Lauri Ylönen of The Rasmus

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This past month I was able to schedule a Zoom call with the lead singer of The Rasmus, Lauri Ylönen, to discuss his band’s new LP called Weirdo. The band’s 11th studio album to date showcases The Rasmus’ unique ability to convey a wide range of emotions through their eclectic brand of rock. If you’re enjoying the interview, please consider streaming/ordering Weirdo here.

Thank you so much for your time today, Lauri! Weirdo releases this week, if you can believe that on September 12, to be exact, which is your 11th studio album to date. Where did the album title originate from?

Well, the title for the album came from the song “Weirdo.” That was kind of the first song to be good enough, or resonate enough, deep enough to become that key song that you always kind of try to find when you’re starting the album writing process. So, I think that song tells a lot about my character, my whole life, as just this sort of an anti-hero guy who’s really a hero from within, but in today’s world, this weirdo can be a hero too, I guess. All my life I’ve been this freaky dude, but back in the day, it was maybe more like an insult where people would call me that, but that sort of brings it back the word and makes it a positive word. Because I’m proud to be myself and the way I am, and I think even though I’ve never totally fit in the society, because of the way I look or way I think or what I do, I’ve still had a great life, and I’ve done heroic stuff. For example, I just played a concert with our band in Ukraine. It was amazing…we went in the middle of the war to tear them up and brought them good vibes. And that’s what music does. There’s a lot of strength and power in music. So yeah, that album title also has a deeper message in it.

Yeah, and it’s great how you kind of re-framed the word “weirdo” too with how you’re explaining about making it in a more positive manner for that. I’ve been following you guys in The Rasmus since, I think, I was in college. The first time I heard you guys was maybe 20 or so years ago. So I’m glad that you guys are still kicking it around. So what does it mean to you to now have that 11th studio album about to be released? What does that mean to you as a marker in your career?

Yeah, well, obviously this became, like a lifetime project, right? It started off as a hobby, and I still approach it like that. I still love to do this, even more than 10 years ago, I gotta say, because we had some trouble with the previous guitarist. Dude, he ended up leaving the band after COVID. <The band> basically broke up, for only a few weeks, then we got an idea to call Emilia, and I didn’t know her, but I just knew about her. She’s a famous guitarist in Finland. And I Googled her picture and sent it to the rest of the band, and said, is this the new guitarist of The Rasmus? And the guys were like, “Call her!” And then we had a little audition. We pretended that it was an audition, and we told her that we are looking for a touring guitarist, like a second guitarist. And she came over, she had her two songs we asked her to learn, and when she came over, there was no other guitarist. And she was like, “where’s the other one??” And then we were impressed by her skills, her personality, and everything, and long story short, she brought some new, fresh blood and life into this band. And we’re so deeply grateful for her, because then I was about to quit, and I was like, “I’m just gonna make a solo album, and whatever, or do something else.” And then I’m glad I didn’t, because you understand how you’ve built something quite precious. A long career is really a great thing to have, because let’s say we’re planning the tour. It’s really nice to have 11 albums to choose from. It makes it really hard, but it’s fun. We have these 11 chapters of the diary, and then all the episodes, and there’s so much history and so many things. I remember when I even see the song titles, there’s like, “Oh, that was that part of my life…I was 21 there!” And now, there’s even connections between the first album and the <newest one> Weirdo. I just noticed that it’s kind of always been around. It’s on the first album, there’s a song called “Myself,” when I was about 15 years old. I was going to high school. I was <singing about> how it felt to be then I was afraid that I’m gonna get bullied or beat up or something. And it’s like, I’m just saying, “I can’t be myself. I can’t be myself.” And it’s kind of the same basic idea as this “Weirdo” song, now 30 years later.

Yeah, and I’m so glad you guys are still making music, because it sounds like there may have been some friction within the band for a bit, but it looks like you found a good fit in your band chemistry. The song that’s called “Love is a Bitch” is a killer-sounding track. How’d you go about writing this particular song on the new record?

