Interview: Turmion Kätilöt

Interview: Turmion Kätilöt
Interviewer: Tim Finch

Turmion Kätilöt may not be a name familiar with many, if any, of you. But with an album incoming on Nuclear Blast and a huge tour in support of Nightwish at the end of the year, you will all be getting more familiar with them over the coming months. So before their new album hits, we sat down with the band to get to know them a little better.

The Razor’s Edge: Welcome to The Razor's Edge!

MC Raaka Pee: Thank you!

The Razor’s Edge: So Turmion Kätilöt, maybe aren’t the biggest name in the UK. Can you introduce yourselves? Who are Turmion Kätilöt?

MC Raaka Pee: It's really hard for me to tell it without sound or image. Still trying my best. We are musicians who interpret your life without leaving any room for doubt. We will honestly sing the black and light moments of your story. Maybe somebody will find it sometime ... when our species is gone. Everyone likes dance music on some level. We know what to do if you want to combine it with metal music. About ten years ago, one German media described us as: Turmion Kätilöt is like Rammstein on speed…

Shag-U: We could write you a novel but it still would not be enough to describe what Turmion Kätilöt is. We give the beat for your life… In good and in the bad while we witness the world. You have to see and hear yourself to understand.

The Razor’s Edge: You have a very unique style, no one else is doing what you do! What was the vision for your sound when you first started out?

MC Raaka Pee: The first fully completed demo was Teurastaja (The Butcher) and it was made in 98-99 as far as I remember. The song was born when I borrowed a guitar from our folk band’s guitarist. I wanted to try dropped tuning. I had never played guitar before. This tuning allowed simple riffs with short training. I was a professional keyboardist and club DJ at the time also. My favourite music was The Prodigy, Leila K, Pandora, Chemical Brothers, etc. I also listened to metal. I liked Cradle of Filth, Samael and Laibach for example. I also played in a Black Metal band called Freezing Moon when I was younger. The first Turmion Kätilöt Demos were created from these elements. Maybe I was pretty drunk too. I got a hangover and found my favourite music. It may sound selfish but it seems to me that man is the edge’s of his asshole. After a few demos, the band started to gather around and the rest is history. In Turmio Kätilöt I sing and write music.

The Razor’s Edge: That in turn translates to a stunning, and again unique, live show. How has the live show developed over the years?

MC Raaka Pee: Very very randomly 🙂 We have just been trying out everything we want. Of course our budget has not been ”MEGA” ever. Our main goal as a performer is entertainment. It is so overwhelming to see your smiling faces night after night. Well its DISCO so who cries while dancing?

Shag-U: And in some way that honest presence at the stage really catches the audience. We are the entertainers, entertainment and still the ones who get to be entertained. There are no rules and everyone in the venue lives in that one single moment.

The Razor’s Edge: You’re coming to the UK in December with Nightwish. Both yourselves and Nightwish are two very visual bands. These shows could be incredible!

MC Raaka Pee: They will be more than incredible. Marco (Nightwish) and I have a deal that we shoot glowing hole to the sky with our music and there will be space and love for everyone after that 🙂

The Razor’s Edge: Are you bringing your full stage show with pyros etc on this tour?

Master Bates: To be honest and realistic, we don’t know yet. You have to remember that we are the supporting act and we don’t know yet how many trucks or busses Nightwish is giving us?

The Razor’s Edge: What else can the fans in the UK expect from you on the tour?

Shag-U: That we are going to make sure that you are entertained and will see something you haven’t before.

The Razor’s Edge: So, let’s talk about your new album, ‘Global Warning’. How long has it been in the making and what’s the writing process like?

MC Raaka Pee: We actually have a lot of un-released songs in ”stock” that are little unfinished. It's hard to say when the recording started. The latest songs were composed last summer. For us, this is a sequel where the album is one season and the song is one episode.

Shag-U: It was also nice to see how naturally everything found it’s place in the album. RunQ and MC did marvelous job composing this album.

RunQ: Some raw parts were a couple years old. We sent lots of files and parts back and forth with MC Raaka Pee. We glued in place and bang! Suddenly the songs were ready for recording.

The Razor’s Edge: Is there a message behind the album title ‘Global Warning’?

MC Raaka Pee: Yes! It tells about you. Listen at your own risk!

The Razor’s Edge: It’s your first album with Nuclear Blast, probably the biggest metal label in the world right now. What’s it been like to work with them?

MC Raaka Pee: I think they are the best guys to do some Turmion Kätilöt inferno, so great!

Shag-U: Most of all they seem to be professional but still crazy enough to work with us. We are going to go far with them 😉

Master Bates: They gave us free hands. No rules! That is how it’s supposed to be.

The Razor’s Edge: Has the bastard coronavirus had any impact on your plans?

Shag-U: Well naturally we had to re-schedule our shows because of that. Our first Ice Hall show as a headliner ever too. But in general I think our situation is still a bit better than many other bands are having.

The Razor’s Edge: So once our global curfew is lifted what plans do you have?

MC Raaka Pee: Drink, eat, sleep and then we are probably ready to go again.

Shag-U: And when we finally get to go… It’s going to be wild ride baby.

RunQ: Gigs, gigs and more gigs!

The Razor’s Edge: Thanks for taking the time to talk to us!

MC Raaka Pee: Thank you for listening!