ENSIFERUM - New Interview Available
October 26, 2008, 16 years ago
ENSIFERUM bassist Sami Hinkka is featured in a new interview with ExpressNightOut.com. An excerpt can be found below:
Q: Why do you think so many Scandinavian metal bands sing about their heritage, whereas, say, U.S. metal bands aren't singing about being Daniel Boone or stealing the country from Indians?
Hinkka: "We learn about our heritage in school but I wouldn't say that it's a big part of the mainstream culture nowadays. I really can't answer behalf of all metal bands but for Ensiferum traditional instruments and melodies are the main thing. Of course, folklore and beautiful Finnish nature inspire us also. Hopefully someday we will have a [live] show with at least some of those folk instruments for example kantele, nyckelharpa, recorder and so on. Maybe a 20th anniversary gig? Who knows?"
Q: You are the main lyric writer for Victory Songs. How did you go about writing the lyrics and do you do any research?
Hinkka: "I had lot of lyrics ready before we even had all the music for Victory Songs and same thing is now also when we write new material. I read pretty much. Not just fantasy stuff but, for example, Stephen King, Dan Brown, etc. On last few tours I've read American Psycho — much better than the movie — Three Musketeers, Kalevala, and I also like books by Finnish writer Esko Valtaoja. Of course, good movies can inspire to write. I think good lyrics — I am not saying that mine are [laughs] — are good metaphors."
Go to this location for the complete interview.
