Don’t mix them up with Miss May I
Interview conducted on May 9, 2019
by Dan Locke
As I May is a four-piece modern melodic metal band from Mikkeli, Finland, formed in 2016. The group now consists of Tipi Nokelainen (vocals and bass), Lasse Hiltunen (scream vocals and guitar), Jani Valhola (backup vocals and guitars) and Marko Korhonen (drums).
As I May has since started to quickly gain ground in the Finnish heavy metal scene. The music’s soul lies within catchy melodies and big choruses as they combine modern elements, yet keeping the focus on the heavier side.
Band MembersTipi Nokelainen – Bass and Clean vocals
Lasse Hiltunen – Guitar and Scream vocals
Jani Valhola – Guitar and Backup vocals
Marko Korhonen – Drums
Dan Locke: How did you get your band together?
As I May: Lasse started this band by himself. He wrote and recorded the first demo by himself. Jani and Lasse knew each other from earlier bands, so it was pretty obvious to play together. The first drummer Ville moved to another city, so he basically replaced himself and said that Vote is the right guy for the band. We had bad luck with the clean singers. Of course, the band has a lot of vocal power with 3 singers, but the tone wasn’t what we were looking for. So, when Tipi joined the band, the band was born. He was the missing link that As I May needed. It took two years to build this band. There were different players for a short time in the band, but these are guys who stayed till the band was born.
What was your first gig?
We started strait our tour with our first album. It was in Kuopio and Henry’s pub. Guys have played for many years, so we
felt no rehearsal needed.
You are from Mikkeli Finland. What clubs did you go to check out live music?
There are many clubs of different sizes here. I think Wilhelm Public House is my favorite.
How did you develop your sound?
We think that everything you ever have heard will infect your sound, but let’s keep this short. Mostly it’s what you like and what kind of music you want to hear. What kinda motion the music gives you. We think that music is more motion than anything else. We like good melodies, so we like to put those everywhere. We think also that songs are individuals and should write like one.
For this new album, we hired a great producer Stefan Pommerin at Illusia Productions. We wanted to have someone in a process that looks songs different way than us. We wanted to have someone to talk about how we want something to sound. Like after 502 Kemper profiles we went back to tube amps. Lasse founded Revv amp and it was love at first sight. Before that, we switched active mics from guitar to normal mics. Dropped tune on a step. Changed to different gauge guitar strings and chose a baritone guitar for rhythm guitar tracking. That’s just what comes to guitars.
What do you think about digital media? Is it good or bad?
We think that it’s just good thing and the world is going to that way, but we think that all analog staffs will stay also. It’s fashionable these days to read real magazines and listen to CDs and pieces of vinyl. People are started to miss something and that is the connection between staff. But you explore more staff and world with digital media, so both will stay.
I am going to ask you about a few bands from Finland. I would like you to say something about each.
Him
Well, it was something different even when they started. I have seen those guys live in their first album tour. Ville singing with smoke in his hand and drinking red wine. Melodies and songs are very Finnish. Those songs will live a long time.
Nightwish
Front liners in what they do. Great songs. The effort those guys put to their songs is amazing.
The Rasmus
Well, these guys have changed a lot in a good way. Punk funk teenage idols what they were. Now real more grownup stuff and a lot of more simple sounding, but at the same time more better sounding. One of the front liners also.
Children Of Bodom
First of all, Lasse likes to sing Children Of Bodom in karaoke when he’s drunk and yeah, you can sing Children Of Bodom in karaoke in Finland. Well, those guys are role models to many bands. Guitar goods etc. Yeah, that’s Children Of Bodom. How much alcohol band can drink and play how they play and who can drink 12 beers in one show while their playing. These days they don’t use so much alcohol anymore.
Sonata Artica
Really well-written songs. Finnish metal classics.
The 69 Eyes
One of the pioneers in hard rock. Really well-written songs and unique sound and style.
Apocalyptica
Amazing how they have grown from student cover project to one of the leading bands in the Finnish metal scene. Unique sound. Opened eyes for different ways to do metal.Tarja Turunen
World class singer. One of the role models in female fronted metal bands.
What is the difference between Finnish metal and American metal?
Well, this is a hard one. Pretty much a lot of things. We have used to some type of sound here and I think also the same in the U.S. It comes from where we live and who we are. It sounds different if you wrote songs in winter or in summer. We think that place gives its vibes to it. It’s even different sounding between Finland and Sweden but has more similarities.
Do you write your songs in Finnish or English?
In English. Those two languages are so different that it’s almost in possible to write in Finnish. We think in English when we are writing songs and add final lyrics after the song is ready.
Timo you play drums and bass. Which came first?
Neither. First was the guitar. Then bass and drums.
Any plans to do some touring in the United States?
We have had offers to play this summer festivals in the U.S. But didn’t fit schedules. We have management and booking deal with Intromental. So, they will look at what is for our best interests from now one. Yep, but for sure we are coming to the U.S. at some point.
Anything you would like to say to your fans?
Thanks for all support. We are really humble about everything that we have had. Hope you will like a new album as much we do. See you on the tours. If you see us in somewhere just grab from a sleeve and say Hi.
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