Laurila

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Music
Interview : Janne from Laurila

When and how was your band created?
In the spring of 2005 I had disbanded my old group (Office Building) and wanted to go for a tighter unit. I was on a singer-songwriter tour with Tapes (=Jukka, the geetar player) and asked him to start a band with me. He brought in Petri (bass) and Antti (drums) and there we were, rocking like little beasts!

Where is the name of the band coming from?
It's my last name, so it's a little bit like Bon Jovi or Dio, things like that.

What musicians or artists did have a major influence in your life / work?
So many worth a mention, but I'll give it a shot. Sonic Youth was my first true love, I love almost anything by Bob Pollard or Guided By Voices. Hank Williams, definitely. Queens of the Stone Age rarely go wrong. As a teenager I was hugely influenced by Radiopuhelimet, a band from my home town playing punk rock with SOUL. 22-Pistepirkko is the greatest! I'm also very much into melodic storytelling stuff like Neutral Milk Hotel, Mountain Goats etc. Townes Van Zandt is great, Yo La Tengo... Neil Young, Ramones and the Flaming Lips is a great trinity. And we should never forget Lennon-McCartney, together or separately. I love great tunes, I love great sounds!

What are the positive and negative aspects of being a musician in Finland?
Positive aspect is the open-minded audience not concentrated only on one type of music. But I don't like being broke all the time, that's a bit of a bummer.

How could you define your style of music?
It's sentimental headbanging music. Raw, yet melodic.

During the years how has your musical style changed?
Well, we're such a young band, every song redefines our style. But as a songwriter, I'm more varied and able to express myself in a more relaxed way. I'm not ashamed to go where the fence is down.

How do explain these changes?
When I started, I only wanted to make quirky punk rock. Now I just write songs as they come. Also falling in love with country music changed me.

What are topics you treat in your songs?
Sexual frustration, human tensions, growing up/old, having fun, being bored, riding trains, LOVE. Anything life throws at me.

What is your favorite song in your repertoire and why?
Tough one, but now I'd say "Number Down" from our upcoming EP. It's just so fucking GOOD! Check it out if you get a chance!

Do you actually prefer performing your music live or in a studio?
Both, but playing live is always a blast.

During the process of making a song, what is the moment that you prefer?
Night time is the right time, but usually it's any time when you're not near any instrument.

A stupid question but... what is among all the songs you've been listening in your life the BEST song?
As a song it's not the best, but Sonic Youth's "Schizophrenia" changed my life when I saw it in the film "in 1991: The Year Punk Broke". It's the starter song and I was sold.

What is your opinion, as a musician, regarding internet?
It's a great opportunity if you know how to use it. Think about the Arctic Monkeys!

What are your projects?
This, my solo stuff and I also write theatre music. I also sing in a soul group, that plays Memphis-style covers. The other boys are in the live line-up of Tigerbombs, Jukka is Tapes (his record just came out) and Petri has a solo project called Plate.

What "image" do you have of French music?
Lots of good stuff, great melodies. For some reason the pop music field is quite introverted there, am I right? Any Frenchman should listen to Villeneuve, it's an awesome band! Also anyone who doesn't adore the genius of Serge Gainsbourg is a damn fool!!!

Is there one French song that you prefer? If so, what song is it?
"Poupée de cire, poupée de son" by France Gall and "Ca plane pour moi" by Plastic Bertrand, although I'm not certain if Bertrand is French. And of course the theme from "Les Parapluies de Cherbourg" by Michel Legrand.

Interview by Vincent Lefrançois - 2006