THE JADE
Questions asked by Jon Wilde, added to Rock Realms 3rd March 2010.
Helsinki rockers The Jade - Wille Rosen on vocals and percussion, Pekko Mantzin on guitars, Jann P.H on bass, and Sirpa on drums - release the rather splendid Seconds Away From Salvation at the end of last year. We recently reviewed the album and came away surprised and impressed.
We caught up with the guys and girl (yes, all of them) for a little chat...
Hi guys, thanks for taking a moment to answer these questions. Hope you are well?
Pekko: Thank you! Yep, doing quite ok right now.
Wille: Yep, The Jade´s album Seconds Away From Salvation is out now in Japan and Europe. In addition, the new single Yesterday´s Rain is out too!
Could you tell us how The Jade got together?
Wille: In 2004 I found Pekko´s and Jann´s add on the internet and they were looking for a lead singer to form a band. I met these guys at their rehearsal location and we played tunes to each other. They had terrific songs and the right attitude to make this work; thus, a few months later we heard that our friend Sirpa was eager to come in to play the drums. That was the start.
Sirpa: Yeah, I was the last one to join. Original plan was that I came to help the guys out but as I was enjoying myself so much playing music with them it took less than two weeks to realize I wanted to join this band.
What are the musical backgrounds of the various members? Have you all been in other bands or worked together before?
Wille: Oh yes. There have been a few bands since I was a teenager, but none of them had worked at this level. But music has been a continuous hobby for all my life. The first time I met my band mates was in 2004.
Pekko: I´ve been playing in bands since I was fourteen years old. Jann, Sirpa and I have a long history together and we´ve played in several bands together. And separately, too.
There's a connection with British music in your sound. Could you tell us about your associations with London and how your time in the UK influenced The Jade's sound?
Pekko: I´ve been always into British rock scene. I fell in love with The Beatles and The Stones when I was a toddler. After that I´ve been digging many brilliant bands from the UK. From The Kinks to Muse and Coldplay. There was the Brit-pop thing going on when I moved to London in the mid- nineties and some bands like for example Oasis, Manics, Wildhearts and also Blur, were absolutely brilliant.
But when it comes to the music of The Jade I can tell that some of the songs on the album were written before the years spent in London, some during that time and some during the last few years. So that connection has always been there and it always will be, I believe. Yet, drinking the water of Thames maybe made it stronger.
Jann: I donno I have always loved bands from the UK and from the US too. I love The Stones and dig UK Subs and The Lords Of The New Church. Also Led Zeppelin was awesome and early Deep Purple was great. So I guess when you listen to those kinda bands they influence you one way or another. Also environment has an effect on you so maybe there's a bit of London in our sound.
Wille: I always thought that the UK people had more sophisticated sound in the way they pronounced the words. Therefore I was more influenced by the British way. The Texas cowboy sound in singing just wouldn´t sound cool.
You recorded the new album at Seawolf Studios where Hanoi Rocks created some of their albums. Did they or any other Finnish bands influence you too?
Pekko: I´ve been a Hanoi fan since the first album. I still think they are the best Finnish band ever.
Jann: Hanoi Rocks blew my mind when I saw All Those Wasted Years video, Live at the Marquee as a kid. I love 'em. They're one of the greatest rock'n roll bands ever. I donno about other Finnish bands, some are great and that but I can't say that I'm influenced by them in any way.
Wille: Hanoi Rocks have influenced the other members of The Jade more than myself even though I think Michael Monroe is a top singer and performer. My top Finnish influences include for instance Ismo Alanko, Dingo and Neljä Ruusua.
Sirpa: Yeah, me too. When I heard Hanoi Rocks first time that was it. That was the band which got me into rock music. Another finnish band which still has a great impact on me is the eighties rock´n roll band called Smack. Everyone should check them out.
How would you actually describe the sound of The Jade to somebody who hadn't heard you before?
Pekko: A heart full of melodic rock 'n' roll, a fistful of punk, spiced with pop and metal.
Wille: Rock alternative. We combine our obscure and mainstream influences and have made our own style out of them. If you are a fan of rock music with touching lyrics and killer melodies, you will probably love us too.
Jann: It's sympathy for the devil 2010.
Where did the name 'The Jade' come from?
Wille: Our bass player Jann P.H came one day to rehearsal and said he had come up with the name. I thought it just sounded artistic and simple enough to work for us.
Jann: I kinda thought it sounds great. A lot of symbolism comes with the jade stones as well.
Along the same lines, how did the title of the album 'Seconds Away From Salvation' come about?
