Metal Edge
/december 2005/

"HIM Ville Valo Is He Really Killing Loneliness?"

The Finnish quintet HIM recently shot their second video, “Killing Loneliness” with director Noble Jones. Even though this was a closed set, Metal Edge was able to secure these never-before seen shots of vocalist and songwriter Ville Valo and guitarist Linde, bassist Mige, drummer Gas and keyboardist Burton—who were more than happy to smile for our camera!

It was an unseasonably cold fall evening when a Metal Edge sat down with vocalist and songwriter Ville Valo. From the first word uttered from this charismatic frontman, he unknowingly changed the temperature’s atmosphere with his talk about his band’s latest musical endeavor, Dark Light, his songwriting, and of course, the story behind one of my favorite songs of the year, “Rip Out The Wings Of A Butterfly.”

METAL EDGE: How have you grown as an artist, since your last release?
VILLE VALO: You know as you grow up you tend to concentrate on detail. When we started the band, you know, we were concentrating on the fact that we wanted to be part of a band and be able to write some songs, but now that we’ve been together for more than 10 years already, we know the basic things, so we know how the muscles move, which have been pointed in the right direction, and still trying to be a bit more detailed. You know, an album is like a puzzle, the more albums you do the smaller a piece of the puzzle and more are available at that particular time.

ME: Which tracks off of Dark Light mean the most to you, and why?
VV: Actually this time around, my favorite is “Killing Loneliness.” Because, I think it’s one of those tracks that I think has everything we’ve done in the past, which has been put together, and it sounds new to me. Its kind of melancholy and it’s very uplifting, and that’s what I like about it. It’s not necessarily a very positive song, but not the most depressing song we’ve done. I think ‘they’ incorporates both those emotional states very well, so that’s probably the reason why I like it!

ME: So, what’s the secret on surviving “the road?”
VV: There’s no secret—you just fucking wing it! That’s the only possibility because being on tour is always different. You tour different places. Schedules are different. Support acts are different. The mental state of each individual and the whole band keeps on changing. You know, if someone is having a rough time back at home, you always reflect on the tour life as well. Thank God now we’ve been blessed with too many marriages this year, so, I guess everybody is having a good time back at home! They sort of bring the good vibe with them on tour, as well. My only saving grace is sleep as much as possible and avoid all air conditioning.

ME: Oh, for your throat?
VV: Yeah. You know, in Scandinavia, we don’t have any air conditioning—anywhere! It something that dries the vocal chords out really, really quickly, and on top of that, I especially have asthma and I am wise enough to smoke on top of that! So, that’s the stupidest combination to start with, and then, air conditioning drying out the voice—that’s pretty bad. That’s the only way I can loose my voice. By know, hanging out in let’s say, Las Vegas for like two or three days—because it’s full blown air conditioning. You can’t get the windows open in any of the rooms. That’s what happened last year. It was the first time in my career that I lost my voice, it was in perfect shape otherwise, but I just couldn’t get anything out of my vocal chords.

ME: Off of your latest release, my favorite song is “Rip Out The Wings Of A Butterfly,” how did you come up with the lyrics to this song?
VV: When you’re a young kid and they blow-up frogs and fucking shoot pigeons, you know, stuff like that, which has always been crazy! I always wondered how someone could rip out the wings of a butterfly—because it seems way to cruel! Yeah, I read a book, which I can’t remember what Asian-myth this was—but it was about some of the Asian religions or whatever, believe that an immortal soul has the wings of a butterfly. My idea behind the song was just about understanding that you have to burn some bridges down, you have to destroy some things to be able to step forward spiritually and morally—you can rip off the wings of a butterfly meaning that particular butterfly are the law of siding with the laws of religion, politics, and everything shown that love can top all that!

