Page 13 - Black Velvet Rock Magazine Issue 113

BV113 pg 10-13 The Rasmus Interview.qxp_BV113 pg 13 13/12/2025 22:17 Page 4

BlackVelvetMagazine.Com - 13
most every night I go to sleep, I want to listen to he title track bears the lyrics, ‘I'm just a same month of a news story that a Banksy art-
podcasts about black holes and multi universes. Tweirdo, I'll never be a hero.’ We ask work, depicting a judge assaulting a protestor,
You know, real nerdy stuff, but it's nice because whether anyone can be a hero. had been removed from the wall of the Royal
it helps put everything in perspective with my lit- "Yes," he replies passionately. "We need all Courts of Justice in London due to the building
tle troubles or my worries. Sometimes you can kinds of heroes in this world. being listed and legally protected. Having
get stuck in small things, which can become big, "A hero is often thought of as a strong kind shared the basics of the story with Lauri, we ask
and they slow you down. of athlete or someone who is a politician in a if he had any thoughts on this.
"I try to see myself from the outside too, to high position, but I’m kind of being a bit mirthful Having confessed to not being overly famil-
help me overcome stuff which consumes my en- towards myself because I never had that real iar with the details of the story, he says, "I did
ergy, so that is something I would like to break job. I never became a policeman or a priest or a notice this news and it was a great piece of art
away from, worrying too much. It's going to be soldier, a teacher, one of these things. I never from him and I think it's been a while since he
a quite short life for all of us, so we shouldn't had a 'proper' job. I was always just a musician has done something. I love the way he puts his
spend too much of our time thinking about stuff guy. A singer. But I made these songs and, like message into these works and it gets people
like that. Just live in the moment." I said, five million people go there. They don't talking. I think it's important."
Thinking of the world at present, he says, have to go there, but they want to and, when
"There are a lot of wrong or terrible things in the they do, they get something from it. 'm Coming For You' is a heart-wrenching
world right now, and so there are a lot of things "And that's pretty heroic that we have come 'Iemotional finale to 'Weirdo', which boasts
I wish could change, but I don't think I can list to this point where our music means so much to the line, ‘But I swear on my life, it's true, I'm com-
them all." so many and brings so many people hope. It's ing for you,’ and so, to wrap up the conversation
But does he hope that maybe, in some how you look at things. Who is a hero? What is with the frontman, we ask him what he and The
small way, the new music that 'Weirdo' brings a heroic thing to do? It's ironic that I say, ‘I'll al- Rasmus are coming for with 'Weirdo' and what
into the world could help make a difference? ways be a weirdo, I'll never be a hero,’ but I don't he hopes to achieve in this latest album cycle.
Even if it is something as small as making their really mean it. I'm actually really proud of what "I'm seeing it as a bigger thing than just this
audience smile or forget the world for a few min- we've done. one album," he tells us. "Like I said before, I feel
utes? "30 years ago, people called me the weirdo we have been able to renew ourselves as a
Lauri proudly tells us, "Even before this and now I'm a proud weirdo. I've had a great life band and for this album, but I've already started
album, I've heard from hundreds of people how and I've done stuff. A lot more than what some writing the new ones. These songs were written
our music has given them strength and hope of the people who used to call me that for sure." almost three years ago, that's how these things
and good vibes and has helped them to get Lauri tells us about some of his own heroes. go, so I'm really looking forward to the future
through hard times. And that's a great compli- "I've worked with my hero on this album," he and I see a lot of potential there.
ment to get as a songwriter when someone tells shares. "Doing this and hopefully adding more mes-
you something like that. I'm always interested to "Desmond Child, who is a songwriter who sages to my music and giving people something
hear their stories and how they discovered our wrote most of the songs that I grew up with. to think about. It's a crazy world and we need all
music and what it means to them. Songs from KISS from when I was eight years kinds of support to stay alive and stay healthy
"Just recently, it has really started to hit me old, like 'Heavens On Fire' and 'I Was Made For and mentally healthy and, hopefully, music can
how many people voluntarily go to Spotify and Lovin’ You'. And then I found Alice Cooper's 'Poi- be a tool and, hopefully, our music can help
listen to our songs. Like almost five million peo- son', and he is another of my heroes. I used to some people to get through hard times like peo-
ple monthly go there and listen to my songs. have his poster on my wall and I've been able ple have told us it has before. So, I see the fu-
Like, seriously? What the hell? How can that to meet him a couple of times. We even played ture as being bright."
be? When did that happen? a couple of shows together.
"Before we had all these statistics, sure, we "I've been lucky to meet some of my musical nd, with the release of 'Weirdo', there is
sold copies and stuff, but now we can see how heroes. Also, we played three shows with Metal- Ano denying the future appears bright,
many people are listening and we can see how lica in South Africa some years ago, that was and justifiably so for a band who have, perhaps,
people came to find us. What they were another dream come true for me. Those guys for too long lived in the shadows for too many
googling which brought them to us, what search were almost like mythical creatures when I was people. It's never too late to find something new,
words they used to lead them to us. It's a crazy a kid or a teenager and, there I was, with them even if that something new is something older,
world, this digital revolution is very interesting, and having drinks. It was really great." so strap in, step in the spotlight and get ready
because now I see these people on my screen. to get weird.
"They can tell me from the other side of the song which is a personal favourite on Visit www.therasmus.com for more info.
world about the songs and how they feel about Athe album is the uniquely pop-punky
it. The fans are so close to us now and it's a track, 'Banksy', a song which has the incredible Words By Michael Coventry
beautiful thing." coincidence of the album being released in the

Photos By Venla Shalin

THE RASMUS