Le Marquis: Your first album "My dear succubus" was a successful one, with good critics and sales. Two years later, how do you now see it? Are you satisfied how things happened for Let Me Dream?
Jari Koskela: - Hmm... According to what we know is that album got good critics but sold only about 3000 copies... So as far as we know the sales weren't good at all.
We recorded the album about 2 and half years ago, in late 1994. Our opinion is that it didn't turn out to be as good as it could have been. I listened the album about a week ago and it didn't feel that "bad" as it felt about 2 years ago...
I think the album had a lot more potential to be noticed than it finally did. I mean it's original and  quite good music. I certainly believe that with right promotion and some luck we could be there where f.e.x. MOONSPELL is now. We have been around about the same time and have similar potential in our music, it's just question of promotion... So obviously there's still a lot to gain on promotional side...
Only thing that has kept us doing this is the passion for the music. It's actually quite amazing that we're still here after the load of shit that we have got in our hands.

Le Marquis: What are you currently doing? We haven't got any news from you for a quite long time! In which musical direction are you going now?
Jari Koskela:- Actually at the moment we're finally returning to the CD format! We formed our own label SUCCUBUS RECORDS in late 1997 and are going to release a new Mini-CD "Medley Rain" really soon. It's going to be a total underground release - limited to 1000 copies, so keep your eyes open if you want to catch it.
There's been some progression in the music. Especially the arrangements have improved and the songs are better & catchier. I gues we're again a bit more "gothic" than earlier, but that's how the progression have gone since the first demo we did in 1992.

Le Marquis: I have the impression that the concept of dream is really important in your music. Which part of your inspiration does it exactly represent?
Jari Koskela: I guess there ain't much of a concept behind our music, except our subconsiousness and what is natural for us. We have been doing this quite long so it's kinda hard for (at least) me to explain that what are the influences. It's all so natural...
The dream word and theme is quite used in our lyrics. But the lyrics are about our own life experiences, which (thank god) aren't only based on a dream. Dreamy is partly a good "word" to describe our music.

Le Marquis: Is there a particular philosophy in your lyrics?
Jari Koskela: Not really. The lyrics are influenced by our own lifes. There lot's of emotion in the lyrics aswell as in the music. The biggest philosophy behind this band is to be honest for yourself, to do what you want.

Le Marquis: Two months ago, Timo Kotipelto, the singer of the prog-metal band STRATOVARIUS told us that he was very angry towards the attitudes of medias in your countries, who obviously don't make an effort to promote metal bands. What do you think of Stratovarius (which is a quite successful band), and what do you think of finnish medias?
Jari Koskela: Hmm... I guess I'm the only person in this band who don't like STRATOVARIOUS that much. I mean if they play live somewhere near me, then I obviously go out there to check them out, because they are usually great live band.  But I never buy their records because I don't find that kind of music that interesting.
However Mr. Kotipelto is too damn right about Finnish medias, they aren't interested to promote metal or goth. There's some metal bands among STRATOs that get space in TV, mags etc. nowadays, but that's mainly because they first broke though in foreign countries and after that the local medias had to do admit that this kind of music exists...

Le Marquis: What would you say to those who have still never heard even one of your songs, in order to give him the lust to know you more?
Jari Koskela: Well if you people out there want to hear ORIGINAL gothic influenced metal with full of passion and dedication, then you definately have to check us out. We have been here for quite long, but still are part of the history yet to be writen. Our music has definately a right to exists and not just to drown in ever crowing trendy mass...

Le Marquis: Can you tell me which records are you currently listening to?
Jari Koskela:- Well recently I've been checking out the 2 RAMSTEIN albums, which are quite OK. The new HYBRID CHILDREN album "Drugster" is great as the bands always is. At the moment there really ain't much albums that I would listen will full admiration. There's always the old vinyls at home which I pick up a year after year. I guess I can never get rid off the (old) CELTIC FROST & FIELDS OF THE NEPHILIM albums, brilliant!

Le Marquis: One last word to ARTeFACT's french readers?
Jari Koskela: Each one of you sould check out our new MCD "Medley Rain", easiest way to get it is to order it straight from my address. Just send 10 U.S. $ (cash in letter or IMO, International Money Order) to my adress: SUCCUBUS RECORDS/LET ME DREAM, c/o Jani Koskela, Leppäsenojantie 243, 12100 OITTI, FINLAND.
E-Mail: wolfborn1/6freenet.hut.fi
We're also looking for distributors for this release, underground ones or bigger, but it might take some time to get this release to F.E.X. France, but we'll see what happends.
Thanks a lot for space & promotion in your mag, Take care!