Hej 22-Pistepirkko!

22-Pistepirkko har spelat tillsammans i 30 år. Låt det sjunka in. Dessutom är de trevliga som få, och har aldrig sålt sin logga till Dressmann. De har även dragit ett stort lass vad gäller att sätta Finland på indiekartan, eller är det bara vi som inte är tillräckligt intresserade av finsk musik? Vi pratade lite med Asko och PK om det här och om derasspelning på Foajébarenpå lördag.

2013-11-22 10:35 2013-11-22 10:35
Publicerad Senast uppdaterad

Hi 22-Pistepirkko! Who's answering on your behalf today?

PK: – I am PK Keränen, playing guitarrs and singing…

AK: –…and his brother Asko, typing to you as well. Drummer, singer Espe is busy with other things.

You're coming to Gothenburg this weekend. How will your gig make the people of Gothenburg feel?

PK: – Ooops.

AK: – I don´t know…. Maybe it's blast from the past? Extinct creature from early days of rock? Like a happy surprise that 22-p is very much ok 2013.

PK: – Hopefully happy , suprised, moved, wild.

"We are popular enough so we have work to do, and unknown enough so we don't carry any weight of being famous."

And how shall we greet you, to make you feel right at home?

AK: – Hmm, hopefully some of you have time to join. Thats enough as a starting point.

PK: – And good, strong and fresh coffee will always melt the ice. After that just your normal and friendly manners will take care of the rest.

You've been playing together for such a long time. How have you managed to get along all these years?

PK: – It's a bit of a suprise for us as well.

AK: – I'd like to say quite well. We are popular enough so we have work to do, and unknown enough so we don't carry any weight of being famous and important on our shoulders.

PK: – We all feel that, playing in this rock'n'roll band, doing shows, making songs and records and generally just hang around with music is a suuuper nice profession to have!

AK: – We have circle of people around us, with whom we like to work and they like to work with us. Band members are different enough so we get along, and music is still the glue that keeps us gently together.

PK: – We just feel lucky, so we don't wanna give up!

If you got the chance to send a message to yourself in 1980, when you first started out, what would you say?

AK: – Co-operate more with the people. Learn the notes. Be much more playful. Support. Love.

PK: – …and: Go on, it'll be interesting and fun!

Is it hard to evolve musically, after writing songs with the same people for a long time? How do you search for new inspiration?

AK: – I have accepted that we rewrite 2-4 arch songs all over again. But I like them and we try to remake them so that the spirit stays clear and beautiful.

PK: – Usually inspiration follows good and hard work. Sometimes we try to find new people to work with. You can always try to make better songs and records and even though it can be a struggle every now and then, we like it!

AK: – Do we always hit the nerve? Well, we try.

I think Birdy is your best known song in Sweden. If someone wants to get to know you and your songs a little bit better, where should they start? What's a good crash course to 22-Pistepirkko?

AK: – OU Wee!, Motorcycleman, Texacoson, Refrain of the Refrain, UFO Girl, Lights By The Highway, Roundabout, Zombie, Rodeo Heart, Lime Green DeLorean, Comamoon, Hey Man and Gimme Some Water.

PK: – I would go for the Singles Box: All the singles, b-sides, extra stuff, live bootlegs, video clips and so on. Five CDs plus one DVD It's a good guide to the world of 22-Pistepirkko.

Swedes are usually really bad at acknowledging Finnish bands. Could you maybe tell us about one, that we really shouldn't miss out on?

PK: – Shit. There is so much going on. Just dive into Youtube and start to explore.

AK: – Right now, definitely Mushmouth Talk and Talmud Beach.

PK: – Our label Bone Voyage Recordings is always a good starting point …

What's the best thing that happened to you in 2013?

PK: – My kids are growing well and my guitars are doing fine and we started

to make the next 22-PP album

AK: – I'm 51 and feel happy to wake up and go to work. I also follow as our western civilization is falling apart. It gives me a sad but majestical feeling to be part of something this big system that collapses on it's stupidity and ignorance.

Karin Londré

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