2. Interview with Matthau in Tampere Finland - English version

(Bloodpit)

21.03.2007 von Diana Hartmann

Dieses Interview wurde in Zusammenarbeit mit Bizarre Radio durchgeführt. Die deutsche Version des Interviews findet ihr daher HIER auf Bizarre Radios Website. Vielen Dank an Alexa und Steffen von Bizarre Radio für die gute Zusammenarbeit!

This interview was carried out in cooperation with Bizarre Radio. Therefore the German version of the interview can be found HERE on Bizarre Radio’s website. Many thanks to Alexa and Steffen from Bizarre Radio for the great cooperation!

On 18^th April Bloodpit’s second album Off The Hook will hit the Finnish stores and is expected to be released in Europe a little later this year. They will also rock Germany again at a couple of festivals this summer (Amphi and M’era Luna) so at our most recent visit to Tampere we decided to meet front man Matthau for a little afternoon-chat in Klubi.

Your new album Off The Hook will be out in April. So let’s first talk a little bit about this new album It’s probably stupid to ask you any specific questions to start with so we just thought to maybe let you talk a little bit about it first – like things you wanna say about the album, about the songs

Matthau: For starters, I think it’s a very honest album and it’s much more in your face than Mental Circus was. Mental Circus was a great debut album and I definitely stand behind every song on it, but this new album is as I said, it’s much more honest and lyrically it has a lot to do with things that have happened to us after the first album. There’s been a lot of shit going on in my personal life I went through a break-up and I was drinking way too much. I’ve been sober for 17 months now, as you can see this is non-alcoholic beer (shows the can)
We spent a month in the studio, we really busted our arses doing the album and I think it sounds real fat. I think we have some real great songs on there and you could actually release, say, 6 singles off the album and it wouldn’t cause any problems.

What about the music style – is it sort of the same or have you been trying new things, different things, like with the voice or instruments?

Matthau: No. We decided to call our music Dark Rock. That’s the definition: Dark Rock. Cos we faced the fact that a lot of people keep asking us: ‘What do you sound like?’ and ‘Can you define your music?’. And we’ve always been very confused telling people what we sound like. And now that there is this definition Dark Rock Yeah, Dark Rock! (laughter)

Okay, so you came up with this within the band, so to say

Matthau: Yeah!

Working on this album, was it different in comparison to Mental Circus? Was it easier, or more difficult, or?

Matthau: It was much easier in a way because I was sober. When recording the debut album I was wasted basically all the time. And recording One More Time, the song – I can’t even remember doing it I was a mess back then. So it was a lot easier this time in that particular way. But on the other hand it was much more demanding and we were pushed to our limits and way beyond. I remember working 12 or 13 hours a day and then being very emotional going back home for the night. And the next morning we started all over again. And going through emotions every day was a hard experience but it was all worth it.

And the cooperation with the others in the band, was that different? I mean, you write all the lyrics still, right?

Matthau: Yeah, it’s just me. But this time we all wrote the songs. Of course there’s a few songs written by me but the rest of the songs were basically written by all four of us at our rehearsal loft. We used to have these jamming sessions – something we had never done before – which was terrible (laughter) But we came up with the goods, eventually.

Now you’ve also worked with a different, a new producer and in a new studio, compared to the other album. How was that different?

Matthau: Janne Joutsenniemi has a different background. He comes he has a heavy metal background and he’s a former member of a band called Stone. And right now he’s a member of Suburban Tribe. We played with them last New Year’s eve. And he’s very demanding and a perfectionist, which is good.

The album title, Off The Hook – where does that come from? Does it come from a song on the album, or?

Matthau: The song is called Off The Hooks, which means ‘dead’. It’s slang But Off The Hook has several meanings. To me it means ‘get away with it’ at least. It’s sort of Mental Circus was all this craziness around us and now we sort of got away with it. And it has a lot to do with me being sober, the title.

When we did the preparations last week, we couldn’t find any info yet on the net about a song list and titles and so on

Matthau: Well, there’s 12 songs. And you probably know the first single Wise Men Don’t Cry?

Yeah, you already had it on MySpace.

Matthau: Yeah, a clip of it.

And you played it in Germany too

Matthau: Yes, we did. We have played it for, say, 18 months now. I wrote it, say, 2 years ago and ever since we’ve played it on tour. And yeah (laughter)

Is there a song on the album that you’d see as the essence of the entire album?

Matthau: No, I think the album has so many different types of songs that I think you should listen to it as a whole. What I really like when it comes to the separate songs I like Born A Whore, Off The Hooks, I Remember, One Life. I think those songs really stand out.

And that’s also your personal favourites then?

Matthau: Yeah!

About the recording session you were in the studio for a month. Did everything work as planned? Or did any funny or extraordinary things happen?

