Jyrki: One week to go!

Melamory: Yes! We're dreaming 'bout it!
Jyrki: Do you see nightmares?

M: LOL:) So… Last time I saw you in November after the gig in Tavastia. What has happened to you since that time?
Jyrki: We played till the end of last year. We completed Paris Kills tour. Then we had a little break here in the beginning of this year. But it doesn't mean we had holidays. Instead we're actually already composing some new songs for the next record. We want to be busy. We're really motivated in this. Even though it's not even year since Paris Kills came out. We're pretty much doing this. We haven't booked any shows for the first half of a year 2003 - only this Russian gig. It was supposed to have two gigs, but unfortunately - only one. That's what we're looking forward. That'll be really exciting. I'm personally really excited about it. But it's much too early even to seriously talk about next album, 'cos for you, guys, in Russia, I think, Paris Kills is very actual record. It's the first time to see us play live. Maybe people had heard rumours or seen pictures or something. And now it's a possibility to see that we're flesh and bone.

M: When will you record a new album?
Jyrki: Like I said it's really really too early to talk about it. I think you should ask this question maybe next summer.

M: Ah, I thought you go to the studio this spring…
Jyrki: No-no, we're in the first steps of writing this stuff.

M: Ok. And how did you celebrate New Year?
Jyrki: I think I didn't do anything. I think I went to sleep. I don't like… well… I think it's kinda frustrating when everybody is partying. I think I'm a die-hard party guy. At those days when everybody is partying that's for amateurs. I go party everyday and everyday worth celebrating. I leave those public party-days for the people who need them. I can party whenever I want.

M: But did you celebrate Bazie's birthday?
Jyrki: No.

M: Did you give him something for present?
Jyrki: No.

M: Shame on you:). Well, ok. You released single Crashing High. What can you tell me about that many Stigmata's remixes? I haven't heard them yet.
Jyrki: Ah, you don't have them. They're actually interesting things. It was cool things when remixes started to appear in the middle of 90s. But I think for music like ours sometimes it's not necessary, but the song Stigmata has this industrial beat. It has the elements which can be made even more exciting at the moment. That's exactly what happened in case with Kris Kylven. He's been know previously for instance from legendary gothic band Killing Joke. He wanted to do some remixes. He was a normal visitor in the studio when we recorded Paris Kills. He's our friend, he's French, but he lives in Helsinki at the moment. He wanted to do it because he heard something. And he wanted like write the new story from the song. I think I could sing the songs like the stories. There's some storyline going there. He wrote new storyline in different chapters. It's very interesting to hear. I think Gothic remix works really good in the clubs. In gothic clubs I think more than a half of the music is electronic stuff. This song suits perfectly to that gothic electronic beat. Dance floor - that's for he did it. It is very nice. It's cool. It's really exciting. It's like, you know… Three different stories. It's mystic.

M: You mentioned gothic parties. What do you usually play on your parties?
Jyrki: I used to have my own club nights. And I used to dj a lot in Helsinki let's say about 5 years ago. But I haven't had time and I haven't seriously done it at all last 5 years. Only occasionally in Paris, like 2 times in a year. I have a chance to have my own nights in a gothic club in Paris. Not some other things are happening. Next time I'm actually to play in a really huge gothic club in Vienna, Austria. It's a cool thing 'cos there's a lot of really famous gothic djs all over Europe. So it's a really great thing to be a part of it. If I had my own dj night like in Paris… I know many The 69 Eyes fans go there. I like to play the songs sort of the ideas of the sound of The 69 Eyes. Even though I play dark stuff. But it's everything from you know from Johnny Cash to Nick Cave… to… let's say like… HIM. I like to play songs that are related to our music. In that sense it is interesting to hear. In the nights or at that gothic festival my specialty like to play old school gothic music. Which means pretty much like some The Sisters of Mercy, Fields of Nephilim, all these bands who are sort of related to that sound of the 80s good school of goth-rock. And actually The 69 Eyes have another link in the 80s gothic-rock. Early most of the stuff played in the gothic clubs is industrial electronic stuff, which is really cool, but it's not my specialty so… I'm more special in this old school stuff., or at least in new bands who sound like this or share that kind of mission of the original 80s gothic bands.

M: Coming back to Crashing High and singles… Do you have an idea about future single?
Jyrki: The next project around Paris Kills is we're going to release dvd which has the live show from Tavastia club last November, some videos and some behind the scene shit. It's gonna be the next our big release. It comes out in the next fall. At the moment we're making dvd. I don't think it's gonna be the forth single from Paris Kills. I hope that it will be, but at the moment the things are happening and the summer is coming so fast. Maybe there will come the live video for Crashing High. There's some ideas in the air. But the big thing that I know is dvd. And the dvd is called "Helsinki Vampires".

