Paradise Oskar will release his debut album on May 4, 2011 in Dusseldorf. "Well, I happen to be in Germany that period and it would be a bit difficult to fly to Finland and have the release party here" he says laughing in an interview with YLE's Eurovision expert Sanna Kojo.
"I'm aiming for the international market. My music is international". He also tells his life has been very hectic since he won the Finnish final and is really living in the moment, carpe diem. "I concentrate in what I am doing this very moment. I really don't have time to think what I just did or what I will be doing in a moment. There's no time for that!"
Since he signed to Warner Music Finland he has been mostly in studio. "It has been very busy and we don't have much time but it only makes us work harder. Everybody's giving their most. All the songs are ready but recording takes time obviously. We need to get this album ready before Eurovision and hopefully it will be released also in other countries. Eurovision is such a big exposure." Axel has written all the songs himself: "I'm a storyteller. I sing about little everyday things, with a twist. A little bit love, how I see life and such."
The preparations for Eurovision start in Amsterdam in the beginning of April in Eurovision in concert happening: "It will be really cool to meet the other artists and get a touch of Eurovision beforehand. It's going to be fun!" He doesn't seem to be very concerned about his starting number ten "I don't care where I sing. I don't want to stress for useless things. May the best song win no matter with which number it is performed". He says he hasn't really followed the other selections in other countries except Sweden as he has been too busy. He looks forward meeting Erik who is just 5 days his junior. He hasn't also read any blogs or chat room comments. But friends have sent him some comments through Facebook and MySpace.
Amongst the things he has done for the very first time is the preview video. "It was a bit too cold to do it outdoors so we went for the Botanical Gardens. It was hot and humid but it was a lot of fun. I did a lot of things I never did before!". How about the big event in May? "I'm just trying to take it easy and eat healthy. Nor I have I thought what I will be wearing, it doesn't interest me. Something casual. Maybe I will wash my jeans at least, lol. Nah, after all I am represanting my country so maybe I have to dress up a little. We'll see. It'll be just me and my Landola 1964 guitar. It's from a relative's boyfriend's father's old one. It gives a bad sound but looks good. Made in Finland. It gives a good feeling."
When he has free time - which he hasn't at the moment - he likes to read books, watch movies and cook. "My speciality is pasta con pesto, with bacon and garlic! I like generally Italian music but I like all sort of music. The Finnish home cooking is the best. And garlic! Garlic is always good! And I'm not into American action movies. I prefer European movies, especially German movies, a bit artsy. My favourite director is German Fatih Akin. In litterature I like a little bit political books, like George Orwell. But sometimes I also like to read something more entertaining like Dan Brown." And what will he take with him to Germany to read? "Something German I guess. I'm reading Heidi at the moment, maybe I take that! It's really good!"
Axel grew up with his two bothers and one sister in the middle of forest by a lake. He wasn't interested in music as a kid but when he entered junior high school he started playing instruments and soon did nothing else. "When I was 13-14 I realized I was very bad in playing instruments as no one thought me so I had to start creating my own songs so no one couldn't say I play it all wrong and bad! I could say I wrote it and it goes like this. Lol."
Rest is history. Da da dam....
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