New Leverage bass player answered the questions from his Brazilians fans from LeverageBrasil.net Forum. Check out!!

1) At what age did you learn to play bass? Why have you chosen it?

To be honest, I have not learned yet because I do not master the instrument, but I started in -92. I was then 12 years old. I felt it calling me really. It still is.

2) Which was your direct musical influence ?

At first we just played something ”rock”, from there I learned Metallica’s songs. I liked to play heavy 80´s stuff then, some things have changed but my love to melodic metal has stayed!

3) Which songs are your favorite to play?

Usually I don’t have any favourites, so it is hard to say anything here. I like the bass to have a melodic role too in addition to the song supportive role, though I am getting old since more and more I like those songs where bass is in the pocket. I like to play songs where bass does not copy what the guitars are doing, but instead has it’s own thing going on - within the song of course!

4) Which is your vision about the different music styles today? From metal to *coff coff* hip hop, going through things that we heavy rock fans, consider tacky?

As a teenager, I used to listen to just metal but as I have grown older, I have had the opportunity to play many different kinds of music from tangos to disco and so on. It has made me grow a lot as a player. The thing I love about for example disco music is that bass does not just play those freaking eight notes or sixteenth notes that aren’t really that melodic. Hip hop is crap mainly. It should have more melodies. Let’s not steal and reproduce songs that we have already done, but let’s do new music.

5) Which is the importance of the fans, the other band members and the media for you?

Well, it just makes me smile to know that you fans are out there, living your life through Leverage’s music too. Hell yeah that’s important. Band members are crazy bunch of guys. I laugh my ass off when we get together. Media? Hmmm, well here I am writing to Brazil. That is quite absurd (in a good way) if I think of it any further. *laughter*

6) What comes to your head before and after going on stage? Any pre-gig ritual?

I try to empty my head of thoughts and stretch my body a bit to get really comfortable feeling. I don’t usually bring my bass to the backstage, but if I do, I warm up by playing scales up and down, and maybe drink one shot of vodka with the guys. There is no certain ritual though. After the gig I raise my glass to what ever happened *laughter* and then I go trough the gig shortly in my head - you know, the mistakes and the good parts. I am always trying to get better playing live because my live playing is not nearly as good as my playing at home, so I try to learn from every gig.

7) If you had to choose a musical journey (a.k.a. tour xD) how would it be? Metallica style or minor band style?

If it would not be Leverage, I’d love to do a couple of different thigs. I’d like to be in a supporting band of a world class singer and do big venues or I’d like to do small gigs in intimate rock clubs where the band plays music that I have written. Progressive rock, instrumentals mainly, I think.

8) Top 5 of most important things and Top 5 of least important.

Love, love is strongest of them all. Coffee comes second! Clear water! SUN. Curvy views! To the other list I’d put “the colour of your car” and “that one book about fashion that I never read”.

9) The strangest question you’ve ever heard?

Nobody ever asks me anything! Well, as a new teacher in our school in 2006 during my first 2 minutes of my career, one of my students asked “What is the meaning of life?” That has been one of my legendary school moments. What did I answer? Well, I said “42” of course.

10) The thing that makes you laugh?

When I think about riding my motorbike in sunny weather, I will hopefully buy the bike next spring.

11) The thing that makes you cry?

When my dog Pate comes to sleep beside me when I go to bed and farts silently. First that makes me laugh and then I usually cry because the smell won’t go away. EVER. *whimper*

12) Favorite film / food / drink?

I just saw Bitch Slap which was horribly written and utterly crap movie. The curvy actresses tried their best but their boobs and bottoms really did not carry the film after the first 2 minutes. About the question: I like Tarantino, milk and “chicken wok thingies”.

13) What do you do to make time pass by and to forget your problems?

I shoot a lot of photographs. I also write quite a lot. I have a shared blog Räkänokat (snot noses) with my friend K, we write sort of funny nonsense stories that have some relation to the real world. For example, when Rammstein did their Pussy song, I wrote an article about how one Finnish band Hammaskivi (tooth stone?) made same kind of song back in the 70´s. When I write poems to my pictures, it usually makes me forget about my worries.

14) We know you like photography, what are the subjects that you like most having in front of your lenses? What is your equipment?

I have Nikon D80 with a kit lens (18 - 70 mm) and a Nikkor 50 mm 1.8D, which is pure gold when compared the picture quality to the sum that I paid for it. Some day I will have a full FX camera. I love good macro shots, but I don’t have equipment to make those. Damn! I’d like to take more portraits but people (my friends I mean) don’t usually want to pose for me. First thing of course I ask from them is nude pics…not. *grin*

15) If you were given a magic lamp, which would be your 3 desires?

