people does that. We should try to develop more legal ways to download the music in a way where you actually experience the whole album, not just the greatest hits.

What would be your dreams for the band?  I really want to play more gigs and release more albums. This would be my dream "job", but small steps at the time.

What do you hold most dear? Own kids and music.

What would be your greatest fears for the future? Loneliness.

When you are on stage, what do you fear most then? Live performance is all about the "danger" and unpredictability. But you really can't be afraid of anything because then you can't go on the stage. You just try to live in the moment and enjoy your self.

Have you been part of any other projects? Yes we've had many other projects, and we can also switch instruments depending on what project we are playing in. I have played bass guitar in a couple projects for example.

Have you been in any other bands? I consider a project and a band as the same, so yes, I've (Tuomas) been a couple other bands too.

What do you work with outside of the band and the music? We have day jobs where we get our living. Just a normal jobs.

What would you do if there was no music? I probably would be acting. I've always been interested in performing and challenging your self front of the audience.

How important are your fans? We try to embrace them as much as we can. We can only be very humble about that there are people who listen our music and comes to see us.

What's the funniest/most memorable thing a fan has done for you? It's always nice to hear fans thoughts about our music and lyrics. Especially it feels great when people tells about how they can relate into the song.

How often do you rehearse? We're having a break now because of the new album. If we have gigs, we have period when we are rehearsing quite intense. We' re rehearsing quite a lot also if we are writing new material. So we do rehearsal when needed.

Where do you rehearse? At Mäntyharju in our own rehearsal studio.

Name 2 of your own songs you like at the moment? Lose My Face and Hope (from the new album).

What do you feel is the best live band you've seen? Stam1na.

What drives a band that isn't all that famous and renowned to try to make a living on their music and to keep playing? Passion to write music and sharing emotions. You really do this for yourself.

Do you have any webpages? www.facebook.com/MidnightBullet

Any pearls of wisdom for all other bands out there? Hard work and determined attitude, and a bit of luck too. But most of all, HAVE FUN!

Describe your show, visually and musically Intense, lots of energy, loud, controlled chaos

How do you view the musicindurty of today? We are living in a turning point. It's hard to predict what's going to happen but something will happen. Hopefully all the labels will have some courage to invest in to new talents that doesn't fit in the form.

What advice would you like to give other bands? Never give up.

What are the biggest obstacles for a band? There are no obstacles if you love enough about what you're doing. It's all about your attitude.

What is best/worst with playing the clubs? The best thing is that the atmosphere is so intimacy. And the worst thing in the clubs (at least in Finland) is that the gigs often starts so late.

Tell us about upcomming gigs and why we should be at them? New kick ass material and band is better than ever before.

How would you describe your sound in one sentence Loud and clear.

What is your favorite crappy instrument? My very first electric guitar.

What was one of the most quarrelsome times for you in the band?  One gig went wrong when we played horrible because of too much drinking beer.

Whats your Pre-show ritual? We like to get together and have some words that pumps us up. 

Do you have anything to add? Hopefully you enjoy the new album. Play it loud!

Kommentarer:

1 Modemix/Sheima:

häftig blogg :)

Svar: tack
Robex Lundgren

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