Interviews: SIDEWALK MAFIA

This is a new interview with the Doom Metal band SIDEWALK MAFIA from Finland. Check out the interview and follow the artist on his FACEBOOK PAGE.

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name, you plan it or come out just like that?

”In fact, we thought about the name for quite a long time. We even made a list, of where this name ended up. In the end, the name may not be the most "metallic", but it reflects us well. It sounds a little bit like some kind of ‘street gang' and good bands are always like a gang, and are on the same side and standing behind all the band members. And we might not be the nicest mommy's boys either in the end.

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

We are children of the 90s, and our influences come from the metal and doom bands, sounds, and moods of that time. We both started listening and playing rock with those styles. We then got lost in other genres for a long time, and are now back to our roots with this band.

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?

Yeah, we have known each other for about 15 years now and we have also played in some other projects in the past. The Finnish music genre is not that big, everyone basically knows everybody.

4. Each band member's favorite band? 

Tommy: Well This is not an easy question. I listen to so much music and different genres that it is an impossible choice. However, there have always been with me and us: Paradise Lost, Type o Negative, Black Sabbath, Suicidal Tendencies, Carcass, and even Metallica and Nirvana. Our drummer Johannes is not here now, but in addition to metal and rock bands, he listens to a lot of prog bands and other weird stuff.

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

The theme of the upcoming album is what's happening these days inside people's heads. Mental health problems have exploded and are affecting pretty much everyone around us. The subject is unavoidable, and there is no end to it in this crazy world. It's also not wrong to say that the album also partly tells about us and our "paranoia" because we have been quite blue-eyed with people in our past. The album isn't systematically a theme album, but it kind of went in that direction as we were recording it.

6. Where was your last gig?

Our last gig was in Helsinki about 2 weeks ago. During the summer we'll play a few gigs and festivals in Finland. In September we will head to Central Europe via the Baltics.

7. Where would you like to act?

A UK tour would be awesome. It is actually currently being planned.

8. Whom would you like to feature with?

It doesn't matter right now. Of course, at some point, it would be great to play with some of those our all time favorite bands"

9. Whom not?

We don’t play with assholes like racists. We also hate the bands who hardly ever play or get any shows, but the guys of these bands are hanging in the bars with stupid rock star attitudes and talks.

10. Have any of you ever suffered from stage fright? Any tip for beginners on how to beat that?

Before the gig, there is almost always good excitement in the air, but when you step on stage it is gone. I think if you don't feel like that, the gig would be bad. It's kind of a way to prepare for a gig.

Tip: train well before the show and just let go"

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

Tommy: My first big thing was Nirvana and the other grunge bands of the time. Then I quickly found 90's metal (Paradise Lost, Type of Negative, Suicidal Tendencies, Cradle of filth, Metallica, etc.) After that, there was a punk phase for me for quite a long time, from where I then came back to metal and doom, and darker and gloomy sounds as well. There have been big influences from all these genres, which can be heard in our songs as well”

12. What's the weirdest thing a fan has ever asked you for?

All kinds of questions come up, but they are solved with humor. It's also hard to remember everything, especially because we ourselves may ask anything weird for anyone :)

13. What do you think of your fans?

We value everyone who comes to our gigs and follows us on social media or listens to our music on streaming services... Our job is to offer them the best, or we don’t fulfill expectations

14. What do you think of our site?

Your site is super! We appreciate a lot what you do for this genre and bands! Keep going in the same way!!

15. Something to add?

Thank you for this and please check out our upcoming album "72 Hours" when it's out on the 27th of May 2022.