Matthau: Actually, it was very easy at that point. Nothing unexpected happened and it was very easy, technically.

So you were really well prepared then?

Matthau: Yes, we were. And this time we were very much aware of what we wanted it to sound like and what we wanted to do, so it was much more easy than last time.

And what expectations do you have for the album now?

Matthau: None.

None?! (chuckles)

Matthau: None

Why?

Matthau: Everything goes, anything goes. I don’t know. Of course we expect a lot and we expect much more than... You know, things have to go forward all the time. We expect to tour much more and we expect to make a few number ones hopefully. We’ll see about that

Yeah, we’ll see.
Where outside of Finland is the album gonna be released and when? Cos in Finland it’s coming out in April

Matthau: I think Germany will see the release in fall

Hmm, it’s the same stupid stuff again, they will all buy it before then...

Matthau: Oh, I know, I know I have nothing to do with it

No, of course not. But it’s so everyone is waiting

Matthau: Yeah. And then, the thing when we go there it’s a new thing, when as a matter of fact it’s an old thing, you know?

Yeah! And you don’t have the sales over there I mean, at the end of the day you still get your earnings from it, no matter where the CDs are sold but it’s gonna screw the figures. And if you don’t have the sales over there then you can’t release singles

Matthau: Yeah, that’s true. And I don’t think we’re gonna release singles outside Finland (looks disappointed) I know it’s a bummer.

Yeah, it is! But there’s not much YOU can do about it, really

Matthau: Hmm, yeah.

Okay, so the first single, Wise Men Don’t Cry is out next week in Finland. This day next week, actually Are you excited?

Matthau: As a matter of fact I am, because two years ago when I wrote the song I figured out that this would be a great single. For us it’s an old song, so we sort of skipped the idea of releasing it as a single, but Okay, now the record company guys are good because they actually encouraged us to put it out as a single. So we said okay, lets try it out and I think it was the right decision.

We couldn’t find anything about a music video for it

Matthau: It will be filmed this Sunday And it will be sort of a secret until it’s released.

Okay. But will it be ready by the release day?

Matthau: I think so. The schedule is really tight

Yeah. Will it only be shown in Finland?

Matthau: Absolutely not Everywhere!

Oh okay, that’s good!
You’re signed now with Sony BMG. In the press release it said that they would do the release for all your albums in Finland but also internationally. You’ve just recently signed, but how has the work with them developed? How is it going?

Matthau: Well, you know, basically it means more money, so And it means you get a little more recognition outside Finland and hopefully in Finland too. Cos there’s still a lot of people who don’t know who we are and I think this is a step forward for us. I like to think of it as a big step. It’s all new to us so I don’t know what’s gonna be...

But you still I mean, usually the big labels can be really restrictive

Matthau: No no no no this time it’s vice-versa. Because actually, those two guys who run the company came over to our rehearsal loft and that’s how we met them. There aren’t any faceless people and we were being introduced to everyone in the company. And I actually played a few songs to them, acoustically. So we really know them well

Last year when I met you I asked you about the US deal and you told me Mental Circus would be released over there maybe in 2007. But what is the news today? Is Sony now taking over for the US as well?

Matthau: No, forget about the US

Completely?

Matthau: Yeah, yeah. Forget about it. No, we’re not going there.

Great! That’s very good, really!

Matthau: We’ll be focusing on Europe, and Europe only at this point

Wise decision

Matthau: Why?

Cos a lot of Finnish bands, when they go over to America to have success there, they have to act all up or play in different ways cos America is different to Europe. Like HIM, for example. They were really good sometime in the 90’s and now? Or 69 Eyes. Sooo American now And then they forget about their fans here as well

Matthau: Yeah. And the fact is that nobody knows who we are in America, so there’s no point for us to go there. That’s a fact, so no reason

Just one more question about the America thing... You played in Los Angeles last year at the Musexpo. And this year there are some more Finnish bands invited: Deep Insight, Bitch Alert and Rubik. What was it like to play there? Do you have any good advice for the bands that are invited this year?

Matthau: It was like being in a movie, you know. We actually took a limousine to the club and we didn't know about it until we were sitting in the limo. We were walking down the street, Sunset Boulevard, and a limo pulled up on the side: 'Are you guys from Bloodpit?' - 'Yeah, sure.' - 'Get in!'. Holy shit! (laughter).
It was palm trees and rooftop parties and all that, but when we got home... it was a bummer! (laughter) Back to the basics... sitting in a van. Or actually we don’t have a van, we have a bus, but anyway... It was all great, but... (puts on whiney voice) we will never get there again... (more laughter)

You had your first tour in Germany late last year...

Matthau: Which was great! Small places, but it was great. We had a lot of fun!

So what kind of feedback did you get back from that?

Matthau: Only good, only good!

And are there any good or bad experiences you have made?

Matthau: (points at Alexa) I think you saw one...

