“We will make music until we die of old age on a stage”, says The Rasmus, band behind the song “In The Shadows”

It’s been 20 years since the release of “Dead Letters”, the album by the Finnish gothic rock band The Rasmuswhich internationalized them and made them a popular icon thanks to the success of the theme “In The Shadows”. Now, almost four years after their first visit, The Rasmus returns to Peru with the intention of continuing to do what they love the most: music. “We really enjoy what we do and hope we can keep making music until we die of old age on stage. In my case, I don’t feel like doing anything else”, comments Lauri Ylönen in an interview with El Comercio.

And it is not for less, because one year after its 30th anniversary, the band still keeps its discography fresh, as evidenced by its tenth studio album released in 2022, “Rise”. During the recording of the album, lead guitarist Pauli Rantasalmi decided to take a break from the music scene, being replaced by Emili “Emppu” Suhonen, who is currently accompanying the band on their “Live and Never Die” tour. This loss was not sudden, as Rantasalmi, a founding member along with Ylonen, had the idea of ​​taking time out of the band. Since 1994, The Rasmus have maintained a steady musical output, which has led them to be regarded as one of the most respected artists in the Finnish music industry to this day.

Another notable addition in terms of new sounds in the latest album by The Rasmus is the collaboration with Mexican rapper Charles Ans on “Fireflies”, the band’s first song in Spanish that maintains the somber theme that has characterized the band since its inception. beginnings. “I tend to write dark topics where I expose my thoughts of anguish and depression because it is a healing process for me.”, confesses Ylönen, who says that he is personally a more lively person. “I’m an introvert, yes, but I like to go to the beach, skateboard and sunbathe every day“, Add.

This contrast between his artistic and personal life is reflected in his emblematic song “In The Shadows”, which appears to be a sad song about the impotence of not being able to change some facts, however, in reality it contains a message of hope that is seen reinforced in the song/sequel “Night After Night (Out of the Shadows)”, which encapsulates several of the elements present in “Rise”. “This album has quite a positive message, keeping the feeling of never giving up and keep fighting until the end.”, mentions the artist, who believes that the spirit of The Rasmus was embodied in his latest album.

Despite the fact that music production is their greatest passion, as well as audiovisual production, what the band really loves is human contact. It is not just about giving a simple handshake or greetings, but about going to parties and observing how life is lived in the countries they visit. In the case of Peru, Ylönen hopes to meet again with the local gastronomy and with the fans who sang “In The Shadows” at the top of their lungs at the “Vivo x el rock” in 2019, while the vocalist dressed in black watched them with a smile.