February 27, 2004
Interview with Kimmo Bloom
When I think about the last couple of years and the bands that have made their way on to the music scene, one of the first to come to mind is Urban Tale. With their energy, ambition and happy go lucky attitude they have certainly come along way! Then when I look at the albums set for release I see and feel a lot of excitement for the new HeartPlay album which will be coming some time this summer.
When I carry these two thoughts a little bit further to the artists that have made a name for themselves for putting on a great show I come back to the common thread which is Kimmo Blom, lead vocals for both bands. So in my mind it seems that todays guest on ‘Inspiring Minds’ is an artist, or entertainer as he may prefer to be called, who embodies the past, present and future of music.
With an open mind, a humble spirit and a voice of pure gold I am convinced this is one musician we will all want to keep an eye on!
1. Kimmo Blom is a name that is appearing more and more as the new millennium unfolds; we are quickly learning of you as an artist. I would like to start out this interview in my tradition of an informal introduction of yourself; in your own words, the man behind the music …
Well, I am 34 years old, born in Orimattila 31.1.1970. I have a girlfriend (We’re getting married soon…), two brothers and a sister, both of my parents have retired from working life. Right now I live in Espoo (close to Helsinki) but I spent my “vital youth” in Salla which is a small village in Eastern-Lappland. I had my first bands there ( I started as a drummer) and I believe that spending time in such a unique environment has left it’s marks to me for good. No future though for a starting musician there so I had to move to capitol-region in order to get education and opportunities to make a living out of music.
I studied singing and music in general for 4 years and after that I’ve worked as a freelancer doing all kinds of jobs related to my instrument. I take private lessons from a great tenor-talent and do some teaching myself once a week in a private music-school. I feel privileged making a living out of music but I still have hunger to achieve more both as a singer and a band member.
2. Right now is a very important time for HeartPlay and yourself, how are you doing and what can you tell us about your overall feeling of the album?
We are constantly writing new material for HP and are very excited about the forthcoming sessions. I believe that the songs are more straight-forward this time but not forgetting that certain “prog-attitude”.
The Album is a collection of songs written in a quite long period and that’s the main problem with it in my opinion. The production in general took also too much time because of the other projects we had at that time but there are definitely some great moments that I’m still proud of.
3. Is there one song on this album that you are especially fond of that you could tell us a bit about and why it is special to you?
I’ll Be Your Shelter. It was the first ever song in my career that gained some serious air-play here in Finland even though it was everything else than the “trend stuff” at that particular moment. It’s a song that will stand the test of time with no problemo! I hope we are able to write songs that good I the future as well.
4. What would you say is the difference between your work with Heartplay and with your other project Urban Tale? Does the one feed off the other for you or are they completely different outlets for your creativity?
I see UT more as a band and HP more like a collaboration between me, Sakari (HP-keyboard player) and Tuomas (HP- guitar player). My vocals will of course bind these two bands together but in my opinion the overall sound between them is different. Sakari (who writes most of the material for HP) does a lot of film-music and that gives a certain “sound” to whatever he writes. With UT we always try new ideas in our rehearsals and usually no song “passes the test” without everyone’s approval. With HP (at least for now) we try new ideas in Sakari’s studio, record a demo and if we think it’s a keeper we pass it on to the other guys involved. I hope from the bottom of my heart that both projects will help each other gaining wider recognition.
5. With both of these projects and other guest appearances you have been a very busy man over the last few years. What has been your inspiration to continue with such a full calendar?
I love my work whether it’s doing covers in a club or making original music. I feel strongly that with hard work and humble attitude you can achieve something. As a singer I am still learning so I’m not afraid of not being a young “hot shot” anymore. I have dreams and goals which I hope can be accomplished in the future…
6. And, outside of the music what other activities do you enjoy … What do you do to “Strike A Balance” in your life?
I enjoy very much doing a long walk in the woods nearby or to the seashore. The reason why we moved to our new house was to get closer to the nature away from the city’s heart…deep inside I’m still a country boy! I also love reading and recently I started my Latin studies. A nice cup of coffee with friends debating over whatever subject is also very important. I have a small set of weights at home and I do some lifting with them every now and then. My motto in these things is: don’t rush, give yourself a minute. Physical fitness can be achieved without making a huge stress out of it. In my youth I did some sports so I know what it is when it gets too serious. To me, whatever I do to keep myself fit, is also a good feeling.
7. Your music has brought opportunity and opened doors once closed. What moments so far do you look back on as being your best experiences?
