Another Gig!

So we sent info about the up-coming Crimson Sun video to all of our contacts and guess what happened? Uma Obscura from Sweden replied and asked if we had a chance to come play at Uma Obscura festival on November 19th! And we did!

So how did I have this contact again? Well, it goes all the way back to 2018, when we played one of our first shows ever at Lumous Gothic festival. being a tiny band nobody knew yet, we played on the first day of the festival. The other members had another gigs the following day, so I was left alone to enjoy the festivals Friday shows. It was there that I met and spoke to people who had come from Umeå, Sweden, and of course it came up that they organize an alternative arts festival called Uma Obscura. After that I have been sending them messages and info of our coming releases every now and then, and it seems now was a good time and place to have us in Umeå. Sincere thanks for the opportunity!

In order to get to Umeå we either would have to fly or take the ferry from Wasa to Umeå. Ferry would be cheaper and better timetable-wise, but we would have to drive through the night from Turku to Wasa.  There was also the thing that some of us participated in a contemporary music festival in Turku just the preceeding week, and actually had a concert on Friday night. So we knew it would be a somewhat heavy trip. What wouldn't you do for music if you had a chance, though? So, the ferry and driving we chose.

After the Friday nights concerts a few hours of sleep, then packed our minimal instruments and luggage into the back of a tiny car and started for Wasa. Smooth driving, no elks or deer in sight, which is a common threat when driving during the night in Finland. Smoothly on to the boat, breakfeast and loads of coffee, a few hours of sleep and then off the boat. 

Umeå looked like a nice place, pretty much the size of Turku maybe. We were at the Umeå Folkets Hus a bit earlier than expected, so we had a tiny bit of waiting to do before it was our turn for soundchecks. Ample time to locate more coffee. We were the only ones using actual drums, so our drummer was bit on the edge about having everything he needed there. But no worries, all was set and done and come soundcheck- time, everything runs smoothly there too. So nice to be in the hands of pros! We of course got a sneakpeak of the other band's sets and were already eagerly waiting to hear and see all of it! The other bands being none other than Gallows Eve from Malmö and Priest!

So after soundcheck there was enough time and we had to use that for rest and refreshing after the long drive. But we also took the chance to visit Umeås famous Guitar Museum which happened to be exactly next to the Folkets Hus. Interesting visit, some peculiar gadgets and strange guitar models there. After eating and resting I basically spent my time getting ready with my face and attire. This time I chose just a simple dress to allow easy movement and accessorized it accordingly. In due time we located ourselves to the festival place and hung around in the back, tuned instruments, waited, and saw a part of Gallows Eves show. Really good and enjoyable, nice Goth Vibes! Exiting to go after them...

                                                                                                                                                                

The part of the show that I still haven't really figured out, is the entrance. It seems to go differently every time. This time we started with Acid Rain which has an intro, so there' s enough time to make it dramatic and whatever, but some how I decided to go on stage with everyone else and then there were these long awkward seconds before the show actually took off. I guess there is no right or wrong in this matter, but maybe I'd prefer some dramatics and structure in the entrance to the flattening of the mood and waiting game. Also because I'm not really one of a joker. 

But anyway, show was awesome and singing felt so easy. Like, no signs of sleep deprivation whatsoever, which I had been a bit afraid of. Everything worked, I could hear everything on stage, even the acoustic guitar somewhat. That seems to be an issue most of the time and at times I've had to rely on
sight while playing. But not this time, thanks to the people mixing!  

Before our own show we really had to focus on guitars being in tune and everything else you have to focus on before a show. So unfortunately we couldn't watch all of Gallows Eves show. But we did catch a few songs and they sounded great! Definitely a band to follow. After our performance there was Priest coming up, so the excitement didn't drop one bit! 

The whole band stayed to enjoy their show and it was really pro (which they are of course) and well- thought as a whole. Something for us to give a thought to... The priest's vocalist made even the speeches between the songs a part of the show, kept the same voice and didn't drop out of character, which I really admired. Also I think it might be a natural thing to do with a mask on. The vocalist moved in the crowd and put his hand on peoples heads to bless them. Unfortunately that was a bit of a trigger for me, given I've been raised in a conservative christian home and had my share of the christian charismatic movement. Sorry about that!

