HEAD FIRST have released the official video for “Stars Of Life”, the first single from the debut album of the Finnish funk/metal band around Waltari mastermind Kärtsy Hatakka (Metalville Records – release 27 May). Watch the video below.
Kärtsy says about the song:
“This is a style I have never have been singing before: a groovy soul-like stuff!
Later teenage period I felt very hot for 2 totally different music worlds (as usual:)): at that time new fresh speed/thrash metal..and Prince!
Early Waltari for sure took advantage to use all the possible metal sides as its musical tool for creating its original ultimate cross over music. But seldom we had the guts to even try funky soul-like material, later it became more possible thru the technology, latest in Waltaris wild version of Madonnas Vogue. But in this song in Head First I did have a chance! And the girls did like it:)! Indeed!
This was the first time I ever tried this style! Do check out, how I managed it!”
Jaani (the guitar player and the main composer of Head First) comments:
“The Stars of Life… well… certainly not an archetypal song in out repertoire, but it was chosen to be the spearhead since the song reveals our soft and melody-oriented side.
We nicknamed the song “The Son of David” and that is what we still like to call it. In an early demo recording Jaani played a guitar solo that contained a really exaggeratedly melodic and simple theme of just few notes and the drummer commented afterwards that the solo was maybe the most stupid thing he had ever heard. “Like a singalong chorus part of a religious song”.
Anyway… to find out, what Head First is all about, make sure you check out our releases to follow too! :-)”
Once there was Waltari… and HEAD FIRST!!!
There’s no denying the status of Finnish crossover monster Waltari as the first “metal-like” band export from their home country back in the early 1990s.
But only a few can still remember that their singer Kärtsy Hatakka already had another band back then under the name HEAD FIRST… the only real funk metal band from Finland! And now this very band is releasing their debut… after 30 years of waiting!
Kärtsy initially played in two bands at the same time, Waltari and Head First. The latter achieved considerable success in the Helsinki area with their danceable mix of funk, metal and prog rock. In some of the first Waltari songs, the funky influence of Head First was also clearly audible.
“Head First was hip, all the big Helsinki live venues loved the band, and bigger and bigger crowds came,” Kärtsy remembers.
But then Waltari surprisingly got an international record deal in 1991, and the rest is history. And so Head First was put on hold indefinitely. But now, after 30 years, they are back!
Already a few years ago, the band took the first steps towards re-activation by playing some shows in Helsinki and the surrounding area. So the wish to finally release a first album became the declared goal of Head First.
Based on the biggest live killers, the existing song material was adapted to today’s sound expectations. In addition, some brand new songs were created. In addition to the three original members Kärtsy, Jaani Marttila and Sami Timonen, a new bass player, Jesper Anastasiadis, was brought into the band.
Head First means old-school funk metal with a fresh edge of groovy beats and infectious energy!
HEAD FIRST Line Up:
Kärtsy Hatakka: Vocals
Jaani Marttila: Guitars
Jesper Anastasiadis: Bass and Backing Vocals
Sami Timonen: Drums
More information at
https://www.headfirst.fi/
https://www.facebook.com/theofficialheadfirst
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