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Interview with Ideomotor

Ideomotor, a true ‘dynamic duo’ are breaking into the Helsinki electronic scene, we were able to have a interview with Erkka Wennonen and Kimmo Myllyviita. As they give us insight into their music and influences.

How do you feel your music fits to a world fueled by the EDM sound?

Erkka Wennonen – We have been somewhat surprised on the the sort of genre descriptions we have been associated with, we honestly thought we were a bit more mainstream.. but I think there is a place for darker tones in an EDM era also.

I can clearly say your music is not EDM.

Kimmo Myllyviita -Yes! I’m having trouble to put us in one genre really.

It feels like you are bringing back the fantastic sounds of the 80s in a modern era. How is this being received?

Erkka – At least myself, I’m quite happy how the first couple songs turned out – there’s obviously a bit of homage, but also some more contemporary stuff. Feedback has been really positive and I reckon its only the live dates that will show how it will all work out.

Kimmo – I have to say we didn’t really plan the sound particularly. just started making music that felt good and would bring something new.. or a nice mix of old and new. I’m really happy if we’ve succeeded.

Which it does.

Kimmo – thank you.

Do you have some shows planned this year?

Kimmo – Not already booked, but definitely there will be!

Erkka – Yes, some support slots in Finland and at the continent are on the works, but will be finalized in the next couple weeks hopefully

Kimmo – Indeed, but can’t say dates yet.

It’s not hard to tell that you guys are influenced by some great artists, that I love as well, Duran Duran, DM and more. Would you like to tell us about your sound?

Kimmo – I think the great diversity comes from all diverse music that we both love and have listened to, but surely you can point out some references, such as DM… but to me at least there’s a lot of guitar rock influence too, 90s especially.

Kimmo – I mean, I’ve played for years, alternative rock, being a guitar player and a lead singer.

Impressive: Your new album is my personal favorite here on WEATNU and WEATNU [OUR] Radio, which we play often. When I first heard Master/Slave I was in love.

Erkka – It was one of the first songs we ever wrote for Ideomotor and that sort of got the ball rolling.

Kimmo – Awesome! I have to say I’m very happy about that song

Being a 80s affectionato myself, it really speaks to me.

Kimmo – Yes, I see that song as very early DM influenced, sure.

And who plays keyboard and guitar in Ideomotor?

Kimmo – Good question.

Erkka – Kimmo takes care of lead vocals and we split duties on other instruments.

Kimmo – We’re both more at home with guitars, that’s for sure. Keyboards are still a bit new to both of us.

Erkka – Not planning to do live shows as a duo however.

Kimmo – I think more like a trio at least.

So truly a synthpop duo, but many are calling it Synthwave these days. We’re rewinding the cassette tape back again, as history is repeating itself with many WEATNU artists.

Erkka – As said we thought of ourselves as more mainstream and have been quite astonished about the synth wave/darkwave talk – finding the correct hashtag is surprisingly tricky!

Kimmo – It’s obvious now I think. but when writing these songs… I had no idea really, what genre it’s gonna be.

As it is with WEATNU, we simply want to hear good music, we’re trying to change things for the Electronic musician. It’s interesting to hear what other countries call mainstream. Because in the states mainstream is pop, so over there it’s more 80s based.

Kimmo – And that’s really great, and I just care about songs. not the genres.

How long have you both been a band, it says that you started in 2014, but I feel much longer?

Kimmo – Well, we’ve come a long way.. but as friends, doing music separately. This was bit of a lucky coincidence, that we decided to do music together.

Erkka – I’ve been in and out music for a long time whereas Kimmo seems to have been recording something always.

Both of you are seasoned musicians?

Kimmo – I’d say that, sure. But never professionally, music is my greatest passion. Can’t think nothing better than doing the music I love and people listening to it.

Erkka – We both have been playing guitars for a long time though. It was just quite refreshing to find an alternative outlet from a more electronic approach.

Kimmo – Like being new born.

And that outlet is WEATNU?

Erkka – I truly hope so!

We’ll we appreciate you guys, glad to have you. I’m looking forward to this new album, when do you have it on release?

Erkka – Thank you! it’s been great you doing this for us!

Erkka – We are currently in the studio lobby.. the producer just left so can’t give an exact time-line; but we hope to have something new out sometime during the spring. Not really decided whether we want to go for a full length album or whether to keep going releasing ep’s.

I think your music will be a refreshing sound to this world, but music abroad is always more colorful, we need more of that here in the States. Do you plan on touring around Finland? Might even open for acts such as Röyksopp?

Kimmo – Wow! that’d be awesome.

Erkka – We are hoping to, but the business side of things is always a little complicated and depends on a lot of things.. but hoping to get some good dates for the spring already. And I reckon the live sound will be a bit more of a band, but lets see what it will fit with!

Kimmo – it would be a dream come true, so driving for live definitely

Optimism is high with our artists in weatnu, they now have hope. What are your thoughts about “We are the New Underground in a whole?”

Kimmo – From what I’ve seen BIG RESPECT!