After this dramatic show there was talking to people and then, sleep! Sound and deep sleep. Next morning was a far more refreshing wake-up than the morning before. Breakfast at hotel, saying good byes and checking for every item before leaving for the haven. The journey home was a smooth one, except the weather had taken a turn for worse and there was a lot more snow than on the way there.  Luckily, no deer or moose anywhere, and we arrived safely home. 

End of report

Flora

 Gigs and Video

Now that the darkness and cold is already upon us and soon Halloween will open the door the realm of death season, it's a perfect time to reflect on the past year. Useful for everyone, but in here, I'll just dwell on the events of the band. 

It's been quite a good year, especially with live events. Even when the epidemic was still holding us hostage and preventing gigging for many, there were more chances for us to play than any of the previous years. It's quite remarkable. I'll even go as far as saying that this year has been a defining one in that respect.

First, there was Turku Band Festival, which we were already chosen to the previous year, only that time it was a streamed event, as no live audience was allowed. Because of Covid, just as a reminder. So this year we were able to participate live, in a small venue near Turku. There was a reasonable amount of people, considering the circumstances: One band had had to cancel due to illness. 

At this time I had also started arranging a gig to Helsinki, at Hard Rock House, so I asked that band to join us. So, in March we had a live event at hard Rock House, with Grand Sorceress. It was their first appearance live. I had also asked a Turku/Helsinki based band, The UFO Cult to join us, but they were unable to, at such a short notice. But their lead singer dropped in anyway, and we had a nice little chat. The few people who were there, on a quiet Thursday night, seemed to like what they heard.

Even when we had a little problem with our lap top, and our synth tracks would not play... Unfortunately we were unable to arrange a more well known local band to the event, who would have attracted more people. But there are always some curious music lovers, who come to check out new bands just for the fun of it. I like to do that every now and then as well..

Turns out The UFO Cult were arranging a live event for the summer, at Bar Loose, and us and Grand Sorceress seemed to fit well with their stuff. So, there would be another Helsinki gig for Hateful Chains, this time in the center. But before that, there was Monsters of Turku. 

We've been arranging this event with our drummer for several times now during these past years, this time, we scheduled it for May 14th at Utopia Club, Turku. Again, getting bands to come wasn't easy, reason being maybe the after math of the epidemic, which meant many bands were not in shape to play live yet. But Ultra Noir, our trusted friends who've joined us several times already, agreed to come. Then, I contacted an Indie band from Turku and just asked them to come. Because that's what I apparently like to do, and I actually liked one of their songs. So, we had a Monsters of Turku-event with Ultra Noir and Tender Lakes. 

A successful event with the audience with us from start to finish. We tested a few new songs from  the up-coming album and they were received well. Like a hot knife in butter... The advertisement I decided to put into the vent seemed to work out as well: One person from the audience told me they came all the way from Tampere to see us, which really warmed my heart. 

Next stop, Helsinki: In July we had the event with Grand Sorceress and The UFO Cult, which actually started to feel like a normal live night. Like they used to be. A dark cellar packed with people, all three bands with incredible energy and drive. Now this was that something we'd been missing for these last two years! The only down side was that we had a half an hour playing time, which meant we played in a bit of a hurry. But, we rocked anyway!

These pictures by Arto Alho

After this successful night we agreed with the another bands that we would try to arrange a night with the same bands to Turku. That would be a first gig in hometown for both Grand Sorceress and The UFO Cult. That chance came by in last September. I asked the local club for a free date, and it just happened that there was one available on September third. So we quickly decided to take that chance and have a three-band night at Turkus Utopia Club. We organized the event all together and went through the trouble of contacting all the media we could think of, like the local papers who made a story about UFO Cult, and Imperiumi, who make gig reports. We also marketed the event the best we could. The result was quite satisfying: familiar audience, but also first-timers to see us,  media personnel, and Imperiumis reporter who wrote a totally great review about the happening! And this time we played last, so we took full advantage of the time we had..

So, not a bad year, and hopefully next one will be a whole lot better!

Next, as you may have noticed, Crimson Sun music video came out on October 13th. We were quite happy to have its first ensiesitys on Sonic Seducer magazines web page! And it has already received such positive feedback! It's all thanks to the people who participated in making of the video, it's their performance, dancing and art that gave the video its spirit and atmosphere. 

