The Rasmus
Year of foundation – 1994
City – Helsinki (Finland)
Language – English
Genre – alternative rock, punk, hard rock, gothic rock, progressive rock, alternative metal
Lineup:
- Lauri Jõlönen (vocals);
- Eero Geinonen (bass guitar);
- Aki Gakala (drums);
- Emilia “Empu” Suhonen (guitar).
Former members:
- Janne Geiskanen (drums);
- Jarno Lahti (drums);
- Pauli Rantasalmi (guitar).
History of the band
The Rasmus is a Finnish rock band that began its history in 1994 in Helsinki. Today, the band's music is heard on different continents, the army of fans is constantly growing, and the number of albums sold is impressive. It all started with the idea of four school friends to create a musical group. 14-year-old Lauri Jõlönen (the permanent leader of the team), Pauli Rantasalmi, Eero Geinonen and Janne Geiskanen came together, not realizing that in a few years they would become stars of the world music industry.
The band's debut took place at a school Christmas party in December 1994. The following year, Jarno left the band, and Janni Geiskanen took his place. Interestingly, at the time of its foundation, the band was simply called Rasmus. The name change to The Rasmus took place later, before the release of the fourth studio album Into in 2001. This decision was made to avoid a coincidence with the name of the Swedish DJ Rasmus Gardel.
Creative path
In December 1995, The Rasmus released their debut EP. The album included the songs Frog, Funky Jam, Myself and Rakkauslaulu. In just a few weeks, the release sold a thousand copies. At the start of the creative track, the band combined alternative rock with funk motifs. The style is clearly traced in the sound of the first full-length album Peep, which was released in 1996. The album received gold status in several countries. In particular, in Finland itself. After all, the local listening audience has always had a weakness for heavy music with bright melodic vocals.
Over the following years, The Rasmus toured extensively. They toured Europe. The musicians rose to the same level as the band HIM and became one of the most famous representatives of Finnish rock with a distinct gothic touch.
The second studio album by The Rasmus was released in 1997. At the same time, the band was awarded the prestigious Finnish music award as "Best New Band". The Playboys album was distinguished by an atypical mix of genres. Funk and even rap-core elements were added to the rock base. Despite the fact that the Playboys album received gold status in Finland, the band failed to gain a foothold internationally at that time. After all, the number of fans of the band's songs outside the country remained limited.
However, in August 1997, The Rasmus loudly announced themselves by performing at the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki in front of a large audience. The concert attracted about 40 thousand spectators. The event was also broadcast on television.
Creative development
In 1998, The Rasmus released their third studio album Hell of a Tester. Sometimes the name of the disc is depicted as Hellofatester. The release became a turning point in the band's work and received gold status in Finland. The funk sound gave way to a heavier, guitar rock. The loudest track from the album was the composition Liquid. The song gained recognition from both fans and music critics, receiving the title of "Single of the Year" in 1998. The following year, the video clip for the hit was awarded an award at the Finnish Music Video Awards.
In parallel with the releases, The Rasmus toured actively. They played at major music festivals and were the opening act for the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Over time, the band's sound evolved towards pop. The musicians began working in studios outside Finland. They hired professional producers and gradually prepared a new concert program. Even greater popularity and recognition came in March 2003, when the album Dead Letters was released. The Rasmus became international stars.
The most famous hit
Some songs become symbols not only of the album, but also of the band's entire career. For The Rasmus, the song In the Shadows became iconic. The song in 2003 brought the Finnish band global fame and influenced world music culture. The song was played on the radio, in nightclubs, downloaded to MP3 players and listened to on CDs. By this time, the band was well known in the Scandinavian countries. But it was In the Shadows that became their ticket to the international arena.
The song was included in the album Dead Letters. The recording took place in Sweden under the direction of producer Martin Hansen. It was he who helped to form a new sound - gloomy, saturated with a Gothic touch and at the same time emotionally expressive.
At first, no one guessed that the song would become a hit. But the first live performances of the track showed that the song does not leave anyone indifferent. The work combines drive and depth, energy and mental anxiety. In the Shadows touches on the themes of search, loss, inner struggle – experiences familiar to many. The band’s leader Juljonen has repeatedly admitted that the lyrics of the song were born from personal feelings: loneliness, isolation and the desire to escape from the shadows of one’s own doubts. The song became a real confession that resonated with millions of listeners around the world.
Creative pause, return and Eurovision
In 2012, The Rasmus released the self-titled album and disappeared from the musical horizon for a while. The band members took up their own creative projects. It seemed that the band’s history had come to an end. However, the five-year silence was interrupted in 2017. The Rasmus made a comeback with the new release Dark Matters. The album sounded different: more modern, with an emphasis on electronics. But it retained the signature atmosphere that fans have long loved.
The band's decision to try their hand at the national selection for Eurovision 2022 was a real surprise. With the track Jezebel, The Rasmus won the national selection and went on to represent Finland at the main European song contest in Turin. The performance was confirmation that the band not only has not lost its energy, but also strives to open itself to a new audience.
Discography of the band:
- Peep (1996);
- Playboys (1997);
- Hell of a Tester (1998);
- Into (2001);
- Dead Letters (2003);
- Hide from the Sun (2005);
- Black Roses (2008);
- The Rasmus (2012);
- Dark Matters (2017);
- Rise (2022).
Awards and honors:
- "Best New Artist" (1996);
- "Best Group", "Best Album" (Into), "Best Pop/Rock Album" (Into), "Song of the Year" (F-F-F-Falling) (2002);
- "Best Group", "Best Album" (Dead Letters), "Best Music Video" (In My Life), "Best Artist" (2004);
- "Best Music Video" (I'm a Mess), "Best Album Cover" (The Rasmus) (2013);
- MTV Europe Music Awards "Best Nordic Artist" (2004);
- World Music Awards "Best Selling Album in Scandinavia (Dead Letters)" (2004);
- TMF Awards "Best Rock Artist" (2004);
- NRJ Radio Awards "Best Nordic Artist" (2004);
- MTV Fan Music Awards "Best European Group" (2011) and others.
Interesting facts about the band:
- in fact, the word "rasmus" in the band's name has no symbolic meaning. The musicians simply liked the sound;
- three video clips were released for the hit In the Shadows for different parts of the world. The Finnish version of the clip retained the band's traditional rock aesthetics. The German version added more gloomy, atmospheric shots. But the international version looked like a full-fledged short film: with thoughtful drama, deep symbolism and a clearly structured visual narrative;
- the band performed on the Ukrainian stage four times. In particular, at the festivals "The Best City of Ukraine", Music Bike Ukraine, "Faine Misto";
- in 2022, The Rasmus, in collaboration with the Kalush Orchestra, shot the video clip In The Shadows of Ukraine. The work revealed the theme of the war in Ukraine and became a cover of the hit In The Shadows.
