Interview with Disco Ensemble, Kato Berlin - English Version

(Disco Ensemble)

09.04.2007 von Melanie Schupp

You already released your album First Aid Kit some years before the re-release this year. What was the reason?

Miikka: First Aid Kit came out in Finland originally in 2005. It only came out in Finland on our label there and after that some international labels got interested in it. We had a really small release and nothing really happened. But then we got picked up by Universal Germany who wanted to put that CD out in a proper way. And yeah, that´s about it.

Why do you think it didn´t work at the first time? Do you think people were not ready for your music or do you think maybe it was the wrong marketing policy?

Miikka: Well there was no marketing policy.

Jussi: They had no promotion.

Miikka: Yes nothing really happened. So for that reason it was easier to put it out again on Universal Germany.

Hows the feedback so far?

Miikka: I think the reviews we read were mostly positive. Of course we cannot read every review.

We were disturbed by the manager who had some questions on the band.

Miikka (confused): What was I talking about?

About the reviews. Well I just read a few reviews and they were all very positive. Also the concert reviews.

Jussi: And what a good thing is that the both singles of the album are in the charts. Now First Aid Kit is number 8. Black Euro is also in the charts. That´s something that I´m pleased for.

How long did the recording take? Where did you record?

Jussi: It was in Sweden in Göteborg. When we signed the deal with Universal we decided to re-record some songs in Stockholm whith the guy who produced The Hives. I think it was like three and a half weeks the original session. 23 days or something like that.

Did something extraordinary happen while recording?

Mikko: We did kind of innovative when we ran out of time. So in the daytime Miikka sang the vocals and in the night we did the guitars and base. So when we were finish Miikka woke up and we had a morning beer before we went to bed.

Jussi: He woke up like 8 in the evening and went to bed about 11 in the morning.

So did you stay in the studio?

Jussi: Yes it was in the middle of nowhere. There was just this supermarket. And around there was just wasteland. In a way it was a good thing because we could concentrate on the recording.

Miikka: There was no bar.

But you had loads of beers from the store?

Miikka: Yes but its just 2.8 so you dont get that wasted. You only get tired.

Jussi: Yeah you just get a bit sleepy.

What would you say are your musical roots?

Jussi: For me it goes back to old Metallica and AC/DC stuff. I liked to play guitar to Metallica. But the band that we all share is Refused and some Weezer some Snapcase. What else?

Mikko: Madball.

Laughter

Miikka: Maybe some local bands.

Mikko: Yes there are some progressive bands.

Jussi: Yeah the rockscene in Poori that makes more progressive music. Not mainstream.

Your bandname sounds very strange to the music you. Did you ever think about changing your bandname?

Miikka: Constantly, constantly. (laughter) Every night I cry myself to sleep. (buries his head in his hands) Disco Ensemble Why??

What are the names you´ve been thinking of?

Miikka: Gay fists.

Laughter

You should choose this one!

Miikka: What else?

Jussi: Young Satan.

Miikka: Young Satan. And another one was Homos of the Afterlife. But it´s too late to change now.

Jussi: We changed it once so

Yeah you told me in the last interview that it first was just Disco and another band from Finland had the same band name.What was the first thing you did after signing your contract with the record label?

Mikko: Aaaah that´s a good question Well, we never signed a record deal. Or did we?

Jussi: We never signed the rights for selling on shows.

Miikka: The label in Finland the main guy was a very good friend of us. He just started selling shows for us and we worked with him. There was never a need for signing something. And after a show we met at Ilves and we signed some paper. He just gave it to us and we signed.

How did you feel when doing the Antidote tour?

Mikko: I think we were all very optimistic (break) when we started the tour. Laughter

Did it change while touring?

Mikko: Yeah. Day by day.

Miikka: No but it was a good thing.

Jussi: For me everytime we go on tour for maybe 3 or 4 weeks. And right after the first show you think Cool that was a nice show but we´ve got 29 more to go. And it feels like a lifetime. But looking back it was great!

Do you still keep in contact with the bands?

Mikko: No.

Same time Miikka: Actually yeah. Laughter

Miikka: We were just in Canada and we saw two of the other bands. Danko Jones´ drummer and one guy from Bedouin Soundclash. We went to his house party. So yeah we keep in contact.

Jussi: And of course we sometimes get e-mails on myspace.

