Via Margarita Khartanovich, Finnish correspondent at MyGlobalMind
Within the dim glow of Helsinki’s dive bars, the place the sound of reverb-heavy surf guitars and brooding gothic vocals combine with the smell of leather-based jackets and inexpensive beer, The Vantages are cooking up one thing distinctly their very own. Frontman Tim Mikkola would possibly downplay it, however their sound—suppose Arctic Monkeys crashing a HIM afterparty with a bottle of whiskey and a field of heartbreak—has began to catch fireplace.
After we stuck up with Mikkola, he used to be refreshingly unfiltered, equivalent portions self-deprecating and confident, in that particular approach best Finnish rockers appear to tug off. As he put it, “We’re full-time rock hobos, because of this we’re simply making an attempt to determine if we’re onto one thing or simply endlessly broke.”
The Fight is Actual (However It’s Additionally Roughly Amusing)
You’d suppose beginning a rock band in Finland—land of steel gods and darkness—can be a troublesome promote, however Mikkola insists their upward push has been lovely clean. “We dropped ‘Leather-based Jacket’ as our first unmarried, and other folks simply more or less freaked out,” he says with an off-the-cuff shrug, like they weren’t anticipating it. The monitor, a gritty love tune soaked in surf riffs and goth depression, become an rapid calling card, proving that rock in Finland wasn’t useless; it used to be simply looking ahead to a brand new outfit.
Nonetheless, Mikkola isn’t delusional in regards to the demanding situations of creating it as a band in nowadays’s song panorama. “You don’t get into this as it’s simple,” he tells me. “You burn the security boats and simply come to a decision the Titanic can’t move down.” He’s giggling, however you’ll be able to inform he manner it. No Plan B right here.
Mikkola and lead guitarist Anton Froloff are all in, hoboing it in the course of the rock scene full-time whilst the opposite bandmates juggle part-time gigs. “It’s a marathon, now not a dash,” Mikkola muses, which is the nearest factor to positive you’ll get out of him.
The Sound: Now not Steel, However Now not Comfortable Both
Ask Mikkola to explain The Vantages’ sound, and also you’ll get numerous considerate shrugs. “We don’t sound like Nirvana or the rest,” he says, “however there’s this factor in our song, like whilst you shut your eyes and move, ‘Oh shit, this speaks to me.’” It’s a mixture of old-school surf rock, some early 2000s goth—cue the HIM comparisons—and British indie, all with a cinematic, black-and-white noir really feel.
However for the file, “we’re now not steel,” he insists. Certain, other folks examine them to HIM as a result of, smartly, they’re Finnish, and there’s a goth vibe. “I am getting it. Ville Valo’s been long past, other folks need the following HIM. However darling, we’re now not the following love steel band,” Mikkola says with a smile. The Vantages are right here to do their very own factor—surf guitars, tape echoes, and all.
Mikkola is refreshingly candid in regards to the band’s ingenious procedure. He’s the sort who locks himself in a dismal room, hammering out songs prior to bringing them to the band. It’s a shockingly democratic setup, given his oversized presence. He credit Froloff for pushing him to dig deeper, particularly when he used to be caught writing “Risk,” their hottest monitor thus far. “I had this riff and verse that didn’t are compatible in combination. I used to be about to scrap it, however Anton is available in and says, ‘Dude, what the fuck is that this? The ultimate riff used to be killer, forestall messing round!’ So, I went for a smoke, got here again, and growth—Risk used to be born.”
The tune has since turn into their calling card, racking up perspectives and airplay, however Mikkola stays humble about it. “Truthfully, we didn’t be expecting it to explode how it did. It’s only a just right riff that were given fortunate.”
DIY or Die
Regardless of their rising buzz, The Vantages are protecting it DIY for now. “We’re ready to do that on our personal,” Mikkola says hopefully. “If a label comes alongside and it’s now not a shit deal, certain, we’ll communicate. However we’re now not sitting round looking ahead to any individual to make us ‘legitimate.’” The band has embraced the fashionable, DIY ethos of the song business. From generating their very own tracks to dealing with social media (with some lend a hand now, they admit), The Vantages are doing the whole lot they are able to to keep away from depending on business gatekeepers.
