Agent_of_the_Shadows (
-The_Rasmus-)
6.09.08.
.
The Rasmus's Lauri Ylönen is a musician, father and boater.
[caption] L says that his trademark hairstyle originated in middle school. At first it was rebellion, then it became a part of my persona.
About the band:
"Rasmus started at the Oranssi [orange] club. At our first gig only our friends and parents were present, the second time around we had 50 people present, and at our third gig there were already 100 people. That's where our career started. Our very first gig was in 1994 at Suutarila Middle School at our christmas party, in the gym which smelled of sock-sweat. We played Kummeli's classic series of Hän-Mies [he-man]. It was a much bigger hit than our own songs.
Back then we were Primus fans. And because Primus ends with an s, and I like words that end in 's', we named our band Rasmus. Now my sons name is Julius, which also ends in 's.'
It's amazing that even after all these tours and gigs, we bandmates call each other first thing if we're having a boring time at home. That's when we heat up the grill or go fishing.
Our guitarist Pauli has lived in Singapore for a year, but that hasn't slowed things down; we still arrive at the same time at a gig for example in Italy. We've planned that we'll spend Christmas together in Singapore, it'll be the bands first Christmas together under one roof."
About day to day life:
"For the past three years we've been making and recording songs for our new album Black Roses. A fight instinct woke in us, something that was missing last time. Perhaps it was because we had already achieved everything.
I've also composed music for a Finnish film, which will come out in theaters at the end of this year. It's been very therapeutic to do something completely different for a while.
I'm also working for our studio and record label. Right now I am the main producer for a certain project.
In October we're touring finland with mariko and the von herzen brothers, both of who are our record label's clients.
A world wild tour will start in january from russia"
about interests:
"After a ten year long break I started drawing again:when I was younger I made graffiti's, back then I always had a pencil in my hand. Now i've designed our new album's cover.
I became interested in architecture when I had my house built; I was always surrounded by very talented people. I was very bossy with the project, I changed everything. The whole project started from scratch, now, 2 and a half years later the house is perfect.
I like the functionalist style [of architecture], and that's what the house is. However, it isn't cold, but clear and home-y. The same elements should be incorporated in music as well.
While on tour I like to walk around cities and look at architecture. Milano, for example is very fun to walk around. History is present at every corner. It's a shame that at school I through paper airplanes in history class. Nowadays I order history-magazine.
Something which I also like is taking care of my garden. I have one apple tree which only produced one apple this year. But it was big. I thought for a long time if I should make jam or pie out of it, but decided against both and instead ate the apple before the bunnies got to it or it fell out of the tree.
I also try to make time for cooking, it's relaxing. My best dish is fish soup"
About his passions:
"I just bought a motor boat, and a few books to study [boating] from. I've gone around helsinki alone and with friends. A whole new world opened up there. We had a really great sunday when we all got together and went to Suomenlinna [old war fortress in helsinki] to get some fish soup.
As a child I went fishing with my grandfather on a terhi-brand boat. We left from Herttoniemi to go fish for the whole night. Now I live and reminisce on the same waters.
I would like a good tutor, who could also teach me how to sail- It would be more ecological than going around on a motor boat. I could also participate in a campaign for cleaning the ocean, so that someday I could be a grandfather whose bait glides through the water."
about family:
"Julius is now 4 months old. I've gotten to know him over the past few months at home. Even today I played with julius the whole morning, and couldnt get myself to leave.
In the future daddy has to go on tour, which we have to organize somehow. Sometimes we've been on tour for 250 days of the year, but it might be a bad idea to have Julius come along with us on tour. Touring is selfish and hard both physically and mentally; Sleeping nights on the bus, first thing in the morning are interviews, then soundcheck, more interviews, the gig, and the after-party.
All of the members of our band have kids, so the others have given good tips. Other bands, like Kent and Apocalyptica have also given a few hints. Fatherhood is a big thing, you can't mess it up."
About getting older:
"I'm not scared of getting older. Right now I want to create a safe and happy childhood for my son.
The Rasmus's aging shows up only in their lyrics. We've made 7 albums with approx. 2 years in between each. They're like parts of our journals. I laughed and cried when I listened to them. I bought them from iTunes for the new album.
I believe that we can keep going for a long time. The first 14 years have gone by well. If we can somehow avoid falling out or a total musician's block, I believe that when I'm 50 we just might be releasing the 17th Rasmus Album!"
Agent_of_the_Shadows (
-The_Rasmus-)
-Scratch- (
