EMQ’s with EUGE VALOVIRTA OF RED WOLF

EMQ’s with EUGE VALOVIRTA OF RED WOLF

Hi everyone! Welcome to our new EMQ’s interview with Multinational Metal band, Red Wolf. Huge thanks to guitarist Euge Valovirta for taking part!

What is your name, what do you play, and can you tell us a little bit about the history of the band?

Euge Valovirta and I play guitar in Cyhra and in RED WOLF. The history of RED WOLF is (official bio):

It all started in Spring 2020, during the COVID-19 lockdown, when Euge Valovirta (Cyhra) had received compliments & questions about the songs he had used on his YouTube – channel’s videos which were just 1-2 minute clips of cool riffs basically written for a particular video about a certain amp, effect pedal etc.

Around the same time Adde Larsson, with whom Euge had played several Cyhra shows since he had filled in for Alex Landenburg, called Euge that he really liked Euge’s solo album “Easy Does It” and if he ever plans to record another, he’d like to be the drummer on that.

Since all of their main band’s tours were cancelled ‘cos of the COVID-19, they had plenty of time so they decided that Euge will complete the aforementioned clips into full songs at his home studio in Helsinki, Finland and Adde will then record drums on them in his hometown Gothenburg, Sweden.

When the demos of the songs were finished Euge decided that the songs require vocals and someone to finish the writing process with him and the first guy he thought who’d be perfect for the job was Samy Elbanna (Lost Society) and Samy replied immediately, without hearing a single song, that he is in.

In the next couple of weeks the two bounced vocal ideas while Adde was recording the drums and before they knew they had 10 songs full of pounding drums, killer riffs & catchy vocals ranging from clean singing to aggressive growl.

Around the same time Euge thought that he wants his old bandmate from Suburban Tribe Janne Joutsenniemi (Stone, Suburban Tribe) to play bass on the songs and Janne also replied immediately that he is in. Janne also growls on ‘The Point of No Return’ which he hasn’t done since Stone’s last album ‘Emotional Playground’ (1991).

After the drums were done Euge, Samy & Janne recorded their parts at their home studios and by early July the recordings were finished, without the guys meeting once during this time, and the mixing started at IYP studios in Gothenburg, Sweden by Matthias Törngren.

How did you come up with your band name?

I love Huskies and my family had one when I was a kid and when he was older he looked like a wolf and people often thought that he was one. When it was time to decide the name for the band I was reading a book called ‘Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James and that’s where I picked up the name.

What Country/Region are you from and what is the Metal/Rock scene like there?

I’m was born in Helsinki,  Finland but just moved to Switzerland and the Finnish metal/rock scene is very active and there is/has been some great bands hailing from our country like Amorphis, Nightwish, Children Of Bodom and Hanoi Rocks just to name a few. And Red Wolf of course 😉

What is your latest release? (Album, EP, Single, Video)

With RED WOLF we just released our first single ‘Crossing the Line’ and our debut album “Sessions Vol. 1” is coming out on October 14th with one single/video before that.

Red Wolf ‘Crossing The Line (Official Video)

Red Wolf ‘The Road’ (Official Video)

CYHRA’s latest release is “No Halos In Hell” which came out last year.

Who have been your greatest influences?

There’s so many but of guitarists my main influences have been Randy Rhoads, Zakk Wylde, Dimebag Darrell, James Hetfield, Gary Moore and Slash just to name a few.

What first got you into music?

Bruce Springsteen. He is still the Number 1 for me. My first memories of music in general is when my uncle played Bruce to me when I wasn’t even in school, I think, and I’ve been a fan ever since.

If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?

It’s be cool to write some songs and jam with Ozzy. And with Zakk Wylde of course 😉

If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?

Oh, there’s so many great ones but to name a few I think TUSKA Festival in Finland, Sweden Rock and Hellfest in France. Why? Everything just works so great on those festivals.

What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?

I got some weird stuff when I played in Shining but can’t remember anything specific atm.

If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?

Thank YOU! Without the fans I couldn’t do this for a living and for that I will always be grateful.

If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?

Randy Rhoads.

What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?

That my dearest hobby is also my profession and I don’t really hate anything. If I would I’d be doing something else.

If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?

I don’t know…Well the ratio between the amount of work and the compensation received could always be better 😊. But if this was easy I guess everyone would be a Rockstar. Hah!

Name one of your all-time favourite albums?

Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band – “Live 1975 – 85”

What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CD’s or Downloads?

I don’t even have a physical CD / Vinyl player anymore so none of those but streaming.

What’s the best gig that you have played to date?

Hopefully, that’s yet to come 😊 Honestly, I have no idea. I’ve played several thousands of shows during my +20-year career and there’s been so many great shows that I can’t tell.

If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?

Probably a Hockey player or a Professional Soldier. I’ve actually been both, but music won 😊

Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?

My wife and our closest relatives. Five wouldn’t be enough but yeah!

What’s next for the band?

RED WOLF’s next single will be released on September 30^th (out now, link above – Rick) and with Cyhra we should have a Japan Tour in December, but we’ll see what happens ‘cos of the Covid.

What Social Media/Website links do you use to get your music out to people?

Facebook, Instagram & Twitter. And of course, Spotify, Apple Music etc. streaming services are great ‘cos you can get your music available all over the world basically with the click of a few buttons 😊

www.facebook.com/RedWolfMETAL/
www.instagram.com/euge230v/
www.twitter.com/Euge230V
www.youtube.com/channel/UCy8IvA7uzBTlzB2cdE6JnKw

Jaffa Cakes! Are they a cake or a biscuit?

A biscuit.

Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?

Stay calm and listen to music 😉

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