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Renown for his
studio work, MIka Gronholm steps out from behind the desk to bring forth
his stunning new debut release 'Eyewitness Of Life'. We catch up
with the man himself to tell us more ...
MM - Firstly
let me congratulate you on an excellent album in ‘Eyewitness Of
Life’.
Mika - Thanks a lot!
MM - What
influenced you to take the decision to do an album under the Gronholm
name?
Mika - Cause
this is a solo project so I thought it is more personal to work with your
own name. I was thinking to use a “band” - name but I never came up
with anything
that I would be happy with.
And
I'm sure there is no other Grönholm metal band around...
Also
the man who made the cover for the CD thought Grönholm looks quite powerful
when it's written...so...ok : )
MM - You’ve
been involved with studio work since 1994, how did you find it being in
front of the mixing desk instead of behind it?
Mika - Of
course... when you're working for yourself it's more loose feeling and
different in
many ways. I like the both ways but if I would have to choose, I rather
be playing than
pressing buttons.
We
all like different styles to work, and I like to be in charge, at least
in quite many things when it comes to my song...
MM - Joining
you on the album are Status Minor duo Markku Kuikka and drummer Tom
Raskin, did you know these guys before starting on the album or did you
seek out musicians for your vision?
Mika - I
had talked with Markku on the phone and he had worked with me on some
cover songs a few months earlier, so I kind of knew him... but I thought
he has so
clean and powerful voice with wide range ... so to my luck he was in to do
this when I asked him.
I
was talking to a friend that I must find a drummer for my songs, and he gave
a number to Tom. I did not know the guy before but when I heard him play
and was sitting with him in a bar drinking apple-juice ... I knew that he
is the right one for this. So, there was luck again.
MM - The
album has Derek Sherinian (ex-Dream Theater) and Ty Tabor (guitarist
from Texas power trio King’s X) as guest artists on the album, how did
they get involved with the album?
Mika - I
wanted some guests to this album and some visibility too, and to get
that I thought maybe it makes this more interesting to people if they
see that there are
some big names in it. Let's see...
I
mailed them and they liked the music ...
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MM - Do
you see this as a studio project or will you hopefully like to take to
the road to promote the album?
Mika - This
is like a studio project but there can be some gigs too later this year
or the next year, Markku (the singer) has a few other bands that tour
around the Europe, so...
MM - Did
you have an original blueprint of how you wanted the album to sound like
and did you stick to this blueprint, or did the album evolve along the
way?
Mika - Kind
of both ... I knew a few things that I want, but they did change a little
bit along the way. I wanted strong and simple riffs, not long songs, not
long or furious and fast guitar solos, that kind of stuff. |
MM - You
recorded the album in your home studio, did this take any pressure off
you as an artist when you know you were not tied down with other studio
schedules?
Mika - Course it's easier to make music at home, with no costs,
don't have to travel to
some studio, you can record when
you want, etc...
And
you can mix the guys in when you get their tracks from the server.
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MM - Where
would you like to see Gronholm in the next five years, both as a band
and as a musician?
Mika - I
did not expect anything with this album, I did the ready master, and I
had the
covers ready but I had no-one to release it. I
played just a few songs to Lion Music and they gave me a deal.
So
...
ideal would be ... that Grönholm has 3 albums and have many many more fans
around to support us. That could be a 5-year plan, hopefully it comes true.
Music-wise
I try to be a better and sound better.
MM - What
is the best piece of advice you could give to an aspiring musician who
wanted to go down the production road?
Mika - That road
.... hmm ... read and learn, try to have good social skills, be
creative and personal. |
MM - Finally,
do you have any words of wisdom or final messages you’d like to share
with all our readers?
Mika - Be
wise and buy our record : = )
Well ... If
you want to hear strong
music with flavours of hard rock and prog-rock...and it is a bit of
different from everything else you have heard before, take
a drink of this cocktail and you might find it very tasty.
Every
song, word, and snare hit has a meaning there : )
In
other words I had some massive load of work with this one.
All the best – Mika Grönholm Helsinki, Finland
MM
- We'd like to thank Mika for taking the time out of his busy schedule
to chat with us today and will be keeping our fingers crossed some tour
dates are forthcoming as this is one band we'd really like to see
perform live.
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