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Interview MOON MADNESS
A talk with TURKKA VUORINEN (Keyboards) / HEIDI BERGBACKA (Vocals)
ANTTO NIKOLAI (Drums) / OTTO HALLAMA (Lead Guitar)
METAL TO INFINITY
Hail Finland! We are satisfied with your presence here at Metal To Infinity so letss dig into the past of MoonMadness and talk some more about the bandss present / future plans, okay! Who was leading strength behind the group and tell me about the establishment of MoonMadness.
Turkka: Otto is the one who started to gather a new band years ago so he is kind of father of the band but I am constantly giving a second opinion to our plans. We are pretty democratic band and every one has their own important role in our concept.
The info sheet you've sent me mentioned as i cite: ''...old buddies Otto and Juha wanted to start all over with new band on totally new basis''. In former days, did you guys already played in other bands? What type bands were it?
Otto: Our recording history goes way beyond to past centuries...The style has always been roughly the same as in Moon Madness, simply because that's the way we can handle the best...and also the only way.
The first member joined forces was keyboard player Turkka Vuorinen. Where was this gius came from? On which basis and on which skills did you gave him green light to enter the MoonMadness camp?
Otto: We were looking for a keyboard player who could relate to both ''vintage'' and ''modern'' keyboard styles; as playing - and sound-wise. Of course ability to play was essential but also a certain sense of ''economy'' was vital. Good keyboard players often tend to overplay every now and then...also certain showmanship was sought after. And apparently Turkka passed on every count...
To complete the line-up, a drummer and a vocalist had still be found back then, right. Finally, you’ve found what you were looking for...A frontman was connected to the band by the name of Satu and a person named Ari offered his skills and took place behind the drumkit. Ready to go walking the stage and a first gig was booked in April 2005. How do you have those first MoonMadness gig to experience?
Turkka: Actually it was April and 2004. Anyway the gig went great, we had fun and most importantly it was a big step for a band to make good debut show.
Otto: Initially we started with very slow pace as we didn't want to rush on anything and that went on quite a while even after Satu had joined. Then after Ari completed the line-up so we could perform live everything started to happen very quickly. I remember being quite nervous before the very first show but also very excited afterwards.
A few months later, You had to chanche to support Power Metal giants Sonata Arctica. Probably an experience you'll never forget, right?
Otto: We got the opportunity on very short notice and of course wouldn’t have missed it for anything - it was our way out biggest show to date.
Turkka: It was a fine moment to play in front of 600-700 people. The welcoming was so warm that even we were surprised.
How the present Metal maniacs reacted that day?
Otto: I recall that we went down quite well that night to the Sonata audience which probably didn't have a clue about us at that moment. They didn't know what hit them...
Turkka: Probably they will remember MoonMadness forever...
Your were busy with the prerecordings of a first single when two members went away. Why did they left the ranks and during recording situations, two guys leaving it absolutely ain't pleasant but shortly after, you found the right replacers. Please announce these members yourself.
Otto: Actually our first single ''Thunder'' was released in February 2006 (which was partly recorded back in late 2004) and already by summer 2005 it was obvious that Ari couldn't carry on in MoonMadness. That's why we weren't able to do any shows before Antto joined the ranks. Satu played her last show in August 2006 and we started recording the album couple of weeks later, after Heidi had joined.
I can't give no judgement concerning your previous singer but his replacer Heidi Bergbacka has a wonderful voice. MoonMadness isn't her first band for sure, otherwise she's a natural born talent. An explanation please.
Heidi: Oh my, thank you for this complement. I was in a band called I.O.U. for several years. We played melodic rock, but then our ways went to different directions and cities so it was difficult to continue together. I searched a band for 7-8 months and I found myself practising songs to my friends wedding, luckily Turkka was playing also at the line-up... So that's how I was introduced to MoonMadness. Fate, I'd say...
Of course I have also done backing vocals to few bands and have always been very active in singing and music. The fact that I can use my voice and sing has always been kind of obvious to me, so I cannot imagine a day when I can't sing at all... And let's hope that it's not going to happen any time soon. It's just something that I really enjoy and love to do.
Antto Nikolai: Heidi comes from that part of Finland where people are very straight forward and stubborn even. She doesn't necessarily show her emotions in real life and she can make an impression of a tough and a cool person, but yet there is a sensitive side, which comes out when she sings and performs. I think that's why people find her very interesting and attractive character, and that's why she's in this band. She really brings the Moon in Madness. (And she turns the audience to a howling pack of wolves!)
Who are Heidi's singers where she's suprised to...her inspirational sources.
Heidi: Strong female voices in different kinds of melodic music. For example Lara Fabian has great songs and great strong voice. It's great when you have heard a difficult song and after long hard hours you are able to sing it yourself.
Also Evanesence and En Vogue have been in my music-selection for very many years now. Recently I have been listening a lot of Dream Theather, which is also now one of my favourites.
