of the Blind Channel Niko Moilanen and Joel Hokka arrive early for the interview, as always.
– We know that the initial adjustment always takes time, Joel continues.
True, microphone placement and other adjustments take time, experienced interviewees know this. Time on the Blind Channel is now on the cards. Blind Channel will be touring hard throughout the summer and on the side giving interviews related to the album that will be released today Lifestyles Of The Sick & Dangerous touching.
– We’ve given a hell of a lot of interviews. Especially abroad, Joel answers.
Niko and Joel talk about their last weekend. Back then, we bounced from place to place and sometimes even went to Sweden to perform.
But this is exactly what the band has been dreaming of. That music has become not just a job for them, but a way of life. And that biggest dream is on the other side of the ocean, but we’ll come back to that later.
Blind Chanel’s Joel Hokka (left) and Niko Moilanen remind themselves that even though the touring life is tough at times, it’s exactly what they’ve always dreamed of. Mia Siren
First we take the pictures.
The two habitually pose in front of the camera. Joel’s hair keeps going into his mouth in strong winds. Follow the conversation with v-words.
Niko and Joel are both quite rock black with their clothes and long hair. However, Niko has heart-shaped sunglasses that attract attention.
– Isn’t it great, I got these from a fan. We get quite a lot of gifts from fans. I lose sunglasses all the time, says Niko.
The pictures can be taken despite the wind.
– Sorry, I have to check this, Joel says when his phone beeps.
Joel looks at his phone and is happy. The long-delayed thing is coming to an end.
A lot has happened to Blind Channel and more “cool stuff” is happening, Joel excitedly tells about.
– Don’t put them in the magazine yet, okay? Joel asks.
Joel Hokka lives his dream. Mia Siren
It’s enough to talk with the two of you. Niko and Joel both talk a lot about music and a little about everything.
The day before the interview, a giant advertising sheet with the cover image of Blind Channel’s upcoming album is hung in the glass corner of Helsinki Forum.
Niko and Joel are excited about the advertising sheet, that too. They have visited it to admire and take pictures.
– That cover also looks so much like us. When we went to take pictures of the advertisement yesterday, all we could say was: “It’s nice that the boys have a band”, laughs Niko.
“Get rid of the rapper”
Let’s briefly summarize the past year and a half of Blind Channel. The band from Oulu overwhelmingly won the New Music competition, and in the Eurovision Song Contest in Rotterdam, it finished sixth. After the end of the corona restrictions, the band has toured hard throughout Europe and the United States, and in the middle of the tour, Blind Channel visited six Emma stands.
– Have them in storage. I don’t know where, says Niko.
For the general public, Blind Channel came out of nowhere, even though it was founded eight years ago.
The initial effort was not easy: record companies and other potential collaborators rejected the band.
– We were often told to get rid of the rapper, Joel repeated as Niko nodded beside him.
The theme is covered in Blind Channel’s album, which will be released today, Friday Lifestyles Of The Sick & Dangerous with a song Glory for the Greedy, which is Joel’s favorite song on the album.
They were also urged to change the language, because “a Finnish-speaking band performing in English just can’t do it now”.
– We really didn’t believe them. Now that things started, even at the Emma gala the bosses of big companies came to pat themselves on the back, Joel continues.
According to Niko, the song has the “saltiest” verse the band has ever written. It reads genuine rejection messages that the band has received from record companies.
– And then we answer them in the song, says Niko.
Niko Moilanen hopes that Blind Channel will inspire other Finns to try abroad. Mia Siren
Although the time after the breakthrough has been a celebration, the band has also had to face negative issues. Like how suddenly everyone else knew better than Blind Channel what they should or shouldn’t do. The theme is discussed in paragraphs We Are No Saints (We Are Not Saints) and in its opening paragraph National Heroes (National heroes).
– “You can’t drink beer, you can’t swear, you can’t look like a fool. You can’t do this and that because you are national heroes”. I have to say that I went crazy when I heard about it, says Niko.
– “You are the idols of young people, children look up to you. How can you behave like that?” Should parents take music devices and Spotify away from children?, Joel says.
Joel underlines how they’re a rock band that jams, jams, does stupid and crazy stuff – and swears on TV.
– Why are we criticized so terribly when we don’t do anything really bad? When there are successes after years, why not celebrate it? We like to party. We don’t do anything illegal or outrageous. That review was emotional, and that’s what happened We Are No Saints and National HeroesNiko says.
Publicity and success have also been followed by other negative aspects. According to Blind Channel, there is nothing wrong with enthusiastic fans. But in Jodel instead, they think it is. Joel doesn’t mince his words when he opens up about the anonymity-based social media app in question.
Blind Channel also wants to be big in the US. Mia Siren
Joel himself doesn’t even use Jodel anymore, but he gets screenshots.
– Anonymous idiots write absolutely profane, almost libelous shit. And I’m not just talking about myself, although I’ve certainly had my fair share. I get the feeling that you idiots don’t realize that this is school bullying in its maximum form, Joel downloads.
– Internet bullying is such shit. And also that our young fans are bullied for listening to the Blind Channel. It’s good that now was Pride, in connection with which it is emphasized that let all flowers bloom, Joel continues.
Three months on a tour bus
Blind Channel is already big in Finland, and tickets are sold for gigs elsewhere in Europe. It’s different in the US.
In the spring, the band toured around the United States in rather harsh conditions.
– It was crazy. There were 12 of us in the same gig for three months, says Niko.
– For example, you can appreciate a shower in a completely different way now. Sometimes it could go a week without being able to shower, and when you did, the water could be cold, Niko says.
In Finland and Europe, food is usually served in the back rooms, in the US it is different. Blind Channel learned to eat anytime, anywhere. Joel says that Dunkin’ Donuts has become familiar.
Why then does Blind Channel want to spend three months in a gig without a shower, when it would be much easier in Europe?
– The United States is the world’s biggest music market. Of course you want to be king there. Finland is doing pretty well, Europe will happen, but of course you want to try. If we didn’t try in the United States, we would be upset 20 years from now, says Joel.
Being on the road also means that something has had to be given up. Joel mentions that budding relationships have suffered due to busy schedules.
Niko, on the other hand, has an identity crisis.
– We haven’t been able to make new music. I have no other ways to deal with my emotions than making music, and when I haven’t had time to do that, I’ve been in crisis.
Joel and Niko say that even though Blind Channel uses alcohol, you have to remember to stay in moderation, too many artists’ careers have ended due to excessive alcohol use. Mia Siren
Niko says that you have to immerse yourself in making songs, songs don’t just come out of that, so a week has been arranged for July when the band sits down and makes new music.
Many of Blind Channel’s dreams have come true, but not all. Where will Blind Channel be in five years?
– I hope we will be the main performers of really big arenas in Europe. I hope that Jenkei could also have a main performer of some level and things would move forward and we would get on the Billboard charts, says Niko.
– To perform on the main stage of Rock am Ring as the last band of the evening. If we are there, then all those other things have happened, says Joel.
Lifestyles Of The Sick & Dangerous is out on Friday 8th July.