"All About The Album - 15 Questions" - a brand new section at the RockUnited site where any recording artist with an recently released CD is confronted with 'album'  questions (15 of them, duh!). If you'd like to have your material up here, email: urban "at" rockunited.com (simply replace "at" with your standard @ )

RANDOM EYES : "Light Up "

RANDOM EYES from Jyväskylä, Finland play their own brand of melodic metal. The band's leader is Christian Palin, a singer who got a taste of celebrity when he entered the X-Factor TV-show. It wasn't for him, even though he made it to the last rounds. In the end he asked to be voted out. Now Christian is concentrating on Random Eyes, hoping to make it in music business on his own terms. He's quite a character...

1. How has the reaction to your latest CD been?

- The reaction towards the new album has been wonderful. All the reviews have been very positive as well as feedback from the fans. Light Up has exeeded peoples expectations.

2.How long did this CD take to make from start to finish, recording-wise?

- Working with the album took about 8 months, we wanted to do a thorough job and get everything right. There were also some breaks.

3.What kind of 'sound', production wise, did you have in the back of your mind, prior to entering the studio?

- The main idea was to maintain Random Eyes´ own style and sound. We do not want to imitate anyone, but to be remembered of our own unique style of playing. Nevertheless I also wanted this third album sound more like American bands. While pondering ideas I listened a lot of American rock- and metal bands, such as Disturbed and Marilyn Manson.

4.What kind of input did the producer have during the process?

- Our producer Tero Kinnunen ( Nightwish, Amorphis ) is very experienced, it was easy to work the album with such a talent, who knows how great music is done. He was, for example, excellent in pointing out what parts to high light in the songs and how to do it. We also shared a lot of same kind of ideas, for example considering the guitar sounds.

5.And are you pleased with the final outcome? (sound - production wise)

- I am more than pleased with the album. Random Eyes has found its own sound that I've always wanted.

6.Did the producer use any (weird) experimental miking and/or recording techniques?

- Yes, most of the guitars were re-amped later by Tero. So we don´t even know all the techniques he used. We gave him full authority to use his ideas and digital effects were used quite a lot. Some of those effects come from Mikko Härkins keyboards though.

 7. How did you go on about capturing your 'live sound' in the studio, or perhaps you didn't?

- Well, whether we are on a gig or in studio we always strive for a hard kick-ass-sound that also leaves room for our catchy melodies. Because we are an energetic band on stage we really didn´t have to think about how to bring the energy to the studio. It just comes naturally and Tero did the finishing touches.

8. Please inform us about your favourite songs and lyrical highlights and why?

My favorite songs on disk are "Vendetta", "Light Up" (reminiscent of the 1980ies), "Decadence", and "Hold Me".

9.Any overall theme of mood that you're trying to capture while writing songs?

Even though I see all the suffering in the world, and write about it, I also want to write about hope. Hope and love are the most important things in the world. While writing I use my own and my friends experiences as an emotional basis for the songs.

10.Does your vision for coming up with music get affected at all by time?

I do not think it does. I live in the moment, Life is rock´n roll.

11.Did the record company interfere with anything on your "sound" and songs?

- The record company manages all the media but I am in charge when it comes to music.

12.Are there any 'crazy' behind the scenes anecdotes from these sessions that you can share with us?

- The song "Hold Me" was composed at the last minute in our Bassplayer Voitto`s home, I played all the instruments (for the first demo) and Voitto was throwing some ideas and recording. Overall it was long and hard process, there were some moments when we all felt like losing our minds. There was also changes to the line up right before recording the album, that stressed us all, but the outcome was successful and we all managed to stay friends.

13.How would you describe the sound of your new CD to any potential new fan?

- Album´s sound is fresh and delightful even though being very heavy. People will surely like the attitude and the technical performance on the record. Our new fantastic guitarist Sami Rönkkö is very much a “guitar hero” in the vein of Steve Vai or Malmsteen but makes his solos natural part of Random Eyes songs without getting too carried away. Our sound is modern but we take a lot of influences from past decades.

14.Who are your influences and heroes? (music-wise)

- Johan Sebastian Bach, Paganini, Chopin and, even though, hasn´ t got anything to do with music, Alexander The Great. Influences of these men may not be heard from the Random Eyes albums, but these men had right attitude. They were ambitious and left their print in history.

15.If there's anything you'd like to add, say, please do:

- Well, come to our gigs and enjoy the album, stay strong and be ready to rock!!!

Interview questions by: Urban "Wally" Wallstrom,
Photos from the band's website
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