[Interview Number 47]
This time, we get to know Mauri Dark. His track "Thin Line of Understanding" is featured in the New Artist Spotlight Family of Playlists.
Link To New Artist Spotlight Playlists:
Okay, let’s get into the Ten questions for Mauri Dark!
𝟭. 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗵𝗼𝗯𝗯𝘆?
I am from Turku, Finland. I am also professional visual artist so art and music are my passions. For hobby I have hiking in nature (I am a landscape addict), traveling (when that again is possible). I also play football and go to gym.
𝟮. 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰/𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻?
I was about 7 when I heard and saw a cassette of Kiss in their make-ups. It was impressive! I started to play drums at that age, and at 16 started to play in bands and write lyrics. At 18 guitar, vocals and songwriting came along. Since then I have done 8 albums. My debut solo album is called ”Dreams Of A Middle-Aged Man” is coming December 18.
𝟯. 𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗹𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀?
Johnny Cash, Leonard Cohen, Nick Drake, Tom Waits, Neil Young, The Beatles and Pink Floyd. I listen mainly 70s and 90s music.
𝟰. 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰?
Well I started to do it ”seriously” at 16. Gigs started soon. I counted I have done about 500 shows. Most of them (and five albums) as vocalist-guitarist of metal duo Mystons. I have been writing songs for 25 years and I think I am learning to be better at it all the time.
𝟱. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆?
I am 42 now and still kind of dreaming of ”stardom” but it is very different dream than when I was younger. Now my goal is to make as good as possible songs, lyrics and music that is able to touch snd give something to people. I also want to keep performing live. I think music and live shows can give wonderful things to people. It helps them relax and feel something extraordinary and takes them away for a moment from their troubles and everyday lives. There is magic in music and I just hope to be able to spread that magic because it does good things to people.
𝟲. 𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗮 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗶𝘁 𝗯𝗲?
I have never toured in USA. Would like to tour there. Generally all the places where I haven't performed yet. I have been in many countries and tours in Europe and nearly every town in Finland. It's always fun to see different audiences.
𝟳. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝘃𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗴?
The first that comes to mind is ”The End” by The Doors. I have not heard any other band or frontman who has the ability to make that kind of studio recording.
𝟴. 𝗠𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁?
First that comes to mind was at metal duo Mystons show. Theres only two guys in the band, the other one playing drums. My guitar went dead quiet in the middle of the song. It was a loooong drum solo for the drummer before I got things working. Lots of embarrassing moments have happened at the shows, but you just get through them not showing your embarrassment too much. The thrill of live music!
𝟵. 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗱𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁?
I think of all of the public artworks I have done as visual artist (with my birth name Mauri Kosonen) and all of the albums. Especially the upcoming Mauri Dark album which was a lot of work, learning new things and instruments and feels a very big achievement. I also got to work with mastering engineer Vlado Meller who has done mastering for Johnny Cash, Metallica and many others. But I still have to say without a doubt that it is my 2,5 years old daughter. I could not be prouder of her.
𝟭𝟬. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝘀𝗲?
Well I have always dreamed of being Produced by Rick Rubin. Most of my favorite albums are his productions.
"Thin Line of Understanding" on Spotify
and follow his socials
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mauridarkmusic/
Facebook: https://facebook.com/mauridarkmusic
You will not be disappointed!
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This was a fantastic read, Mauri, looking forward to the album release! Huge fan of Finland by the way, especially the Turku area!