Interview with Darkness Is My Canvas

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

PETE: “I was a long haired 14-year-old and a couple of my schoolmates asked if I could sing with their band. At first, I was a bit hesitant, but I decided to give it a go and joined their band. Before that, I was mainly focused on learning guitar and also took some piano lessons. Music has been a very important part of my life since my teenage years, so I can’t imagine myself without music. Therefore, I believe there is no me without music.”

PANU:  “Although there wasn't a real musical background in my family, I was enrolled in a children's music club when I was only 6 years old. Despite this (it wasn't fun for little Panu to sit on a cold stone floor in a circle with other children and sing stupid songs accompanied by a strict piano teacher) I continued playing music as I got older.

When I turned 12, my parents gave me an acoustic guitar as a Christmas present. Initially, playing the guitar felt difficult, and it didn't seem any more special than a football to me. I was frustrated that I had to play the guitar differently from others, with the strings upside down.

A few years later, I saw Paul McCartney playing the fiddle bass guitar "upside down." And Jimi Hendrix too. I realized that they were also left-handed, and the strings were adjusted to suit them. I reversed the string order on my own acoustic guitar and tried playing the chords again. I shouted in my mind: "I CAN PLAY!!!" This was the first spark that turned me into a guitarist and musician.

If I hadn't gone into music, I'd probably be a coder or an engineer. As a musician, life is more interesting. :)”

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

PANU: “I spend a lot of my free time outdoors. I enjoy taking long walks and taking care of the garden at my summer cottage. So, my hobbies are quite innocent... On the darkest winter evenings, I relax by studying quantum physics and astronomy. Coding is also one of my hobbies. Currently, I’m considering building an 8-bit Zilog Z80-based computer from scratch, although it might be too time-consuming. Overall, I like to spend my free time in silence. That's when melodies and rhythms start playing in my head, which later translate into compositions for new songs.”

PETE: “I spend most of my free time with music, either listening to it or learning new skills. Other activities or hobbies are mostly related to outdoor activities, such as hiking and fishing. At the same time, I’m quite a nerd, so I mainly focus on learning new skills like AI-based programming and the like.”

How long has your band been around?

PETE: “Darkness Is My Canvas (DIMC) was founded in 2017 as a result of the end of our previous band. The founding members, Panu (guitar and vocals) and myself, Pete (vocals and guitar), had already met since around 2005 or 2006. Our initial connection occurred when I was hired as a vocalist for a punk rock band, and Panu was involved in producing their album.”

PANU: “Right from the start, we felt an instant connection between us. Our shared love for the same bands and songs made it effortless to find common ground for our musical style. It didn't take long for us to silently acknowledge our mutual desire to collaborate in the future. What truly stood out to me was Pete's consistently positive and receptive attitude toward my suggestions. There was never any negativity or dismissiveness, and he never said things like "You can't do this because it doesn't align with my style." Instead, he gave me complete artistic freedom to express myself and create music.

Fast forward to around 2011, Pete reached out to me with the initial intention of working on a "solo album." However, as we started discussing and sharing ideas, we quickly realized that forming a band together was the natural path to take. That's when we began creating music as a unified entity, bringing our individual talents and influences into a collaborative project.”

PETE: “Fast forwarding to 2020… We rehearsed a lot during late 2019 and early 2020 and we already had booked several gigs for the band for 2020 but then came the shutdown and we ended up back in the studio writing new songs, polishing our skills, and pre-released some of our songs on Youtube. The feedback was quite nice and we decided to continue our path and wait until the world opened again... Last summer we started touring and releasing new songs on streaming services.“

PANU: “Spotify has been unexpectedly beneficial for us. While we are releasing our upcoming EP and a single through our label, Inverse Records, we are curious to see what unfolds beyond that. Our approach sets us apart from many other emerging bands. We construct our songs in our very own studio, precisely crafting each element. To bring our music to life, we collaborate with a session drummer, but everything else within the songs is a testament to our own craftsmanship.”

