TEN QUESTIONS – Suvimarja Halmetoja (Humavoid)

Suvimarja Halmetoja is a Finnish musician and the frontwoman of the dual scream attack, high tech eight-string riffs and jazz fusion synth hooks packed in a determined polyrhythmic groove band Humavoid. Here are TEN QUESTIONS to Suvimarja Halmetoja!

What made you want to become a musician?

When I was a teenager I thought a job as a singer would include two things: sitting in a make up chair surrounded by hovering face powder and rocking the stage in a spotlight. That’s the reason I wanted to do this at first place, haha. And the reason I keep doing this is that I want to give somewhat abstract feelings a form that we as humans can recognize. To help people to relate with each other and understand life better is my main goal as a musician.

How would you describe your music?

Our music is hectic, surprising and full of deranged energy. I hope listening to us feels like getting punched hard with huge pillows: Your body is tossed around and you can’t control it, but you kind of like it.

If you could change anything about the music industry, what would it be?

I’d wipe out all the greedy bastards that exploit artists justifying it by thinking that because musicians love what they do, they don’t need to get paid.

What is the saddest song you’ve ever heard?

It must be Tyttö ja tanssiva karhu (A Girl and a Dancing Bear) written by Marja-Leena Mikkola and Kaj Chydenius. There’s a story about a girl who ran from home to join a circus and became a friend with a dancing bear who asks her to take his life. It’s a song about horror, dreams and art. It says the entertainment business seems light, but it takes its toll.

What is your best music related memory?

One of the most nostalgic ones is related to every first school day morning of the year. My mum used to wake me and my brothers up by playing loud the same children’s song from the living room stereos. The song itself was a bit annoying, but I remember of being super happy to start a new school year. Early autumn is still my favorite season and every year it makes me want to start a new hobby or just try something I haven’t done before.

What is the most useless talent you have?

Well, one thing I’m good at but don’t need the skill anymore is drawing on paper. I just realized I don’t actually even own any drawing paper anymore! But of course talent of drawing helps a lot when editing photos, which I do a lot, so I don’t think it’s totally wasted.

What’s the best piece of advice another musician ever gave you?

”The song doesn’t exist if it’s just in your head.” These words have encouraged me in getting my music out there. As a starter it was a long way from ”hearing great melodies in your head” to be able to present a finished song to someone, but developing the right skills and letting go of perfectionism made it possible.

Has there been one particular moment in your musical career that you’re most proud of?

Maybe not just one, but I’ve felt proud many times when being in a band rehearsals practicing new songs. I’m like ”Wow, I’m surrounded by these skillful and dedicated musicians and we’re playing together. I must not totally suck if these guys want to jam with me.” That feeling is something that has nothing to do with success which I like. I feel like no one can take it away from me.

What would you be doing right now, if it wasn’t for your music career?

I guess I’d had some kind of artistic workroom with full of fabrics, props, paint, glue, lights, backdrops, costumes… not sure if I’d be a photographer, videographer or just some kind of visualist but I’d spend all days and nights there building something mind blowing, haha.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?

I’d live in Finland for sure. It just feels like home and I feel safe here.

Suvimarja Halmetoja in internet

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