1. Good evening. Before we start with questions I would like to ask you about your personal feelings after a release of “Lower”. Everything goes according to plan?

Evening to you, too! Yes, everything is now going well, after a lot of stupid problems. Songs are playing on the radio now and then, we’re starting our tour next week in Russia and then some shows in Finland and I also heard that we’re finally doing Brutal Assault this year!

2. We’ll start with those more annoying questions. It is not secret that the release of new album was accompanied by numerous complications, which had an impact on time of the release and some live performances as well. Could you present those problems for our readers?

Well, a little. It’s very depressing to remember those times but basically it went like this: we had made a preliminary agreement with a “major” international label, shook hands and made a schedule for the album’s recording and release. We recorded the album, we thought it sounded awesome (as you know, heh!), but then it started – they delayed signing the final contract, they fired the person with whom we were talking, they said to wait for a week for confirmation, then a month, then another week, then two weeks, then next week… blah blah blah… Just complete bullshit and nobody taking any responsibility for anything. It was very difficult for the band and we decided to put everything on hold to sort out these things and get the record out. And now it’s out – finally!

3. Before getting deeper into an album, I would like to focus on the cover art. Personally I think it is beautiful, which applies to preceding album “Cherno” too. But to be honest I haven’t searched for the responsible artist – if you could tell us something about the artist, his importance for KYPCK or about of his other interesting creations, do it now please.

The man is called Aleksei Repkin and we found his work through the internet and immediately fell in love with his magnificent, strange and eerily beautiful photos of underground Moscow… He’s a true artist and an uncompromising man and we a privileged in having the opportunity to use his photos on our album! Great stuff…

4. I feel almost an acid rock feeling from your production, even though I had a pleasant toxic impression even from you older tracks. I also find the new album to be more melodic and sometimes even a bit more gentle. Could you inaugurate me into a process of creation of your music and creation of “Lower” itself? Perhaps if you have some other sources of inspiration besides Soviet history.

Well, there are no songs about Soviet history on this album. All the songs hark back to the times of Tsarist Russia, 19th and 18th centuries. I suppose the album did turn out more melodic as well, but the main plan was to write stuff that is longer, even heavier than Cherno, and focus on some more unusual arrengements than on Cherno. Obviously, there’s the single “Alleya Stalina” there, too, but most of the songs are just a bit more experimental. The track “Chernaya dyra” from Cherno was the kind of starting point for us – we talked about this with Sami before we began working on the material. Just to take the stuff one step further or deeper… Lower.

5. Since I don’t come from a generation which had mandatory Russian language classes I struggle with the lyrical side of KYPCK quite a lot. Of course one catches bits here and there or finds translation somewhere. However when I heard lyrics sung in such canorous language I feet pity that I’m unable to understand it fully. So I would like to ask about lyrics in more detail. From the process of creation to actual message the lyrics carry. History and feelings adherent to it, literary references and so on?

Well, I can give you a brief introduction to the lyrics. First of all, in almost all the songs, except “Posle”, which is my own composition, I always have the music first, so I start working on the feelings and thoughts that the music inspires in me. With my own songs for Kypck (“Predatel”, “Ne prosti” and “Posle”) the music and the text are kind of born together at the same time. But anyway, the first song “Posle” is about a guy who wakes up in a drunken stupor, sitting in a pool of blood and someone’s body lying next to him. He doesn’t really remember what’s happened and it turns out that the dead person is his wife. The song is about those moments when you realise something irreversible has happened. “Alleya Stalina”, which was the first single, is a dream that I actually had and I thought it created a nice atmosphere for this song. It’s a kind of setting in fantastical reality, where you’re not sure what the alley and the abyss are, which the old priest is screaming about in the chorus. “Chuzhoi” is about me, basically, about getting old, losing your strength and your talent, not reaching your goals, disappointing yourself and the people around you. There’s also a quote from the Russian poet Lermontov in the end, in the same spirit. “Felitsa” is about Catherine the Great, the Russian Tsaritsa in the 18th century. It felt a bit different musically for Kypck, so I also wrote some different style lyrics for it. I think it’s interesting to remember that one of the greatest rulers of Russia was a German princess… Not many Russians even think about that! “Razryv” is a long, really slow track, about losing your honour and just wanting someone to kill you, to finish you off, like a soldier of war. When there’s nothing left to fight for, you might as well die. “Burlaki na Volge” is based on the painting of the same name by Ilya Repin. It’s simply a story about the life of the burlaks in 18th century Russia. “Bardak” is a story about an old brotherl in St. Petersburg. A story about lust, debauchery and the powerful drive that they have. “Tovarishcham” is written for the fans of Kypck. It’s dedicated to all of them as a thank you for supporting us and buying our albums, because we couldn’t have done it without them. So, those are the lyrical themes on Nizhe.


6. “Lower” came out through a rather small label, which promises close and pleasant cooperation on the other hand it may evoke a certain apprehension. Now, that listeners can hold the album in their hands, could you tell us how did the cooperation with Yellow House Recordings went?

Erkki: Well, it’s our drummer/producer Hiili Hiilesmaa’s own label, so cooperation is pretty good, heh!

