SpadgePosted: about 19 Jun 2004recovered
Ari Virtanen was interviewed by Hex for Rave Adelaide on the 17th of June 2004
image not archived: ari.jpg
E-Nrg
One of the major draw cards for this year’s Winter Enchanted has got to be the Live PA by Finnish freeform act Carbon based.
Ari from Carbon Based took some time out to fill you all in about the upcoming tour and various other things.
image not archived: carbonbasedlogo.jpg
Hey Ari how are you going at the moment?
I’m doing better than ever before. Thanks for asking!
Could you tell me the origins of Carbon Based, how did you guys get together?
Carbon Based was founded on a freezing (-30 C) winter night back in 1996 when Petteri Kääpä and Toni Leirimaa were walking back home from a rave 12 kilometres out of town. The inspiration for the name came from the Alien movies. Couple of years later they were introduced to Teemu Lahtinen and Toni Eronen who pretty soon joined Carbon Based. Toni Leirimaa became increasingly more intrested on industrial music and left the group. At this time the group was still searching for its own sound, productions varied from hardcore to trance and from house to jungle.
On 2000 I met the boys when they had recently moved to threir new studio which was located right next to my apartment. Toni was already getting more and more influenced by the hard house sound and enjoyed going through to my record collection. At this time I was in the early stage of my DJ career and spent all my money on vinyl.
After some weeks of getting to know the guys I joined the studio and we made some collaborations. A while later I was honoured to join Carbon Based as a full member.
image not archived: enrg.jpg
E-Nrg
What was your first production together?
Payback time which was born on our very first studio session together with Toni. Our purpose was to just check out the studio, but the visit lasted until the early hours of morning when the track was finished. I almost crashed my parents car when we got a call from Alien Trax just few weeks later while driving.
Can you describe the sound that you produce? And how is your sound different to others?
Our sound has developed for years in the search of our own style. For years the capability of hardware and our limited financial resources were slowing our progression down.
Todays sound is mostly created by Toni, who has been the fastest developing member of the group by far. It has been very interesting to learn and work with him. I would describe our sound as combinations of dirty filtered hard sounds with emotional uplifting melodies consisting of multiple parts that combine each track into a unique journey - sometimes even in a surprising way. This is how I see it in my twisted mind...
image not archived: cb1.jpg
Carbon Based
Who or what do you attribute to the sound you are currently producing?
There are far too many people to mention. Keeping your ears open for everything keeps your mind fresh for inspiration and new ideas. I like anything that sounds good, no matter what kind of music it is or who it’s made by. Everything that happens in your life influences the things you do - including music
Do you feel being from Finland has any impact on the tunes that you make?
I think the Finnish Hard Dance scene in general has influenced our style a bit. On other hand, the greatest influence to Finnish scene has been made by Proteus who is a true embassador of Finnish sound and is currently making a huge impact on ravers around the world with his unique performances. I hope you see him soon since seeing is believing..
Winters here are long and dark, daylight lasts only for few hours. I think that atmosphere during winter reflects to some of our production.
Are there any releases on the horizon you would like to tell us about?
There’s plenty of releases to look out for. “Straight outta Finland EP” has just been released and features one of our so far most wanted tracks “Cyclone” and “Ultimate Protection”. More future releases on Electronic to be aware of are “Angerball,” “Choice” “Underworld Species” and remix of DOK’s “Mental Ward”. For people without turntables there’s a live PA CD coming out in few months.
image not archived: cb2.jpg
Carbon Based
Who else do you think is making an impact on the freeform scene?
I limit my answer to Finnish producers since there would be too many to mention in global scale. I would say that Alek Szahala, Re-form, Pain on Creation and Carbon Based are currently making huge progress, and listening to their production answers the question why...
What were your inspirations for starting the successful Finrg label?
It was an idea of an “all Finnish hard dance label” that came to us all at once. Me, Toni Eronen, Karri K and Nemes founded the label, but later on RX joined us and Petteri Kääpä replaced Nemes. It is currently the only label in Scandinavia focused on hard dance music.
image not archived: finrg.gif
Any future plans for the label?
Briefly, our main priority is to release Finnish hard dance music of best quality. Future releases include more slower stuff from Carbon Based and few special bits from other artists. We have also plans of releasing a Carbon Based album in future.
The next big step is revealing of FINRG Digital. It is a huge music portal that will concentrate on distribution of mainly Finnish music in digital formats such as MP3. All the main artists are supporting us, and there will be a good quality selection of tracks available when the time comes. Developing the site takes a huge amount of effort, which explains the current freezing on updates to current site. Expect the site to be launched later this year.
You have recently started FinrgHARD what are your plans for this label?