Erkka – It’s been really inspiring to find quality artists over the platform and I truly hope it gets the attention it deserves. The world has become a lot smaller and therefore platforms such as WEATNU has much more influence on the whole market than ever before. It’s not only the major labels that rule anymore, and it gives decent odds to all kinds of artists.

About the name of your duo, what does Ideomotor mean?

Kimmo – By definition Ideomotor is a part of brain that tells us behaviour intuitively we thought that’s the way we should also do music without over thinking, let the music flow out.

And the future of Ideomotor?

Erkka -Well, we are definitely going to release new music this year. Also we’re quite enthusiastic about the prospects of getting some good warm up slots to get the live shows going.

Kimmo – LIVE! and lots of new listeners, keep on doing un-compromised music and yeah that’s a good track I think.

So you want to make it up there with the likes of 4AD artists? Great to hear that.

Erkka -That would be pretty sweet!

Kimmo – I love Future Islands btw…

Erkka – Would have little complaints..

Kimmo – as one of the new acts to me

Your music quality is very high, care to share your song structure, sequence DAW usage?

Erkka – We ran protools at the studio, but worked with logic at home and shared tracks as Kimmo now lives in Zurich and I stay here in Helsinki.

Kimmo – We have a great production team. We also add a lot analogue stuff to the sound which I think is essential. Also live drums and guitars.

There are more than 2 in Ideomotor, live?

Kimmo – Yes, we want to have live more live.. u know. so that that the person who comes to see us hears and sees a live performance.

Erkka – So at least some added synth and bass to back us two up!

So.. We’ll be seeing some of your videos in the coming future?

Kimmo – Oh yes!

Erkka – Yes, some pretty interesting ideas we’ve floated around with, a friend of ours who does our video production for one.

Kimmo – I’d like to see Master/Slave video

Erkka – Wouldn’t that be motley crue girls, girls, girls 2015?

What do you see about WEATNU as a future?

Kimmo – But you have a great thing going on that’s for sure! I think it’s gonna be biggest label on the planet. no boundaries right!

Erkka – Music discovery is becoming increasingly difficult as there is more music out now than at any point in history. And my take is that vendors such as WEATNU will reap the rewards here.

What are you guys listening to these days?

Erkka – You start?

Kimmo – hah, everyday something different.. let’s see. lately obviously more electronic than ever before. But mostly it’s been indie-alternative rock if you can say that nowadays.

Erkka – I’ve been a bit late to discover Wild Nothing, I’ve listened to a lot of that. Also, whenever I can’t think of anything to listen White Lies is something I never seem to get tired of. Also on the more electronic front Jaani Peuhu is definitely worth checking out, like his stuff a lot.

Kimmo – But already on Soundcloud there’s so many great artists I’ve discovered, such as an Estonian electro/crossover band called I wear* Experiment and to shuffle up a bit I was very happy about the new Weezer album! The guys are back to their roots. I love that stuff.

Interesting to see they are making music again.

Kimmo – And great music that is! I think they lost themselves there for few years.

And the music you grew up with?

Erkka – For me it was Kiss first!

Kimmo – The usual suspects in Finland, Yes, kiss, Iron Maiden, Metallica… then Grunge!

Metal and Grunge for me too in the 90s.

Kimmo – Stone temple pilots is still my favorite.

Erkka – We listened to a lot of classical music at home, but for me the great revelation was The Stone Roses with their debut album. That really blew me away and made want to start playing guitar and write music.

Kimmo – Later on big influences to me have been Placebo, Muse, Mew, Nada Surf, but man there’s a lot..

So a lot of the 90s sound, which is very good, I might add.

Erkka – We only have 2 or 3 bands we ever agree on

Kimmo – Haha. So there you go, diversity.

It’s interesting to find out what our artists are influenced by but it’s also nice to know who they are listening to in WEATNU. Any favourite artists from [OUR] Radio or our SC group?

Kimmo – I have to say I’ve been so busy writing own stuff that I’ve been a little bit too lazy to listen very actively. But I listened to your show case radio show… it was all diamonds

Erkka – Mangabros is great and also The Aircrash Bureau is something I’ve been listening to.

Great to know that!

Erkka – Obviously listened to some of your tracks too. Some good stuff.

Thank you, Appreciated. 

We have a feature with TAB and Mangabros this month, so best of both worlds, both highly talented people. WEATNU is about the artist helping the artist, word of mouth promo, do you think this is working?

Kimmo – Sure! With social media anything is possible!

With the birth of WEATNU starting on ‘yet’ another Soundcloud group in 2014, it has come a long way.

Kimmo – I have such respect for music I’ve found through your channel and Soundcloud, truly great artists which I’d love to help myself if I can to get more listeners.

We hope you continue to find great artists, as we will continue to showcase them.

Favourite food?

Erkka – Thats a tough one – I am maybe a bit of a foodie..

Kimmo – Finnish rye bread, I don’t get that in Switzerland.

Bitter with a little bit of wine?

Erkka – Asian food always seems to work, we’ll we do enjoy our drink also

Kimmo – Any alcohol will do, and milk.

Thank you for having a interview today with #WEATNU Digital Magazine, may the best of luck shine on you both.

Look out for their new album soon…

Follow Ideomotor on twitter.

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