• “Crazy Finns are here to stay!” Read more how they really can rock around the clock.

• Johnny: Our current line-up features Katriina (vocals), VM (bass), Suvi (keyboards) and me on guitar. On drums we’ve been using several visitors lately. However, Joachim Silberstein who played drums on our first single will also play them on our debut album. Before “11th Hour” single we’d only released one three-song demo. “Rosalie” out of that demo hit #1 on the Metal Chart of Mp3.com late 2000.

• Katriina: I can tell you that K doesn`t mean Katriina. Johnny can tell you more about this historical person.
• Johnny: She’s just being modest. Of course, it spells out her name… Hehe!

3.CAN YOU TELL US IN A FEW WORDS WHICH THEMES THE LYRICS IN THIS SINGLE ARE DEALING WITH?

• Johnny: Schizophrenia in its worst form. Heh heh! But, I really wouldn’t like to explain my lyrics. I believe people can get to a more personal level  with the songs if they “have to” think of  their own interpretations of the lyrics. That way they get their “private versions” of the songs. But, you could say that my song themes are generally speaking dark because I usually only write late at night. For example, the title “11th Hour” comes from the fact that I started to write the lyrics just before midnight. So, before the lyrics were completed I thought about naming the song “Midnight Hour” or “12th Hour” but then figured that  “11th Hour” sounded more original and interesting, a little bit scary or so. Anyway, to conclude, to me writing song lyrics is a kind of free flow of mind with no boundaries whatsoever but without forgetting the atmosphere of the music itself.

4.I'VE SEEN THE VIDEO CLIP AND I LIKED IT A LOT! GIVE US SOME INFO ABOUT IT (DIRECTOR, WHERE WAS IT MADE, ETC) AND WHAT'S THE STORY BEHIND IT?

• The director was Tuomo Hyytiälä. He’s a local “maniac” whose input we really appreciate. The whole video crew was fantastic but Tuomo was the guy who really pushed and kept the show rolling until the very end. Imagine, before us he had only directed one video! The video was shot here in Helsinki at the Headquarters of Tieturi [a Finnish IT training and consulting company]. The whole neighbourhood is loaded with similar IT companies including NOKIA. Anyway, it was a pure coincidence that we ended up shooting the video there since we were looking for basically any boring office building. The story line was written by Tuomo. Maybe it tells about a burning-out of a female IT manager,  reflecting the supposedly stressful work pace and atmosphere in that business. That interpretation is fine with me though I’m not saying that is how I feel or meant the lyrics.

5.YOUR MUSIC BROUGHT TO MY MIND HIM AND SENTENCED (THE WAY THEY SOUND IN THEIR LATEST RELEASES). DO YOU AGREE? WHICH OTHER BANDS AND MUSICIANS INFLUENCED YOUR STYLE?

• Katriina: Do we sound like Him and Sentenced?  I don`t listen to that kind of music at all so I can`t tell. The music I listen is very different that the one I`m singing in Aurora K. It`s funny when people often think that I`m a fanatic metal lover. I have never had any absolutely favourite band in my life. I love music that is something between Prodigy and Mary J. Blige for example. But I love listening to hard music when I`m out having a party. Like Marilyn Manson. That music is so crazy that it`s great. I often become boisterous when I`m dancing to that kind of music. Hell yeah!
• Johnny: If I agree? Yes and no. First of all, the two bands mentioned by you have hardly influenced me one bit. I’m pretty sure I’ve never even heard Sentenced! HIM I know of course better but don’t listen to it actively. I’ve been to their gig once two years ago but left before the end cause I got tired of looking at Ville’s skinny ass! Hah hah! Anyway, yes HIM has got great songs and Ville has a very good sense of melody. But, from a guitarist’s point of view, their songs get boring as hell after a while. You know, low tempos, monotonous down stroke playing, no solos. I’m more of a riff oriented player, so our songs have generally faster tempos than HIM and we definitely have solos! We are no HIM and never aim to be. Soundwise, on the other hand, we might be somewhat close to HIM but for that we can only “blame” Pasi Ristolainen who played the main role in the studio. And, we definitely didn’t ask him to make us sound like HIM. Anyway, I’m pretty pleased how he tuned up the songs but I surely  know now what I wanna change when the next time comes around. My influences relate mostly back to the 80s. DIO, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Scorpions and all those heavy metal / hard rock greats that once ruled the world. I’m also a big fan of many instrumental guitarists like Vinnie Moore, Tony MacAlpine and Greg Howe.

6.DON'T YOU THINK HAVING A WOMAN AS A FRONTMAN (THAT CAN NOT PASS WITHOUT NOTICING) THAT ALL THE LIGHTS WILL FALL ON HER AND WILL NEGLECT YOU? AREN'T YOU AFRAID OF IT? WON'T THIS BE A REASON FOR ARGUMENTS IN
THE BAND?

• Katriina: Johnny will answer this but I think we are a team. Everyone knows Roxette. Well, we are Roxette II. To avoid all arguments I need a lot of candies and coddling! I`m a spoiled brat.
• Johnny: You’re so right! I’m sicken tired of her being in the spotlight most of the time. I think from now on we gonna put Katriina BEHIND the drum set to give also the others more visibility on stage. Hah hah!

As for that Roxette II thing, I don’t think it counts anymore since this is a band of four individuals. But surely, last Spring during the line-up changes we had a strong mutual feeling of being some kind of small scale Roxette of hard rock. Undoubtedly, there’s still some of that in the air. I guess we deserve each other, in good and bad! Hahah!

