Brasilian writer Mayra Dias Gomes met up with Ville Valo in Vegas to interview the singer. Part of their conversation has been published in Folha de São Paulo in her column “On the Road”. Mayra has kindly shared the interview on her blog. For those of you who don’t read Portuguese, here is a translation of  Mayra’s article:

Ville Valo in Las Vegas

Ten months have passed since the last time I interviewed the coveted fin Ville Valo in Helsinki. It was summer and he had been rehearsing alot,  getting ready to fly over to Los Angeles to record HIM’s seventh album with producer Matt Squire who is responsible for the new pop sound.

Screamworks: Love in Theory and Practice which was released in the US on February 9th, near Valentine’s Day, was recorded in two and a half months. When the band finished recording on Halloween, Ville returned to his tower in Helsinki and started recording an album with acoustic versions called “Baudelaire in Braille”. “The title represents the confusing nature of love. Imagine reading Baudelaire in braille. This is how life is to me. I keep trying to figure out what it means.”

An “ex” inspired the new album: “I still care alot about her, I can’t blame her for everything but she was in my head –  like a guiding star. She liked the album, I’m happy for that.”

Ville, who considers himself a hermit, can only write music when he’s alone at home. And writing is what makes him happy. “I wouldn’t say I’m happy now. I’m contemplative. I think I’ll find my happiness when I find a new song. My ideas get distracted when I’m on tour. I’ve traveled with a guitar before, but trying to write on a bus when someone is sleeping and someone’s drunk is impossible. The dressing rooms and the trips, it’s all too colourful.”

Especially  on a saturday night in Las Vegas, where we were waiting for the band’s soldout show. Sober for over 3 years, Ville says he hasn’t slept since the last time he was in LA.

“It’s really boring when you’re not drunk. I’ve never been here as a tourist, only to play.”

A few minutes before going on stage, Ville satisfied the curiousity of  Brazilian fans: “We’re talking about going to Brazil. We heard that a few people are interested. We talked about it but it’s difficult. We live on the other side of the world and it’s complicated to take all the equipment and instruments. I hope we can go open up for some huge band. That would be lovely!”

Thanks to Mayra Dias Gomes for sharing this

Translation: www.himlibrary.com

Unfortunately, I have been accused of copying this translation, this is not true, please read here

Tags: Mayra Dias Gomes interviews Ville Valo, Translations, Ville Interviews