M: Is there any plans to release The 69 Eyes albums in Russia?
Jyrki: I hope this situation will be changes as soon as possible. I know something about it, but I can't tell you. There're some projects coming up in the future. If you say something… I don't want people to wait for something, just to give an idea it might be something. At the moment isn't better not to say anything. But we have designed very cool The 69 Eyes Russian t-shirts. I hope that they will get ready by the time. They are really cool. There's the text "From Russia with goth". It's gonna be cool. They are not ready yet, but the design is our and we're really proud of it. So I totally hope that the local promoters will have time to make them available.

M: When I saw you last time in Liekki you had a book about Rasputin by Edward Radzinsky. What interesting point do you remember from that book and why did you read it?
Jyrki: I'm interested in history whenever this mystery involved. There's so many topics I'd like to know more about. It was just one of them.

M: And what interesting points do you know about Russia and Moscow?
Jyrki: I will hopefully find it out. It's total adventure for us.

M: Are you interested in Russian literature? Do you read it?
Jyrki: Yeah, actually I used to read. When I was young I read some books from… Sorry, I don't remember. Do you know the movie "Dr. Zhivago"? That's really cool one! You know Russia and Moscow…I want to see them in the romantic lights. The thing and experience what I have are from the movies. From that movie and from the historics. It's really interesting.

M: Do you know something about Russian music?
Jyrki: Well, I know of course t.A.t.U.

M: Don't tell me that you like it.
Jyrki: Our drummer has a t-shirt. I don't know if he was at their show, but I think he's a fan.

M: Jussi is crazy.
Jyrki: He likes Britney Spears and t.A.t.U.

M: I don't believe you, I don't believe you!
Jyrki: Well, you can ask him.

M: Sure, I'll do it. And what can you say about Russian food and drink?
Jyrki: It's really waited. All these experiences like this romantic light. Moscow by night of course. The food. It is something I totally haven't experienced. I also wait to see the local The 69 Eyes fans. It'll be really exciting.

M: Do you have any surprises for the show? New songs, covers?
Jyrki. It's our first time. I think we just play the best of The 69 Eyes. You have seen us before. There's not such a surprises that you couldn't wait from us on the show. It will be the best from The 69 Eyes. We're expecting to make a lot of new friends, start new friendships while coming to play in Russia.

M: Do you know for how long time will you stay on stage?
Jyrki: We will play a total set. I think one hour and a half or something.

M: I don't know if you celebrate it in Finland, but in Russia we celebrate March 8 as a Women Day.
Jyrki: Yes, I know. I've heard about it.

M: So, all the girls will be waiting for presents from you.
Jyrki: Ok. Well… we…

M: Actually it's a present to see you:).
Jyrki: I've heard the show is sold out.

M: Almost. Not totally, but… You'll have lots of people at the show, I promise you.
Jyrki: I've heard it's about two thousand or something… It'll be great. And one of the most important thing like I said I hope we make new friends. They it's kinda old friends we don't know. We can start totally new relationships and friendships. Better later than never.

M: Do you know about the girls competition among the girls? People should vote for them and five best girls will meet you after the show.
Jyrki: I've heard about it. Perfect! It sounds great! Of course there's humour involved. People should vote from us whom they don't want to see or something. That's really fun. And I hope people take such things with humour. Dream come true. It's Women Day, but it's for us! I want to celebrate it with women.

M: Aren't you afraid that Russian girls will tear you up for the souvenirs?
Jyrki: Ok, I'll be the next dr. Zhivago. The only thing I think there's no time to sleep actually. It sounds like real fun.

M: Ok. I take this interview for site called Ytro.ru. Ytro means "morning" in Russian. So, what do you usually do in the mornings?
Jyrki: Mmm…

M: Do you wake up late?
Jyrki: No, I love to wake up as early as possible. It's one of the best thing which I really like. The 69 Eyes from my side is mostly about the winter. I just came home for the interview after walking down by the sea side. It's freezing cold and everything is frozen. But I totally like the winter. And actually I had really cool lyrics for the new song. The best songs I think are when I always come up when I walk in the winter - winter night or winter evening. I'll tell you next time which song is was. This is really true thing. Anyway I think The 69 Eyes in mostly about the winter. We wouldn't be The 69 Eyes if we wouldn't be from Finland, if there wouldn't be cold and snow. They inspire me seriously. I really like the winter and the atmosphere it creates. I like to walk alone in this total silence. Beautiful forests and beautiful sea are close to you. I like to wake up at let's say 7 o'clock or 6 o'clock. And I go to jog by the sea side in the morning. It is really cool. It totally wakes you up. It makes your brain function. It gives you totally fresh feeling. I'm afraid there won't be time to do the morning jog in Moscow. Or maybe I'll be jogging all the two days. I'm joking. I mean, that's the best thing to do. I totally love it when I wake up. I just put on my running shoes and run by the sea side and enjoy it. Especially the best thing is to run these winter mornings because it's still dark. I like that. I mean, sometimes I have parties, sometimes I'm in tour and there's not much time to run around. But I don't like that much to sleep. I like to wake up as early as possible.