PETE: “...I think we are in a way two bands in the same package. Another band is gathering in our studio sessions (me, Panu, and session drummer Mikko Kaakkuriniemi or another session drummer Kai Jokiaho) and creating the artistic concept and the other band is for our live shows. At the moment our live lineup is:

Pete -  vocals & guitar

Panu - guitar & vocals

Gabriel - bass & vocals

Juza - drums

Linda - backing vocals

We have gone through multiple lineup changes during the last year. Finally, we have the best possible players but also awesome chemistry in the band. The current lineup of our band is fantastic, and I am proud to be able to sing alongside such talented musicians.

We both share a background rooted in the Finnish rock scene. From young age, I started playing in bands while Panu’s first band “Armygetton'' was at the age of 19.”

PETE: “In addition to playing bass and guitar, my primary role has been as the lead vocalist. Throughout my musical journey, I have been a part of approximately 10 to 15 different bands or projects, depending on how one counts and interprets the collaborations. These endeavors have encompassed a diverse range of styles and formations. Some bands have been more focused and accomplished, while others have been more casual and centered around friends coming together to learn and grow musically. This variety in experiences and formations has given me a typical and well-rounded background in the music scene.”

PANU: “My musical background primarily revolves around my own bands, including genres from progressive rock to art rock, fusion rock, and even jazz. In addition to my involvement as a musician, I have also taken on the roles of producer, mixing engineer, and session musician, running my own recording studio. Over the years, I have gained extensive experience by mixing approximately 1500 shows, making live performances a somewhat familiar territory for me. This diverse range of experiences has shaped me into a well-rounded musician, producer, and engineer.“

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

PANU: “We are proud to be based in Helsinki, Finland. While there is a vibrant music scene in the country, it's important to note that we, as a rock band, are not part of the mainstream Finnish music landscape. The predominant presence on streaming services is often dominated by local rappers and R&B artists.

Indeed, despite our rock band not being part of the mainstream, we have had the privilege of touring with outstanding bands that deserve recognition. We highly recommend checking out the music of DOL, Daiba Cowboys, Miss Vain, and Burning Cities, as each of these bands brings a unique style and energy to their performances. They have proven to be exceptional musicians, delivering memorable live shows and creating enjoyable listening experiences. Exploring their music will undoubtedly be a rewarding journey for any music enthusiast. “

PETE: “It's unfortunate to say that the pandemic has had such a significant impact on the music scene in Finland, particularly in the rock genre. Many bands and venues have faced challenges and struggles during these difficult times. However, it's good to know that the metal scene has remained strong, as it has always been a prominent and well-known aspect of Finland's music culture.

As for a must-see recommendation for the audience, I would highly suggest checking out The Holy from Finland. Having seen them perform live and being a fan myself, I can confidently say that they are a band worth experiencing. Their music is captivating, and their live performances are sure to leave a lasting impression. So, if you're looking for something exciting and engaging, The Holy is a must-listen band from Finland.”

PANU: “Living in the Helsinki area has given me a great opportunity to see live bands whenever I wanted. In Finland we listen to metal and rock and to me it was no brainer to form a band. Helsinki based band “Kingston Wall” literally changed the way I played guitar. Hearing Pete Walli’s mysterious, larger than life guitar sound and Sami Kuoppamäki’s virtuoso drumming live for the first time made a huge impact on me. If you don’t know the band, check it out on Youtube!”

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

PETE: “I have had a long-standing connection with a "dark passenger" since my early teens. This presence has influenced the lyrical direction of my songs, leading me to write dark and often thoughtful lyrics. When it came time to name the band, we explored various options before settling on Darkness Is My Canvas. The name reflects the edginess and darkness that characterizes our music, capturing the essence of our artistic expression. It's a fitting and evocative choice that sets the tone for our band's identity and creative output.”

PANU: “...and long enough, although we didn’t realize how long the band’s name actually is. I think there is a beautiful video on Youtube, something like “Darkness is my canvas and light is my brush….” where you got the idea partially. “

Tell me about your most memorable shows.

