Julian Drain

18.08.2006, Orivesi

In the middle of nowhere, Eräjärvi in Orivesi to be exactly, we meet Julian Drain to ask him some questions about issues that concern the band in general but also the drummer personally. After leaving the uncomfortable backstage area behind we find ourselves sitting in the nicer K-18 area that is not really K-18 that day but keeps the curious fans away who queue up outside instead.

How are you doing?
Fine, thanks.

How would you describe your band and your music?
It´s just handsome. There are lots of beautiful melodies and rocking stuff mixed together and there is something for almost everyone I think. We don´t have one band we all really like, we are a band that has a lot of different influences but I think it is just great when everybody has something different and then we mix it together. It´s nice.

How did you feel like when you signed your record deal?
It happened really fast, we had just recorded our first demo and sent it to people. It was a really unbelievable feeling. It was pretty easy to get it.

So you didn´t have to do much for it?
No. There are a lot of bands who have done music for 10 years and they´re not getting a record deal. It just happened to us.

How long did it take you to record the album?
We recorded "Bleeding" and "Guardian Angel" in March 2005 and the last songs were recorded by the end of 2005

What´s your favourite song on the album?
It changes but maybe "Bullet for the Pain" and "Divine Insanity".

And is there a song you don´t like that much?
Well, "On the Sidelines" is a great song, it has a great feeling but it´s a pretty boring song to play live and that´s one reason why it is not my favourite because there is just basic drumming.

But you never played it live, did you?
No, we haven´t. We did the song in the rehearsals for the recording process. It has a great feeling but…I don´t know, it is not bad but it´s not my favourite.

What about "Sleeptight"? Why did you record a song like that? It´s so different from the rest of the album.
I actually like it, it´s a funny song. It´s is very different but I think this is just great.

How do you feel about the album being released in Japan?
It´s awesome but... We will see when it is really going to be released in Japan. I am not sure. Maybe in fall next year. I don´t have a clue but it is really, really great.

Are there any plans about going to other countries?
There has been some discussion about that but I cannot say anything right now. No comments [smiles].

In the band, are you all equal or is there some kind of leader?
There is democracy in our band but maybe Vivian is the one who is mostly in contact with the record company and that kind of people but actually there is democracy.

What do you like better, playing concerts or being in the studio?
I definitely prefer doing live gigs. In the studio it´s just monotonous work but live, when you have a new song for example, it is just great to play it in front of an audience.

What bands would you like to tour with?
Well, I don´t know... It would be exciting to tour with some big international bands but I don´t know these guys from these bands. Last time I was being asked that question I said Bitch So Sweet because they are so funny guys and we have played a couple of gigs with them and they have been great, just great.

We wanted to see them in Klubi on Sunday but they cancelled their gig.
Yeah, I have heard about that. But it´s a great band!

Do you know any of the bands(Quiet Outcry, Rough Treat, Heijaste, Micro) who are playing with you today?
Actually Heijaste is the only one I know.

Do you like Heijaste? [Everybody laughing because Heijaste-Viljami is sitting next to Julian]
I haven´t heard much of their music.

But you can watch their gig tonight!
Yeah why not, maybe I find out (he watched most of the gig later that evening).

Do you have a good relationship to the other bands from Tampere?
With those bands I know, yes. I don´t know all the guys from all bands but we are not fighting against each other.

What do your family and your friends think about what you are doing?
They are really supporting me. They are really positive about it.

Did your parents ever come to see you in a concert?
Yes! They came to our gigs a couple of times, both of them I think. It´s a bit odd when they are watching but it´s nice.

Do they like the music?
Yes, they do.

Are they proud of you?
Yes, I think so.

You still go to school, how do you handle school and band, do you skip a lot of lessons?
I have to skip as little as possible because I cannot pass the courses if there are too many skipped lessons. It´s a bit difficult because of gigging and now we are going to make a new video and stuff like that but I´m going to make it happen somehow.

Do you like going to school?
Of course! [laughs]

Really?
I don´t like early mornings and long school days but it is good to see old friends that I don´t see that much when I am gigging and stuff.

What will you do when you graduate next year?
I haven´t really thought about that yet. Maybe going to some other school again or if I am able to I´m just going to play as much drums as possible.

How do you feel towards your fans?
It´s funny. I mean, there are such big groups coming to see our gigs.

Some of them follow you everywhere, what do you think about that?
It´s a bit disturbing but it is really nice in a way if they don´t get too close and come everywhere with me, then it is okay. I try to be in contact with the fans if I can but sometimes it is difficult when there are 100 people who want to talk to you. That´s just impossible.

