École
When and how was your band created?
In 1998, when Mikko and I started to play our favourite songs for fun. Something like Nirvana, Metallica etc. Beer was heavily included… Mikko was on drums and I screamed without any PA and playd the guitar parts. It was great fun tough. Nowdays Mikko is the lead singer…lead singer. Teemu came in with his great bass sometime in 1999 I think, and Simppa started to bang the cans in late 2004 replacing the former drummer.
Where is the name of the band coming from?
It’s a finnish word meaning face. In a kind of ugly tone. We wanted it to be something grotesque. And when it comes to faces, very few are pretty ones.
What musicians or artists did have a major influence in your life / work?
Nirvana, Kent, Metallica. For me.
What are the positive and negative aspects of being a musician in Finland?
If one stays as underground band as we, there’s no big problems. Nor there are any benefits though.
How could you define your style of music?
Depressed pop/rock, with a soul of a clown. Sometimes there’s heavier parts, sometimes just clean pop. The lyrics are in finnish.
During the years how has your musical style changed?
Maybe nowdays it has a bit poppier way of bringing the hopeless words in the air. Not so much distortion in the guitars.
How do explain these changes?
We all grow old and get overbored. I don’t really know.
What are topics you treat in your songs?
Unhappy love. Strange clans of darkness. Hangover hallucinations.
What is your favorite song in your repertoire and why?
Just now I really dig the two tunes we recorded in march 2006. “Tyyntä” (means: serene or calm, you know the surface of ocean in a calm morning) and “Muuttolintu” (wich tells about that sometimes the “moving birds” do not return). We are putting these songs on our site http://www.naama.tk soon, when the mixing and mastering is completed. Make sure to listen them.
Do you actually prefer performing your music live or in a studio?
I personally like the recording sessions a bit more, but it’s also great fun to play live. Maybe I’m a bit shy, when it comes to our own tunes.
During the process of making a song, what is the moment that you prefer?
The recording. Then i really know what I’m doing. When I start to compose it’s a bit different situation. I don’t really know where the songs are coming out from. I just crab my guitar and try to hum a bit… Sometimes there’s a song, sometimes not.
A stupid question but… what is among all the songs you’ve been listening in your life the BEST song?
Yes.. You’re right. It’s a stupid question. Well… The Doors - Riders on the storm.
What is your opinion, as a musician, regarding internet?
It’s a great gift to all the unsigned bands like Naama. It’s a great way to bring your songs to the reach of audience.
What are your projects ?
Just Naama. We all have “ordinary” daytime jobs to do, so there’s really no time for other projects. Sometimes I do jam with other bands, but thats just for killing time and having fun …and beer.
What “image” do you have of French music?
No image at all. Sorry. Maybe I have to surf a little more on the internet.
Is there one French song that you prefer? If so, what song is it?
No song at all. Sorry. Maybe I have to surf a little more on the internet.