A good gig is a good gig wherever you perform it: I’ve done gigs in somebody’s weddings I still consider good shows, Gods 2001 was also a gig to remember, Nokia –gigs In Cannes, performing with Erkka (UT guitar player) in Brasov Romania and lots of gigs with our cover band Mr C…
8. What does the future hold for Heartplay? Will there be a tour this year? Are there plans for more albums?
We’ll see, everything depends on how the forthcoming album does, I guess. No idea of touring if it sells like 100 copies. MTM Records has already been very supportive and we are looking forward working with them. They seem to have a healthy “down to earth” attitude when it comes to sales figures, touring and other stuff without being negative.
Hopefully we can continue making records and gigs as well.
9. And what of Urban Tale? I read that your plans were for a new album soon … How are things going on that project?
Right now we are writing new songs for the third album but the recording schedule is open. We have agreed with Roastinghouse Productions that we will work closely together deciding what songs will make it to the next album and I feel there’s no need to rush things up. The ones we’ve written already are very promising!
10. From reading on www.aor-europe.com I see that you have been giving a sneak preview of what may be on the third UT album with the song “Retro”. Can you tell us about that song and if it is an indication of what to expect?
Yeah, we did “Retro” in Turku and we were very pleased about the feedback it received both in action and later in that review. It’s a strong song from Tuomo (UT bass player) and I’m pretty pleased to the lyrics as well. At this point it’s too early to say if it sets a new direction to our music but it’s definitely a step forward towards a more “rockier” sound.
11. You have also been appearing on other projects as well: Radioactive Yeah and Michael Riesenbeck to name a couple. Are there more plans for you doing this sort of work … Perhaps a solo album?
I am honored every time somebody wants to use my vocals in their projects! Right now I don’t have any that sort of projects but I recently sang some background vocals on Finnish “Idols” album. (In it for the money baby!)
I will start to make preparations for my solo album this summer. The songs are ready (most of the lyrics are not!) and I’m very excited about it! The music’s gonna be totally different from what I’ve previously done…or is it? Stay tuned!
12. Many new and up coming bands have a close eye on HeartPlay and UT because of your achievement and the feeling of the bands overall. What words of encouragement would you give to those hoping to follow in your success?
The word “success” is a double-edged sword (Is this even a right phrase?). If you compare your work to the “Greats” and their achievements you’re in big trouble ‘cause the whole scene is so absurd nowadays and sometimes all that counts are the sales figures and how many times you’ve appeared on TV or the magazines and all that. I try to do things which I can believe in and if somebody thinks it’s worth putting money in so be it.
When you’re not a major player it’s easy to criticize this business but the moment you got recognition you don’t care anymore. That’s happened before and will happen again. Nothing has really changed since this whole thing started: it has always been a business for some people. Some stars have been made using all the possible channels and some have come outside the mainstream. Everybody seems to want their slice of the cake but only few make it big but in the end does it really matter? There is life outside the catwalks and award-festivities. If you can touch ONE person with your music you’ve done something unique and though you’ve sold 10000000000000000 copies of your latest album it doesn’t make you any better person than the other. I try to be humble and work hard and wherever it takes me I’m grateful that I can do this job and that I took my chances in a first place.
13. I enjoyed reading your comments on the way the world categorizes music into so many sub-genres in a recent interview. I believe what you were trying to say is that limiting yourself to one genre may be damaging as the music industry changes so quickly and to stay alive you need to adapt. Do you think it would be better if we just went back to calling it good old rock and roll?
I would prefer “entertainment”. (It’s probably an age-thing…). No seriously, there’s still rock’n roll out there but I think we’ve come pretty far from what it originally stood for…at least what rock’n roll MUSIC use to be. The most rockin’ thing nowadays seems to be when somebody invents a new sound or yet another way to shock people to please the target audience (thanks to M.Manson for that line!)… read: the teens. Hard to see other development than even more little, independent labels publishing just that certain music they’re up to and the major labels scouting the “hottest talents” from them and making it big. We’ll see if the Internet makes the whole recording industry unnecessary…
14. We get quite a few visitors to our site from your native Finland. How is the music scene there? Any new acts we should know about?
The biggest bands are The Rasmus and HIM. They’ve already sold good numbers throughout Europe and hopefully they can make in the States as well! Both bands are MTV proof and finally somebody has made it big from here after years of desperate struggle.
15. Do you have a closing message for your fans at home and around the world?
I’m glad if my work gives a positive feeling to someone and I thank you for your support! Check out the coming HP (out probably summer-autumn 2004 via MTM-records) and UT albums. If I have a chance to publish my solo work I will let you know! All the Best to everybody and take care!!!!!
Posted by Kathy at February 27, 2004 09:59 AM