Is there something you´ve learnt from the other bands?

Miikka: Of course there´s always something you can learn from while watching the shows.

Jussi: It was also very interesting how they work together as a band. How they do their soundcheck and all these things. Nice persons.

Did something extraordinary happen?

Miikka: Yeah one day we had a meeting with a publisher and we couldn´t make it cause our car broke down. And we called him and told him what happened. We were about 100 kilometers away from where we should meet him. So he took his car and drove to our bus and we had the meeting there. It was an old guy, very nice. He brought us some chocolate.

Jussi (joking): He just wanted us to sign.

Miikka: Here´s some chocolate so please sign!

Can you see a change in your audience right after the Antidote tour?

Miikka: This is the first big tour right after the Antidote tour. So we´ll see.

Where was the most amazing audience?

Miikka (quick): In Helsinki. But that´s home country that doesn´t count.

Jussi: Vienna maybe an Zürich.

Miikka: And Berlin.

What was the weirdest thing that happened?

Jussi: Well I think the weirdest thing is that we´ve never been in an accident.

Miikka: Actually you have had.

Jussi: Oh You´re right. Laughter
Okay but the weirdest thing is that never anything weird happened.

What was the weirdest question you´ve ever been asked in an interview?

Miikka: There was kind of a teenage TV program in Finland. They had this kinda like sentimental interview. Jussi and me were supposed to give tips for teens in relationships. That was one of the weirdest interviews. Like At what age do you think kids should try sex?

What was your answer?

Miikka: I guess you can do when you feel right.

Is there some band or artist you´d like to work with?

thinking thinking

Or maybe a producer or an actor?

Jussi: Don Johnson. Laughter

Miikka: Maybe some guy from Finland. His name is Juhan Af Grann. He should produce our next album. He knows nothing about music. He´s some kind of a spiritual artist. You can put a link on his website. (Note: sorry we couldn´t find the website)

How did the cooperation with Lapko happen?

Mikko: They are on the same label and they are friends of us. We played a lot of shows together. It´s their first proper tour in Europe. We have to show them how to do it ;)

Will you play at some festivals this Summer?

Mikko: Rock am Ring and Rock im Park. And there are also some smaller ones Rock am Bach?

Is there a question you won´t answer anymore in interviews?

Miikka: At what age do you think kids should try sex? Laughter
I think it´s well everyone ever asks why we are called Disco Ensemble. That´s sometimes a bit dreary. Like Well first we were called Disco and then blablabla But of course this question is the most obvious to ask.

Jussi: You cannot avoid these questions cause we are kind of a new band here and anyone wants to know the basics. Of course it´s boring to answer the same questions all the time but I don´t really mind.

Is there a comparison with other bands you can´t stand (the comparison not the bands)?

Miikka: I think we are compared to a lot of bands. There new comparisons every week. We can´t stand any of them ;) laughter

Who came up with the idea for the video Drop dead Casanova?

Miikka: That was the director. We went to the studio where he had the blue screen.

Where did the video shoot take place?

Miikka: In Berlin. They shoot it in front of the blue screen. That took one day and then they put the virtual things in the background later.

Do you have an idea for your next video shoot you´d like to realize?

Lasse: Not really. We just wait for some suggestions of the director and then we gonna pick one.

Miikka: We just have a look what fits. We don´t really think about what we could do for a shoot before.

Is there something you relate to Germany?

Miikka: Autobahn. That´s a pretty to travel. And the gas stations the stops.

Jussi: The fee sucks. You have to pay every time you have to use the toilet.

Mikko: So it´s annoying when you have no coins. You try to sneak back to the bus.

Jussi: So you decide to pee in the bushes right beside the toilet.

How does it feel coming back home to Finland after touring in many foreign countries?

Jussi: Good.

Miikka: It´s good but also a bit different for a while. What am I gonna do when I wake up? Hmmm? Okay make some coffee how do I make coffee?

Jussi: After a long tour it´s strange. It takes some time to get back to normal life.

What´s the first thing you gonna do when you´re back home in Finland?

Miikka: I´d probably take a shower.

Mikko: I´d do everything that has to do with the bathroom!

We´d like to thank the guys from Disco Ensemble (maybe called "Gay Fists" soon ;)) for the nice interview. And we also like to thank Ju and Universal Music who made the interview happen!!