The Finnish band Lapko will be playing live at the Eurosonic festival 2007 in Groningen The Netherlands. RatatoskOnline did an interview by mail with the three band members Malja, Nordberg and Heikkonen. Be sure to check Lapko out at Eurosonic!

Who are you and where are you from? How did everyone in the band meet and how did it all get started?

A band named Lapko from Finland. Formed in '01 something. Comprised of singer/guitarist Malja, bassist Nordberg and drummer Heikkonen. Played together over a decade now. Loves contrasts. -Nordberg

I met Nordberg when I was 9. We were classmates. I think I saw Malja in some football game or something. Malja and Nordberg met through skateboarding. We all started to skate together and eventually decided to start a band. -Heikkonen

Where does the name Lapko come from, does it have a special meaning?

It’s just a word we made up. You might say it’s a mix of Laps and Knockouts. -Nordberg

Did the band evolve in the last 10 years and in what way?

We’ve had other members too. But we decided to keep things simple, three guys and a band. There are days when we don't have a two against one situation. -Nordberg

Is it hard to get noticed in Finland?

Finland is a small country so in that case it isn't that hard. On the other hand there are lots of bands nowadays. But if you have something fresh and different to give, I think it's easy to get attention everywhere. Of course good live shows are the best way to spread the word, I think. -Malja

How is it to have a band with friends, can it also be hard sometimes?

It's like couples that have been married for ages. The deal is how to forget all the shit around and go on. Some way it's nice to fight and shout because then you can be sure there must be some feelings behind it all. We have played together so long that we can see from each other’s faces when it makes no sense to talk in correct terms. -Malja

What artist’s has inspired you the most and did this change over the years?

1985 I fell in love with Finnish band called DINGO. I was five and I knew I wanted to be a rockstar, so now I have spent 21 years to reach that goal. When I was ten I listened lots of Metallica and Queen. Later came some punk bands like NOFX, Lag Wagon, Propagandhi and Bad Religion to name few. And now there are new bands that inspire. -Heikkonen

Where do you get inspiration from for the lyrics?

Generally, I'm trying to be honest in a way. I write about things around me that fascinate me. I could be straight or less straight. It's usually something that is worth of speaking but keeps quiet. I think it's ok to write about politics and religions for example, but you shouldn't think that you are the one who's always right. -Malja

The latest album, Scandal, is a concept album. Can you tell a bit about this album? What is the album about?

Scandal is about scandals. When I'd written some lyrics on the album I noticed that every of them were dealing with breaking points. At that time I thought it would be nice to continue and see what's going to happen, if there's an album full of those little scandals. There are themes like; what is to find yourself, to be lost, to see that you can really do something you don’t except and so on. In principle, I tried to compose some kind of chronicle about one young person. Is it me, no one knows. Even I don't know. -Malja

I noticed that the press photo’s and also the album cover are all in black and white, also some songs on the album sound what does this reflect?

Of course it has something to do with Finnish design and nature that surrounds us. But we don't necessarily have go to the woods to get the inspiration. I guess there's some inner melancholy in grayscale image that works for Lapko. It could be rough but also beautiful, like winter. -Nordberg

Last months the band got a lot of attention in Finland, can you tell us something about that how do people react?

I know so many people who are jealous the attention that we get from one collective in Finland. They sell similar t-shirts as we have and just replace the text. It says “Paska Paska”. So, I’m looking for to see brand new “Shit shit”-shirts soon. -Nordberg
 
It seems to me that Finnish people are not so connected to each other compared to people in the Netherlands. How do you see this, and do you think there is a different connection between the people in Finland and other countries?

Yeah, we are isolated. Actually we're keeping our rehearsal studio in countryside. I’m not saying that it’s the only alternative but I think there’s always a lonely caveman underneath our glamorous clothes’ -Nordberg

Most people here think Finnish music is mostly metal, gothic, hard rock.
Do you think there is a truth in that or is it just what the media wants us to believe? Is it also easier for those bands to get famous outside Finland?

In Finland we have strong and good pop/indierock scene. Somehow metal bands get most of the attention. I think it’s just a matter of time when other than finnish metal or goth get noticed abroad. -Heikkonen


You are going to play at the Eurosonic festival in Groningen in the Netherlands. Have you ever been in the Netherlands?

Never been in the Netherlands. I’m sure it’s going to be great. Just have to remember to behave. -Heikkonen

What can we expect from Lapko at Eurosonic?

Cliché that every show is the most important show is kind of a true. There are a lot of opportunities at Eurosonic for us I guess. But it would be nice to think that it is an bigger opportunity for people who are coming to see our show. Huh. We are going to do the best we can... in good and bad. -Malja

Are you going to see other bands there?

I would like to see Johnossi from Sweden. Missed them when they were touring in Finland. I hope we don't play at the same time. -Nordberg

Are there other big events like and shows Eurosonic planned in the future?

There are some plans of course and hopefully something good will happen.
We are releasing Scandal through Fullsteam Records in Germany, February 23rd. Wishing that Benelux will follow. -Malja

What kind of music are you listening to these days?

At the moment we're listening collectively bands such as AC/DC, Neil Young, Sufjan Stevens, Oceansize, China Drum, Propagandhi, Glorybox, My Chemical Romance, dEUS.

Do you have any Scandinavian bands you like at the moment or we should hear of?

Rubik, Von Hertzen Brothers and C’Aarme -Heikkonen

What can we expect in the future from Lapko?

New album, more gigs, tighter jeans, bad jokes, and lots of fights.
-Malja