Sirpa: That was Jann´s idea too. First time it came up when we recorded our second self-produced EP but we named it as Slow Motions On The Fast Lanes.
Jann: My fault again. It kinda reflects perfectly what the album's about.
How long did the album take to create from first discussions to the finished product?
Wille: We signed a record deal with North @ South in early 2008 and the album came out in late 2009. I guess almost two years.
Jann: Yes but we spent maybe 6 or 7 weeks in a studio to make the whole album. And to be honest we coulda done it already in 2008. I donno why these things seem to take time with the companies or whatever.
How does the writing process work? Do you write as a band, or is one of you the main creative force?
Wille: The main creative force is the guitarist Pekko Mantzin though we have songs in the set written by Jann and myself also. Usually the one who creates the song presents the main frame to the other members with guitar and we start to arrange the tune in the rehearsal.
How about time in the studio...do you have songs written and demoed Before you hit the recording stage, or do you like to create some of your songs by jamming in the studio?
Wille: With Seconds Away From Salvation, every song was written and demoed before we went in the studio. I believe only Everlasting Memorial was re-written and re-arranged in the studio.
Pekko: There was simply no time for jamming. We did our parts as fast as possible. I guess our company was quite satisfied, too. In the studio time is money, literally.
How does the sound and style of the new album compare to your previous demo/EP releases?
Wille: Of course everything is more perfected. The sound is more alternative now and not so much retro anymore. We wanted to create a sound that was in touch with the current time, but still not forgetting the rock´n´roll roots.
Do you use any special techniques to get your sound?
Wille: I try to listen to good singers like Bono to get the feel of it and adjust the sound to fit in our style with the band. It´s important that the vocal sound is in harmony with the sound of the instruments too.
Pekko: I don´t use much in the way of effects on the guitar. But on that album I play electric 12-string and acoustic guitar too. Nice extra. I always use my beloved Gibson Les Paul Heritage. Sometimes playing with a pick, sometimes with fingers.
Sirpa: I just play my drums.
Jann: I only need my Fender and Ampeg.
Do you have any favourite moments on Seconds Away From Salvation?
Wille: Yesterday´s Rain and King´s Cross, but I feel the whole album is very strong in material.
Pekko: It keeps changing. At the moment I like very much the song ´In the Air´.
Sirpa: There is something about Solitary Soul. Though I´m happy with the whole album.
Jann: There are always personal bits here and there that I love but certain favourite tracks kinda change. I love Solitary Soul and Roses Are Burning. Goin' to the solo bit on Solitary Soul is always just great.
What inspired you to record the Pet Shop Boys song, 'It's A Sin'?
Wille: That was Pekko´s idea. It´s a fabulous song with deep lyrics.
Pekko: Shortly after I had made my decision to leave London I was drinking in a pub on Portobello Road and that song came out. I´d heard the song maybe hundreds of times but just back then in that pub I truly felt the lyrics and the melody. I was very tired and upset with my life and in that moment that song comforted me.
I then decided that if I ever in my life manage to get myself in the band again that song has to be covered. A few years later it happened.
Are there any other songs you'd really like to cover one day?
Wille: Yeah, but I think the main focus should be in our own material.
Pekko: ´Scary Mosters´ by David Bowie and ´We have all the time in the world´ by Louie Armstrong.
Sirpa: The song called "Criminal" by Smack.
Jann: Hanoi Rocks' Malibu Beach Nightmare and Dick Dale's Miserlou.
How about working with musical heroes? Do you see yourselves asking guests to appear on future albums?
Wille: There are many people that I admire, but I won´t mention big names now to avoid sounding corny.
Pekko: Same here.
Jann: I could ruin some Michael Bolton love song if I had a chance. Sorry Michael.
Have any of the songs from the album had chart success or radio airplay? They certainly deserve it!
Wille: That´s great to hear. Drowning was a top ten hit in Finland and also It´s A Sin made in the top 5 also in the official single and download charts.
Pekko: Thank you! I really appreciate that! As far as I know some stations in Finland have also played King´s Cross. I have no idea about the possible radio play in the other countries.
Sirpa: The video of "It´s a sin" made it to Finnish TV as well.
Jann: I think the same but seems like the media in Finland has pretty much ignored us so far. They haven't discovered us. Would be cool to get a great manager who could handle the things for us and to move a few steps ahead.
Do you do a lot of touring and playing live? If so, any chance we'll see you play the UK?
Wille: Hopefully in the near future! At the moment we are discussing with booking agencies for a possible tours in the future.