M: Don't run in Moscow 'cos you'll caught by the girls.
Jyrki: Ok. Maybe I'll jog around in the hotel.

M: And what do you want to wish people who read this interview next morning? What can you wish them for the day?
Jyrki: I hope they enjoy the day no matter what it is. It is special day. Every day is a special day. You should be happy with the fact you wake up. Make every day a special one! Make yourself, enjoy your body, you know. You can do it by jogging or someway other else. There're so many ways to enjoy your life.

M: Your promoters Roxx Music asked me to know what you want to see in Moscow.
Jyrki: We want of course to see t.A.t.U.

M: In your hotel room?
Jyrki: Yeah, of course! They can wake me up with champagne. Well, I think I want normal tourist things.

M: Do you want to see Moscow in the night?
Jyrki: *whispers* Of course. On the shirts should be written "Moscow by night". It's like Helsinki vampires will be in Moscow by night. Or Moscow by night will be vamped by Helsinki vampires.

M: And do you know we opened a page The69Eyes.ru?
Jyrki: Yes, I know. It's great. I visited it and it's beautiful.

M: I have questions from two girls. One of them thinks you're very elegant person. And she would like to know what fashion designer you prefer, what perfume you prefer and so on.
Jyrki: At the moment I'm using - it's really boring - new perfume from Hugo Boss which is called Baldessarini. That's really elegant one. Where do I buy the clothes? It depends. It's totally depends. Paris is of course the best place to do it. I mix with the different designers. Versace. Versace has the best new things, they have kinda vampire models. I'm wearing some hats, ties. I mix with a lot of stuff. I have Versace, I have some Boss. Different things. And for sport I use Nike.

M: It's an advertisement:)
Jyrki: I'm advertisement myself.

M: And the last question from the second girl - what souvenirs do you want to bring home from Russia?
Jyrki: Well, I think everybody is interested in the… I don't know the right word… matushka?

M: Matrioshka.
Jyrki: It's a little woman who goes inside each other. Matrioshka? Ok! I think it's interesting. I heard there's a KISS matrioshka, the dolls made of them.

M: In Moscow there's a walking part called Arbat. There's lots of these dolls with famous people - politicians, musicians and so on.
Jyrki: It sounds very fun.

M: So you can go there and buy it.
Jyrki: Ok, I'll do it. More or less I'm a person who wants to buy all that souvenir books with the photographs from the city I'm visiting, maybe guide to Moscow or something. Maybe I buy myself one. I'm always interested in that, and when I'm go to the cities, I always buy the souvenir books - from the churches, from the city. I always have feeling that I want to remember you know more carefully the place where I've been. I always have feeling that I return. I'm always pretty much returning to the big cities I'm visiting. They seem to call me. It's cool that we go to Moscow this time.

M: And didn't you want to go to St. Petersburg even though you don't play there.
Jyrki: Well, it would be cool. I know we never would have time to see Hermitage. Anyway I think it will happen next time.

M: Hopefully. And when you go to the different countries, do you try to know some words from theirs languages?
Jyrki: Yeah! Of course.

M: So, will you say something to us on the show?
Jyrki: Yes! I'm already trying to learn something. But at the moment I don't remember. I try to study hard, I will do it. I promise!

M: I wish you luck!
Jyrki: What is like "nice to meet you" in Russian?

M: Do you mean the situation when you meet person for the first time?
Jyrki: Yes.

M: It's difficult to pronounce - "priyatno poznakomitsya".
Jyrki: Ohh… I will say you this next time.

M: Ok, I'll remember. I will ask you about the song you wrote today!
Jyrki: Yes, but not next time. Maybe next year. It's gonna be really cool.

M: Ok, when I see you in summer.
Jyrki: Ok! And… yes! In Moscow I'd like to see the zoo!

M: Really? Ok, I will tell this to the promoters.
Jyrki: Well, I don't know. I think I really prefer to party. We have only one night. If we're partying, the night never stops. That's why I use sunglasses. I think the best thing for people to bring sunglasses. We're gonna partying. The morning will not come.

M: So see you there!
Jyrki: Sure, see you in a week! And thanks for hard work you've been doing.

M: Thank you!

Interview was taken by Melamory

Special thanks to ROXX for the organization of this interview.