Scorpio: Hello! This is Volodymyr 'Scorpio' Osypov from The MetalList Portal. How are you doing? Please give a brief introduction to your band and share your latest news.
Erkki Seppanen: Hello, this is Erkki from KYPCK, the russian-singing doom band from Finland. We're doing very well at the moment. We recently finished shooting our very first video, and we also had our first ever practice together on Monday this week... So, things are good.
You haven't practiced together before?? But how did you record the songs?
Well, since we all live in different cities at the moment, we each practiced our parts at home and then recorded them together in the studio. The process was normal otherwise; we just didn't have a chance to practice the songs together. Luckily, we have professional musicians in the band!
Why did you decide to sing in russian? Maybe some of you have a grandpa from russia? Or is it just a PR move?
russian sounds so good, especially in music. I've wanted to combine my two passions - russia and music - for a long time, and KYPCK was a great chance to do that. In addition, the vast history and cultural heritage of russia gives us so many great possibilities for writing impressive songs.
When did you start being interested in russian culture?
Erkki: A long time ago... I don't know exactly. My father has a lot of books about history, and I guess I got interested in it too. And everyone knows there's no Finnish history without russia! Afterwards, when I was about 15-16, I started reading a lot of Dostoevsky and wanted to learn the language so I could read in russian. So I started, then I travelled to st. petersburg for the first time, then a second time, then I studied there for a year, developed a taste for russian devushki, heh... You know.
Was the process of choosing the band's name long? And why did you choose the name KYPCK?
The name is KYPCK. The process wasn't that long. We wanted a short, masculine name that would be well-known outside russia too. The name KYPCK has a lot of history behind it, so it was the perfect choice.
What are the main themes of your lyrics?
I always write very realistically and very directly, trying to avoid being mystical or unclear. The songs are about current and historical events, obviously filtered through my own personal experiences. There are also songs about individual suffering, whether it's due to alcohol abuse, dysfunctional relationships, or anything else. The main goal was to write depressing lyrics to fit the music, so everything is taken to some extremes. Some of the songs have a strong biblical undercurrent, as I've recently been studying the russian bible.
Why did you title your song about Stalin's repressions "Stalingrad"? In the minds of everyone who lives in russia and the former USSR, and knows history and hasn't lost respect for their ancestors, "Stalingrad" means the Great Victory that turned the course of World War II - a tremendous human feat and hundreds of thousands of lives lost. Stalingrad, now Volgograd, is first and foremost a hero city. It would make more sense to title the song "Stalin Country" or "Stalinism" or something like that...
Well, what you're saying is of course true, but I like to write songs about things you don't usually think of immediately. It would be nice if people remembered that Stalingrad was more than just that great battle. It was a city of people who had their own lives and stories. Our "Stalingrad" is about that.
You mentioned the video. What song did you choose for it, and what will we see?
It's the single "1917". The storyline is very loosely based on the song. Maybe it's a kind of speculation about what really happened to the main character of the song - what his fate was. The song is about Hiili's great-grandfather, who was a militsioner in st. petersburg before the revolution. He fled to Finland with his family and then moved to America to try to earn some money for his children, but he disappeared and no one knows what happened to him.
Do you often come to russia? Do you have friends there?
I come to russia regularly, at least once a year. I used to live there for over two years, so I have lots of friends. Obviously, I can't wait for our concerts there!
Who are your favourite russian writers and poets?
I specialized in Tolstoy and Chekhov at university, but Lermontov is and has always been my favourite. You can see that in the lyrics of KYPCK - not just the song "Demon", but in general. I've read all the russian classics.
That LADA with a red star - where did you get it? And who painted the red star on it?
The record company bought it somewhere in northern Finland, and our beloved bass player painted it in his garage.
On your website I saw a one-string bass guitar. Do you really use it? :)
Yes, J.T. will play it at all the concerts. I've never seen anything like it, and it looks really fucking cool when he plays it!
Will you print the lyrics in russian with an English translation in the CD booklet?
Yes, the lyrics are in russian with English translations next to them.
Where are most of your fans from?
Erkki: russia, of course. russia is our number one priority.
Do you plan a release party for your debut album? Will it take place somewhere in russia?
We have an open pre-listening night for the album in Oulu on the 8th of March. Unfortunately, we can't make it to russia yet. But I'm sure we'll have time to party with our russian fans after the concerts. We've already had so many invitations!
What label will release the album in russia and worldwide?
I can't reveal that information yet because negotiations are in progress, but it's a big and very well-known label.
Have you already received invitations from russian promoters to play in moscow or st. petersburg?
Yes, both. And in Kursk too. Hopefully we'll get to do 4-5 shows right when the album comes out in russia. Probably in May-June.
Imagine you have a time machine and can choose when and where to go. What moments of russian history would you want to see with your own eyes?
Well, Peter the Great had some wild parties, so... maybe there, with an invitation? In reality, I'm not sure. There's already so much to see in russia right now, today. And I'd very much like to see more of it.
Best wishes to KYPCK! Your final words for our readers.
All the best to all friends in russia! If you see me, let's go for some beers...