XYSMA is a Finnish hard rock band who takes elements of SONIC YOUTH, MISFITS, and BLACK SABBATH, shoves them in a blender, and mixes them into a raucous, high octane milkshake of feedback- inflected riffs, often funky rhythms, and suave vocals. The following interview is with guitarist Olli Nurminen, shortly after the Relapse Records release of XYSMA's latest 'n greatest album, Lotto. How would you describe XYSMA for those that have yet to hear the band? What are some of the characteristics that you feel makes XYSMA unique? I would say that we have catchy melodies played with a caveman-style touch, we play songs that you've always wanted to hear, we do not make tricky songs with loads of little details, and we got a singer with a golden voice! If you could pick one song that best represents what XYSMA is all about, what would it be, and why? I think it would probably be the song called "Millionaire" on our Lotto album. We played it live in studio and we actually had a rule that if you've made a mistake you don't have a chance to play or sing the song again. And that is the way I think music should be....simple ideas and one day documents [documentaries?]. Just the way they are, not more, not less. Rock'n'roll! What would you say is the driving force that inspires the band to play the way that it does? Right now when the spring is coming to Aarhus I would say that the force behind our playing is the Sun. I just love the sunshine....and good music. I also think that [the] world is filled with good music and that inspires me a lot. We really are a bunch of music-fans. And if you combine really good music with walking on the sunshine you'll have a pretty good and inspiring moment. Is there a prevalent philosophy behind XYSMA (religious, political, social etc.)? Is there ever any disagreement amongst the band members in this regard? In what ways, or how strongly, do you feel that these views affect XYSMA's musical output? I don't really think that XYSMA would like to mix politics with the music. I really like records like What's Going On by Marvin Gaye, where there is a simple message with the music, but I prefer to make my music with no statements. Although we share the same views in general, of course we are not the same and we have disagreements as well, but it would be pretty annoying to play in the same band with guys you think are just wankers. We like each other a lot and I think that is the no. 1 thing when you play in the band. Yes...I really think that the music comes second. There's no point to play with people you don't like...of course you could kick out the people you don't like but I'm not a fan of this kind of thing. At least XYSMA sounds just like the music that we, five individuals, make and that’s the way it should be. What are some of the main lyrical messages? How important do you feel that a strong lyrical message or meaningful cover art is to an album? I think that lyrics are not that important [to] the music...but they can take the music to a higher level (or lover as well). Like the band Dead Kennedys wouldn't be that good without the lyrics the Biafra guy made. We prefer to sing about "Gel" and "Shoes" and how wonderful we are and how we like our hair done. Cover art is [the] other thing...I really like to make record covers and I certainly like to watch them while I'm listening [to] the album. I think it is important also [to] make [an] interesting world around the band with pictures and stuff...and with the lyrics as well. How would you describe XYSMA in a live setting? Do you have a goal in mind whenever you set foot on the stage? I'm not really sure what do you mean with the "Goal" ...I'm not trying to score any girls if that's what you mean. Usually we just kick ass. We play only for half an hour or 40 min. We like to do intense shows. XYSMA live show...hmm...imagine MC5 with Elvis as a singer, then you are close enough. Describe the progression in XYSMA's songwriting over the years. Are there any aspects that you have consciously focussed on, or has the band's evolution been a natural, gradual process? Our song making process has been more than natural I must say. Supernatural. We play a lot together and every time we play we try something new, small parts of music or just a tone we like and we just play... for hours and hours. In the end we might have a fine song or some meaningless noise. I'm doing some stuff at home as well, but I have never made a whole song all by myself...once I tried, but when the other guys heard my song they said, "Yep, it's OK , but have you thought about moving this part there and putting a break here instead of this...and so on." Usually I'll notice that now we got a much better song than my first version was. But that [is] what playing in a band is all about, in my opinion at least. How is the scene in Finland at the moment? Is there a lot of support for underground bands? What sort of influence do you feel that your homecountry has on your music? We have loads of brilliant bands up in Finland. I could mention few of them...SWEETHEART, CIRCLE, PENNILESS PEOPLE OF BULGARIA, PSYCHOPLASMA, DYNAMITE FISHERS, ISEBEL'S PAIN, THE MONOTONICS and many more. All Finnish bands have quite unique sound...I haven't heard [the] kind music [which sounds similar to that which] the bands like CIRCLE or SWEETHEART are playing. Good original music. But the sad part is that foreigners don't have really a chance to get their records or anything. About our Finnish influences, I don't really know. I guess the Finnish way is not to copy from somebody else or...sound [like] someone else...and that is a pretty good way.... Any closing comments? Thank you very much for this interview. I haven't been answering interviews lately so this is quite fun and makes me think about things. Thank you for that!

| Main | News | Interviews | Reviews | About | Links | Newsletter |

© 2002 Chaotic Critiques.
All writing property of the respective author(s)
and may not be used without permission.