Interview: RE-ARMED

What got you into music, and if you had not gotten into music what would you be doing today?

Hello. I guess it was some kind of "inner call". It felt good and something vibrated within me when I got my first notes on guitar - probably more like noises in the beginning, heh. Beside music there is always more to do. We all to have our families, day jobs and other hobbies.

What do you like to do when you are not playing music and how does that influence your creativity?

For example snowboarding in the winter. It's good way to forget everything else for a second. I think it is my way to reboot myself and obviously I have found out it helps a lot with creativity.

How long has your band been around?

It's been up and running since 2001. In the beginning, of course, things did not move forward so fast. You know, things worked more like by "trial and error leads to victory" -method.

Where are you based out of and how did that influence your music?

Finland, southern part of it. Hard to say how it has affected to me and our music. Maybe it has brought some melancholy in to music and lyrics.

How did you come up with the name of your band and what does it mean to you?

It means evolving and no matter what happens keep pushing forward.

Tell me about your most memorable shows.

Been here and there few times, but tour in Japan in 2017 was something that I will never forget. Tour in China in 2015 was also another memorable trip. Many good "tour memories" from Europe and UK as well.

What is your favorite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play that you have not already?

Hard to say one single venue that rocks over the rest of. Maybe it is more up to overall mood during the show - about interaction between the band and crowd...

If you could play any show with any lineup, who would be on the ticket?

Let's say Soilwork, Dark Tranquility, and Omnium Gatherum and we are already packing our packs, heh.

What is some advice that you would give to someone who is just getting into playing in a band and some advice that you would give to your younger self?

Take it easy and don't put all your eggs in one basket.

If you could go back in time and give yourselves advice, what would it be?

I would repeat previous answer to myself, heh.

Of your songs which one means the most to you and why?

Maybe for me it is Tomorrow. It is the first track for the band that I wrote when I was 16 year old kid and it holds inside a lots of emotion, I mean it still holds even when we revamped it for this anniversary EP. I'm not saying it is our best song, but it is just special to me.

Which songs are your favorite to play and which get requested the most?

The Hollow Lights, Beyond the Horizon, and Ode to Life for example, but I can't tell you which one of these new ones work live since coronavirus kinda stopped us back then when our latest album Ignis Aeternum was released in 2020. We have done only few shows here and there, but within Finland's borders.

What is the creative process for the band, and what inspires you to write your music?

I think it is life itself that pushes us again and again to create something new together. It doesn't even have to be a sad event in our personal life that makes us to write new songs and lyrics. In fact, I find more inspiration today from joy and amaze. With amaze I mean about this whole life in general, and all the beauty this planet holds on its surface. We should take care of it together, and fix things together that are fucked up right now.

What kinds of messages do you like to get across in your music?

You are not alone and everything affects to everything. Don't be selfish.. be humane to each other. Respect life and all the living things.

Do you ever have disagreements in your band, and how do you get past them?

Sure we have had, and sure we have these days as well. Things are more, hmm reasonable today.

What are your plans for the future, and do you have anything that you want to spotlight that is coming up?

Make new cool tracks and hopefully get on the road again, some day in the near future! Listen our anniversary EP, XX and enjoy! The EP just came out and it gives you nice cross-section about our music. Thanks.