With deep roots in Finland and India, and a musical palette knowledgeable by traditional rock, pop, conventional kinds and delightful voices from numerous genres, Von Hertzen Brothers singer and guitarist Mikko Von Hertzen has a eager sense of the numerous potential paths to an awesome track. Collectively along with his brothers – guitarist Kie and bassist/keyboard participant Jonne – the singer/guitarist stirs the sounds and sights of a various life into enigmatic rock anthems, most not too long ago on their tight but wealthy ninth album In Murmuration. These are a few of these sounds.
The primary music I keep in mind listening to
The lullabies sung by our dad and mom. We all the time fell asleep whereas both mummy or daddy or grandma was singing. They had been conventional Finnish lullabies, or it is likely to be a British lullaby that’s translated to Finnish, and Christian hymns. They had been singing on a regular basis.
The primary track I carried out dwell
I began enjoying piano once I was 4 or 5, and by the point I used to be eight or 9 I needed to carry out as a result of I went to this musical faculty. Once I was within the seventh grade I began enjoying drums, and in an end-of-school pageant we performed Panama by Van Halen and Queen’s We Are The Champions. I used to be 13 or fourteen years outdated.
The best album of all time
If I take into consideration which as soon as made the most important impression on me, it might be The Beatles’ Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Membership Band. For me that was next-level songwriting. For a prime 4 I might decide Queen’s Evening At The Opera, Sergeant Pepper’s, Jeff Buckley’s Grace and OK Laptop by Radiohead.
The guitar hero
I regard Kie [Von Hertzen] as probably the greatest guitarists on the planet, as a result of he crafts his solos so effectively. However that apart I actually love Mark Knopfler, as a result of when he’s enjoying guitar he’s telling tales. Brian Could can be up there too, as a result of he’s acquired that comparable vibe – he makes it sing, and he transports you into someplace you wouldn’t anticipate.
The singer
Freddie Mercury, Jeff Buckley and Chris Cornell, however of these three I might most likely decide Freddie. His command of his voice was so superb. I’m somewhat bit extra drawn to the delicate and fragile aspect of his voice, like Love Of My Life. In that track I really feel like Freddie is, in a method, very bare. He’s singing from his coronary heart.
The songwriter
John Lennon and Paul McCartney. They’re most likely the perfect songwriters in pop and rock ever, that duo. They complement one another. There’s a motive why they didn’t separate the songwriting from one another within the credit. We all the time name every thing ‘Von Hertzen Brothers,’ despite the fact that any person wrote the track, as a result of we perceive that it’s a crew effort.
The very best report I’ve made.
It’s so lame to say “the brand new one”. You’ll be able to’t take a look at it objectively, it’s nonetheless too shut. So I might say… [long pause] Strategy from 2006 was for us, no one was backing us in any method and we simply put it out. Then Struggle Is Over [2017], that’s a really sturdy album. And Pink Alert In The Blue Forest [2022] – I don’t assume anyone on this world does music like that.
The worst album I’ve made
Most likely the primary album [Experience, 2001]. It was nonetheless a bit uncooked, we didn’t actually have an identification but. Stars Aligned [2011] has good songs, however we missed the mark a bit with the manufacturing.
My responsible pleasure
We typically have lots of enjoyable with Scatman and nineties Eurodance issues. If the time is correct and we’re in a partying temper, we may simply see ourselves doing karaoke of Coco Jamboo [by German Eurodance group Mr President] or one thing.
The very best cowl model
I actually appreciated Coronary heart’s model of Stairway To Heaven. And I’d say our band made a extremely good model of [King Crimson’s] twenty first Century Schizoid Man.
Probably the most underrated band ever
Anathema. They actually know the right way to craft songs. They need to be on the identical stage of appreciation as Steven Wilson.
The very best dwell band
She’s Anohni & The Johnsons now, however once they had been nonetheless Antony & The Johnsons their 2013 gig in Helsinki was superb. His voice and the entire thing with an orchestra, it was so participating and so magical.
My Saturday evening/get together track
If it’s a rock membership, I might go for Foo Fighters’ One By One or one thing like that. Or The Look by Roxette.
My ‘within the temper for love’ track
Sigur Rós, for certain. Untitled, the ‘bracket’ album [( )], and I might play the entire album.
The track that makes me cry
Jeff Buckley’s model of Lilac Wine. Oh my god it’s nice. And that final half when he drops it down, it’s so soothing.
The track I’d need performed at my funeral
Possibly Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven. I performed this on the piano once I was younger. It’s lovely.
In Murmuration is out now through DoingBeingMusic