LOVEX – Interview with Sammy Black

Some days ago, I had the chance to make an interview to this young talent from the successful band Lovex, Sammy Black. Graphic Designer as profession, Sammy has managed his studies with 2 bands, on which he have been part of their creation.

Have you studied music or are you self-taught?

I had a few guitar lessons during my first year of guitar playing. Lessons were about learning the basics chords and techniques. Maybe a year later I became inspired by band school so I signed up and played there for a few years. There were also quite many of my friends like Jason (Lovex), Joonas (Essentia), Janne and Pasi (Uniklubi) and Kurt Dragon (Bitch so sweet) among others. In a band school we formed 5-6 people’s bands, played rock-, blues- and heavy-cover songs and did some gigs.

But however, I consider myself as a self-taught guitarist.

To your eyes, who might be the greatest guitar player ever?

When I first time heard Joe Satriani`s “Crystal Planet” –song in the radio I was overwhelmed. And when I finally got the whole Crystal Planet –album I was absolutely speechless. The sound, songs and his skills as a player and composer were indelible impressing. Thank you Joe!

In how many bands you have played and can you mention some?

Including my current bands (Lovex and Essentia) I’ve been in 7 bands plus 3 band school projects. Bands like Suomuuraimet, Henve and Ukkometsot to name a few.

Where does your artistic name come from? Did you had others?

Sammy Black is the one and only artistic name. “Sammy” comes from my real name and one friend of mine invented the last name “Black”. I did and still do like black color a lot. =)

I’ve heard that you are the creator of Lovex; how did Lovex came about? What’s the story behind it?

Uniklubi`s Jussi and I had often been talking (after quite a few drinks..) about creating this new band though we both had bands already. We both liked very much of this Finnish band called Entwine. It was the spark for the whole thing.

When we finally got to our first trainings we played New Dawn –cover & some other songs and start to think about the bands name and other players. We gathered other players from our friends and start to compose our own songs. Band became Lovex and from that very first line-up Jason, Vivian & I are still in.

Talkin’ about your other band, Essentia, when and how did you joined to it?

I have known Joonas (Essentia`s lead singer) for 10years now. And we already had played on same bands before Essentia. Essentia had been formed for about a year before I joined the band. They had just recorded their self financed full length album in Finnish when their guitarist decided to quit the band. Joonas asked if I could do a gig with them and maybe then join in the band. At that time I had a period that I wasn’t playing in a band, so why not. The year was early 2002.

Can you define or describe Lovex & Essentia?

Lovex`s music is 80-90`s metalrock influenced modern rock with additional symphonic stuff.

Essentia`s music is moshrock. I the other words it`s metalrock with new metal influences or something like that.

Lovex`s success came so quickly and you`re very young. Don`t you feel being under pressure?

I don’t think that I’m considered as a very young person. I’m 24 after all. But no, I don’t feel like being under pressure so far. Everything has been so great. Some practical things have gone easier during this year and the number of gigs has been increased nicely. This is what I wanted from right the beginning.

And after all in civil life I don’t get disturbed that much, I can be myself.

I didn’t expect a quick success but when we got signed up to EMI I knew that many things will vary. Though it might seem that everything was easy it wasn’t quite that. I’m very grateful for everything so far.

The most important thing is to remain your own values.

You wrote the music for several songs on Divine Insanity –album. Where did you get the inspiration for it?

I wrote many parts for Divine Insanity’s songs. Mainly we compose our songs together. Almost every one of us has composed something on” D.I”. I think that’s one of our band strengths. Lovex isn’t one man vision.

Many ideas have comes by jamming in sound check or band rehearsals. Then you think over ideas at home and make some changes. When I train playing at home and make some ideas/riffs I record them on my 4-track recorder. Yeah, it’s old but functioning.

Which bands/guitarists you would consider as your main influence?

I listen a lot of Joe Satriani, Elias “E.vil” Viljanen, Sentenced, Nightwish, Entwine, Soilwork, Linkin Park and many more. But I think my influences could be somewhere among those bands/guitarists. When I started playing guitar I was huge fan of Helloween and Stratovarius (still got over 20 albums of those two bands). Could be little bit influenced from there too.

What’s your opinion about the “boom” of Finnish bands in the world? And what do you think is the reason for this “boom”?

I think the quality of Finnish music has increased and reached the international level. In Finland there was this musical depression during the 90`s. Metal & rock saved Finnish music. Or so I think.

Your fav band ever ? And about the Finnish bands, which are your favorites?

Like I mentioned before, Helloween and Stratovarius were the most important bands to me at a certain time. I think nowadays there are so many great bands in world that I can’t really say which one is the greatest. Most of my favorite bands are from Finland. But here is my personal list of the most important albums ever; (each one of these albums have affected my life):

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Helloween: The time of the oath

Stratovarius: Visions

Entwine: Time of despair

Sentenced: Crimson

HIM: Razorblade romance

Joe Satriani: Crystal Planet

Linkin Park: Hybrid theory

Soilwork: Figure number five

Ill Nino: One nation underground

Nightwish: Wishmaster

Sonata Arctica: Silence

Lullacry: Be my god

Elias Viljanen: Taking the lead

To/Die/For: Epilogue

Children of Bodom: Hatecrew deathroll

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Thanks a lot!