INTERVIEW WITH KIMMO PERÄMÄKI (BACKHILL)
«It´s true from this country comes a lot of great & big metal/rock bands[…] Gotta say, personally i´m not a fan of todays music bisnes and over produced music. There´s no soul in that. It’s just business, cold cash, molding people for markets. That’s not how I see making music.»
Recently we had the chance to review the debut album for BACKHILL, the new project of young finnish musician Kimmo Perämäki which will soon be released by Stormspell Recods. A very personal project he carries along with his band MASQUERAGE, and for which he has worked really hard, counting with the help of the other half of BACKHILL, Marko Yla-Häkkinen. Kimmo managed all kind of duties from songwritting to recording guitars, voice, keys as long as producing and designing the booklet.
Kimmo Perämäki might perfectly be the example for many other artist trying to make their most personal, intimate project, and example of hard work and sacrifice and the paradigm of finnish talent.
You recently released BACKHILL’s Shadow Man, a personal project started years ago. Tell us about BACKHILL, when did the project appeared?
Yep but it´s not actually released yet. The final release date was in July 9th but it got postponed few times because schedule problems. I will sure you it will come out within next few days.
I formed BACKHILL about 12 years ago as a «just for fun» project. I´ve done about 4 BACKHILL demos.This is the first time it became as a serious thing, a 10 track album. I´m very happy that Stormspell will release this album.I´ve had alot of friends in this project who have played in the past recordings but this timeI played everything myself – vocals, guitars, bass & keyboards. Drums were played by my long time friend, cousin & a band mate from MASQUERAGE, Marko Ylä-Häkkinen. Actually I first tried to play the drums by myself but I wasn´t happy enough with the results, haha.
It’s not easy to move on a project managed at all levels by you, how were the processes of writing, recording, producing?
Yep you´re right. Actually this all happened in a funny way. At first I had half-acoustic idea in my mind that I was starting to work. Well, in the end there wasn´t any half-acoustic album. When we started drum recordings there wasn´t any songs or riffs in my mind. Basically I had only that half-acoustic idea on my mind. Before each track I just improvised what it could include and what kind of drumbeat it could have etc. Then I wrote the beat-structures for Marko for each track and rest of the stuff he just improvised out with his own style. When drumtracks were finished I started to build music around them. When music was done, I did vocal melodies and Marko took care of the lyrics, except for one track lyrics were made by a another guy, well he was she haha.
Quite funny way to make a record. I mean to start from drums without any music ideas.
Even if you designed booklet’s content, cover was made by Ville Hautaluoma, looking quite similar to some KING DIAMOND’s covers or SAVATAGE’s Poets and Madmen…Is it some kind of intended tribute or just a coincidence due to record’s history?
Yes I hear you. Actually I asked from Ville to draw King´s Them kinda artwork. I love all the oldschool King & Savatage artworks. Those 2 bands are also few of my biggest favorites. I´m sure I have the biggest Savatage collection in Finland, haha.
Which were your main influences when writing BACKHILL’s songs?
Oh! There’s alot of great and also bad feelings in the album, even in the same songs. Very colourful album. Let´s just say blood, sweat & tears. Musically my son Jaakko was a huge influence, the good and inspiring beam of light in the shadows, so to speak.
When thinking of album’s title Shadow Man, some ideas comes to my mind, like all these musicians, great talents living in the shadows due to current’s music situation…Which is the reason behind this title? Is it related to this?
It´s straight and personal story about our (me & Marko) common and close family member. But yeah, i´m one of those who lives in the Shadows haha.
Which is the situation of music in general and rock/metal specifically in Finland? Seen from Spain, looks like a country which takes care and support their musicians.
It´s true from this country comes a lot of great & big metal/rock bands. But in many ways the situation sucks here as much it sucks in the other coutries too. I think we finns are too narrow-minded. We have these few big metal names which are produced over the top etc. I mean if you do an album in your own way and you don´t want to produce it that much then many people thinks this album gotta be a mistake. Gotta say, personally i´m not a fan of todays music bisnes and over produced music. There´s no soul in that. It’s just business, cold cash, molding people for markets. That’s not how I see making music. I rather do my dayjob and do music in a way I´d like to hear it. If I get better known someday, then it´s mean’t to happen.
What do you think of your country’s initiatives regarding Eurovision, like sending several times heavy metal band or this year a punk band formed by people with down syndrome?
For the latter, I raise my hat for our country. It wasn´t anything to do with music or song writing when we sent Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät over the seas. It was a great «snap» for some of the countries where people with learning/developmental disabilities are still shamed and hidden from society. Also another great thing was, that with these guys we sent something REAL in this otherwise very superficial contest.
LORDI was the first band in the wave of heavy metal in Eurovision. It was a trick that worked once, not because of the music, but the horror show they had. It won’t work anymore, but I’m glad it worked once.
Apart from BACKHILL, you are a member of Heavy Metal band MASQUERAGE, which are your plans?
Yes. We´ve been active band since -98. We had 2 years break while ago. A break when I had time to do BACKHILL record. Now we´re back again & writing new songs. New album recording starts probaply in the end of this year. We have new bass player and rehearsal room and next month we are playing our first gig after 2 years break. A lot of fresh stuff.
Are you planning to tour Europe presenting the album? Any chance for Spain?
No money, no tour haha. Would love to… Maybe as a support act. I have plans to play at least one Backhill gig with a lot of guests and film / record that whole thing for a dvd release.
We are arriving to the end of the interview, would you like to say something to your spanish fans?
Be aware! Someday we might come into Spain! It depends on you…
Buy the BACKHILL album. Also, don’t miss MASQUERAGE cd´s!
