Ελληνικά
Last Updated on 05:45 PM by Giorgos Tsekas
What happens when a Finnish band with black metal origins decides to hypnotize its audience with music that does not fit in preconceived frames? Are you afraid of the cosmic void? Are you ready to explore unreachable parts of your soul? Read what Oranssi Pazuzu’s frontman, Jan-His told us and confront yourselves with these questions and the discourse of the orange demon.
Hello and thank you very much for having this interview with Metal Invader.
Could you tell us the story of how Oranssi Pazuzu got together? What was the original aim for the band and how did you manage to have one of the best logos in the metal scene? Is there a particular meaning behind it?
Jun-His: A pleasure. We wanted to start making dark and hypnotic music that is heavy but not in the traditional “metal” way. It had to come from what was natural to us. Through organic playing style mixed with desire to experiment and being open minded towards all art. Especially vocals and harmonies of the first songs we did were heavily influences by the second wave of Norwegian black metal. But also a Finnish band called Circle was a massive influence. Their beginning of millennium material is the most hypnotic stuff ever, while still rocking. Check out the album Taantumus for example. The logo was made by our friend Samuli Huttunen who also did the cover of our first album and has been working with us on other stuff as well along the years. I think he was inspired by our first song Korppi. It means raven.
What is a standard songwriting procedure for Oranssi Pazuzu, if there is one? Does the music come first or is it the lyrics or a concept that gives birth to the music that encompasses it? Many of your songs used to have or still do have a raw black metal or even punkish basis, is this first layer and on top of that everything else is added?
Jun-His: We rely heavily on atmosphere. Songwriting styles vary from someone bringing some ideas to rehearsals to completely jamming the song together. We try to leave some room improvisation in the songs, especially nowadays. And even if someone brings an idea, we jam it through and it will probably go through some form of metamorphosis. Sometimes we might jam an idea out of a more abstract idea or ”image” that we discuss over a beer. On Värähtelijä, we wanted to have warping riffs and also on top of those layers of ambient and noise instead of always having separate ambient parts etc.
Has the fact that your lyrics are in Finnish proved an obstacle for you to be accepted in certain markets or from certain crowds? How important is it for you to sing and express in your mother tongue and would you ever consider singing in English? The Finish titles might not be comprehensible to the masses, but have a certain ‘metal’ appeal for sure.
Jun-His: We don`t really care about what appeals to people or even less for makers for that matter. We make the kind of art we want to do and of course we want to share it. Other wise we wouldn’t release albums or do shows. But after we share it, its up to the one who experiencer it if he or she identifies or is intrigued about it or not. I feel things would go horribly wrong if we started thinking about what people want to hear. Having lyrics done on our mother language is just simply the best way we can harness the full potential of the atmosphere. We know english pretty ok, but not in a way that would allow me as a vocalist for example to tap into all levels of lyrics and expressing them. I think if I would ”sing” in english, it would lack emotion and I would feel like Im being an actor or something.
Your music was from the beginning very much cinematic, have you ever thought of writing a proper soundtrack or using your music for such purposes? Or even better, have you ever thought of creating a movie to go along with your music?
Jun-His: Haven`t really thought about it. But I would love to make music for a movie. Would also be extremely interesting having movie shown and jamming a soundtrack for that. We always had a very visual way of talking about the songwriting and parts or sounds etc. But I don’t directly think about movies. Its more about abstract images and visual ideas inside my head.
It is obvious that you are taking care of your live show as much as you can, both sound, image and lights. How important is it for you to represent your material in front a crowd? Would you consider adding theatrical elements in your stage show?
Jun-His: I love playing live. I believe in the simple idea that if we manage to conjure ourselves into sort of hypnotic state with our music, the hypnosis will spread. Its a very psychological experience for me and If we have a good show maybe its spreads to the audience as well and people will resonate with the music and tap into exploring their psyche and access some of the corners they normally wont. Its a trip. We want to make the best possible atmosphere and circumstance for experiencing it. Our light guy Mikko is very important part of creating this setting and atmosphere. Im not sure what you mean about theatrical elements, but I like to think that I go on stage as a more theatrical version of myself.
