Sezione italiana ›

Interview with Aki and Lauri [Russia]

At the begining of february worldwide popular finnish band The Rasmus came to Russia. On the eve of the tour musicians (Lauri Ylönen and Aki Hakala) invite corresponders of “7 days” to Helsinki.
Lauri and Aki ride to us on their minibus. On the street at that moment was about 20 degrees minus, and famous feather that Lauri usually insert in his funny head of hair was invisible – head of vocalist crowned by the little rocker’s hat.

In Russia there are hundreds of fans that always pelting our editing with requests to print some intervew with you. And the most active fan, Yriy Zaicev ask to interest why in your head feather and how you can make your hair?
Lauri: Make it easy, i just don’t wash my hair about three days. Kidding! Feather – it’s a symbol of freedom. Freedom for me is the most important! Seen, that’s why i love this birds so much. They are really free: they fly where they want and nobody can’t order them. Particularly i love crows. They not only free and smart, they strangely beautyful.

If so, then when you will be in Russia, certainly watch our russian movie “Night watch”. There are many crows too. You like it!
Aki: Really? It’s interesting. In general we’re going to ride on the train. but, maybe we can go to the movie.

On the train? Aren’t you fed up with flights?
Lauri: You have no idea, how hard us express St.Petesburg – Moscow! Last time we had beautyful ride on the train. There in buffet a lot of vodka…In Russia very cold…

In most of intervews that ever gave TR on the questions answers basically you two guys. Are you the most smart in group?
Aki: I like the way of your mind (laughing) But that’s not the only point.
It just formed. Recently we were in India and make intervews all together.
Lauri: Oh! Don’t remember this tour! Indian food plays with us bad joke. Indian food very hot not fot our stomachs. Already on second day all band had troubles with digestion and we even don’t know, if we can play full gig!
Aki: But we decided to stay to the end!

Just was necessary drink alcohol after indian food. But I good understand you, what good for indian, for european like a death.
Aki: We like exotic! Now we had a days off and I was three weeks in Malasia, Lauri was on Tahiti.

Tahiti? M-m-m-m….Sounds good! So, you’re spending your money on this? I red that Lauri in last year earn 600 000 euro and become most rich rock-musician of Finland!
Lauri: Today you are like sheik, tomorrow you are poor like church mouse. I don’t pray on money. I have absolutely other values than any stars. I’m not hurry to wind such attributes as pink cadillac or huge villes in Miami. That’s why all earned facility I put in our studio. We are concern with not only creative activity of ourselfs but with activities of other bands. So we are like boss themselves. But on this stick there are two tips. On one side, freedom, on other side if you failed nobody helps you.

Who usually decide wicth mucisians will be play on the pre-shows? In this year on your concert in Moscow will be playing our russian band F.P.S. Who decided so?
Lauri: concern with all this our bassist Eero. He sits in depths of our studio and listening demos. We are totally rely on Eero.
Aki: Yeasterday I heard F.P.S. demo and I like it!

You are mentioned studio Dynasty. Is this name connected with your tatoo? Your fan Yryi Zaicev also ask interest what does it mean.
Lauri: Yryi Zaicev very observant fan. Really, connection is straght. This tatoo appeared very long time ago. The same tatoo there is by my friends. We made it in sign of brotherhood We were playing in schools. And now the same name has our studio. You know, finns are very rational, calm folk. Maybe very slow but also honest. How you are, russian tell? What on mind, that on language. If you have finnish friend you can be sure – it is forver! Maybe because we are don’t going to go away…

So, you are really patriots? Maybe certainly go to sauna on off days?
Aki: Well…calm, quiet relax not for us…We are rarely be at home so as soon as we are in HELLsinki, straight from airport call to our friends and go to party.

By the way, about parties. In this year 10 years since first album released. How going to mark it? As trully rockers? Vodka, sex and rock’n'roll?
Aki: Oh! Great menu! We’ll think about it…(laughing)
Lauri: Well, now we are not the same as we were in the begining. I remember times when we’re only begings touring. Young, crazy, nobody’s know…We were traveling from town to town and playing…Drinking, fighting. Stop the bus on the road and fight with each other – free energy. And what we’re doing on the stage! On our rider was totally crazy point: we claimed to bring on the stage for a concert stove and griddle. And then we invite on the stage our friend-cook and untill we were playing he fried small pancakes!
Aki: Yes-s-s-s-s….But today we are grown-up boys and understans what good and what bad!

Really, decide to steady down? But you are only 26! maybe, you think and about marriage too?
Aki: I know that Lauri now started to keep silent but I say: marriage? Not only now! In 26 – it is early, since 30 I think about it. You need time for the family, now we don’t have it.

Well…have you girlfriends at least?
Aki: Of course. As sailor – one in each port.

Do you supervise somebody In Russia?
Aki: Not yet..Maybe this time…

January 2006
Magazine: 7 days
Translation by: Loki
Article’s scans
Share this article:
What is The Rasmus Hellofasite?

The Rasmus Hellofasite is the italian portal & fan club entirely dedicated to the finnish rockband of The Rasmus.
Online since the 30th of January 2005 and accurately updated, in this website it's possible to find all the important things to know about the band: all the latest official news, exclusives, the fully discography with all the different editions of all the albums and singles, all the lyrics and much more ...read more »

The Rasmus Hellofasite is a project by:
Revontulet Design