melodylane

MELODY LANE: First of all, also if it can sound a bit expected…Can you tell us where does the name SUNDAYSONG come from?
Jari Heino: Hello! The name comes exactly from sunday moods. You know, when you are relaxed and chilling. When everything is good. And there was really one of these sundays with Ile and Teemu playing guitars many years ago. Actually really simple thing. But of course nowadays the SundaySong name has deeper meanings and maybe it’s not so simple anymore. We almost changed the name after big changes, but I’m glad we kept it as it is.

MELODY LANE: The line-up of the band is confirmed, is it the same from the beginning of the band…or have you had changes in the last years? Can you tell us something about the roots of SUNDAYSONG?And where the band was born?
Jari Heino: Like I said Teemu and Ile had their sunday guitar sessions and the band was then started. Ilpo hopped in with bass and the first real songs were written. This trio played few years together but there was nothing serious target, just having fun. Then ilpo asked me to join band as a drummer. I really hesitated but after some consideration I said yes. Now with the whole band the target was to record some real SundaySong stuff. Oh, and actually guys recorded some stuff earlier with drummer Lauri Kujasalo but these recordings were never officially released. But after me hopping in we recorded Analogye EP. At these times Sini came along to play keyboards. Sini played year or two, now she’s gone. Secong big change was when Ilpo started playing third guitar and bass player Juhana joined the band. After this all stabilized and here we are. At the gigs we have (or not) keyboards along, played by Aapo Koivisto or Lauri Sillanpää.

MELODY LANE: Can you list us 5 songs, from SUNDAYSONG  discography (including new material), that can define the sound of the band … 5 songs that can help our readers to know SUNDAYSONG at the best.
Jari Heino: Hmmm…Maybe 1. Ghosts, first song from new album. It goes from very light to metal vibes.
2. Firechild, also very vibrant song. 3. Tragedy of Mary Celeste from Down Wind, Down Sea. I just love that song. 4. Hope, also lovely song, lovely mood. And for the final i would have to say Arm of the Sea. It’s kinda song that moved our music to certain way. Did I get these right, I’m not sure?

MELODY LANE: Tell us something about the creative process of your music. Is there a main composer or we can talk about a team work? The songs come from ideas of a single member and then the band works on these ideas in the studio jamming together, or your songs are written in the studio and all the members compose together?
Jari Heino:We do most the of songs together but it’s more like arranging together. We all bring some rifs and we just start building from there. Sometimes it’s just jamming and we end up with whole song. But there’s also songs written by single members. like Skydance is composed by Teemu, Hope is composed and arranged by me. Se there’s no rules for making music, everything goes if it works. Of course we also have lots of songs in garbage bin as well.

MELODY LANE: Who writes lyrics and words in SUNDAYSONG? Can you tell us something about contents and messages of the lyrics of your songs?
Jari Heino: Ile is the main lyrics master. In the new album the main focus is kinda dark and deadly. Ile is telling stories of death from many different angles. So the Signals more or less theme album. And in studio we just twist these lyrics a little so we get all dropping right.

MELODY LANE:  After time, are you totally satisfied with your choices about sound and the writing of your old album  "Down Wind, Down Sea" ? If you could… would you change anything?
Jari Heino: I like the album and I’m mainly happy with it. Of course you could twist and turn always something but would it be better? I also could drop one song totally off from the album. Not gonna tell you which one. 

MELODY LANE:  So will you tour in the next future? Have you already a touring schedule? Any chance for us to see SUNDAYSONG playing live here in Italy in the next months/year?
Jari Heino: We are doing some gigs in Finland this year and hopefully next year there’s more gigs and venues in wider range. Hopefully also Italy cause it’s just too cold here in Finland!

MELODY LANE: Could you tell us two bands, from the actual international scene, you’d like SUNDAYSONG to tour with?... Two bands that would represent a perfect line-up for SUNDAYSONG to play with. And why these bands?
Jari Heino: Ah, I have to name at least three bands. First of all, Anathema. What a great band with intense moods. And nice guys aswell. Go Liverpool! Second band would be Midlake. You may hear some vibes in SundaySong from Midlake in. And third would be Pink Floyd. Or David Gilmour. That would be just maniac. Or Mogwai. Or Rome. Great band. I listened lots of Rome when I composed Hope. You see, this could go on and on…

MELODY LANE: We know that ‘to define is to limit’… but how do you define SUNDAYSONG sound? Are you an alternative band?…A post rock band?… An atmospheric rock band Or…?
Jari Heino: We really just don’t know what we are. I always try to define our music but I can’t ge it done. That’s why we came up with this ”atmospheric rock”. I don’t know is there a term like that but that’s closest short definition for our music. There’s lots of post rock elements as well. Or shoe- gaze. Or neo-folk. Or even metal vibes…

MELODY LANE: Which musicians are/have been your main musical inspirations? And which are your favorite bands nowadays?
Jari Heino: Well my influences comes from bands like Pink Floyd, Anathema, Rome (and many metal bands..) but we all listen very different kind of music and it all mixes in to our music. And we keep the gates open for every ideas or styles. At this moment my favorite bands must be Nosound, Cinematic Orchestra, Pariisin Kevät and Ghost Brigade. But next week it could be something else. This planet is so full of brilliant music that it is hard manage to listen them all. Or even find them. Hopefully many people can find SundaySong.

MELODY LANE: As a musician, what has been your biggest achievement to date and what do you want to achieve in the near future?
Jari Heino: Biggest achievement always for me is getting the album done. I’m mostly recording album, producing album and I play lots of stuff there. The work is so intense and grand that it is a great victory when all is completed. Don’t get it wrong, it is fun task. And after few beers it’s even funnier.

MELODY LANE: In the end…A message from you to all MELODY LANE readers.
Jari Heino: Dear passengers. Sit back and relax. Peace!