Pax Romana - A Finnish progressive rock band, was initially formed in early 70´s in a small village Sonkajärvi in Eastern Finland. Like many of the progressive rock bands at that time they were full of idealism and musical ambitions. The band was active for a couple of years, but due to lack of opportunities, members starting their studies etc, it just died out - or that's what everybody thought.
In 2002 these same guys, now living their lives in different parts of Finland, met again with an idea of re-building the band for just a few gigs and having fun. The end result so far is two albums and numerous gigs.
I caught up with them for their story. Matti Kervinen answered my questions.
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Your biography here in PA is pretty
extensive and I refer everyone to this biography for questions about
your formation and members. But why did you choose that name taken
into account that your area was well outside the Roman empire ?
Well it was kind of fun and
not-too-much-thinking kind of process, we were 15 year old schoolkids
checking out mystical names from history books. It sounded good and
looked good and it was from the "outside world".... But
nothing with the meaning of the word or what had happened in the
history etc. that we checked a long later.
To start with; please
give me your (long or brief) thoughts and lowdowns on.......
Trace Of Light from 2005
It is a very important album because
with that we kinda re-started the engine and the band. It still has
beautiful moments and it carries some of the emotions and feelings of
what kind band PR was in the seventies. So it is some kind of bridge
between past and today. What comes to lowdowns in some parts it´s a
little weak with arrangements and production and the band´s playing
isn´t that tight that it was going to be soon after that album. But
anyway it is very important album and and has some beautiful things
in it.
And The Dance Begins Again from 2009
It is stronger and more colourful than
the debut and with some of it´s best songs I think we really
achieved something new and the producion was also stronger. What
comes to lowdowns I think that with some parts it´s a little too
conventional and a little unbalanced at times but it was and is a big
step forward and important of showing new directions...
That album was released last year. What
have you been up to since the release of that album and what is the
latest update on Pax Romana ?
We have been writing, arranging and
rehearsing new material for the third album and I´m very excited
about that. Now that the reed player Kalle Fält is a full
member it gives us a lot of new energy and possibilities to go the
areas that used to be unknown to us, and that´s one of the main
things why we´re doing this... to discover new lands and horizons
How is the creative and song writing
processes in your band ?
Mainly the the starting points have
been between Matti Inkinen and me, so that one of us have some ideas
which we play to each others or just "throw the ideas to air"
and look if something comes up, but today after the first ideas come
up it´s more with the whole band just playing together and finding
ways to develope the songs. With ATDBA there also came very strong
ideas from Ilpo Komulainen, the bass man and Jukka Höytämö, the
rhythm guitar player. And the drummer Jouko Höytämö has very
sensitive "arranger- and producer ears" so the band is now
more together.
Just to give those of us who are
unknown with your band a bit of a reference point or two: How would
you describe your music and which bands would you would compare your
music with ?
I think it´s melodic progressive rock
from Northern Europe with some roots in finnish folk-prog music
and some roots in English prog rock. Bands like Camel, Focus,
Pink Floyd have been very important to me....
What is your plans for the rest of this
year and next year ?
Just rehearsing, arranging and making
music step by step towards our third album, I hope that mainly it
will be done this autumn. Next year some gigs (maybe some festivals)
and hopefully the release of the new album...
You are from the land of the thousand
lakes and the hot saunagirls. How is the scene there and how is it to
run a band there ? Any problems with gigs and distribution of your
albums ?
Yes we are and we know what you
mean...it´s not easy but we are just happy to make our music and
with prog-scene it helps that it´s so global thing so with internet
etc. we can catch things that were impossible in the 70´s. The gigs
we arrange ourselves and the label and distribution is in good hands. Check out
Anything you want to add to this
interview ?
It was nice talking to you, it´s
august in Finland and summer just carries on:)
Thanx for rubbing the salt into my wounds......
....And thanx for the interview
Their PA profile is here and their homepage is here
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Pax Romana
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