Yeah, in Oelde.

Matthau: You remember when I smashed my guitar?

No, you didn't smash your guitar there, I think that was in... I don't remember where it was... but some of my friends were there and they told me. But I didn't see it...

Matthau: Of course, when you're on the road for so many days in a row, and you have to deal with other members of the band 24/7 then sometimes you get really annoyed by them and they get annoyed by me. And there's no nowhere you can go, there's nothing you can do, except to shut up... It's like being married, it really is! And when there's problems nobody says anything, and everybody just tries to keep it to themselves. And when it crosses one point everybody explodes. And... (chuckles) that's a bummer when it happens on stage! (laughter) (demonstrates) Like: lalalala - WAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!! (more laughter)

But it’s a good show to the audience...

Matthau: There was a girl who came to me after the show and said that she was really frightened and she was scared of ME cos I was very violent. And that kind of sucked... and I started to regret the whole thing. It was terrible. But sometimes things like that happen... shouldn't happen...

A lot of people probably also thought it was just part of the show smashing the guitar and all

Matthau: I don’t think so! (laughter) No no, it wasn’t like that at all

But you do sometimes have this kind of temper

Matthau: Every day! You know, I have my mood swings, I have my ups and downs. And sometimes no ups at all! It’s like, downhill (laughter)

So, are you coming back to Germany?

Matthau: Hopefully! (grins) Yeah, I think so.

So when you release over there you will tour then as well?

Matthau: Yeah, if not sooner.

Well yeah, you’re playing the summer festivals there, but I more meant like a proper tour

Matthau: Yeah, of course.

And in April/May you’re gonna do Finland

Matthau: Yeah, the Finnish tour will take place in April and May.

Okay, and then probably some summer festivals there too?

Matthau: Yeah, sure!

And any more plans for touring yet?

Matthau: I don’t know. Because I know there’s a lot of plans, but they never inform us in advance (laughs) It’s like I get a phone call: ‘You should be there right now!’ – ‘Okay, hold on a second, I go and get my coat’ (laughter)

So really, is it working like that? How long before will you be informed? I mean, you have to prepare yourself and

Matthau: Let’s see. I got to know about the video yesterday. And we’re filming it on Sunday

Oo-kay?

Matthau: That’s how it goes

Okay, so you gotta be very flexible here no big holiday plans or something. Definitely not German they would plan weeks before! (laughter)
I mean, you also see it with the German dates, like festivals and everything They always announce like months in advance and you know the line-ups by now In Finland you always wait forever!´

Matthau: Yeah, but it’s actually very exciting, cos you never know where you’re gonna be in a month! (adds quietly) No, it’s not, but (laughter)

But you can’t make any plans at all, cos then you get a call and

Matthau: No, I cant. That’s true!

Oh, that would piss me off!

Matthau: Yeah, I’m a miserable human being (laughter) I’d like to be a plumber! (more laughter)

So, what’s the difference between Matthau in Bloodpit and Matthau on a regular Monday morning?

Matthau: It’s like day and night. (thinks) Monday mornings I wake up, and (Alexa looking alarmed cos she remembers this from her last interview – everyone bursts out with laughter) No no, let’s not go there (more laughter)
It’s like day and night, so errrm (thinks) Next question! (more laughter)

Hmm, actually, I don’t have anything anymore (laughs)

Matthau: Oh?

Well, we have these sort of ‘fun’ questions, but nothing like We thought of doing the more serious things first, but I ran out of serious stuff now...

Matthau: Oh!

Unless you have something you wanna add?

Matthau: I have a new coat! I have a new jacket! (shows his leather jacket) (laughter)

Well, it’s easier when the album is released and you get it for review and have an interview then, cos then you know the stuff and can ask more detailed questions

Matthau: You want to hear a song?

Yeah, sure!

Matthau: Hold on (fiddles with his mp3 player for a bit then hands over the earphones with the cable in a total mess that needs untangling first: ‘Can you do it for me please?’)
That’s one of my favourite tracks! One Life.

While we listen to One Life Matthau elegantly excuses himself for a moment... and on his return we let him know our thoughts about the song.
We like the way Matthau’s great voice is brought out so much better there than it was the case on Mental Circus. It sounds great: melodic, more round and a lot healthier. Very ‘Dark Rock’. ;) Matthau agrees and is in presentation mode now (‘I wanna play another one’) so we get to listen to another song, Born A Whore. This is also one of his favourites and Matthau says that the song is about him. It’s a bit heavier with a note of punk rock in it and has also been played live before.

Matthau was in a good mood and charming as always and we just carried on with some more small talk for a little while longer before indulging in one of his trademark hugs and saying goodbye...

We’d like to thank Matti from Beemvees for arranging the interview and of course a big fat thank you to Matthau for taking the time to meet and entertain us.

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