Metal, Hardcore, Indie, Rock
We recently got a chance to interview S.P.I.T, a hard rock band from Jyväskylä. Pyry Matilainen (bass and vocals), Akseli Seppä (guitar) and Elias Suhonen (guitar) shared some thoughts on the group’s story and identity, as well as the long-awaited EP “Modern Messiah”, released on 31st July and now available on all streaming platforms.
S.P.I.T has developed a remarkably strong sense of identity over the years. How did the group’s style evolve throughout this time? Was it all carefully planned from the beginning?
Pyry: I guess when we first started playing with the first version of this band we were supposed to be some sort of a thrash metal band. But quickly we realized that we don’t wanna put ourselves in a box like that so we let the whole thing sort of be what it wanted to be. Slowly but surely we moved towards more of a Hard rock sound and aesthetic but still maintained the heavy influences that are very much present in our music now.
The band seems to be reviving the 80s glam metal scene – how do you find the balance between staying loyal to the clear 80s influence and still maintaining the fresh and modern sound?
Pyry: We don’t really think about stuff like that. We stay loyal to what our hearts decide the music to be. But aesthetically bands looked more exciting back in the day so we’re tryin’ to do the same.
What’s the story behind creating your stage personas? Do they blend into your lives or are you able to separate who you are as musicians from the life away from the stage?
Pyry: I personally think that what you see on stage is sort of a physical reflection of the music. What you see is a side of me that pretty much stays hidden in the time outside the stage.
Your lyrics are incredibly thoughtful and symbolic, similarly to each detail in the band’s show. How exactly does your music reflect your feelings and experiences?
Pyry: Well I’d say the music simply is the reflection of our feelings and experiences. Every song is about something that has had an impact on me as a person. Some are more positive than others and some are more shallow than others. We have songs about love and songs about heartbreak but we also got songs about self-image problems and hopelessness and everything between. We got the whole scale of emotions in there just like a human life does.
By now you seem very confident about who you are – has there ever been a time, though, when you were anxious about how people would perceive you?
Pyry: Most definitely. For me personally it’s been a long and messy road to feeling content with myself, what I am and what I wanna be. It’s the whole reason I got into music in the first place in 2016. I wanted to make sense of what I am by using writing as a tool to reflect on my problems. And it works. Today I’m feeling better than ever.
S.P.I.T’s special identity is defined not only by the look. The unspoken understanding and camaraderie that lie behind it are visible through the chemistry in the sound as well as in the performance. How did you manage to create such a consistent whole out of this band?
Pyry: Seven years of hard work and learning from mistakes. Always pushing forward and never settling for less than greatness. But one thing that is easy to overlook is the social aspect of the whole thing. When you put four or more people with feelings and thoughts of their own in the same room you’re bound to get disagreements, communication problems and all sorts of dysfunction. The key for us from day one has always been the simple fact that the band going on is more important to us than any personal disagreement we might have.
At first glance there’s clear Mötley Crüe and W.A.S.P. influence in your music, but having taken a closer look, the web of inspirations seems hard to be defined. Which bands or artists that have influenced you might be the least obvious to your listeners?
Pyry: Probably the least obvious one’s would be Paramore and Architects.
Do you have any favorite memory from a live gig?
Pyry: Right now probably the last gig we played which was in our hometown Jyväskylä at this festival called Yläkaupungin Yö. The vibes were otherworldly!
Your music combined with the visual aesthetic seems to tell a story, although vague through their symbolism, which makes the band more mysterious and – maybe also through this – even more captivating to the audience. But what is the plot of this story, if you were to tell it?
Pyry: I think it’s a story of a character developing and strenghtening their sense of self and through this, the understanding of the world around him. Every song is a chapter in his life. Some are more positive than others but they all serve a purpose in the grand scheme of things.
What’s the meaning behind the name S.P.I.T?
Pyry: We are waiting for the audience to tell us that.
Based on how one of your latest pieces – “Lethal Lover” – was written, how does the songwriting process work in S.P.I.T? What comes first – the riff, the melody or the lyrics?
Pyry: This particular track came about when Akseli got inspired by something he heard Elias play and he just made the track and I came up with the vocal line and the lyrics pretty quickly after that and then we arranged it together. But it’s different every time. Some songs start with a chorus and some with a riff. Usually it’s one or the other.
Is there anything that’s still overlooked about the band and your message, something you wish your audience understood better about what exactly you represent?
Pyry: I don’t think so. I think people can take from it what they please. I don’t think how people preceive the band is for us to control. And I don’t think it should be. Maybe one thing is that people are really quick to shove us to the 80s thing but we can’t really blame them, can we, with the visual aesthetic that we have going on.
Which one of the lyrics feels most personal or special to you and could you explain the meaning behind it?
Pyry: “I learned early on that you had a tendency to disappoint – But still, I expected so much more from you!” [- “Your Alibi”]. I think it’s such an unfiltered expression of emotion. The song is about my relationship with my father and this line is sort of the climax of the whole thing.
The synergy between Akseli and Elias is one of the most impressive things you could ever witness on stage – what’s the secret to that and what advice would you two give to beginner players looking up to your skills?
Akseli: The chemistry comes from many hours of rehearsing and playing shows together, and from the fact that we’ve always been inspired by the great guitar duos in rock and metal. We know how the other one acts and moves on stage, so performing on stage is pure routine. For beginners, practice goes without saying but also playing with people who push you forward and make you want to grow.
Elias: Beginner players in my opinion shouldnt always look at what others are doing on social media etc. Do your own thing and build it up from there. It takes dedication and hard work (practice) but it sure will payoff in a long run. Being fast isnt always as cool a being creative and tight in your playing, in my opinion these points are the keys to uniqueness.
Is there a solo or a riff that you’re most proud of?
Akseli: For me, “Fatal Flaw” is the track I’m most proud of musically – the riffs and the solo.
Elias: To me “Modern Messiah” is a great example of a pounding riff that is simple and leaves no questions to the listener. The riff and the song itself sort of built itself from the riff to the verses and the chorus, piece by piece. Also it was one of the first riffs i made for the band after my arrival to the band in early 2024.
From your point of view – what makes “Modern Messiah” different from previous releases?
Pyry: For the first time we are genuinely proud of the outcome. This is what we always wanted the band to sound and to be and we could not be happier to share it with ya’ll!