7. If I should name my favourite instrument it would be a bass guitar. And KYPCK belongs among that sort of bands where usage of bass guitar is specific. How did you come up with an idea to build a one-string version of the instrument which gives your music a distinct punch?

Our bassist wanted to build his own instrument and also wanted to do something special, since the whole band’s concept, music and lyrical themes are so unique in the world. So he thought that a one-stringed bass would really suit the heavy, churning and grinding stuff that we do – and he was right! It’s also really interesting to observe him live how he actually plays it… It’s now always that simple!

8. KYPCK uses an interesting image, which besides being polished to a smallest detail (I’m pointing towards interesting examples and propaganda posters of SSSR) is both controversial and fascinating. How did you come to such vision? What was the main reason behind this illustrating factor of your music?

You see, like I mentioned above, everything started from a very, very strong idea and concept about what we wanted to play. The music and the language were the first things. Then we were all just so inspired about our new band that we wanted to take everything further and make the band not only into a strong musical statement, but a visual experience, too. Thus, Sami came up with the crazy idea of the Lopashnikov-guitar, Jaska built his bass, we bought an old Lada and painted it with our emblems etc. It all builds up gradually and we will continue to develop it further. Russia and its history are full of interesting issues and it’s great to be able to spread that to people who are interested in those things. About the controversies, well, we never said we were going to be an everyman’s “nice” little band. We don’t preach any ideology though, we just present the audience with some powerful stuff and they can make up their own minds about what to think about it.

9. I would like to stay at visual side a bit longer. Taking the Finnish-Russian historical relations in consideration I find this type of manifestation quite daring including a fact that you use both Russian and Finnish. Didn’t you have any misunderstandings or problems?

Of course we did and we still have on both sides of the border. In Finland, there are idiots who think that we are communists or some “traitors” because we sing in Russian, but those people are fools, their opinion is not very interesting, because it was to be expected. On the other hand, in Russia there are some, let’s say, not-so-intellectually-blessed people, who think that we are some kind of Fascist conspirators who make fun of Russia and her history… Well, what can I say… This is music, this is art, this is rock’n’roll and we’re here to crush boundaries, not obey them.

10. When you recall times when KYPCK were created, how did the first activities in rehearsal room look like? Did you have a clear vision of your creation which you presented in “Cherno” and “Lower”, or did it realize a bit later? I noticed that KYPCK has a stable line-up comprised of experienced musicians. Do you look back at the birth of the band with smile?

All four of us were in the same room for the first time in the studio, although we had met each other before individually, of course. But the band was there for the first time as we recorded. It was odd, of course, but in a good way – it felt that we were doing something different and quite special and that feeling kept growing stronger in the process. Obviously, I can now see a clearer progression between Cherno and Nizhe. Cherno was an experiment, written and recorded very fast. It’s fresh and raw and it opened a lot of doors in our head. Nizhe is more mature and organic, because now we knew more about what we were doing. When I listen to them both now, it’s actually a bit amazing how they differ, but still sound like Kypck. I think we’ve managed to create something unique and our own sound, which is something that all musicians aspire to.


11. Now the listeners can enjoy two conceptual and thematic albums. Do you intend to continue in this manner or can we expect something atypical from KYPCK? I would also like to ask about a bit different thing – and that’s collaboration with other musicians. Can we expect some interesting guests or even some collaborationist recording?

At the moment, I don’t know about any collaboration or such. The reasons would have to be very good and I think it’s not very likely to happen… But never say never! As for the concept, we shall obviously keep developing it. It’s too soon to think about any next albums now, especially in with this situation in the record industry where no one wants to pay for any albums. As for the lyrics, I don’t want to restrict myself too much. I already began to widen our lyrical horizons on Nizhe and wrote about different topics than on Cherno, and I want to keep that freedom. It makes the music more honest and gives me the chance to write about how I actually feel.

12. I know a bit about your concert activity and last year you were supposed to visit Czech Republic and its festival Brutal Assault. Is there any possibility that we might see you in Czech at some more personal indoor gig?

I hope so… We are planning to visit Poland and Czech this year, so hopefully some local agencies get in touch with us soon! As for Brutal Assault, my knowledge is that we are doing it this year, at least that is what I heard!

13. I have a bad feeling that you’re fans of literature. :) So is literature as important as music for you? My personal opinion is that music combines art of word together with art of sound (of course this doesn’t applies to instrumental works). What kind of books you prefer at various occasions? Or which author influenced your thinking and even an idea of KYPCK?

Well, yes I agree. I did my degree at Oxford in Linguistics and Russian Literature, so obviously I do read a lot. I think it’s just a huge richness to be able to use all that great material in Kypck, when it suits the music. Not that we do it in every song, of course, but as a kind of “bonus”, we can link up with a larger cultural heritage. Personally, I enjoy Chekhov and Tolstoy most, but I’ve read most of the Russian classics and there are plenty of others. I also read a lot of science books, history books and such… Reading is never a waste of time.

14. It looks like we are at the end… I would like to thank you for the interview and I hope it was pleasant for you as it was for me. I’ll just wish you a lot of successes in forthcoming musical struggles and the last words? As always, those are yours.

Stay strong! Many thanks to all who’ve supported Kypck and enjoyed what we are doing! Hope you find the new album there and hope to see you at a show, soon!