ION INDIE MAGAZINE April 2016, Volume 23 | Page 51

MO: I am married to our guitarist Kari Ora and we have worked together now over 25 years. So it is easy for me because we
live in a same house and work together. Kari usually makes the plans regarding gigs and other things. They do the men’s work
and I do mine. For example, I know how to compose and record, so that is my job in the band. I often compose together with
Kari and it is nice.
KZ: Every song on your album is perfect, but I especially love “Hot City”, “Tonite”, “I Can Do” and “Shanandoah”. Can you tell
something more about these songs? From where did the inspiration arise to wrote such lyrics and create such catchy
melodies?
MO: “Hot City”, “Tonite” and “Shanandoah” are Hurriganes’ songs, and we wanted to do those again. The difference is that
now those songs are sung by a woman. Remu Aaltonen, who is Hurriganes’ leader-drummer and a singer, is our friend, and we
have played a few Hurriganes gigs in 1993-1995 together with him. Our history was the reason why we wanted to have those
songs in our album and Hurriganes was one of the most famous bands in Finland and Sweden in 1970-1980. We had the
band Suzy Gang in 1993 when we toured with Remu. “I Can Do” is a Suzy Gangs song—it was in the Finnish language, but I
translated it to English to have it on The Rack Dolls’ album. The melody in “I Can Do” is mine and Kari’s.
KZ: What topics are the most important for you to cover in lyrics? What are your main influences as a vocalist?
MO: I love DAVID COVERDALE--he is one of my favorite singers, and of course JANIS JOPLIN. But I think I have my own style, I
dont like to copy anyone else. I like to sing like ME. I love to sing songs where there is a deeper meaning. But in The Rack Doll
lyrics, it has to be a little bit lighter...happy Rock n Roll topics about life are mostly the themes of our songs.
KZ: Listening to this album, I hear influences of true Rock n Roll and the Hard Rock of the '80’s. Do you have a favorite band
or vocalist?
MO: I love Rock n Roll—so JOAN JETT is great ! WHITESNAKE also is one of my favorites.
KZ: You have fantastic, unique, clear and beautiful vocals--is it all natural or have you had training? Did you go to a music
school?
MO: I was in a music school when I was 10 years old and I learned to play guitar there. I have taken only 1 singing leasson in
my life. I started to sing when I was 15 years old. I just have gotten a lot of gigs and also over the last 15 years many acoustic
gigs with Kari Ora, and that is what has been training my voice. And one other thing is that because I have my own studio, I
can work with my vocals as long as I want on my own. I have tried many things and I have learned to use my vocal many different
ways. It has been great and one of the best decisions I have ever made was to put together my own studio and just start to
make music. I record all The RackDolls stuff myself. We just finished mixing and mastering in a famous studio in Finland.
KZ: From where does the name of the band, THE RACK DOLL, originate? Is there any history connected with it?
MO: No, nothing special...it just looked an d sounded good.
KZ: What are the future plans for The Rack Doll? Any tours on the horizon promoting the new
album?
MO: We just get a new agency, who started to acquire gigs for us here in Finland. Maybe someday we go to other countries to
play, I think Sweden is one of our goals--and why not somewhere else too--if we find someone who can help to promote us in
other countries in Europe.
KZ: Do you enjoy meeting your fans after concerts and signing autographs?
MO: Yes, of course I do! I love our fans and without them, we would’t have this job. I am greatful for every fan we have and they
are great!