ANNA Promotion - Bands: Innocent Rosie

T.A.P.: We’re very excited about the gig tonight! And we’ve been rehearsing for it a lot.

A-N-N-A: Can you tell us how this evening came about and is this your first attempt to get a record deal?

T.A.P.: The evening came about because we played a gig at Gloria (Helsinki) and a couple of guys from Private Line were there who knew the guys from Helsinki Music Group (HMC), so they told them, that T.A.P. is the most interesting band of the evening. Then the HMC guy said that we should contact them and that they would like T.A.P. to play another gig in Helsinki and everything happened from there… Well, we actually played for them before at Klubi (Tampere), because KORN was doing a gig and HMC was there and also wanted to see us and asked for the gig in Helsinki as well. It wasn’t the first attempt to get a record deal, but the first real one!

A-N-N-A: Assuming that it will happen (and we really hope that it will): What would change for you and what would it mean to you personally?

T.A.P.: It’s a dream come true for all of us!! You live your life for your dream! We’ve been working a lot for it, so it’s fucking amazing!! A record deal would mean more time for music and that’s what we’ve always wanted to do. We live and work for rock ‘n roll.

A-N-N-A: But let’s talk about the history of T.A.P. first. How long have you known each other and since when does T.A.P. exist?

T.A.P.: T.A.P. as a band exists for 5 years now. Everybody but Ano has known each other since 2nd grade. Juha got thrown out from class 1A and was put into class 1B and there he met Aapo. In the beginning Juha was a real bully towards Aapo but by 2^nd grade they were best friends. We were watching and listing to every local band and were big fans (Glad Genitals, Pincenez [aka Uniklubi] and Swamp [aka Essentia]). In 5^th grade we started our own band - Kille Kuuleri.
Juha and Sepi started playing some English material and wanted to start a new band. Masi (Essentia) was doing the drums, Lauri played bass and when Lovex got their record deal Juke (guitar) didn’t have time any more. We tried out with two other guitarists until Aapo came into the band.
When Masi wanted to play more with Essentia because they were bigger and T.A.P. had just started, we had a couple of guys who tried out as drummer. Then Ano came and we liked him instantly and never let him go… that was 2 years ago and since then the line-up was complete.

A-N-N-A: Your band name stands for „Tales About People“ - a very particular band name. How did this name come about and what does it mean?

T.A.P.: T.A.P. stands for “Tales About People” because that’s what our lyrics are about - telling tales about people…

A-N-N-A: Can you tell us a little bit about your band members - what's the relationship like between you guys?

T.A.P.: Maybe the best thing for T.A.P. is that we’ve been friends for half of our lives, and because we were friends before T.A.P. we’re still friends outside of the band today. Except Ano, who is just a great guy!

A-N-N-A: Any dirty little secrets of each one of your band members, that you are willing to tell us?

T.A.P.: Censored by A-N-N-A!!??!!!!

A-N-N-A: If you’re not trying to conquer the world with T.A.P., what else are you doing? Any regular jobs or are you living the real „rock ‘n roll“ lifestyle?

T.A.P.: Just living the real rock ‘n roll life! If we wouldn’t have T.A.P. we would have no life.

A-N-N-A: One of your band-members - Sepi - is currently in the army? What about the rest of you? Anyone else calling in for duty soon?

T.A.P.: If the record deal comes through, nobody will have to go to the army right away…

A-N-N-A: If you could be someone else of your band for one day, who would you like to be and why?

Aapo: I want to be Sepi, because he’s a better guitar player, has a girlfriend, lives with his parents and doesn’t have to worry about anything.
Juha: I want to be myself, ‘cause I’m the only normal person in this band (grins).
Ano: I think I want to be myself as well, because I don’t want to be anybody else. Well maybe I want to be Aapo. Then I would go to my father and tell him that I’m out of money and that I quit school because I didn’t want to go there anymore…
Lauri: I want to be Aapo, because he’s pretty much the same as I am.

A-N-N-A: We got to know you on tour quite a bit and also learned that the „we“-feeling you have inside the group is very strong. Has it always been like that and why do you think that is?

