Interview with The Muff of Naked

In the end of 2010 Naked released their forth album Double Down. Everything was new with this release and they have their career in their own hands. This was a good decission - even the guys are working their butts of for Naked.
After they toured the states successfully twice this year we wanted to know a few things and The Muff took the time to answer our questions.


It’s been 3 years between “Superstate” and “Double Down”. Would you say you changed musically in this period?
The Muff: We stopped writing songs and put ourselves in situations that inspired the songs to write themselves. For me New York City was and will always be a big source of inspiration. We also tried to make the music sound like it had always played out in our heads. That is the reason we recorded and produced Double Down ourselves. No outsiders to fuck with the ear gold you know. We had a vision but as we had never done an album from scratch by ourselves it took some time. We also built our own studio/headquarters called "Der Bünker". We needed to make an album that took a big wet shit on the previous albums.
We also wanted to make a record we would not get tired of playing live, we don't play anything off Superstate live any more cause it sucked donkey balls to be honest.

It’s been pretty quiet around Naked in those years – at least what I got over the internet as I am not around in Finland anymore.
The Muff: Well above is the reason why&xnbsp;:)&xnbsp;Keep in mind I worked on NAKED everyday during those 3 years. We still toured until the end of May 2009, when we wrapped up the tour in Japan which was insane.

Lately you played one or two gigs in your home country and toured in NYC and around.
How comes you made the step to the other side of the world?
The Muff: We actually did 13 show tour in Finland when Double Down was released in Finland :) last winter.
We love to play to our fans everywhere but as we do everything ourselves we can't work on too much stuff at the same time. We came up with the crazy idea of going to America and this summer we have played 19 shows there so it's paying off. We also needed a change of scenery. We are going back in November and are trying to release the album there before the end of the year.
I guess the reason why the Americans get us is because our influences are mostly from the USA. We have loved playing there and can't wait to go back. If a plan that makes sense to tour Europe next spring comes along we will of course jump on it, no question about it. We will probably do a show or two in Helsinki next October.

Would you like to share your experiences from over there?
* gig wise
* personally
The Muff: Both go hand in hand for me, remember I have NAKED tattooed on my arm hahaa.. It can be overwhelming at times but you need to go with the flow and do what you do best, which is kick some serious ass with the band everything else is a perk you know. I love the East Village and now that I've been there so much I have a lot of friends so it's like a second home city. I love playing there cause people pick up on different stuff during the show as they do in Finland for example not a bad thing but it's refreshing for us. We get off reaction of the crowd so it was nice to see stuff work that usually fall on the way side. During this second tour we also got to see New Jersey and Pennsylvania which was cool.

Has there been a development in growing fans in US comparing the first and the second tour?
The Muff: Yes and that fact motivates us to keep going back for even more.

The Muff: And are there differences in the audiences compared to Europe?
(From my own point of view as visitor I’d say no.)
The Muff: As I said earlier I think there is a difference, not good or bad just different. It's not anything huge but it's a cultural thing mostly. I dig it tho:)

In live streams and videos from the last tours I saw you cover some songs. Who of you came up with the ideas for these songs?
The Muff: The band did :) Before the second show on the first tour someone came up with doing the intro to fat bottom girls by Queen at the beginning of "Reset" so we ran through it a few times and have been doing it ever since. We also covered many songs in our ever changing "Combo" but on the second tour it was totally different and we dropped all those songs and had Ilari sing lead to a Backstreet Boys tune in the middle to fuck with the audience hahaa.

On the last trip you all travelled on your own. Why?
The Muff: Because we can and hate each other! Just kidding everyone had their own commitments and we worked around them by travelling separate. No biggie, I was there raising hell over a week before the tour even started, some where not :)

Ilari posted on your facebook that you might stay in NYC forever. True or joke?
The Muff: I might, I might also buy a tiki bar and mix some mean cocktails in south east asia for all I know :) Anything can happen in life and one should embrace that fact. Life is meant to be lived not waisted.

We Europeans like to see “our European bands” here every now and then as well. Do you think there might be a chance in the near future?
The Muff: Yes! Show us the money and we'll entertain you all night baby!
Hopefully there will be a European tour in the winter/spring of 2012. I would love to do it.

Coming back to NYC: People say you hate the city or love it.
Hate or love?
The Muff: I love it! But sometimes when I wake up at the wrong time in the wrong place I hate it.

What makes the city special for you and which places would you like to recommend? (sights, shops, clubs,...)
The Muff: It's the same thing with people! You dig some and some not so much you know.. I've had some killer experiences in NYC and will continue to go there until it starts to suck. Trash & Vaudeville is worth going to. I buy all my clothes there. As for sights, anything is a sight&xnbsp;:)&xnbsp;Go there and get lost is my advise.

There is a place called “Double Down” in LES. Is there any connection to your current album?
The Muff: Yes! Inspired the name of the album. Go there and try the Ass Juice! Your life will be different after that nectar touches your lips.
Famous last words:
The Muff: Don't eat yellow snow! But besides that: Get NAKED and life a incredible life :)

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