| ■ Fonal Records interview questions for Sami Sanpakkila (Fonal Records) |
| PLOP：first of all, please tell me about yourself and your musical background. |
| I'm self taught and have learned to play whilst making my own songs. I or my family don't have a strong musical background. I trust my intuition and instincts while making music. I'll soon graduate with a Fine Arts BA hopefully and I'm superstressed about that at this moment and have a lot of work. The summer will bring a golden shining release from that hopefully. |
| PLOP：When and how did you start the label? |
| I began Fonal in 1995 as means to release my own music. I have never been good at sending promos or demos to anyone. I have always been interested in managing the whole process of releasing music. From playing it to making covers for the finished album. |
| PLOP：What is the concept of the label and why did you name the label "Fonal"? (what does fonal mean in English?) |
| There is no concept or manifest that I could put in to one sentence. It has always been about my interests and involvement in life. Fonal is growing with me. It doesn't have to be aware of any outside influences or consider anyone elses interest then mine. This is a strength but also adds a lot of workload on me. As far as I know the only meaning Fonal has is in spanish meaning something in the direction of sound. But this has never been confirmed by anyone. |
| PLOP：You are also a member of the band "kiila" and have your own project "es". Do you have any difficulties running the label and making music at the same time? |
| I don't, heh. I think of myself as a mucisian with Es and Kiila. When I do Fonal things it's a totally different approach. The good thing is that I never have any definate deadlines. Some releases might be half a year late. Nothing will be released until it's perfect and ready to released as it was meant to be released. This also gives me the freedom to take it easy if I feel there's too much stress over certain things. Just let it sleep for a few weeks and then carry on. Something bigger companies can't "afford" to do. |
| PLOP：Mainly you have been releasing finnish artist's cds from various music jenre. They all have great individuality. How do you hook up with artists who you are releasing? Also you are accepting demos and Jan (from Kemiakkiset Ystavat) was appointed a listener for demos. Please tell me about Jan's position on fonal records. have you ever released cds from demos? |
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I know most of these people who make this music I release. Or I come to know them during the process. But mostly I hear this music from my friends and people approach me with demos and promos to listen to. I also hear lot's of live performances that I really enjoy and make my decisions based on that. Jan receives all the demos and listens to them. If there's anything interesting he forwards them to me. He knows my taste and there's already something happening with a band he heard first. A really amazing band called Paavoharju will be released soon. |
| PLOP：The first opportunity to know about fonal records were Es and Kiila's cds which had been licensed by (K-raa-k)3. And then I had a strong impression on kiila's packaging because I had never seen that tri-hold paper sleeve in my life! Did you design that package? Also every artwork is so beautiful... even finnish letters are very artistic and mysterious for us. (Especially I like drawing artworks!!) |
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That package is based on different packagings that I've seen. I don't credit myself as the inventor of it. I have drawn this particular one though and I have the original "cutting board" they use to make those. Jan has a big part in the covers. He has made several Fonal covers and they always turn out really amazing. I have made most of the layouts. Here too we take our time and wait for the right ideas. |
| PLOP：here in Japan, We don’t know about finish music or music scene soo much. Please tell me about underground music scene there from your view. |
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My view is that this is just a big bunch of friends making music and suddenly there's been a lot of interest for it in the foreign media. Happily most of the people behind the music are very concsious about this and know that it is only a peak that will propably go down. If it hasn't began descending already. I don't take too much notice on this. I have no real plans to make Fonal any bigger than it is now. |
| PLOP：You and Jan compiled the cd "surounded by sun"(fantastic comp!!) which also non-finnish artists participated in... What do you think about underground music scene in another countries. Do you feel in sympathy with any labels or bands? |
| I do feel a lot of sympathy for all the people releasing good and uncompromising music in the world. There are lots of people I'm in conctact with that have similar ideas about music then I do. I feel it's a great thing to concentrate on musicians from your area. It gives the label and bands a certain unique folkish aura that I like. You could consider the finnish music scene as a sort of village making excursions to different countries through the releases they put out. It must be a bit like receiving the first bananas to Finland. Excotic, strange and very appealing. |
| PLOP：Do you know anything about Japanese experimental music? Can you mention Japanese artists who you are interested in? |
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I haven't heard too much I must confess. But there are some really excellent Japanese movies that I've enjoyed so much. Hara Kiri by Masaki Kobayashi is an amzing movie! |
| PLOP: Please tell me your future plans on fonal records and also as musician es and kiila, what direction are you heading to? |
| Im heading to the direction where my own health is taking me. So let's hope it's something good!!! There will be many new releases this year and new exciting bands also. Kemialliset Ystavat, Islaja, TV-Resistori and hopefully Risto and also others will make new albums. |
| PLOP: List 5 albums which you are currently listening to: |
| (I took the favourite word out to make it easier) - Ville Leinonen: Kimaltavia Unelmia - Succubus songs for Sami (a compilation tape I got from my girlfriend including songs by Colin Blunstone, Nikki Sudden, Cat Power, Judee Still, The Shins, Chili Gonzales, Johhny Cash, Will Oldham etc.) - Animal Collective: Sung Tongs (Also saw them live in Toronto, Canada, amazing) - Cyndi Lauper: She's So Unusual (A trip back to my teens, I only just found out what that She Bob songs about...) - Office Building: Helium Songs |