There were some set backs in the production of it, which in the end were the reason for its delay. Because of course we shot it already a year ago, in October, on a beautiful beach surrounded by formidable rocks and dark woods. The theme of the setting sun in the song was reflected in the video and continued with a fire and the fire arts. The continuation of the theme could be seen in the candles in the scenes of the woman bathing, which activity is also mentioned in the song. The bathing scenes were possible to shoot only in January, which delayed the video in the first place. But, having shot everything at the start of the year seemed to be decently in time. 

So, the fire elements combined with the element of water gave the video enough structure and coherence to make it a rather good one, but originally I had planned to add some 3d- after effects after all the scenes were in order. Turns out this was more complicated than I knew. The person who first had agreed to create the after effects suddenly backed out and we were on our own...

I couldn't find a professional who would have enough time to do the effects, not in my social circles, not among people who knew people, not on-line either. Maybe the reason was that I had somewhat unreasonable expectations on what could be done as after effects? I guess I'll never know. On-line they said it's possible, but after all, no body had time to do them. I later heard from a person in film industry that there is a lack of professionals in that field here in Finland. So that perhaps explains something.

But what I've learned from this, is that everything must be planned better.  The video material must be good enough to not need any after effects. That is location, costumes, make-up and lights and first and foremost, a skillfull person behind the camera. Which I think we've had in both previous videos. Yeah, all that eats money. If not money, then time. Usually both! That's why it'll take some time before the next video will be shot. I'm already planning it and preparing costumes, already have one of two or three locations, have a make-up artist...and we have the next track ready. Just you wait

Here's Crimson Sun, if you haven't seen it yet :)

https://youtu.be/qWvO4zpkbsM

All the love and candle light for the rest of your year, Flora

 New Song and Video

We've been silently but relentlessly working on a new track and a musicvideo. The video is now on Youtube and the track on Bandcamp, probably soon on other platforms as well. It's been another unique journey with the music, recording and the process of video making.

Witnesses popped as a mocking, children's tune-like melody into my head, singing "We are God's organisation..." and developed from there, first into lyrics, then on a music sheet. I didn't have a clear picture of the guitars, like I usually do, just the vocals, chords and that it had to have this "tribal" beat, like in many punkish songs. So we processed the structure and basic elements with Kimmo until we had something to present to others, and the whole band took it from there. So the music is made by the whole band rather than just me alone, which is what I'm keen to develop further.

"Witnesses" continues the themes heard in "Crimson Sun". It's about Jehovah's witnessess, pretty directly so. The lyrics and ideas to this and many other songs were formed after my encounter and discussions with the Witnesses, and it was part of my own journey out of religion and faith. These discussions were eye opening, they helped me to see the problems of my own belief system, the religion I had been brought up with, and how cult-like that environment had actually been.

Jehovah's Witnesses are widely recognised as a cult, an organisation formed around an ideology, that attempts to control the lives of it's members on multiple levels. This is nowadays recognised in psychology as well, as more and more cult survivors are speaking out and bringing out their knowledge and experience to that field. If you have ever wondered why e g. Jehovah's Witnesses do what they do, why they dress certain way (they do have rules for that too...) why they make certain life choices other people wouldn't necessarily do, well, it's all because of the control of the ideology they follow. And, I would argue, also peer pressure. How ever peaceful and loving these people are, they are in a cult and in a mental prison. 

You can find out more about in here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gP-tuAT9_3khttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gP-tuAT9_3k

It's a great channel if you want to find out about more about Jehovah's Witnesses through an ex-member.

"Witnesses" is an attempt to describe the cult mentality and cognitive dissonance the people inside cults have. It's about Jehovah's Witnesses but it really could be about any cult, or anyone under the heavy veil of propaganda, like people in certain states, for example... The thought patters are very similar in any fringe religion and cult. The idea of being the only group that has the truth, that there is no salvation outside that group, the idea that you should give up your time to the organisation, that this life is not important anyway, only the next... 

Another level in the lyrics, which we also incorporated in the video, is the mental gymnastics people in cults constantly have to do to keep their world view and themselves together. All the information from outside, that questions their idelogy, have to be kept at bay or worked around. All the questions that rise up from within have to be locked away and twisted into something that fits the tight box of that ideology. This is why, in cults, outside influence, like TV, social media etc are frowned upon, and regular attendance to the groups meetings is encouraged, even forced. 

And, one more thing, it can be forced. The thought and behaviour control can be enforced. Although cults will love bomb you to get you in, and embrace you and welcome you in their midst, they are also prepared to turn their backs to you, if you don't behave. They will leave you to starve for the love they withheld from you, and die of loneliness. It's not always in the rulebook to shun misbehaving members, but in the case of Jehovah's Witnesses, it's a practice they base on the Bible itself.