Hmmm. Love, happiness (one thing behind happiness is health, which I cherish more and more each day) and wisdom.

16) What do you like eating and what wouldn’t you even eat under torture?

I eat a lot of rye bread. I don’t know if I like it, but I eat it! *laughs* I don’t want to even think what I am tasting when my dog comes to lick my face after a walk outside when he has sniffed other dogs posts.

17) What is the most important to you: sincerity or loyalty?

Loyalty. Sincere person can change opinions and be sincere all the fucking time but loyal person has a moral backbone and lives by it.

18) What was the last thing you dreamt?

I usually don’t dream that much, but I hope my last dream had a lot of sex with a curvy and utterly sexy Latina lady!

19) What is the perfect friend for you like?

Perfectness has little to do with humans, so there are no perfect friends and I don’t look for such qualities in my friends. I love them as they are.

20) The stupidest film you have ever seen?

There are so many. I don’t like action movies where the motive is something stupid like “let’s get those bastards”. I liked Planet Terror a lot because you knew you were watching camp movie and the guys who did it knew their camp movie standards so well! Exellent crap!

21) The happiest day of your life?

…is yet to come.

22) The best food you have ever eaten?  Who cooked it?

I really don’t know the answer to this one. I cook and I like usually what I cook. I’m still alive as a proof of my cookings, that IS something right?

23) What’s your Shampoo’s brand?

Erisan? It is like allergic shampoo.

24) Sex or Popcorn?

Immensely wet sex after a good film! I don't think Popcorn would make good atmosphere if it would be played in the backround *laughter* Pippi pippo dudid du.

26) What do you think about having brazilian fans?

It sure is great to think that Leverage has fans in Brazil! I hope that one day I’ll get to see them and talk to them. You rock!!

27) Which is the bands trademark in your opinion?

Melodic metal to the core with great choruses and excellent musicianship. (It is easier to talk about the music than about the guys because we are bunch of ugly men really! *laughs*)

28) What do you think about havin a brazilian fan site whose administrators are girls?

If they don’t bite, I’ll be okay! Will they?

29) Which was your reaction after the guys asked you to play live for Leverage? And when you became an actual member?

I was asked late September or early October 2009, I don’t remember now. When I did the first gig with the guys as a fill-in back in fall 2007, I said to Torsti who called me that I am their biggest fan and of course I will come to play. My feelings have not changed.

30) Which is the charm about having long hair?

Girls like long...hair. *coughs and grins* I am thinking of getting rid of my long hair since I do a lot of sports where it is just in the way.

31) Which was the last book you read?

I am currently reading Wheel of Time fantasy series. The world that Mr. Jordan has written is just incredible! The first 4 books are the best (I have read it before to the 9^th book).

32) Which country do you most want to visit?

My next plan is to see the Alps. I’d love to do a road trip to Alpine region with a motorbike some day. I love mountains.

33) Winter or Summer?

Both are needed, because I wouldn’t really get to the summer feeling if I would not have a dark winter behind me.

34) In life, who is your greatest hero?

Indiana Jones? Spiderman!

35) Which was the thing that happened to you left you most ashamed?

It had nothing to do with me being butt naked in Imatra city center at 5 am in the morning with people watching my drunk ass.

36) How many children you want to have?

If I ever meet the the person who is sick enough to have my children…*laughter* I really don’t think such matters. If God blesses me to have a family of my own, I’ll be happy. I’m happy now, living on my own with my killer dog Pate as my stinky sidekick.

37) Which is your favorite sport?

Ice hockey, if it comes to team sports, but I just love WC track and field sports. So when are you Brazilians going to beat us Finns in ice hockey! I’d love to see THAT match!

38) Where you a wild child?

As a kid I was shy, and I’m still a bit shy when it comes to certain situations. Mom always says that I was “easy child”, but nowadays she thinks I am crazy. *laughter*

39) What are your plans for 2010?

I’m planning to improve myself as a player, writer and photographer. Well, ok - as a teacher too. *smiles* I’m planning get to better shape physically. Then I hope that we get to play bigger venues with Leverage, I’d like to ROCK more with the guys!

40) Did you like that interview?

Yep, I enjoyed it. I really could not answer shortly, I’m sorry about that. Happy year 2010 everybody! Let's make it the best one this far!