Overall I listen to lot of different kind of music and I am influenced by all and everything. I cannot say exactly what it is that influences me and my music, because I don't have one or two favourites, but I can say that everything influences in someway. And if it sounds good, then I continue doing it and developing it...
Antto Nikolai Tuomainen took over the duties of Ari. You guys were immediately satisfied with his skills or duties.
Turkka: Antto came to an audition and when we played first song with Antto it was immediately sure that Antto was the right guy for the moonmads. He is a very musical person and has a lot to offer as a player and in studio his technical knowledge is big help for us.
Antto Nikolai: I've always lived and done things by an instinct and what have felt right at the time. I've never really cared what other people think of me and my way of doing things, and because of that (/despite of that!) there's not a single day I would change. Joining this band was really one of those right decisions, although a very spontaneous one. From the very first time I got together with the band (Otto, Turkka and Juha) it felt like I've known these people my whole life. Although we had numerous mutual friends we had never met before, which was quite weird 'cause the music scene in Finland and especially in Tampere is very small.
Juha Leppaharju (Bass Guitar)
The single featuring the song ''Torn'' and Live video track ''Ain't No Angel'' was completely finished and ready to sent to as many as possible people from media / press / radio stations to promote i guess. How the first reactions were?
Heidi: Reactions were very supporting.
Turkka: Most of the reactions have been good and especially the live video has been a big hit because now people all around the world can see how MoonMadness rocks on stage. Hopefully they can witness our live concerts one day.
I'd like to define your style of music as Melodic Hard Rock / Metal such as we known in the early eighties. Bands which rises while listening are Deep Purple / Rainbow / Dio / Whitesnake / Rock Goddess /...I call them all real legends so i'm satisfied with the style of MoonMadness. But are you agree with my cmparisons or do you have to add some more besides my opinion?
Turkka: It is true that you can hear an influence of those classic rock legends in MoonMadness songs. But there are also influences from many other bands and music styles so one might say that Moon Madness sounds like MoonMadness.
Also, big congrats for the awesome live video track ''Ain't No Angel''. A good looking front lady dressed in leather with an awesome voice of heaven, surrounded by guys delivering fantastic works...MoonMadness is a very promising band to me. At the own moment, you're in progress of making a full length album, is that correct?
Turkka: Yes, finally we are making our dream come true. We have spent many long days in studio but we believe that our efforts can be heard as the album is released. We have been recording old fashion way without any computer corrections on our playing. So there will be some mistakes and bad timing here and there but our philosophy is that it is the human factor that makes music sound good.
Heidi: Yes, and I personally cannot wait to get it out for everyone to hear! It's going to be great.
What can we expect, who's gonna produce the album and any idea about the release date?
Turkka: Hard rocking rock album... Back to human and organic sound.
About what kinda subjects, the texts proceed. A special message to spread around or just about the normal thing in life?
Heidi: Basically pretty much the normal things in life with a little twist. Everyone can find personal meaning for the lyrics. They do not tell you to think something that we want, it's all up to the listeners to decide what they hear... But of course there already is a meaning in the songs for me.
Turkka: We play because we want relax and have a good time. If there is a message it's just ''we like this music if you like too, do it with us''.
Did you co-operate with a record label or the album should be see the light of day in an independent way, i mean totally self financed?
Otto: The jury is still out with this one...
I guess you all are focused and can't hardly wait to launch that album, right? Hey, don't forget to send us a copy to review, will ya? Haha!
Otto: You'd better watch your mail...
To turn back to your live experiences so far...who was the situation of sharing the stage with axe shredder Yngwie Malmsteen. Did you spoke him after all?
Heidi: No, I just saw him on the stage. It would have been nice though. But everything was done in such a hurry, so I guess that Mr. Malmsteen was also very busy.
Antto Nikolai: I guess nobody really got to talk to him, but I met him briefly after the show when he was rushing from the venue to his hotel. He's a very busy man indeed.
What are the most busy things in life after playing in a Rock band? Some other interests?
Heidi: Motorbiking... Although I can do it while playing in a band, but that's where I am going to put all my free time when I retire... In 60 years from now...
Antto Nikolai: I have no life. Some random studioworks, engineering, mixing and producing. That's my real profession, but now I'm mainly focusing to this band and working hard to make this the next big thing.
Turkka: Hmm...basic things school etc. I have just founded an audiovisual production company with my friend so it has been keeping busy lately.
After hearing your single ''Torn'' and seeing the video track ''Ain’t No Angel'', i dare to say that a future has been foreseen for MoonMadness. If you haven't sign a record deal, i hope from the bottom of my heart that will happen real soon. I let the final words to you'll to conclude this interview. Thanx for the cooperation and good luck!
Turkka: Thank you and for the readers please visit our website and myspace to check latest news and coming gigs.
Otto: And of course check out our new single ''Stroke of Midnight'' which will be released in the beginning of May and can be ordered now via the Internet at: www.recordshopx.com/artist/MoonMadness