PANU: “The last gig at Lepakkomies (Helsinki) is going to be one of the most memorable for me. The band was on fire, and we played amazingly!  Another unforgettable experience is the outdoor gig at the Scout Jamboree in the middle of the Finnish forest and of course I will never forget my first gig: I sang and played acoustic guitar ... and I was incredibly nervous. The relief after the first applause was a feeling never to forget.”

PETE: “The first gig of course is something that I’ll always remember - my former band played in a local middle school for the ages 10-12 and I was incredibly nervous. I think every Darkness Is My Canvas show is memorable, it’s fun to see when some people are singing along with the songs that are important to us and it’s mesmerizing to see how people are reacting to each of the songs differently. “

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

PANU: “As a new group, we haven’t had time to play in our favorite places. One of them is Tavastia Live Club in Helsinki. I’d also like to play in Rock Werchter (Belgium), Roskilde Festival (Denmark) and tour in South America. The fans in Brazil are crazy - in a good way!”

PETE: “I would love to play in Roundhouse, London, but that is not yet possible for our band. Most UK rock venues are of course fantastic, so it would be fun to experience those as an artist.”

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

PETE: “Brilliant question. I would gladly take Panu as a guitarist, but if that is bending the rules of this question and all of our current lineup is excluded, then I would go with Matthew Bellamy from Muse as a pianist and backup singer, Freddie Mercury as a backup singer, I wouldn’t dare to sing at all, but good backup singers can do the show anyway - I might have the flu or something like that. For bass I would take Jaco Pastorius or Carol Kaye. To lead guitar I would probably take Ritchie Blackmore and to rhythm guitar, there would be no questions, James Hetfield. The drummer is a bit more difficult, but either John Bonham or Dave Grohl or Baard Kolstad from Leprous. I would think that lineup could play whatever and people would love it. I think my role would be MC or something like that”

PANU: “I’m very happy with our current lineup but let’s dive into the dream world. Alive guys only…

Drums: Mike Pornoy & Steve Gadd
Bass: Charles Berthoud
Keys: Chick Corea
Guitarists: Steve Vai & Slash
Vocals: Abel Makkonen Tesfaye & Matthew Bellamy

With this group my music would be a mixture of fusion, progressive rock and sadly only musicians would listen to it because it would be too complicated for untrained ears. xD

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?”

PETE: “Practice. Practice. Practice. Learn music theory. Learn to read notes. Be very open to influences. Believe in yourself. Don’t put yourself in a box. Be open to every musical style or player. Learn from the best, always play with people who are more advanced or more talented than you are. I think it's a fairly common misunderstanding that you can be a true musician without understanding music theory or that you are so talented that you don’t have to practice. I think as a vocalist you have to be really honest with yourself, to be able to learn new ways to control your voice - I know, that my own skills are developing all the time - that I have so much to learn and I’m nowhere near “ready”. The other thing related to practices is that band rehearsals are not the place where you can practice your own skills, it’s a place where you lock in as a band, and you have to do your homework at home - meaning the personal skills. Of course, you will learn a lot from other band members, but the full band rehearsals are for the band, not for you. I also think that you have to tolerate a certain amount of discomfort when you are starting, from time to time it feels like you are not getting anywhere, but then you have to work more and more.”

PANU: “Start practicing with a metronome right from the beginning. Rhythm is the only thing that connects the band members. Playing in rhythm is not exclusive to the drummer; everyone, including the vocalist, must keep time and not rely on others.

Another fundamental aspect is mastering your instrument technically. By practicing slowly, you can get the basics in order. It's not the purpose of a beginner musician to play super-fast solos, even if their idols do. If it were easy, everyone would do it. Consistent practice yields the best results!

Personally, I practiced electric guitar technique, music theory, and learning songs for the first 10 years, averaging 4-8 hours every day. When my fingertips were sore from playing, I would listen to songs or compose my own melodies. And when the pain subsided, I would continue practicing. I even had my electric guitar with me in the car, practicing scales while stuck in traffic (!). I took my practice quite seriously...

