Interview with Octoploid (Olli Pekka-Laine)
Let’s be clear: Amorphis’ first two full-lengths, regardless of their incredible subsequent career, are two immortal icons in extreme music. And they owed so much to the presence of two keyboard players whose traces have been lost until today, when Olli-Pekka Laine – the original bassist who returned to the band years ago – decided to involve them in his very personal solo project which, among the many inspirations, certainly looked back to the early days of the historic Finnish band. A project that involves many other guests and which will not fail to excite old and new Amorphis fans but in all likelihood also new followers interested in delving deeper into this form of death metal which, if it had existed, could have been played way back in the Seventies! Over to Olli!
How has the Octoploid project been conceived in your mind?
The idea to do an album with entirely my own terms has been circulating around for couple of decades already. Now that I had time, skills, resources and an opportunity to put it to realization, I just decided to go for it. It required a lot of work, but it’s been a rewarding process overall.
Can you tell us something about the genesis of an Octoploid song? Do you compose everything and then work with the others in terms of rehearsing or do you go straight to the recording session?
This time we entered the studio with my home demos and didn’t rehearse at all. We started with drums and bass before we even knew who’s going to play guitar or any other instruments on the album. There were around nine songs when we begun recording, but we finished just four first and started to shop for a record deal. Once there was communication with the labels, we finalized the album with the entire band.
Can you share a few words about the recording and production process, how was it to work with Petri Majuri?
We recorded the basic tracks in the drummer Mikko Pietinen’s Mancave Studios little by little. The lead guitars were recorded at the guitarist Peter Salonen’s home and I recorded the basses, keyboards and most of the vocals at my own little studio. Kim recorded his parts at his studio and some of the Moogs I recorded at Kasper’s home. So the production was a bit over all process and the tracks have been recorded within one year here and there. Once the tracks were done, I contacted Petri Majuri and asked if he’d be keen to mix it. Luckily he was and we had a few sessions with him in E-Studio near Helsinki to give it the final touch. It is always nice to work with Petri, since he is not trying to do anything fancy, just the basic stuff and I like it like that.
How did you get Kim Rantala involved, after so many years since the release of Elegy? His contributions on keyboards are more than superb!
I asked Kim to do some keyboard tracks to colorize the soundscape. I always wanted to work with him and finally it came to realization. I just asked him and he said yes right away. We had a few sessions in his studio and he did a great job.
Which are the contributions by another ex-Amorphis keyboard player, Kasper Mårtenson?
Kasper played on pretty many songs actually. Concealed Serenity, A Dusk of Vex, Beyond the Aeons and Shattered Wings are all played by him. He did his parts in just a couple of sessions and in really professional manner.
Which topics have you been exploring in the lyrics of the album?
The lyrics deals with mostly personal, yet universal issues. Just about moods, feelings and experiences. There are also couple of songs which takes a stand for animal rights and human’s inability to self-reflect it’s immoral deeds.
Can you tell us something about the incredible artwork of Beyond The Aeons? Looks like Roger Dean has gone evil!
Yes, I am really happy about it too! The artis is Orion Landau, who I found out from the work he had done earlier with YOB. I love his work and I’m really happy that he agreed to work with me. Anyhow, I just sent him some ideas and he came up with the cover art and layout just like that.
Shall we expect something from Octoploid, on the live side?
Actually, we are thinking of playing one show in Helsinki in early August. After that, I will tour with Amorphis and there is an album session coming up too. But in 2025 we just might do more shows and even tours. Just bug your local gig promoter about it, ha ha!
Which are your main influences as a musician, both as a player and as a composer?
When I was a really little kid I was usually singing some Olavi Virta songs, which my mother was listening to. Some of those songs are actually translated from Italian songs, like Guarda che Luna by Gualtiero Malgoni. That’s where my melodies usually come from to this date too. Those influences combined to the death metal past and band like Autopsy, Bolt Thrower, Morbid Angel and Entombed is probably it composing wise. Oh, and naturally the 70’s prog and some older jazz greats. Bass players who’s been inspiring me are Gene Simmons, Steve Harris, Cliff Burton, Berry Oakley, Jack Bruce, Jukka Jylli and Roger Waters.
Which final message and greeting would you send to the italian fans? Any personal memories related to Italy in your life?
Thank you for your support throughout the years! We’ve had a strong following in Italy from the beginning and it’s always nice to return there. First time we played in Italy on 1997 and I remember hanging out shirtless on the beach, since it was really warm in out opinion. Actually it was winter time and all the locals had their full on winter gear on. Personally I like Rome quite much, since there is always something interesting to discover.
So, show your support to Octoploid and buy original music exclusively!
https://www.facebook.com/octoploidmusic/