Pekko: For some reason it has been very difficult to find a good booking agency so we still are booking the gigs in Finland by ourselves. Only the tours abroad we have done through agencies. Right now we are discussing with one company about the new tours in Central Europe but we certainly are hoping to get to the UK as soon as possible!
Jann: Tours in UK would be just perfect. There's simply nothing worthwhile goin' on in Finland and I hate to be stuck in here. The band wants to tour and should be touring but we are stuck in here. It's really boring.
What is one of your live gigs like? Do you really rock it up, or do you try to accurately recreate the sound of the recorded material?
Wille: We are a bit heavier as a live act and the shows are totally energetic. It´s just not possible to give less than all that you´ve got on stage. Once you see us live, you instantly understand that we are for real. Totally individualistic characters.
Pekko: Absolutely! And plenty of sweat and emotions will be in the air. At least on the stage.
Jann: Yes, usually there's a lot of action on stage and we rock all the way. Playin' live is my favourite thing, the more the better.
Do you live the Rock 'n' Roll lifestyle, whatever that is?
Pekko: Do you mean Sex, Drugs and Rock´n´Roll? I´ve tried that. Apart from sex orgies. I´ve been with my fiancee for ages. But very heavy partying including some drugs and heavy drinking has been done. But I have definitely grown out of it. More or less. Now I´m more or less just an average anarchist boy from the neighbourhood.
Wille: I think you mean the cliche style of it. Actually, I think there are different styles to live as there are different people. Rock´n´roll is either in your heart or it´s not and however that shows in your life is up to you and nobody else. In the end, it depends on the mood and the situation in your life also. I don´t have a specific mould that I live on by.
Sirpa: Sure there is rock´n roll life on tours and during the gigs played. Generally my life is pretty steady and that´s cool.
Jann: At the moment seems like my life isn't what people call living, even breathing is getting harder day by day. I live in a gas chamber so it really sucks.
If you were stuck on a desert island with a solar powered CD player, what 5 albums would you want there with you?
Wille: That´s a tough question. U2: The Best Of 1980-1990, KISS: MTV Unplugged, Neljä Ruusua: Popmuseo, Dingo: Tuhkimotarina, and Alice Cooper: The Beast Of Alice Cooper.
Pekko: The Beatles: Abbey Road, David Bowie: Aladdin Sane, Oasis: (What´s The Story) Morning Glory?, Beach Boys: All Summer Long and My Chemical Romance: Black Parade.
Sirpa: Led Zeppelin:IV, Smack: Rattlesnake Bite, Linkin' Park: Minutes To Midnight, Guns´N Roses: Appetite for Destruction and any collection of Stray Cats.
Jann: Guns And Roses: Use Your Illusion 2, This One's For Rock'n Roll by Hanoi Rocks, London Calling by The Clash, Vivaldi's Four Seasons and Sibelius' collection.
Are you already working on material for the next album? If so, do you think you'll continue the style started on Seconds Away From Salvation, or go down a different musical route?
Wille: We have lots of material for the next album. I believe the style will be a lot similar to Seconds Away From Salvation.
Pekko: Yes, like Wille said there is already plenty of the material. Brand new songs too. They do sound like The Jade.
Jann: There's plenty of material and more to come. However I see no point to get an album out yet as unfortunately the debut album hasn't been promoted in Finland and there haven't been any tours or anything at all. 1 or 2 gigs here once in a while doesn't get me too happy. More people should hear the debut first after that it'll be just cool. I think we'll make a great album.
Any question you love being asked that I've missed? If so, what's the answer?
Wille: I already liked the question about the rock´n´roll lifestyle.
Pekko: Cool questions! All of them! Just one came up "Is your album also available in the UK?" The answer is: yes it is.
Jann: The answer is that: Yes we are looking for a capable manager or management with great connections and the sooner someone finds us the sooner they'll make the most of it. Help!
What are you up to once you've finished answering these questions?
Wille: It´s late in the evening now, so I´ll watch a horror movie and go to bed.
Pekko: I´ll have a glass of red.
Sirpa: Yeah, it´s pretty late, no plans.
Jann: I'll breath in some gas and watch the mould grow inside of this fucking shithole...
Anything else you would like to mention?
Wille: We made a cool video for the second single It´s A Sin. Go and check that out on MySpace or Youtube! (or see it below :) )
Thanks again to Wille, Pekko, Sirpa, and Jann for their time. You can check out the Rock Realms review of The Jade's latest album Seconds Away From Salvation here.
http://www.myspace.com/thejadenet