Do you keep all the presents they give you?
Yes, I do. Actually most of them are in our bus but there is such a chaos and they are everywhere and not in one place. They are really difficult to handle but we don´t throw anything away.

Do they ever give you useful stuff or just teddy bears and such things?
Sometimes there is some useful stuff like drumsticks, they are really good to have if you play drums but most of them are teddy bears.

Do you remember giving your first autograph?
I´m not sure. It was with my first band when I was about 11 years old but with Lovex I don´t remember.

Do you still play in other bands?
I have some projects in Ikaalinen, where I live, with my friends but they are not worth to mention.

On the internet you can find a song in which you play guitar and Johnny Sky (Trefoil singer) sings. How did that happen?
We recorded that song in the summer of 2004 but there wasn´t that much happening. It´s just a little project of me and Vesa from Trefoil. We gig about 2 times a year. It´s really fun, We play cover songs and stuff like that. We both play guitar and it´s really fun.

So you are playing concerts together?
We have played about 3 or 4 concerts together by now so that´s not that much.

Do you already know how the "Bullet for the Pain" video will look like?
We have a little picture about it but I cannot say much about it now. The whole thing is still in process.

Is the band deciding about how the video will look like or someone else?
I think the director has his own vision, then we discuss about it and we can still do something about it.

How is it going to go on with the band? You have now released your album and 4 singles, will you record some new material?
I am not sure. We will release the next album at some point next year but I cannot say much more right now.

You don´t know it yet or you are not supposed to talk about it yet?
No, I really don´t know yet.

Why do most bands from Finland use weird stage names?
I don´t know [laughs]. Maybe it´s because all those big rock bands have such names and you feel like you want to have them, too. It´s a part of the whole show.

Do you actually know what "Drain" means?
[laughs]

It´s disgusting!
Yes it is. I have stolen the last name from my bigger brother. So he is responsible. Well, it sounds great!

In what way has your life changed since you turned 18?
The bar gigs are easier to do now, there are no extra things to arrange. It´s fun to be 18, there are some things you can do now but not that much has changed really.

What´s your favourite animal?
I don´t know. A penguin!

What animal would you like to be?
Some animal that sleeps a lot and doesn´t do much. A cat!

Do you have any pets?
I have a dog at home. He barks at people.

Nice!
Yeah, really nice [laughs].

If you could travel to any place in the world where would it be and why?
I´d like to visit New Zealand because there are really nice landscapes and such a big variety of different places. I have seen pictures from there and it looks really nice. I haven´t thought about that much.

What countries have you visited so far?
Not many. Estonia, Sweden and Denmark. Maybe some day the whole world will be seen.

If you could be fluent at any other language, what would it be?
Some really odd one like Greek or Latin. Or German, it´s a funny sounding language! [laughs]

What languages do you speak?
Finnish, a little English [laughs] and a very little Swedish.

Would rather have 1,000,000€ or be able to fly?
Maybe to be able to fly. I think I could get some money out of that, too.

Can you roll your tongue?
I think I can!

Can you show us?
[rolls tongue] cool! [laughs]

Can you cook?
Some basic food maybe? I haven´t had to cook much. Maybe I can do some basic stuff but there hasn´t been the need to do it.

What was the last book you read?
Mmh, what was it called? I just read it yesterday…It was...What was it called it English? ‘Waiting for Godot´. It´s…I don´t remember who wrote it but it is a great book actually. I´m not sure if it is called like that in English but I think so. It was a really, really good book! [The book is written by Samuel Beckett]

What would you like to get for next Christmas or your next birthday? Anything special?
A flying carpet. [laughs] Please! [laughs more]

Do you think the Pope eats children?
What?!?

Have you seen the Pope?
I have seen him on TV.

We believe that he eats little children!
It´s possible! I don´t have an opinion about that.

Why do you sometimes take off your shoes when you are drumming?
I have played about 20 gigs without shoes. I bought new shoes and they are so different. Now I have Converse All Stars and I don´t know but it is really different and it is easier to get in control with bare feet. I don´t know, maybe it is just in my head. It´s just easier. Maybe not that cool but easier [laughs].

You are bare footed in the "Guardian Angel" video!
It was because our director Tuomas Harju said that it would be cool because…what band was it... The White Stripes have played bare footed, their drummer I mean and the director said it is so cool, you have to play bare footed in your next video, too. I think it´s fun.

And the last question, would you rather sell your body or your soul?
Body!

Why?
Maybe my soul has a bit of longer investment so it would be a shame if I lost it. But I rather not sell either one.

Thank you!
No problem.

Few pictures of Julian taken after the interview can be found in the gallery.

18.08.2006
Orivesi, Eräjärvi - Rönni

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