That’s honestly the first <song> we were thinking we should <cut>. I was like, well, it’s so poppy and I don’t know. But then we started playing it together in the studio. We had this beautiful studio in Nashville, like an old school place where we could actually all play together and see each other in luxury. Nowadays, because people do a lot of music in their bedroom, also sometimes I do, but this time we could play in this big studio and that was good, because when you really are jamming something, we were like, “oh, let’s just rearrange the whole song and try something else.” And we made it slower, and straightened it up. And I started singing some of the parts in the chorus. And it was a lot of improvising on the spot. And then all of a sudden it started, started to sound really good, and we ended up putting it on the album. And I was really happy afterwards, because I noticed that there’s always been that goofy, poppy, and happy side of me too. It’s not cutting my wrists all the time, it’s good that we show that <other> side too, because it’s always been part of our identity. So I think a lot of people have actually liked that song, even though it’s not my favorite, to be honest.

Yeah, but maybe it’ll grab people into the world of The Rasmus now…It’s kind of one little snapshot, so maybe people will go through your back catalog and discover their next favorite band?

Yeah, European Rock radios are playing the song like crazy! I’m not complaining…<Laughter>

<Laughter> Nice! So what has it been like signing with Better Noise Music? What’s the partnership like for you guys?

Yeah, a beautiful thing happened. I think about a year ago, they contacted us, and we had sort of started the process of making the album. But I was so taken by this chance to work with them, because they have great bands, they have a great reputation, they have great staff. I went to meet them and I was so inspired by these people. We’ve been in the same setup for 20 years or something, so it’s really exciting to have this chance to go play more in America, in the States, and we met some of the artists. I’m now featuring on the Bad Wolf song, you know. And also, Lee Jennings from Funeral Portrait is singing on our song, too. So we have found <an audience> in America, though we haven’t been there in like 16 years.

Sounds like it, yeah. I’m from the DC area.

I’m very excited. We’re trying to work in the states next year a lot more. Yes, hopefully going there in the Spring.

That’d be awesome! So do you have any favorite memories from touring with The Rasmus?

Yeah, I think we’ve played in like 72 different countries. Places like Taiwan and Malaysia, places that, let’s say I wouldn’t go for a holiday. It’s been really great to travel with my best buddies. And I’m always saying that being on a tour is almost like being on a field trip with my best school buddies. I still can’t understand that it’s my work, and I get paid for it. So it’s wonderful. I think traveling is really good for anyone who is capable and can do that, because then you understand the world, how the world works so much better when you get to really visit different cultures and learn from them and all that. So, we played in India, for example. And that was a wild thing. I would never in a million years have thought we would play in India…

And they probably were singing along to every word too, right?

Yeah, totally!

Also, can you think of any fan interactions over the years, either through Instagram DMs, or even from a person at a concert, where somebody was really connecting with the music from your band?

I think our fans are quite easy to approach, and we’re not too scary guys, and people come up and talk to us a lot. They share their stories, and what our music means to them, and it’s really nice to hear those things like a lot of people have gone through hard times listening to certain songs and that’s a really nice compliment for an artist to hear something like that.

What bands do you notice today that are doing something interesting in the rock scene?

I’ve been really enjoying Bad Omens. They are a wonderful band. Also Bring Me the Horizon are doing something, whatever that music style is called, and I don’t think we should have these “boxes”. So that’s why I don’t even want to say that. I mean, whatever they do is something unique. So, it’s fun to follow that. And it’s inspiring me that people are brave enough to do something like that. Sleep Token are great too.

What advice would you give for bands looking for their own break today?

Well, I think if you’re working with a band, and with other people, it’s important to cherish the friendships, and try to keep it healthy. That’s always the starting point for good music and think about the others, not just yourself. It’s like a relationship. You have to keep it healthy. So that’s a good starting point. So I don’t like trying to find the right guys in your band if possible. I know it’s like human chemistry. It’s pure luck on who happens to walk into your life.

And the bands that start out as friends tend to stay together it seems like…

Yeah and then when it comes to making music, just go with your feelings first, and heart first.

So the last question I have for you is do you have any last words for your fans, or some reasons to check out Weirdo, or to continue to dive through the discography that’s now 11 albums deep?

Well, that’s a good idea. If anyone hears about us for the first time, go to Spotify or other platforms to have a little run through of the international history. There’s a lot to find, and a lot of good stuff in there. And I really hope we can come to the U.S. at least twice to play next year, so we have plans to be there. And we’re just kind of now putting stuff together. So, I’m 95% sure that we’ll be there. We hope to see you guys there, and have a good time.

That would be awesome if you come anywhere through the DC/Maryland/Virginia area, I’ll try to make it to a show if my schedule allows it.

Sounds great, Adam!

Stay safe on the road, and I hope the record does really well for you guys!

Thank you!

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