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Who kisses Ville awake?

> It sounds like a fairy tale:

Once upon a time in a far-away country a handsome singer lived in an old tower. It was bitter cold outside and metres-high snow covered an enchanted garden.
In fact, HIM and their frontman, Ville Valo didn't show up very often.
Those hoping for some concerts in autumn on occasion of the already in January released seventh album “Screamworks: Love In Theory and Practice” and the traditional Helsinki-Helldone-New-Years-Party will be disappointed. Currently, live-dates are literally on ice. Meanwhile, Finland's most coveted bachelor surprises with electronic side leaps. And while Migé and Linde walk on solo paths in 2010, Ville enjoys his newly found lack of plan.


What is it currently like in Helsinki?
It's like a postcard image here. Really beautiful. I enjoy being able to witness New Year for the first time in ten years since we've usually been on the road with HIM. It reminds me of the good old times. (laughs)

Did you simply want to take it easy this year?
Although we didn't tour a lot, we've still been fairly busy. I've been working on the remix album “SWRMXS” which demanded a lot more time and energy than I thought. And Migé will be releasing a solo album soon which I'll be mixing. Linde was busy with Daniel Lioneye, so we didn't really lean back.

And what's with the unusually short tour?
Hm, well, I'm not really someone who likes touring a lot. We played a few gigs in Europe which was more or less supposed to be kind of a promotional appetizer, then some gigs in the UK and North America but it didn't feel vivid. And I think you shouldn't tour then. Playing lives is a lot of fun but it gets worn off if you don't like what you're doing. Thus you get into situations where you know your setlist inside out and you're bored before even hitting the stage – that's not good. I also don't like the fact that you have to book one year beforehand.
How could you possibly know how you're feeling in a year or what your mood is like. But it was my decision to stop touring, the others would have liked to continue. It was a really hard decision to make and all I know is that I had a reason I can't recall right now. Maybe I was just burned out.

To stop smoking surely was a personal cut, too, wasn't it?
Yeah, it feels good to take a break since February. I don't like bowing to rules that would make me feel restricted. It's the same thing with drinking, that's why I call it a “break”. Since I don't drink and smoke anymore I know how it feels like. I can compare those two things. It's like a psychological experiment. Anyhow, it brings back your sense of smell which can be hard sometimes since people and the whole world smell bad: fumes, bad breath, the bars I can't smoke in anymore. So, no, I'm not a big fan of not smoking. But my asthma couldn't take it anymore and it wasn't good for my voice, too.
Everything has its good and bad sides.

It's the same thing with going out and partying. I don't meet as much people as I did and I don't do as many stupid things anymore, the kind of crazy stuff you do when you go out. I miss that. Waking up somewhere, not knowing where you are and who the people around you are and then slowly remembering the crazy evening. There's some good stories to tell – it's funny and inspiring – that's what I miss. And whoever claims this to be the truth: You simply can't enjoy those things when you're sober – no way. I tried for a long time and it didn't work. And since I know that, I don't go out anymore. That's what the world looks like for me. But it has its good sides. You have a lot of time for yourself, you can be productive and of course your body feels better.

“The world is a beautiful place. You never know what's awaiting you at the next corner.” Ville Valo

Sounds like your life would be a bit solitary right now...
Hm, well, hm, yeah kinda. I'm making a lot of music but I don't have any social life because all my social contacts were in bars and that's where I worked and wrote my songs. Now my living room has become my actual living room. Therefor, I go for walks a lot. I'm not a health-freak but it feels nice being able to walk around outside without shivering or having to wear sunglasses. But what am I supposed to do in a rock club without smoking or drinking, listening to a mediocre rock band while sipping my coke?

For the first time in 12 years you have New Year's off. Any plans?
No, no idea. But it's great not being booked or having a deadline – with nothing. What I'm going to do this weekend? No idea! When you're in a band, you're whole life is bound to a calendar. Mostly you already know where you'll be in eight months. I'm currently trying not to think about those things. I simply try to enjoy.


Were you satisfied with the success of “Screamworks”?
No. But I'm never satisfied. We put so much work, time and energy into it and consequently it's very important that the record is successful. Our record label in Germany has done a really great job, it was a pleasure. But in some countries nothing happened. I don't scale success by sales, but I would have appreciated if the album had been a bit more important to some people than it eventually was. However, with so much music being around, there's a lot of good music. Nowadays it has become difficult for a listener to concentrate on an album or to fall in love with a band. I find that kinda discouraging. And this has nothing to do with “Screamworks”. Bottom line: we're a band and part of that whole game.

Do you have something like a caption for 2010?
Another year. (laughs) 2010 was the year of changes and of deaths. Many people who were really close to the band died, like Peter Steel. A strange year, maybe one you would later mark with a big X, nobody will talk about 2010 anymore. Consequently it's important to concentrate on the positive aspects. If you'd only see the negative things, you'd get paralyzed and incapable of doing anything at all. The world is a beautiful place. You never know what's awaiting you at the next corner. Personally I kinda had the feeling something would happen this year. Just a feeling. And still nothing happened. Maybe it yet will. A strange feeling. For a strange year.

scans by Luned13

translated by experiment0513