We caught up with Lauri Ylönen from The Rasmus just before the band kicked off their tour, to dig into the making of Weirdo, rediscovering their core, and what it really means to be a “weirdo” in 2025.
Interviewed by Marta Antosz
Tell us about the creative process behind „Weirdo” —you worked with new producers this time. How did that shift things for you?
Lauri: Yeah, well, if I start from about three years ago, Emppu (Emilia “Emppu” Suhonen ) joined our band as a new guitarist. And that’s been a great addition to this band – like her personality and her talent and how she matches the band. It’s been really great. I think she has brought a lot of new joy. Especially the joy of playing and new vibes in the group. And this was the first album we did with her from the scratch. And I think that is a big difference to the previous albums. We were having so many problems and trouble with this previous lineup, and it was difficult. So when everything is good in the band and you’re feeling great, then it’s nice to make music, and it’s easier to make something you’re proud of. I’m really happy this time. We were able to write great songs and also kind of update the sound of the band into something more modern. I’m really happy with this heavier sound. We’ve got a little bit more guitars on this one, and the overall feeling is a bit more… „angry”. It just kind of fits the situation of the world. We are all a bit scared and unsure about the future. So, you know, sometimes as an artist, you want to, of course, emphasize that in the music.
So how do you think your fans will react to this new heavier sound? Are you afraid? Excited? Any doubts?
Lauri: t’s always a bit of a mystery when you release an album. I’m curious to hear what the fans say about it. Obviously, we’ve already put out a few singles – three or four songs, I think, so the response has been really good. A lot of longtime Rasmus fans have always been begging us to make a rock album. We’ve used a lot of synthesizers and electronic stuff in the past, and it’s something we wanted to explore. But again, it just felt good to play guitar and make an old-school rock album. I’ve sensed that the fans have been really happy with the new sound.
Tell me about the songwriting process. “Rest in Pieces” felt very personal. What’s the story behind that one?
Lauri: Yeah, “Rest in Pieces” was the last song that came about at the very end of the recording session. Everything else was basically ready to go and mixed. But I had this experience with an old best friend—things went really badly, and he turned out to be a betrayer. I was really hurt. I felt really sad. The idea for the song came in the middle of the night – 3 a.m.—I woke up, started writing, recording on my laptop.
I did the production myself. I’m not amazing at it, but I’m getting there. And the song just turned out great. We finished it with two producers: Alexi Matsson in Finland from Blind Channel, and Joseph McQueen in LA — he’s worked with bands like As I Lay Dying. So we’re very happy with how it turned out. It’s one of my favourite tracks.
Were there other personal tracks? And how did “Weirdo” become the title track?
It was actually the first song we had for this album. We were always looking for a “key” song—something strong enough that the rest of the album could form around. “Weirdo” had that. The lyrics tell my life story. I never became that “normal good citizen”—a soldier, a priest, or someone respected. I was always just the musician guy. But music is important. We’ve brought so much joy, hope, and meaning to so many. Over 4 million people stream our music monthly on Spotify—that must mean something. So when
I say in the song, “I’m just a weirdo” and “I’ll never be a hero,” it’s not really true. I’m a hero for my fans. And that’s enough. That’s a pretty remarkable thing already.
You brought up fans—what’s your relationship like with them now?
Lauri: I think we’re still close to our fans. Sure, when we play 2,000+ capacity venues, it’s chaotic, and it’s hard to talk to just one person because 1,000 people want a photo. But we’re easy to approach. Our fans kind of know us — and we’re harmless. They’re loyal, too. So many have followed us since the early 2000s. Like in Poland, where we played our first show in 2003 — and they’re still coming to Stodoła. That was the first show on this tour to sell out. Massive respect to Polish fans for always being there for us.
Any funny or special fan stories — off stage?
Lauri: We’ve met fans in the streets of Poland quite a few times. We love to explore cities — we don’t just sit in the hotel or on the tour bus. We’re active. Take photos with statues, try local food, museums, all that. Sometimes fans just spot us, and we invite them to hang out or show us around. It’s always great to have a local guide if you only have one day.
Did this album give you more creative freedom than previous ones?
Lauri: Yes. The new lineup has brought a stability and energy that allows me to take a bigger role, which I’m not complaining about. I like pushing my visions forward, and I think I know where to take The Rasmus. Sometimes in a band, democracy doesn’t work. Someone has to lead. But I appreciate my bandmates a lot. If I write something, I always explain it to them, read them the lyrics. And if they disagree, we change it. I want them to feel respected. It’s important we stay good friends.
What about the rest of the band creatively—do they write too?
Lauri: They’re more involved in arranging. For this album, we did a pre-studio session in a rustic farmhouse in the Finnish countryside. It had a studio, sauna, jacuzzi, surrounded by fields and forests. We stayed there a week, rehearsing, arranging, recording demos. That prep helped us know exactly what we wanted before going into the real studio with producers.
Your tour kicks off, what’s got you most excited?
Lauri: Yeah, we start tomorrow! First, we play across Finland. Today was the last rehearsal. We’ve got video screens for every song—each matching the vibe of when the song was released. So if it’s from 2003, you’ll see that imagery. It’s like traveling back in time visually. We’ll play hits, songs from the past, and the new stuff. I’m proud of the new album and how we’ve updated our sound. Sadly, only one show in Poland, and it’s already sold out—but I hope we do another tour next year. We’re going to Australia for the first time too. And we’ve signed with an American label, so there are plans for the U.S. That’s exciting— it’s a massive country, like a continent on its own.
Could America be a new beginning for you?
Lauri: Who knows? It’s a mystery. America’s its own world. Some bands are huge there, playing arenas, and we never hear of them in Europe. We toured the U.S. this spring — small venues, like 500 people—but the energy was amazing. Some fans waited 20 years to see us. They sang every word. It was incredible.
Do you think your core identity has changed since the early days?
Lauri: No, not really. The core—the essence—hasn’t changed. That “Rasmus feeling” in a song is still there. I’ve heard people say, “This sounds like The Rasmus,” and that’s the best compliment. We’ve explored different styles, instruments, and production, but we’ve always had what I call “positive sadness.” There’s darkness, but there’s hope. The opposites always meet in our music. That’s what I love playing with.
After finishing Weirdo, is there something you’d tell your younger self?
Lauri: That song is already the message. Not to my younger self—because that’s impossible—but to someone like I was back then. “You’re good the way you are. Love yourself more. You’re not alone.” I felt alone once, but then I found people like me. I dressed weird, had crazy hair, makeup… and people like me found me. That’s how I met the Rasmus guys. That’s how the band, and eventually this whole family was born.
With the new album and tour, are you still writing?
Lauri: I’m very inspired. I’ve already written 10 songs for the future. The album drops tomorrow, but my mind is already ahead. It helps take the pressure off this release. I’ve kind of already left the building. Hope you like it. Bye! (laughs)
What do you enjoy outside of music?
Lauri: I just moved back to Finland after 11 years in America. Got a house in the countryside. Been painting, gardening, just enjoying peace and nature. It brings balance. Tomorrow it’s chaos again until Christmas. Then I return here. Hopefully with snow. And Santa.
How did living in the U.S. affect your artistic expression compared to Finland?
Lauri: I’ve thought about Finland a lot these past years, what it means to me. I’ve written some songs about it. Maybe they’ll be on the next album. Even though I lived abroad, Finland never left me. It’s a big part of my roots. But I also feel like I live on this planet, not just one place. Traveling has helped me understand people, cultures, and perspectives better than TV or social media ever could. There’s bad in every place – but also good, if you choose to see it.
Thank you Lauri and congratulations on your new album.
Lauri: Thank you.