A Dirty Dozen with NETTA LAURENNE from SMACKBOUND – June 2020

According to a recent press release: “Smackbound is a new hard rock/metal band from the robust and acclaimed Finnish music scene, who will release their debut album, 20/20 on Frontiers Music Srl. Hard rock and metal fans can expect powerful, driving songs, impeccable musicianship, and stunning vocals from this exciting new band. Smackbound’s story started back in 2015 when singer and actress Netta Laurenne founded the group. You may have heard her before on guest spots with Amorphis, Lordi, Black Sun, and Elvenking. She is a classically trained singer who has also studied pop/jazz and folk singing. And yes, she is also an actress. Guitarist Teemu Mäntysaari was the first to join the line-up and soon followed Rolf Pilve on drums, Vili Itäpelto on keyboards and Tuomas Yli-Jaskari on bass. [Collectively, they have experience in well respected metal bands like Wintersun, Stratovarius, The Dark Element, and Tracedawn.] The band immediately started writing their own songs, but to get their live chemistry flowing, founded a cover band “Run for Cover” to be able to play gigs right away and turn Smackbound into a well-oiled live machine.” We get Netta to discuss new music, influences, and much more…

1. Tell us a little about your latest release.  What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through?  Are there any hidden nuggets the band put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

“Those Who Burn” is the first ever song written to the band and was used in recruiting the and members by playing it to them. It is about self-empowerment. It asks you to stand on your own two feet, take responsibility of your action and choices and reminds us that if we live our lives honestly and listening and following to our inner voice, the life will carry us. But in return, we have to be brave enough to kill fear and jump when needed.

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

I always new I wanna sing. I heard Maria Callas when I was 4 and decided to follow on her footsteps.

3. Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that guided your musical taste?

Several. My first love was Nancy Sinatra’s “You Only Live Twice” which made me swore I would also be singing a James Bond Theme song one day. 🙂 From this moment onward I was trying to figure out how power, longing and soul can be presented in one’s voice. That led me to soul & blues music.

4. Who would be your main five musical influences?

As I have to state hear the ones that really molded me early on I will say Whitney Houston, George Michael, Nina Simone, Frank Sinatra and Dio.

5. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be, and why?

Ólafur Arnalds. I would love to do a song with him. He has his HC past.

6. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before? What is the one comparison a reviewer or fan has made that made you cringe or you disagreed with?

I don’t cringe. I really think everyone can have their opinion and it’s not about being right or wrong but of interpretations. We make metal with a soulful twist.

7. What’s the best thing about being a musician?

Getting happiness out of your core doing.

8. When the band are all hanging out together, who cooks; who gets the drinks in; and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

Me and Vili cook and get the drinks in, Tuomas cracks out the guitar. Teemu is filming an IG Story and Rolf is drumming a bench somewhere. 🙂

9. If you weren’t a musician, what would be your dream job?

A writer.

10. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over”, even if it didn’t change your current situation?

Nope. All is meant to be. I stood in my own way for a long time but it had a purpose. I was healing.

11. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

Well, any of  the Queen’s albums from the 80’s.

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Category: Interviews