Interview With Simo Naapuri
Have you always been interested in music? What is your story and how did you start making music?
I am a melody maker, and that’s my strength. My music is of particular interest since it moves above ethnic, cultural and linguistic constraints.
I have collaborated with many lyricists in different languages.
What are you working on now? Any future releases we can look forward to?
Actually, I am working on an English song and a Swedish song. Also, I’ll be releasing some new music at autumn in Finnish.
Also 2024 I’ll publish a few of my “Arctic bossanovas” translated from Finnish to Portuguese. The song was engineered by an artist from Brazil & with her band she took the songs to the studio an re-arranged them.
What Is Your Ultimate Goal In The Music Industry?
I’d love to compose music for other artists and as I mentioned earlier I’m a melody maker, working with multiple genres.
What Has Been The Biggest Challenge In Your Career Thus Far?
To get music played on radio stations.
How do you go about writing a song? Do you have a melody in your head and then write the other music for it or what’s Your typical songwriting process?
The music usually comes first in the form of lyrics. Composing is like breathing but writing lyrics is a more challenging part 🙂
How do you feel the Internet has impacted the music business?
Well. Sometimes I miss the times when people bought physical albums(cd(vinyl) and there was more info on making the album. I also miss radio play for instrumental music (like 70s and 80s progressive rock ) and also that songs could have proper intro solos etc and the length couldb be, if necessary, 4-7 minutes. Spotify etc. is a bit like “the legendary curate’s egg”.
However, I think the internet has really been of help with exposure for artists and the music business today.
List some famous musicians currently on your playlist?
There are just so many that the list would be endless…But let’s say: I like music which lasts “forever”.
It could be Abba or it could be more jazzy-rock like Donald Fagen or Steely Dan. I also like a lot instrumental music…my opinion is that a good melody lasts forever but lyrics come and go in some situations. Of course, there are definitely songs which do not work without great lyrics.
What Did You Do Before You Started Making Music?
Average job like most music makers today. You won’t earn a living from your art at the beginning so cumulating the music alongside other activities is always very help
Would you have any advice for young people wanting to follow in your footsteps?
My advice is to do commercial songs but as well totally art-music and have an open vision. I don’t make music for only 1 or 2 genres.
Also, you can do anything you want and that’s how it should be…think a song like “Hotel California” by Eagles, it’s almost 6-7 minutes long which is a superb guitar solos.
I wish radios/media would accept longer songs…
If you could change anything about the music industry, what would it be?
I wish radios/media would accept and showcase longer songs and embrace the idea that “marginal” could be “mainstream” like it was in 70s 80s and even 90s.
ASongs with a good intro, solos etc .. are my recommendation and i am sure people do have interest in listening to longer(more-art-oriented) music like it was decades ago. Some people even listen to the whole album as concept-album.
How do you feel about originality?
That’s the thing you seldom meet nowadays in media.
Links to Where Your Music Can be Purchased