T.A.P.: Well, as we mentioned before we have been friends for half of our lives and are friends outside of T.A.P. And that’s what’s really important to us as a band and personally.

A-N-N-A: You have just returned from your first tour outside of Finland. How did this collaboration with the other bands come about and what were your expectations of the tour?

T.A.P.: Everything went as expected… but 1000 times more!! Since all TREvolution bands come from Tampere, we’ve all been friends with the guys from Renoise and Essentia. Aapo is also playing guitar in Essentia… So it was a natural choice for us to join TREvolution 2008.

A-N-N-A: How did your friends and family take the news that you’re taking this step? Any positive or negative comments?

T.A.P.: Friends reacted positive and our families said nothing.

A-N-N-A: Can you tell us what positive and negative points you’re taking from this tour for yourself?

T.A.P.: Negative = München (gig was canceled…) The most positive points of the tour were Prague and the Dome in Cologne, where some of us climbed the stairs all the way up… Prague and Metz were really great ‘because we already had lots of fans there… And of course a very positive point is that we got a lot of new fans on tour.

A-N-N-A: After being home for a while now, and probably finding the necessary distance: If asked tomorrow to join TREvolution, would you do it again?

T.A.P.: Definitely yes, but the tour was so hard on everyone, so rather next year then tomorrow… TREvolution 2009 will come!!

A-N-N-A: We have received lots of feedback from fans for the tour and as regards to the individual bands. Most feedback we’ve received was for T.A.P. - people have come together to launch Streetteams to support you. People really liked your shows and are very interested that you guys come back as soon as possible. Is this a possibility for you and did you expect to return home as the „secret headliner“?

T.A.P.: We’ll definitely come back as soon as possible, but we really didn’t expect to be the secret headliner.

A-N-N-A: Since your fan base is growing internationally, have you considered changing your website into English as well, since it’s only Finnish right now?

T.A.P.: Yes we have and it’s actually coming really soon. So stay tuned…

A-N-N-A: Your last single „Careless“ was released in January. What was the response to „Careless“ and what is different compared to „Diabolica in Musica“?

T.A.P.: The name “Diabolica in Musica” sucks and the studio we record the EP in was also very bad. “Careless” to us is quite more professional and it got more points in the lyrics… it’s more like hit music and radio-playable. We put everything and all of our effort into “Careless”… And it worked!

A-N-N-A: What will be your next single? And when can your fans expect to hear it?

T.A.P.: It depends on lots of things. There are a lot of potential songs… “Paradise” will hopefully be the next single though.

A-N-N-A: Speaking about “Paradise”, you played that song on tour, but it’s nowhere available as of yet. What is the deal about that?

T.A.P.: Our producer is on holidays in the USA, so that’s why the lyrics still need to be recorded.

A-N-N-A: You’ve played a whole set of songs on tour. Are these available anywhere and why not make them public?

T.A.P.: It’s a money issue. Once and if the record deal comes through, we’ll go into the studio and record the album.

A-N-N-A: Finland in general and Tampere in particular has a strong music scene. Where do you think T.A.P. stands within Tampere-Rockcity and where to you want to head?

T.A.P.: Tampere is quite a good place, because all bands know each other and are friends. As to the standing, we think pretty high but still an underground band.

A-N-N-A: If you could look into the future: Where do you see yourselves in 5 years - personally and as T.A.P.

T.A.P.: Ano will probably be a professor at Tampere University and driving a Ferrari. Juha will be dead. Lauri will be a man-hooker. Aapo will do an interview for anti-alcoholics and Sepi, he will play golf and probably still be in the army…
But seriously, as T.A.P. we would like to be on tour around the world if it’s possible!

A-N-N-A: There are still a few months left in this year. Do you have any plans or ideas what you want to do or achieve this year? Do you have any festivals etc. planned?

T.A.P.: We’ll play lots of gigs and festivals. We’ll keep you updated on our website as well as Myspace. Also, we’d like to make progress in our playing.

A-N-N-A: What would you do if the world would came to an end tomorrow?

T.A.P.: If the world came to an end tomorrow, we would arrange a „Goodbye-Festival“ and play in front of thousands of people.