“You make the music, not the gear”: 2 Wolves’ Sami Simpanen on crafting ‘Not Worth It’

Finnish band 2 Wolves have emerged with their latest release, Not Worth It. This album blends doom, death, and gothic metal to create a heavy, atmospheric sound.

In an interview with bassist Sami Simpanen, insights into the equipment, recording process, and thematic approach of the album were shared. Simpanen discusses the choice of his Jackson Concert Series 4A, year 1999 model bass, noting its ease of play and compatibility with the band’s sound. “I had owned a Jackson bass before, so I knew that they were super easy and light to play. It was Autumn 2017 when I got a chance to own this one. I really like the general feeling of Jackson’s basses, especially this one. And, of course, Duncan’s pickups have great sound.”

When it comes to additional gear, Simpanen keeps it straightforward. “If it is possible, I use Ampeg gear on stage, but usually I don’t mind the gear. I use what I have. I have a Marshall MB 450-Amp with a 4 x 10” and 1 x 15” setup in our rehearsal room. Plenty of raw power. The effects I use now are the Electro Harmonix Bass Big Muff Pi and, of course, a Boss TU-3 tuner. I like to keep things simple. You make the music, not the gear.”

Adapting his bass playing for live performances to match 2 Wolves’ heavy, atmospheric sound, Simpanen explains, “Usually, I look for the most distorted sound possible from the bass amp for live gigs. If this works with the available gear, then I don’t need anything but a tuner. The signal is also usually taken clean, so the sound engineer can create the best sounding distortion for the hall. The best interpretation can be conveyed to the audience with just the force of the pick strike.”

“I think every song on this album triggers strong feelings of despair and hopelessness”

Discussing his approach to bass lines on Not Worth It, Simpanen reveals, “I played the bass lines for ‘Not Worth It’ by listening to my own thoughts and memories that the music evoked. I think every song on this album triggers strong feelings of despair and hopelessness, which ooze from it. I tried to create bass lines that would enhance the atmosphere and mood of each song without being too flashy or dominant.”

Recording the album at Deep Noise Studios with Saku Moilanen had a significant impact on the final product. “Saku is an old acquaintance from years ago, so working with him was already familiar and easy for our band. Saku’s production style suited us well, as he understood what we wanted to achieve with our music and what kind of atmosphere we wanted. He was able to create sounds that fit the spirit and style of the songs. The production process did not really have much to change for us from the last album (Our Fault, 2019), but mainly fine-tuning the details.”

For new listeners discovering 2 Wolves through Not Worth It, the album encapsulates the band’s ethos. “It doesn’t matter how you end up listening to our music, because what unites us is the futility of everything. And the knowledge that everything will end in nothingness. This knowledge makes you sad and hopeless, but so are others. Just chin up and face new disappointments in life.”

Not Worth It by 2 Wolves is available for streaming.