Tips to my younger self: metronome is your friend! ”

PETE: “Well….I can totally agree with the metronome thing. I’m still having trouble with the metronome because I thought for many years like most musicians do, that click-click-click-click is not very creative, but it is. It certainly is. It gets you places..”

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

PETE: “You should practice more. You should decide what instrument you want to play decently. Yes, you are talented, but there are so many talented people in the market who put more hours into their instrument, that you have to work more. When I was younger there was this time, when I played bass in one band, guitar in another band, and handled lead vocals in the third. It wasn’t too clever. I was only semi-decent with all of those. And one of the things that I think took too long to understand was the fact, that I didn’t believe in myself back in the day”

PANU: “Play with as many different musicians as possible and let people hear you playing! For too long, I was shy to bring my first band live because I thought we suck. We were not perfect but more than capable to create a loud rock concert.”

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

PETE: “Every one of those is meaningful one way or another. Bleed has an important story around it. Drown raised my vocal skills, it was surprisingly a developing song to sing, I found a few new methods to sing. Monsters is a weird ballad, where my voice cracks in new ways. The Game is challenging to sing and play guitar live at the same time, because of the odd time signature. But I think my favorite song to sing is “Inverted”, which we haven’t released yet - I think I’m sinking to the story of it every time and I really think, that it is a one-of-a-kind song to sing anyway, it’s fairly “easy” to sing, that gives a lot of room for being present at the moment - the story is also quite deep - it is a bit hard to follow, but it gives an idea how it does feel to be sleepless and the story goes in a way backward, it explains why the protagonist is suffering insomnia, but in a very end of the song - it’s 9 minutes long epic prog song, so we are not expecting people to listen to it very broadly, but those who are, will find some musical jokes and easter eggs there also. I think we should create some kind of an Easter Egg hunt on social media?”

PANU: “...good idea! Try to find different musical easter eggs from our songs and whoever guesses things right would win something!!”

PANU: “My favorite songs among the ones released and performed live are "Inverted" and "Peilimaailma." In "Inverted", I play long guitar solos and fill Pete's vocal lines with improvised riffs. Those melodies come deep from deep within my subconscious and I'm always happy to play that song.”

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

PETE: “I really like “The Game”, it is pretty challenging to play during gigs, but it is that kind of song that seems to really be one of the fan favorites. “Bleed” is one of the songs that we can’t leave away from the set. People are also very interested in which of the classics we are covering this time - we have played MUSE, Kingston Wall, A-HA, Blur, Nirvana, Soundgarden, Queen, and Radiohead in our shows, so we are always trying to do something fun also.”

PANU: “Inverted, as I said earlier, is one of my favorites. Some covers are also fun to play. Recently we have performed MUSE’s Knights of Cydonia and Detroit Rock City by KISS. I’m not a bass player but playing KISS makes me want to show my tongue like Gene Simmons does.”

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

PANU: “Typically, our songwriting process begins with jamming riffs or melodies, often pure melody or some kind of a chord progression. We then work on establishing the overall tone of the song, experimenting with various variations until it feels just right. During the initial stages of pre-production, the songs feature placeholder lyrics that may contain keywords or sentences from the final lyrical contribution.

Once we have completed pre-production, which includes guitar, bass, drum loops, and some demo vocals, we proceed to the actual production phase. Here, we explore different approaches to enhance the song, incorporating keyboards, orchestration, piano, and multiple guitars. When we are almost certain about the song's structure (around 90% sure), we reach out to one of our drummer friends, either Mikko or Kai, to perform the final drum recordings.

It's important to note that we work with different drummers during studio sessions compared to our live setup. We have been collaborating with these session drummers for the past decade, as they have a deep understanding of our style and expectations. This makes drum recording one of the smoothest parts of the production process.

After the drums have been recorded, I usually takes the lead in building the foundation of the arrangement. Pete, on the other hand, typically records his final vocals in a late phase, just before the mixing stage. He continues to refine the lyrics until the last moment. Although we strive for each song to reach the quality level we can be proud of, there are times when we face challenges and end up completely rewriting certain songs from scratch, sometimes up to five or six times.