“20 years in the past, we’d’ve wanted a label to get any traction,” Mikkola issues out. “Now, you simply want a few mics, some concepts, and the technology to do it your self.” However that doesn’t imply they aren’t dreaming giant — Mikkola casually drops names like James Ford (Arctic Monkeys’ manufacturer) as a part of his “wishlist” of long term collaborators. “We’ll see the place it is going,” he laughs. “It’s now not that far-fetched.”
The Ville Valo Comparisons: Draw back or Praise?
It’s unattainable to discuss The Vantages with out addressing the elephant within the room: the consistent comparisons between Tim Mikkola and Ville Valo, the gothic rock god and previous frontman of HIM. Each are Finnish, each percentage a definite brooding allure, and sure, they give the impression of being eerily alike. The comparisons have been best amplified when The Vantages performed at Helldone ultimate December, Ville Valo’s mythical New Yr’s competition in Helsinki. A photograph of Mikkola and Valo in combination behind the scenes went viral, cementing the visible and stylistic similarities within the eyes of fanatics international.
“Yeah, I’ve heard it one thousand instances — other folks pronouncing I’m a wannabe Ville Valo,” Mikkola says, rolling his eyes however grinning. “Truthfully, it’s bizarre, however I am getting it. We glance alike, we’re each from Finland, and we each sing about heartbreak. However come on, we’re now not looking to be the following HIM. We’re now not steel.” The frontman recognizes the comparisons, however he’s fast to indicate that The Vantages are carving their very own trail with a surf-rock twist and a extra indie, cinematic sound.
Some fanatics have long past as far as to name the comparability “cringy,” which Mikkola laughs off. “I’m now not looking to be any person else. We simply occur to have a equivalent bone construction and an affinity for black clothes. But when other folks pay attention one thing in our song that reminds them of Ville, I assume that’s now not the worst factor on this planet, proper?”
And whilst Helldone would possibly have gave the impression of the very best position to wreck the HIM-wannabe stereotype, the gig best made issues extra surreal. “We performed the competition, took the image, and all of sudden it’s in every single place the web,” Mikkola says. “It used to be a a laugh evening, however I wasn’t crying behind the scenes about assembly my idol or the rest.” Nonetheless, the viral picture didn’t precisely quiet the chatter, as fanatics of each HIM and The Vantages latched onto the picture, fueling the comparisons even additional.
After all, Mikkola embraces the instant for what it used to be — a fab enjoy and a possibility to accomplish at an iconic match. However he’s additionally keen to turn that The Vantages are extra than simply echoes of Valo’s previous. “It’s flattering, certain, however we’ve were given our personal factor going. We’re now not looking to be someone’s 2nd coming.”
Chasing the American Dream
Even though The Vantages are incessantly making their mark in Europe, Mikkola is mindful that cracking the U.S. marketplace is an entire other beast. “It’s exhausting to leap from the place we’re to having a complete U.S. excursion, however we’re able when the time comes,” he says. For now, the plan is to concentrate on traveling Europe, however the States are certainly at the horizon. “I believe other folks within the U.S. would get what we’re doing,” he provides, shrugging with that Finnish mixture of self belief and humility. “In the event you like heartbreak and surf guitars, we’re your band.”
Nonetheless, The Vantages aren’t in any rush. They’re staying grounded, proceeding to construct a fanbase organically and keeping off the pitfalls of chasing viral status. “Any individual who says they’ve were given social media found out is filled with shit,” Mikkola quips. “It’s all a lottery. You simply hope your price tag will get pulled.”
As we wrap up, Mikkola tells me why he thinks other folks must give The Vantages a spin: “It’s ear sweet, guy. It’s actual, it’s uncooked, and it’s the type of song that sticks with you. Plus, we’ve were given surf guitars. What extra do you want?”
Their song, a hybrid of gothic gloom and indie swagger, feels each nostalgic and new. “It’s like a black-and-white film,” Mikkola says, grinning. “However the soundtrack? That’s the place we are available in.” With new singles and every other EP at the approach, The Vantages are gearing up for the following bankruptcy, and if their present momentum is any indication, it’s going to be a wild trip.
So, whether or not you’re nursing a damaged center or simply yearning one thing a bit of other, The Vantages would possibly simply be the band to soundtrack your late-night drives, your quiet moments of introspection, or your whiskey-soaked Saturday nights. And in the event you ask Mikkola, he’ll most certainly let you know they wouldn’t have it some other approach.
http://www.thevantages.com/
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