It is a sister label that focuses on faster genres of hard dance. First release is finally arriving to shops as we speak and it is made by Alek Szahala. Both “Invitation” and “Man Eaten” has already made some serious impact to people hearing them.
Future release will feature a Pain on Creation’s huge uplifting anthem “Lush”, that will be also remixed by Carbon Based. Pain on Creation is our latest artist and certainly one bad-ass group to watch out for.
Carbon Based
What do you consider a highlight of your career thus far?
Some of our best moments so far include live PA?s in various Finnish events and clubs such as Koneisto, Säde and Rush. Our international debut performance in Elation, London was a night to remember.
One definite highlight was the moment of getting the first Carbon Based release on our hands. Also the overall success of FINRG001, our first own release, gave the feeling of doing something purposeful.
Are you aware of your popularity in Australia or is a bit of a surprise to you?
I’m happy to hear that people in Australia like our music and would like to thank Mr S and Odyssey for all the support.
How have your recent PA?s gone?
Were currently doing more PA’s than ever before and we’ve had plenty of good feedback about the past ones. We are trying to keep the performances energetic and ever improving.
You are well known for your live PA’s what can the people of Adelaide expect from you in your coming tour?
We usually perform as group of four people, but this time only me and Toni can make it to the other side of the globe. Except nothing less but an energetic performance of two crazy Finns who will give everything they have to please the Adelaide people with some of the music produced only for this unique trip.
Lucky u, Are you looking forward to your up coming performance at winter Enchanted?
I can honestly say that I’m looking forward to this more than anything right now. Bring it on!
What do you know about Winter Enchanted?
I know that it’s one of the biggest events of your winter period and it will gather artists around the world to bring the roof down in a special hidden venue revealed few days before the event.
You’ve hit the nail on the head there mate, What do you know of the Australian Freeform scene?
Not as much i would like to know, but will look forward hearing all about the local music as well as the scene in general. I know that Kevin Energy and people on Nu-Energy has made a huge impact on your country and I hope we can add our Finnish flavour into it.
image not archived: cb4.jpg
Carbon Based
Do you have any special things planned for Winter Enchanted?
As I already mentioned, there will be a lot of unheard material in our live PA with some special bits that i won’t reveal yet. I’m also playing a special Finnish freeform set in the afterparty. Come there to hear all the latest tracks as well as the classics of the Finnish scene.
Any famous last words?
We would like to thank all the people who have supported our music and hope that everyone can make it to the events. See you all in few weeks!
image not archived: ari.jpg
E-Nrg
One of the major draw cards for this year’s Winter Enchanted has got to be the Live PA by Finnish freeform act Carbon based.
Ari from Carbon Based took some time out to fill you all in about the upcoming tour and various other things.
image not archived: carbonbasedlogo.jpg
Hey Ari how are you going at the moment?
I’m doing better than ever before. Thanks for asking!
Could you tell me the origins of Carbon Based, how did you guys get together?
Carbon Based was founded on a freezing (-30 C) winter night back in 1996 when Petteri Kääpä and Toni Leirimaa were walking back home from a rave 12 kilometres out of town. The inspiration for the name came from the Alien movies. Couple of years later they were introduced to Teemu Lahtinen and Toni Eronen who pretty soon joined Carbon Based. Toni Leirimaa became increasingly more intrested on industrial music and left the group. At this time the group was still searching for its own sound, productions varied from hardcore to trance and from house to jungle.
On 2000 I met the boys when they had recently moved to threir new studio which was located right next to my apartment. Toni was already getting more and more influenced by the hard house sound and enjoyed going through to my record collection. At this time I was in the early stage of my DJ career and spent all my money on vinyl.
After some weeks of getting to know the guys I joined the studio and we made some collaborations. A while later I was honoured to join Carbon Based as a full member.
image not archived: enrg.jpg
E-Nrg
What was your first production together?
Payback time which was born on our very first studio session together with Toni. Our purpose was to just check out the studio, but the visit lasted until the early hours of morning when the track was finished. I almost crashed my parents car when we got a call from Alien Trax just few weeks later while driving.
Can you describe the sound that you produce? And how is your sound different to others?
Our sound has developed for years in the search of our own style. For years the capability of hardware and our limited financial resources were slowing our progression down.
Todays sound is mostly created by Toni, who has been the fastest developing member of the group by far. It has been very interesting to learn and work with him. I would describe our sound as combinations of dirty filtered hard sounds with emotional uplifting melodies consisting of multiple parts that combine each track into a unique journey - sometimes even in a surprising way. This is how I see it in my twisted mind...
image not archived: cb1.jpg
Carbon Based
Who or what do you attribute to the sound you are currently producing?