7.WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE USE OF MP3'S? ARE YOU AGAINST IT OR IN FAVOR? DOES MP3.COM HELP YOUR BAND IN ANY WAY?

• Johnny: Well, I think we are in favor of them since we included mp3 versions of the songs to our single. Mp3 is a (new), handy media for music and you just can’t fight against it, I guess. For new artists it’s good in promo sense but I can also understand why established artists and record companies have big worries about it. Mp3.com has been of great help to us. Our presence there has brought in many valuable contacts and new fans. On the negative side, I really don’t fancy all their policies or “site improvements” back year or so. The f**kers lost lotta money in court and the artists have to pay for it now in reduced payback rates and fees for services worth nothing.

8.FOR A NEW BAND YOU'VE DONE MANY LIVE SHOWS. DO YOU REMEMBER ANY FUNNY OR STRANGE INCIDENT TAKING PLACE DURING THE LIVE SHOW?

• Katriina: Yes, there’s been some strange happenings… Like on our last gig in Uusikaupunki. I`m not used to it that guys are licking my boots in the middle of the show or bending on their knees! That is weird!

9.HOW ARE YOU PLANNING TO PROMOTE YOUR WORK? WHICH ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE FUTURE? IS THIS SINGLE A SMALL TASTE OF A SOON TO BE RELEASED FULL LENGTH CD? IF SO, CAN YOU TELL US SOME THINGS ABOUT IT?

• Johnny: It’s kind of premature to think about the promotion of the new album since we haven’t even started recording it yet. But generally, the plan for the next year includes the album and first gigs outside Finland. “11th Hour” is a small taste of our debut album but it’s not the whole truth as people will find out when the time is full.

10.WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU WEREN'T ABLE TO COMPOSE MUSIC?

• Katriina: If there wasn`t Johnny and his talent, Aurora K wouldn`t exist. It`s very simple. I would probably be singing anyway. But can`t tell you where and what. At the moment I`m  trying to learn with Johnny how to do music little by little. You`ll see something on the coming full length cd.
• Johnny: I really don’t know. I would perhaps learn how to compose music. It’s hard to answer this one cause I’ve never taken lessons in songwriting. It’s more like a natural part of me to write songs. In many cases I only need a couple of notes and I can already “hear” the whole melody in my head. And, once I’ve got that main riff or chord progression nailed down the missing parts will come together sooner or later. Anyway, I guess one never graduates in writing music. It’s always a challenge to put up new songs. Sometimes easier, sometimes harder.

11.WHAT WOULD YOU ANSWER TO ALL THOSE THAT MIGHT ACCUSE YOU THAT YOU PLAY THIS MUSIC CAUSE IT'S POPULAR AND CAUSE THIS WAY YOU WANT TO BECOME FAMOUS FASTER?

• Katriina: It`s very easy. I like this kind of music. I wouldn`t play any other or heavier music. Our music is melodic and beautiful. I don`t care if it`s popular or not. Of course it helps. But it`s difficult to say would we be any less famous playing other kind of music or opposite. You don`t become famous in one night. It`s hard work!
• Johnny: Our music is popular!!? Gee, that’s something I haven’t heard in a while. Some say we lean too much on the 80s. I don’t know…  I only try to come up with good riffs, popular (sounding) or not.

12.WHICH IS THE BEST PART IN YOUR MUSIC AND IN THE BAND IN GENERAL AND WHICH THING DO YOU THINK YOU SHOULD CORRECT? WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU NEED IMPROVEMENT?

• Katriina: Like I told you before our music is melodic and clear. It`s easy to listen to. That´s the best part. Earlier I thought we were great on stage playing live. Now when we don`t have a regular drummer, playing haven`t been so easy and pure. I guess what we need is a few very good drummers that can play in short notice and who know what is our style to play this music. Very big improvement would be if every other band member than Johnny would have more time to do this music. TIME AND MONEY PLEASE!

13.WHICH IS THE WORST AND WHICH IS THE BEST REVIEW YOU'VE EVER RECEIVED?

• Katriina: That is a difficult question. Every honest review is a great review. I hate the ones that only say good, good and good.
• Johnny: We’ve never been crushed so far. A couple of times I’ve really been surprised by how deep into our music and style the critics have been able to dig themselves. I mean they have pointed out nuances that I’d thought no one would or could notice, including other members of this band. Real detectives! I salute them.

14.IF SOMEDAY YOU HAD THE CHANCE TO MEET THE CREATURE THAT CREATED THE UNIVERSE, WHICH WOULD YOUR BIGGEST QUESTION BE?

• Katriina: Why am I here?

15.IF TIME TRAVEL WAS POSSIBLE, WHICH HISTORICAL PERIOD WOULD YOU LIKE TO VISIT AND WHY? WHAT WOULD YOU MISS THE MOST FROM OUR TIME?

• Katriina: Adam and Eve period before the snake. I would miss the prevention and sweets.

16.WHAT PROLOGUE AND TITLE WOULD YOU LIKE THIS INTERVIEW TO HAVE?

• Katriina: “Crazy Finns are here to stay!” Read more how they really can rock around the clock.

17.THANK YOU!HAVE I FORGOTTEN TO ASK YOU ANYTHING AND YOU'D LIKE TO MENTION?

• Katriina: You forgot to ask me who I would like to spank this time. They often ask me that. Who knows why.
• Johnny: I’m pretty sure I know why…