Hey everyone, thanks for joining me in the virtual RGM lounge. Grab a drink and take a seat!
What made you decide that music is a thing for you?
I’ve always been into music, but it was attending raves in my younger days that really shifted my perception of it. Dancing was the thing for me really– It was until later that I started making my own music.
Introduce yourself and your musical history.
Hey, I’m Perttu Leinonen. I started making music with trackers back in ’94 and am completely self-taught. My first synth was a Nord modular, which opened up a whole new world of nerdy audio experimentation for me.
Name your top three favorite albums.
I have so many, but if I had to choose, I’d say Autechre’s “Tri Repetae,” Two Banks of Four’s “Junkyard Gods,” and anything from Augustus Pablo.
What was the first song that steered you onto a music path?
I remember hearing acid music on the radio and just being completely blown away. That was the moment I knew music was going to be a big part of my life.
The music industry is the hardest industry in the world to progress in. How do you feel you’re doing?
Financially, not great. But making money isn’t the main goal for me. It’s about staying true to my values and continuing to create and share my music.
Tell us two truths and a lie about you.
I’m a data analyst, I can play bass, and I love qi gong.
What’s your thought on Spotify’s monopoly on the music industry?
I think it’s ultimately damaging to the creative ecosystem. When everything is dictated by a few large players, it becomes harder for independent artists to get their work out there and be heard. So musicians are the prey that everybody hunts until they bleed dry of their money.
Do you buy anything you don’t need during the pandemic?
Honestly, pandemic life was so crazy that I don’t think I spent money on anything I didn’t absolutely need. It was a tense time financially.
What was the worst experience you’ve had on stage?
The worst experience has been dealing with hateful people who don’t want me to be myself. Especially at a younger age. It can be tough, but I try to focus on the positive and keep creating.
Tell us something surprising about you.
I’m actually a shiatsu therapist and very involved in meditation and spiritual practices. I think that comes through in my music, too.
What makes you stand out as a musician?
I think it’s the fact that I’m always experimenting and trying out new things. Each project I work on is different, whether it’s a poetry project like my latest album or something more in the dub, afro-funk realm, or industrial.
You have a new album out. Can you tell us about it?
Yes! “Second Phase” is an ambient poetry album that really reflects where I’m at right now. I wanted to share my thoughts and feelings in a way that was meaningful and resonant.
Talk me through the thought process of the new tune/s.
It started with realisation exactly as it is in the album.
I was walking with my son in the forest where I had been before and all the memories made me understand the fractal nature of our life. I had a few poems I wanted to publish but not enough for a full album so I contacted my old friend Jarkko Sairanen and asked if he had any poems. Biggest work was translating the poetry and making it fit with the music.
Also, Llana Aryas who has been a singer on my projects on the last albums wanted to contribute and she really nailed all the poetry. I don’t understand any Spanish, but I could understand the message that she was saying, it went straight to the heart.
What was the recording process like?
Since everyone involved lives in different parts of the world, it was mostly a collaborative effort via email and the internet. I used AI to create speeches and make sure everything fit together just right and that hopefully gave featuring poet a better vision of what I was after with the music.
What was the biggest challenge in writing the new songs?
I think the biggest learning curve was recognizing the limitations of my own abilities. There are so many levels of technical expertise required to create a fully realized piece of music, and it’s impossible to be an expert in everything. I took it as far as I could so next time I can go further again.
Would you change anything now it’s finished?
I do wish that I had been able to create a full ambient version of the album. I think that would have given listeners a different perspective on the music and allowed them to engage with it in a new way. However, there’s always the possibility of exploring that concept in the future.
Is there anything else you would like to share with the world?
I hope people would listen it to the end, there is an important message for us all.
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