We approach our songwriting with great focus, ensuring that every note, word, and chant aligns with our vision. It requires a project management-oriented mindset to achieve the desired results. However, there are instances where the original version, such as a ukulele and vocals or acoustic guitar and vocals, captures the essence of the song and becomes the basis for recording six months later.

Throughout the creative process, we incorporate a wide range of instruments, occasionally using the bass guitar as the primary composition instrument. It's undoubtedly a challenging journey to create our songs, but it's a path we embrace with determination and passion.”

PANU: “Spotify has proven to be unexpectedly powerful for our band. As we prepare to release our upcoming EP and a single through our label, Inverse Records, we are excited to explore the possibilities that lie ahead. What sets us apart from many other emerging bands is our unique approach. We have our own studio where we precisely construct each element of our songs, paying careful attention to every detail. While we collaborate with a session drummer to bring our music to life, everything else within the songs is a testament to our own craftsmanship. We take great pride in the creative process and strive to deliver a truly distinct musical experience.”

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

PETE: “For example “Fade into the White Noise” tells the story of a relationship teetering on the edge of its end. The protagonists find themselves in a challenging phase of life, and through the song, they attempt to articulate their emotional state while recognizing the need to take action. The underlying message in the song is a powerful one — it conveys that even in the darkest moments or during difficult times, there is always room for hope. It urges listeners to find their voice, express their emotions, and embrace honesty as a means of navigating through hardships.

Capturing the essence of this story is our utmost priority. We endeavor to ensure that the message resonates with our audience, conveying the importance of never giving up hope and encouraging open communication. “

PANU: “Through our music and Pete's passionate delivery, we aim to convey the power of speaking up, sharing our feelings, and remaining steadfast in the face of adversity. We hope that by telling this story, we can provide solace, encouragement, and a sense of connection to those who may be going through similar experiences.”

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

PETE: “Not anymore. We did have something weird going on with one of our former lineups, and that is why we were forced to change some members during winter this year. As all of our artistic and conceptual decisions are made by Panu and me, there are no disagreements in that sector at all - we have known each other for 15 years or so and we have mutual respect and we share the same vision. That is the reason why we don’t have any disagreements. And now our lineup seems to be very relaxed and professional and driven - so I wouldn’t expect any changes on that also in the near future.”

PANU: “Pete said it all but I can confirm. What Pete does not know is that if he has a musical idea I don’t love, I am clever to let him find out by himself that it does not work. I’m sure he does the same to me but this way we stay happy.”

PETE: “...I know that. We both are doing that all the time ���, but it’s a very nice way to walk away from stupid or not fitting ideas. There are plenty of those cases, where I have been thinking that I’m new Corey Taylor and Panu has been…well it’s really cool and all that, buuuuuut…

Instead of arguing, we always lead each other nicely away from really bad ideas.”

PANU: “And those ideas are by no means shitty, but it's more about whether something fits the song we're making.”

PETE: “That’s true - we have a pretty strict concept of how our band should sound like.”

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

PETE: “We will see this through, meaning, that we want to see how high we will end up. We know that it’s very difficult to break through with our kind of music in the present musical climate, but at the same time, we know that hard work will be rewarded. What would be the reward for us? To be able to tour frequently in Europe, play for new audiences, and give them the show of a lifetime.”

PANU: “I still want to release a full-length album. I know that it’s not financially smart, but I need to do that. Also, it would be fun to find a bigger label in the future that can help us to reach even more people. I’d also like to tour in South America as we have a lot of fans there…“

PETE: “I think we would love to tour a lot. We are very good in our studio releases, but we are first and foremost live-act. Hopefully, we are able to keep our current lineup motivated and create even more excellent songs and be able to deliver those live to a broader audience. We don’t have any unrealistic dreams, that we will rule the charts or be the biggest band in the world - that would be a bonus though - but being able to give joy to people who love excellent gigs and are willing to hear good more progressive songs should be the target realistically.