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KING COMPANY -Interview (2016)
 

 

 

 

 

Interview taken from Antti "Eversti" Wirman

 

GEORGE: Welcome to BeRock Radio Antti, the most melodic place! I am George, please make
yourself comfortable! We’re glad to have you here. Tell us about how you came up with your
band name, "King Company"?

ANTTI: Thank you George for contacting us for this interview! Our band was first named as “No man’s Land”
but after we signed with Frontiers Records they suggested us that the name should be changed.
The reason was that there are many band with that name already and we started to think about new name for
the band. There is no story behind the name, we just thought that “King Company” sounds cool.

GEORGE: The band was formed in 2014 by Mirka “Leka” Rantanen, it was a project he had in mind about
creating a band consisted of both good musicians and friends. Have you managed to accomplish this?
Tell us a few words about the line-up.

ANTTI: Yes we have. We all knew each other very well already since we have been playing in the same bands and
projects many times before. I have been playing in Warmen with Mirka and Pasi.
Time has played in many different Rock/Metal band during the years and Jari is known as a Ex-Keyboard player of
Kiuas. The scene in Finland is so small that we all knew each other already and everyone was thrilled to form
King Company.

GEORGE: All the members of the band are experienced musicians with a past with other bands such as
Thunderstone, Warmen, Enfrace, Ponies o Kill and Kotipelto, just to name a few.
Did your experience play a part in deciding what kind of music you’ll be playing?
I’m asking because currently, in the rock music scene, melodic hard rock is the highest-quality.

ANTTI: The idea of playing melodic hard rock came from Mirka when he started to form the band.
When he asked me to join the band I told him that I have been thinking that I want to play this kind of music too.
Mainly because all the other bands that I have been in have always been more like Metal bands.
I wanted to do something little different this time too.
After he asked the other guys join the band it seemed that everyone of us are into melodic hard rock
and we all want to write music of this style.

GEORGE: Due to its quality, melodic hard rock music is a very difficult genre to stand out with for a band.
Even then, from your very beginnings, you’ve had great success, thanks to signing a contract with the
world’s best label, Frontiers Records.
How do you feel about that?

ANTTI: We feel very good about the contract with Frontiers.
It was the first and only record label we contacted when we started to search for a record deal.
They really know how to market and support bands like us.

GEORGE: The first samples you’ve released, the two video clips, “In Wheels of No Return” and “Shining”,
are amazing and have given us high expectations. Tell us what to expect from the tracks of the album.

ANTTI: Thank you. It’s nice to hear that you have enjoyed our tracks. In the album there are couple
of nice hard rock ballads and some faster stuff too. Lots of big choruses and wild guitar solos ;)

GEORGE: Let’s talk a bit about the music. What were your inspirations while writing the tracks?

ANTTI: Our inspiration came from the bands we love. Whitesnake, Mr.Big, Deep Purple, Dokken and so on.
We wanted to write an album full of songs that we love and want to play live.

GEORGE: Did you encounter any problems during the recording of the album?
If so, how did you overcome them?

ANTTI: Fortunately no.
The recording schedule was very unrestricted and we had lots of time to finish the album.

GEORGE: What are your plans for the promotion of the album, but also generally speaking?
Should we wait for another video clip? What plans do you have for live shows/tours,
will we see you in other European countries as well?

ANTTI: There are actually one or two more videos coming before the release.
Our plan is to tour the major cities in Finland first and then start to book shows abroad too.
We have already confirmed two shows in Helsinki and in Oulu, Finland.
Both are in September right after the release of the album.
And of course lots of interviews in magazines and in different radio stations.

GEORGE: In the Melodic Hard Rock scene it’s very difficult to stand out and shine among the rest,
due to the high quality that is needed, do you believe that the band’s charismatic LINE UP
will help you stand out?

ANTTI: Well of course we do ;) There is so much experience in the band which helps us a lot.
We definitely think that this band is at it’s best when we perform live.
You will see.

GEORGE: Finland and Sweden are among my favorite countries in terms of what they offer with
their music. They’ve given us great artists and amazing bands in the melodic hard rock scene.
What’s different over there that makes you stand out from the rest of the world?

ANTTI: I think that the major reason is that we both have great quality in teaching.
Both countries have very respected music schools and because it’s dark and cold 90% of the year we
need to keep ourselves busy inside. At least for me that was the reason I had the energy to practice all
the time when I was younger. It always shitty weather and that’s why I stayed at home and practiced
the guitar all the time.

GEORGE: Nowadays, we see social media sites (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc...)
have become hugely widespread.
How much support do these sites offer to a band and in what way?

ANTTI: Social media is a great tool to promote new band because you can do it for free and the audience
is huge. We try to be active in the social media by posting photos and videos everytime we have something
interesting to share.

GEORGE: Thank you for your time, I wish you all the best for the future! The last words are yours for
this interview. Feel free to say whatever you want to all BeRock’s Radio minizine readers!

ANTTI: Thank you for this opportunity to promote our band in your minizine.
Be sure to check out our first album “One for the Road” (out 26th of August via Frontiers Records)
and find us from Facebook, Instagram and Twitter too!
γεια μας!!


George "Snaki" Karatzas
For BeRock Radio's MiniZine (2016)
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