Does the music of the band have any religious, spiritual, metaphysical, ritualistic or cosmic connotations for its members? Are you writing music to save your souls, to stay alive, because there is nothing else to do or what?
Jun-His: I can’t completely talk with one mouth for all members, but we do have a strong atheistic view of existence. Making art is a life-force for me. I get strength from it, it helps me deal with fear of death. It allows me to express the horror and beauty of human existence in this whole absurd scenario called life. It’s something I want to leave behind. I hope people will resonate to same emotions and mind states we express in our art long time after we are gone.
We have been reading a lot lately about the Wastement and the community you have created there with your friends from Abyssion, Atomikylä, Dark Buddha Rising and MPH. In what way has that helped the band evolve? Do you feel like you form a certain scene there with a distinctive sound and characteristics?
Jun-His: Its always more profound to draw influences from other bands if you actually get to discuss with them and jam with them. If you like some band from far away, you never get the whole package. I love to hear philosophies behind making music from people whose art I love and respect.
How is it going with your other projects like Atomikylä and Grave Pleasures? Is Oranssi Pazuzu still the main occupation for its members and how do other projects affect its progress?
Jun-His: Oranssi Pazuzu is most time consuming for sure. Since with OP, I also deal with other stuff than just music. But thinking music wise, I don’t want to separate which is the main band or anything like that. When making music, I try to do it with all I have. Period. Oranssi Pazuzu will never be one of those bands who are constantly on tour so there is time to do other things as well. The band would lose its intensity live if we toured too much.
I recently wanted to play your music to a friend and when I described it as “psychedelic black metal” he laughed, because he thought this two genres can’t be combined (he is stuck in ’95). Is this a good description of your music or is it restrictive? How connected do you feel with the metal scene, or black metal in particular and how would you like Oranssi Pazuzu to be remembered in the years to come?
Jun-His: Metal music and black metal especially are parts of our influences for sure. But we are a fusion band. We are probably influenced directly or on subconscious level by everything we get strong experiences from. I don’t believe music is so ”ready” that you have to pick a genre and function inside the genres imaginative borders. People just want to simplify and put everything in neat little boxes. Music should evolve, break into little pieces and construct back again. I mean people have done music thousands of years and electric and recorded music has only been around for hundred years or so. Thats not the end of evolution folks.
Has the recent change of the guitar player affected the band and how are things looking with the new line up?
Jun-His: Ikon has been with us for few years now doing shows so things are already very steady. Just really looking forward composing new stuff with him. We are very lucky we found him since not only he is fully able to play Moit`s stuff live, he is truly unique creative player and will surely bring completely new sides to our music in the next album.
After the cosmic journeys of “Muukalainen Puhuu” and “Kosmonument”, the microcosmic earthly voyage of “Valionelu” and the plunging in the depths of the human mind that was “Värähtelijä” what is left for Oranssi Pazuzu to explore? Has the new direction of your music for the next record already been shaped?
Jun-His: Not yet. We have had some discussions about where we want to take the music, but the table is totally empty after Värähtelijä. Its an inspiring and a little scary situation. I think we have come to an end of one path and about to start a new one.
The world is coming to an end pretty soon and you have time only to watch five bands live and listen to five records, which would those be?
Jun-His: Live bands: King Crimson, Portishead, Swans, Jimi Hendrix, Aluk Todolo
What do you remember from your first visit in Athens and what are you expecting from the second one? The closing is yours.
Jun-His: It was heartwarming to see people coming to thank after the show in tears. Something we never would experience in Finland. Hehe. Just really looking forward performing again to people who clearly are willing to sink into cosmic void with us. See you there! Thanks for the interview!
