mt: Happy Holidays! What are you grateful for in 2010?

Sammy: The album is finally done! I thought it would be done earlier this year, but now I am really happy with it and the band. Other cool things, I have my new studio place in East Helsinki. A nice place to work and record bands and to produce bands and do whatever I feel like doing. Normally, I have to do what other people want me to do. The only thing missing in 2010, was doing gigs. We did, I think, two gigs in the whole year with Private Line. I have a lot of work in the studio right now, so I am happy with that. It has been my day job now for about one year.

mt: Are you doing your own label now?

Sammy: Yea, that also, but mostly I am recording the bands. Like CD's, EP's, demos, whatever...I don't release a lot. I just released one band called "Dead By You." The singer is a good friend of mine and they did the album with Johnny Lee Michaels and they were trying to find a label for over a year and I thought the album was good, so I put it out through my label.

mt: Are we still waiting on a release date for the new Private Line CD, "Dead Decade"?

Sammy: March is the key date. The organizers are trying to put it all together. Japan wants to release it and they are still discussing the European release. That is why we can't give the exact date. One way or another it should be scheduled by the end of this month and then we can shoot the video, and stuff like that.

mt: Trash Fest is perfect timing.

Sammy: Yes, really good actually. It will be the new start of our tour and stuff. It will be fun.

mt: How do you feel about the music industry right now.

Sammy: Ahhhh...I think it is really a hard time with everything changing. I am surprised that there is not available some kind of way to do it that would be good for everyone, like musicians, producers and labels. There was something in Sweden called Spotify and it seemed it could be the next big thing. That people could pay a monthly amount for the music they use, but then we found out that the reality is that the artists are being paid awful royalties. It really is a hard time and I think if you do good music and trust yourself, you get noticed somehow. I think the live part is more important these days and you need to do gigs and have a good show that does something differently. A cool, pure energy or something. That is most important now.

mt: Yea, and maybe selling CD's at gigs only, but even that, people share the music. So that is a problem. I think respect is lost these days.

Sammy: I dunno. I think also, I don't wanna be the bad guy, but when you are doing a living in music, it really is hard. I hope that young people respect that somebody is still doing music and buy the CD's. One model would be just selling the CD's at the gigs, you could do that and if you have good promotion you could do bigger and bigger gigs as you get famous. You sell them at gigs and don't have to sell so much.

mt: Yea, no overhead. You can also add extra content, a DVD, have them autographed.

Sammy: Yea, that is an idea also. You have to think of everything nowadays. What could be the right way to do it.

mt: Now I have a fan question from Antonia. How do you think the new CD differs from previous Private Line releases?

Sammy: Hmmm...that is a hard question, but I have been thinking about how to describe the music on the new album. I think the new package is more solid. The songs fit together better. Last album, Evel Knievel Factor, was a great album, but the compilation wasn't so tight.

mt: You mean how the songs go together?

Sammy: Yea. I think even though the songs are not all the same, we have some songs that we haven't done before. Even the rock parts are more rock than before. The feeling that goes all over the album is kind of a thick red line in the whole album concept. It is kind of dark, but not in a gothic way. That was the whole idea when we started. Those rough things that we've been going through put the energy in the album. One way to describe the music, would be very melodic and dark, but punkish rock. Many elements put together, but in a really nice way. I think it is something special. People that have heard it say, there is a special feeling going on. I am really happy with it. I was thinking about playing it for you. I need to put the songs up for you somewhere.

mt: I did hear the two songs this year, and I loved those, but I look forward to hearing the rest.

Sammy: I will check it out and send it to you. So, that was the difference. The first album, "21st Century Pirates" was also good, the first full length album and we did it so quickly, then "Evel Knievel Factor" we were really putting a thought on it and we did our best and I think it is wonderful, but now...even when we started, we started with a concept and first talked about what we wanted to do. We had a couple of songs and we discussed what we wanted it to be and we wanted it to be energetic and have the feeling we have live, but at the same time we wanted to do bigger songs and arrangements with melodic things and we tried to put it all those things together.

mt: 2011 tour plans?

Sammy: We are going to tour, but first in the Spring time when the album comes out, we will tour Finland, then hopefully in Germany and Europe maybe in the Fall at the very latest. It is really hard to say without a release date. As far as the states, it depends on how things go here.

mt: We would love to have you in the States.

Sammy: We would love it also. We will do our best to make it happen.

mt: Cassandra wants to know how long it takes you to do your hair.

Sammy: It depends on how I do my hair. Those spikes were most awful. (laughs)

mt: Yea, I know I have the spikes.

Sammy: It took so long, every fuckin day on tour. I am already pissed off with my hair. There were many people around who I taught how to do it, so they could help when I was too lazy to do it. It was also nice when you are on the bus or train, you would just fix your hair. The mohawk look that I had is easier. I like it better because of that.

mt: You have been involved with Trash Fest since 2007 so technically this is the fifth time you will be there. Last year you said you were the "Trash Fest House Band". You will be headlining in 2011 on Saturday night. How do you feel about Trash Fest? What do you think makes Trash Fest different than other festivals?

Sammy: It is really special, but it still isn't like the outdoor festivals where you can't see anyone. You are in a club, but it is a festival with bands from all over Europe that is normally not possible. There is a special feeling with everything. The audience is also from everywhere...they are from the States, they are from England, they are from Germany, they are from Scandinavia and it is a really special event. We always had a good gig there and I always have a good time hanging around there.

mt: I definitely couldn't imagine not having a Trash Fest without Private Line. So we need to plan for 2012. So if I have it in Germany or Sweden you have to come headline.

Sammy: Yea, we will come, it is always a pleasure.

mt: I appreciate you guys doing it too.

Sammy: Yea, like I said it is really nice because it is different people and different bands and you get to know nice new people. That is always nice.

mt: I have to say that I have met a lot of people from Finland and you are one of the first people I met from Finland and you have always been one of my favorite front men and people. I think you are great with fans. You always leave a great impression. How important do you think it is for bands to be real with their fans?

Sammy: I think it is really important. I remember being a kid and checking out bands and many times I was so disappointed. I went to try to talk to the singer or something and they acted like they could care less. Now I see, I understand sometimes it is not the best time. When you get off stage and people jump in front of you, but it is really important. It may just be personalities, some people are not approachable. I always try to still be nice even when I don't have time. There are bad days for me as well.

mt: Sure, but I have never heard anything negative about you.

Sammy: I like what I do and I appreciate when people come to our gigs and stuff. It means a lot to me and it is nice to share it with other people.