Lola Kumtus

Lola Kumtus captured my attention earlier this year. Naturally I wanted to know more about this minimal EBM act out of Finland. Recently, I reached out to Lola Kumtus to uncover some fun and interesting facts.

Hello XX & XY! Thanks for taking some time out your day to do this interview. Lets kick this off with a quick history of Lola Kumtus. You formed in 2012 and you told a me a funny story behind the name Lola Kumtus. Tell us a little about that.

XY - "Year was 2012 when we kick out the jams, but story behind the name is a few years earlier. Our daughter had put some of her drawings in our corridor and in one picture there was a vampire girl, a ghost and a goblin and above it read Lola Kumtus. Her intention was to write Kummitusluola (ghost cave) but she wrote incorrectly. She was 4 years old then. After two years we start a band. So Lola Kumtus is a sort of family business. Sleeve picture of the cassette (and CD) is made by our daughter."

You mentioned your profession provides with some of your inspiration to write music. Can you give us some insight to your various influences for lyrics, music, and overall approach to life?

XX - "I do my best to write a song that there no nothing that doesn't belong to it, you know what I mean? I'm big fan of 1910-1920's Soviet novels. Sharp cut sentences full of intensity like Daniil Harms did it. I love the way how you can make song which contains as much as possible way to approach or understand it but same time it`s stripped as possible. I use my profession when I write lyrics, music is more formal kind of stuff but lyrics based to my psychotherapist background. There's is lots of criticism of psychotherapy. There is also lot of quotes from past time psychoanalysts. I don't want let myself easy when I write lyrics, even though I use quotes. They need to contain several angle to approach and I have to face they, you know? Sentences have to be rhythmical. I`m not native English speaking person so I have to treat my texts gently but it gives me an opportunity approach as a sort of "dadaistic" way more like Kurt Schwitters. I like to handle in my lyrics a sensitive topics eg. sexuality and mental health. I like to approach those themes inside out. I don`t want use my profession as observation post. I try to take opposite position. Try to get beneath others skin. It also makes it challenging to. I think that the few biggest influences are The Normal, D.A.F, Einsturzende Neubauten and James Brown. This music is based to rhythm and danceabilty so this quartet based the corner stones to our music. I know that she has a different opinions about influences, especially James Brown but that`s way it is! (laugh)"

Since Mythical Tapes came out, we at Brutal Resonance have come to really enjoy quite a few bands on the two compilations. Perhaps you could tell us how your relationship with Mythical Tapes began and what bands really captured your attention?

XX and XY - To feed a neon forest and Art Zero. Both are ultimate, hidden gems! We met the master mind of Mythical Tapes in a warehouse party we arranged here in Helsinki and we start to talk about music in general and soon find ourselves to talk in a same language. He told us that he`s going to started a small cassette label and wondering if we would be interested in getting our music to compilation. So we made it. Twice."

How often do you play live? Do you play outside of Finland? If so, where?

XY - "Mostly we play abroad. Germany, Austria and The Netherlands to mention. Here in Finland the scene is quite small so it`s natural to head abroad to play. I hope that same minimal wave -hype comes from Central Europe to Finland. We like to play alive."

Most of your tracks on the cassette and CD are very short, is there a reason for that?

XX - "The shortness of the song is a pure formality. I think that the songs on the tape are not going to last time as well if they are longer. Live versions are extended."

I think you said you were working on new full-length LP? What can we expect from Lola Kumtus on an LP?

XX - "Yes. Prepare for polyrhytmic firing. There are a few proto ebmsque song full of intensity. Some more melodic, but also good old rude descriptive Lola Kumtus kind of stuff."

What are some fun interesting facts about Finland?

XX - "Great Finnish writer Aleksis Kivi and legendary Norwegian cross country skier Vegard Ulvang born 10th of October. Ulvang 129 years later."

Are there any bands that have you hooked on a song or album?

XX - "The toughest question... There is so many, too many mention but at this very moment my fav is Nacht Analyse's "Scan Mich Ein" and Staltrad's brand new cassette. Both are masterpieces."