There are far too many people to mention. Keeping your ears open for everything keeps your mind fresh for inspiration and new ideas. I like anything that sounds good, no matter what kind of music it is or who it’s made by. Everything that happens in your life influences the things you do - including music
Do you feel being from Finland has any impact on the tunes that you make?
I think the Finnish Hard Dance scene in general has influenced our style a bit. On other hand, the greatest influence to Finnish scene has been made by Proteus who is a true embassador of Finnish sound and is currently making a huge impact on ravers around the world with his unique performances. I hope you see him soon since seeing is believing..
Winters here are long and dark, daylight lasts only for few hours. I think that atmosphere during winter reflects to some of our production.
Are there any releases on the horizon you would like to tell us about?
There’s plenty of releases to look out for. “Straight outta Finland EP” has just been released and features one of our so far most wanted tracks “Cyclone” and “Ultimate Protection”. More future releases on Electronic to be aware of are “Angerball,” “Choice” “Underworld Species” and remix of DOK’s “Mental Ward”. For people without turntables there’s a live PA CD coming out in few months.
image not archived: cb2.jpg
Carbon Based
Who else do you think is making an impact on the freeform scene?
I limit my answer to Finnish producers since there would be too many to mention in global scale. I would say that Alek Szahala, Re-form, Pain on Creation and Carbon Based are currently making huge progress, and listening to their production answers the question why...
What were your inspirations for starting the successful Finrg label?
It was an idea of an “all Finnish hard dance label” that came to us all at once. Me, Toni Eronen, Karri K and Nemes founded the label, but later on RX joined us and Petteri Kääpä replaced Nemes. It is currently the only label in Scandinavia focused on hard dance music.
image not archived: finrg.gif
Any future plans for the label?
Briefly, our main priority is to release Finnish hard dance music of best quality. Future releases include more slower stuff from Carbon Based and few special bits from other artists. We have also plans of releasing a Carbon Based album in future.
The next big step is revealing of FINRG Digital. It is a huge music portal that will concentrate on distribution of mainly Finnish music in digital formats such as MP3. All the main artists are supporting us, and there will be a good quality selection of tracks available when the time comes. Developing the site takes a huge amount of effort, which explains the current freezing on updates to current site. Expect the site to be launched later this year.
You have recently started FinrgHARD what are your plans for this label?
It is a sister label that focuses on faster genres of hard dance. First release is finally arriving to shops as we speak and it is made by Alek Szahala. Both “Invitation” and “Man Eaten” has already made some serious impact to people hearing them.
Future release will feature a Pain on Creation’s huge uplifting anthem “Lush”, that will be also remixed by Carbon Based. Pain on Creation is our latest artist and certainly one bad-ass group to watch out for.
Carbon Based
What do you consider a highlight of your career thus far?
Some of our best moments so far include live PA?s in various Finnish events and clubs such as Koneisto, Säde and Rush. Our international debut performance in Elation, London was a night to remember.
One definite highlight was the moment of getting the first Carbon Based release on our hands. Also the overall success of FINRG001, our first own release, gave the feeling of doing something purposeful.
Are you aware of your popularity in Australia or is a bit of a surprise to you?
I’m happy to hear that people in Australia like our music and would like to thank Mr S and Odyssey for all the support.
How have your recent PA?s gone?
Were currently doing more PA’s than ever before and we’ve had plenty of good feedback about the past ones. We are trying to keep the performances energetic and ever improving.
You are well known for your live PA’s what can the people of Adelaide expect from you in your coming tour?
We usually perform as group of four people, but this time only me and Toni can make it to the other side of the globe. Except nothing less but an energetic performance of two crazy Finns who will give everything they have to please the Adelaide people with some of the music produced only for this unique trip.
Lucky u, Are you looking forward to your up coming performance at winter Enchanted?
I can honestly say that I’m looking forward to this more than anything right now. Bring it on!
What do you know about Winter Enchanted?
I know that it’s one of the biggest events of your winter period and it will gather artists around the world to bring the roof down in a special hidden venue revealed few days before the event.
You’ve hit the nail on the head there mate, What do you know of the Australian Freeform scene?
Not as much i would like to know, but will look forward hearing all about the local music as well as the scene in general. I know that Kevin Energy and people on Nu-Energy has made a huge impact on your country and I hope we can add our Finnish flavour into it.
image not archived: cb4.jpg
Carbon Based
Do you have any special things planned for Winter Enchanted?
As I already mentioned, there will be a lot of unheard material in our live PA with some special bits that i won’t reveal yet. I’m also playing a special Finnish freeform set in the afterparty. Come there to hear all the latest tracks as well as the classics of the Finnish scene.
Any famous last words?
We would like to thank all the people who have supported our music and hope that everyone can make it to the events. See you all in few weeks!