ME: WOW! You’re so, deep for a rock star!
VV: No. Not really! That was my idea, kind of. I have always loved literature; you know, I picked that up in lyricism in rock ‘n’ roll music. Our problem is usually a lot of people don’t take advantage of language. I think it’s cool to play with those kinds of things, you know. I’m not saying that I am reinventing the wheel, but, I’m still trying to continue in the vein of Nick Cave or whomever—just to make my mark on hopefully creating a unique and individual way using your sweet language.

ME: How hard was it to craft a story into lyrical form? Like “Vampire Heart” or “Under The Rose” was it hard to create a story into lyrical form?
VV: No not really, because, I lived through all of them.

ME: So, basically all your lyrics are what you’ve lived through?
VV: Yeah. Yeah, or my friends what they’ve been living through or what I’ve seen my friends do,, or whatever, you know. It’s my way of reflecting on the world, you know, through my lyrics and through music, and getting the emotions out, which otherwise would need a very expensive psychotherapist.

ME: When crafting a song, do you write with a specific format in mind?
VV: You know, when I write music or song, I usually write the music first, and then, I’ve got the melodies, so I know the rhythm of the lyrics. So it kind of like finds itself. I usually start up with some kind of line usually from the chorus or whatever and it just keeps feeding itself and becoming bigger and bigger.

ME: Interesting?
VV: I think it’s very interesting in a way, because it’s always different. There’s no certain hour or way or certain brand of candles, I’ve got to light in my room to be able to be in the same mood. I like the fact that you can do it wherever in the city where you are at, or the country where you are at, or people you just me it all effects on the mood of that particular song. I think it makes it very magical for me, and very interesting and it’s not been very boring—yet.

ME: Do you have a songwriting process, and, if so, what does it entail?
VV: No. No. I have my cell phone, which is a recorder. I tend to record stuff in there. I have a couple of dictating machines. I have got my computer studio set up usually I’m carrying that around with me on the tours. I write down on napkins, that’s one of my ideas! It’s like the living for the moment—and, I think that, if there’s a moment that I’m creating something that’s really cool, and, if, I don’t remember it tomorrow, then it’s not cool! I think my brain is like a hard drive, anyways, so it can take so much information in, and it tends to do the good things—I’m not worried about that, I have a really good memory!

ME: As you know, songwriting can be a real roller coaster ride; do you have any tips on surviving the ride?
VV: Well, I think when it becomes hard then quit it for a second. I haven’t had a guitar in my hands for the past two to three weeks, and, I’m fucking itching to go over to L.A. (day after tomorrow) to buy myself some old, used guitars from the ‘60s and just let it rip, you know! It’s like reading and movies or whatever—you have to take breaks! Then it feels better. It’s like riding a bicycle to a certain extent—the basics you get are easy, but you still feel rejuvenated by the fact that it feels kind of refreshed.

ME: So, when you write your music, do you write on that type of guitar you mentioned, or on a piano and/or both?
VV: Whatever. I did most of the first record on bass guitar and I’m a really shitty keyboard player, but, I usually ‘hum’ the keyboard ideas down and then I strum a guitar. I’m a big fan of Neil Young. I like the fact idea of a song works, you know, like a campfire song then it should work with the band, too. If should be working with just a couple of simple chords and you be able to hum on top of it, you know, I think that makes it!

ME: Ville, do you listen for lyrics? Some songwriters listen for words or events, which inspires them?
VV: Both, but, I read. I don’t listen to different lyricist. I think their 99.99% of all of the lyricist are round-out bullshit.

ME: Really?
VV: Most of them really don’t use the wonderful advantage of the English language. Most of them are bland, if you know what I mean. Just be boring and deaf—naif, as they say in England. I try to read as much as possible, you know, different types of literature like giant squid and may be I’ll find a phrase out of there, and watch movies—that’s really good, too.

ME: Do you have a favorite movie that you like?
VV: My favorite at this moment is a favorite Korean movie called, Old Boy. That’s really, really good, you should definitely check it out! You cry and laugh at the same time at the end.

by Renee Daigle