Music & Politics

Original article found at: The Hutson Street Journal

Date published: November 5, 2018

Written by: Pharin Wilde

Music has the innate ability to affect a person’s mood. Often times, musicians use their music to facilitate certain messages; or even to incite emotion or reaction. Musicians as well as their music hold so much weight when it comes to inspiring the views of the masses.

The Hutson Street Journal sat down with Erik Severn, co-frontman for Vaarallinen; to ask his opinions in regards to the upcoming mayoral election. Severn, as well as his band mates have settled in North Providence; which they now call home.

PW: Mr. Severn, thank you for meeting with me today. If you read the Hutson Street Journal, you’ll know that almost every article written recently was covering the mayoral campaign. Tell me, will you be voting next week? If so, who will you be voting for?

ES: I was sort of expecting this question! I am a citizen from Finland and as such, I do not vote. However, as I live here now, this is important to me. As a resident, I pay taxes, and contribute to a whole system, including health, security and that means to be a citizen. I believe that every taxpayer needs to know where their money is going to in what is being done out of this money in order to benefit a whole community. I am a interested party as everyone else that is born and raised here.

PW: The accent should have given it away, I apologize for my assumption. Let’s just say that you could vote Mr. Severn. Is there a candidate that you agree with over the other? As a celebrity figure, people are going to look to you for guidance in these matters. Your views can persuade people.

ES: I believe that Leon Abbott would be most suitable to become a mayor but that is not without reason nor I say that lightly. I am not saying this because the men is my friend. My friends of old know that I do not play favorites nor I would hesitate in throwing one under the bus if needed! However I believe that some people are born to do this kind of stuff and some people are born to do something else! David Pink is a sweetheart and has great intentions, however he was born to be a star. He was born to be a Kardashian. My grandfather was not into politics but he worked it in an embassy, which, if you consider, is a little bit political too. David is older than me just by a couple of years. He’s active and very electrical. I think it would kill him if he had to be lock it behind a table into an office deciding which building goes up, which goes down, dealing with strikes, dealing with complaints, deciding where the next trash dump locale will be, and so on and so on. Everything very bureaucratic that we will end up dimming his bright light too much too fast. He is Young whereas Leon he’s not so young and already have done old cool stuff kids like us do, and has reached that point of maturity where he can deal with the bureaucratic stuff.

PW: So you are saying that because Leon Abbott is older and more experienced with life so to speak, that he is the better choice? Some would say that a younger candidate being elected might be refreshing, and a welcome change of pace from the status quo.

ES: I actually like to believe in balance. Liam is old enough to know better, but he is still young enough that he could bring up fresh ideas. Remember we are talking about a man that, although I am not sure of the numbers exactly, should not be more than 35 years old. He’s definitely not 60, and he does not have extremely conservative ideas either!

PW: Interesting. So Mr. Severn for the record, are you giving Mr. Abbott your unofficial endorsement as the next Mayor of North Providence? And is there anything you would like to add?

     – Callith Appleton , Rhythm Guitarist/ Co-Frontman of Vaarallinen joined –

ES: I would highly recommend people not to take my word as gospel and research carefully and give their support to a candidate not because of what I say, but I urge people to study and reach their own conclusions based on what is logic for them. For instance, I share my life and my stage with one of my best friends ever, that is Callith. We are friends of old and sometimes we have completely different opinions about stuff. Callith is a devoted supporter of David Pink. This lady here is a reporter. Perhaps you would like to participate in the interview and tell her why do you support David pink and what are your views on it? Most bands have only one front man. Ours have two, and Callith is the other frontman of Vaarallinen.

PW: Hello Callith, thank you for joining us. Tell me. Why do you support David Pink as the next mayoral candidate?

CA: Well, Mr. Pink’s campaign has been transparent. He is open and honest on Twitter and and with those he works and communicates with, and we need that transparency and honesty in our government. He also is a member of the LGBT community as well as is a businessman, two things that both candidates are passionate about. I have been researching both sides and have not seen much background on Mr. Abbot, where Mr. Pink has had several successful businesses in Hathian prior to moving here which shows he has the knowledge needed to back his platform, one he has carefully defined whereas Mr. Abbot has only said he supports the Democratic platform. My research shows that there has not been a federal platform for the Democratic party since 2016. Mr. Pink’s platform is on his website at DavidPink.net as well as is defined by the Hutson Street Journal in his interview. I trust Mr. Pink not only with managing our band but for giving that truthful transparent guidance to the city that is needed to promote small business growth. To be honest, both candidates support similar ideas, but David Pink has a proven track record on the issues that matter to the city. I would be happy to elaborate more, but those are my main points, honesty and transparency.

PW: What’s it like, being in a band together and holding such diverse opinions on this very important matter? Do you two ever debate, and if so does it sometimes get heated? If you could tell the world one thing about having friends with different opinions about things that – really – matter, what would it be?

CA:  It has led to more than a few heated yet passionate debates. Especially between Erik and myself, and also between Erik and David as our manager. Needless to say, I think things will calm down after the election, and I suspect that everyone will get along better after. If anything, I know that we are not the only group of friends or even family out there divided in politics. I think people should know that, in the end, these politicians are also public servants choosing to serve our city and its residents. At the end of the day, everyone has a voice, even if you cannot vote, and it is good to use that voice, but it is also good to remember that we cannot stay divided. We still must come back together to make harmony in our city and lives. I think that is reflected not only locally but nationally and internationally as well. No matter who you vote for, someone else you know and love will vote different, and are they any less of a person for voicing that right? I think not.

ES: Friends are friends because they respect the differences and find themselves in common points. I am not going to say we haven’t fought a lot about many things including this one. However a lot of things come to the table when you speak of me and Callith: for example my country is far more open to homosexuality than his. Yet, far more conservative in many other aspects. In the end of the day we are friends and we will remain friends whether one or the other wins the election! We have our differences in regarding of band management however in politics I don’t think we have yet yelling at each other to a point of no return. I believe in praising the differences and I believe in respect. Callith and I may butt heads, but we have the freedom to celebrate the changes, to bow our heads and be humble if the other is right and we are wrong about some subject whatever, we respect each other’s different opinions and culture and habits. I believe that is the secret of our long lasting friendship: the respect we have for each other.

PW:  I think that you both are a shining example in terms of tolerance and understanding to all of your fans, as well as the people of North Providence. I thank you both for your time, and I wish Vaarallinen all of the luck in the future.