Of course, there are people that are happy in these kinds of groups, those that really believe in the cause, some of them maybe seeing the opportunity for power. Others are not happy, and they are the ones leaving. They would rather suffer the shutting out of the group than be in that mental prison. I haven't personally been shut out from a group, (my church was, but that's another story) but I do count myself in as a cult survivor. As that, it is not my intention to just mock cult people, rather, I hope that through this process of making songs about this subject, I'll be able to understand them better and have more compassion. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xqpl3I8HWU

The video was shot  a while ago at a studio after a regular work day, where we recorded most of the instruments too. There are even some additional guitars of mine in there! We also used archive material from Finnish tv archives. They were free to use and we found some material about dancing and women's gymnastics in unison, which really fit to the theme. There are a couple of bits from a women's self defense course. The archive material is from the fifties and sixties, so our final artistic desicion was to turn everything into black and white and add some graininess to the studio bits as well, to fit it with the archive ones. The end result is quite satisfying, in my opinion. Hopefully you have enjoyed it as well!

Flora

 Live Giggin!

                                       

Live venues have been opening one by one here in Turku, Finland. First there were still some restrictions but even those last ones have now been removed. So every band has around here has been busy asking around for gig opportunities, and we have done our part. This month we have not one, but two live gigs, one we already had at Turku band Festival on March 19th and the other will be at Hard Rock House, Helsinki, on 31th March. Finally some action, finally out of town! We've been waiting for this!

As you may be aware, the work to get gigs starts months, sometimes a year ahead before the actual show date. In this case too. Turku Band Festival usually announces it's application process in October and the bands are chosen by the end of November. The festival was supposed to be held in January, like it always is, but because of the corona situation not being that good it got postponed. Luckily, the new date fit all our schedules. That is not self evident, since all of us have other music projects as well. 

Come March, it seemed like the situation would be better, at least when it came to vaccinations: more people covered. But the number of actual cases has been quite high, it's just that the disease itself isn't that serious or risky anymore for most people. Still, if you catch it, you stay home. So, the date of the festival was kept but two bands out of four actually cancelled due to illness. There was only us and Turku based Metal Band Rahko playing. Despite that there were people enough to fill the place, and even though the place itself was a bit remote. 

We played first, had a blast! The sound guy knew what he was doing. (and there was a sound guy!) We heard everything quite clearly to the stage and there were no complaint from the audience either. The set we had formed included a few new songs, so there was an element of surprise and excitement for us too. All went well and was over too soon! The only thing that went wrong was a pick that flew out of my fingers at the very last minute while playing Siouxsie on the Beach! Oh well, continued with hands only then...

Rahko was a full-on Metal band, a lot of influences from Black Metal (to my ears at least) with the female vocalist growling in Finnish. Incredible concept! It was all very well thought, energetic, aggressive music, sometimes adding beautiful clean vocal lines into the mix. The vocalist was very talented, in my opinion. I don't know how to really growl, I just sometimes use the false chords as a spice up to the vocals. But judging on how her clean vocals sounded right after growling and her speech after the gig, she knew her stuff! No sign of fatigue what so ever. Impressive! Alas, and unfortunately, they announced just at the end of the show, that this was her last one with them. Hopefully they'll all find the path that's right for them. It's just a bit sad to see a good thing end...

Anyway, Thank you Rahko, for allowing us to use your equipment and being there with us! We hope to see you around in the Turku live music scene! And Thank you Turku Band Festival for having us! We'd love to participate again!

So, next week we'll play at Roihuvuori, Helsinki, at a place called Hard Rock House. We asked about their Thursday Club slots maybe a year ago already, but then the restrictions kept many venues from opening. Even when these were at times lifted, all the venues just couldn't take the risk, having to arrange everything with the corona passes etc. So I had settled for nothing probably happening. but then they returned to us out of blue and suggested a slot 31th March. Yess! We asked around and got another band to join us: Grand Sorceress, a Turku based Fuzz Rock/Doom band. Since they had to cancel the festival this will be their debut gig! Makes me really happy to be able to help!

I hope you'll all just swarm Roihuvuori next Thursday! We'll have CD's for sale and we'll rock your socks off! And we have new material, so if you want to hear those new pieces, be there!

Love Flora/ Hateful Chains