Blue Eyed Sons
Follow The Raven

27.07.2016

Finland is not just the country of northern lights, it is also known for high-quality rock bands which can be found here in abundance. However Blue Eyed Sons have managed to catch listeners’ memory not just with their innovative music style which can be described as hard rock mixed with blues, folk and psychedelic rock, but also with their well-crafted image, which is a rare thing nowadays for some peculiar reason. Those who have already checked their new video, “Crawl Io The Shade” will understand what I mean. It seems like we’re witnessing the dawn of new Led Zeppelin. I managed to get hold of vocalist Joel Hellström and guitarist Kimmo Erik Rauhanen in between their numerous gigs (including shows at Club Semifinaali and Bäkkäri Bar), and we talked in a relaxed atmosphere about mystics, songwriting, comparisons with Led Zeppelin and future plans.

Do you remember the time when you first decided to become a musician and how it happened?

Joel: Well, we were friends, and we just started playing together. First it was just all about having fun and playing songs we loved. Then we became good at it and started thinking about writing our own songs.   
Kimmo Erik: Yes, it`s just started naturally

Who of you is writing lyrics and who is responsible for melodies? How is the whole writing process usually happening?

Joel: Concerning writing it`s mostly me doing the writing and I do all the lyrics. Sometimes we just jam together and get something useful out of it.
Kimmo Erik: Sometimes I create a riff and it starts from there. But Joel makes lyrics.

What inspires you to write? How do you understand that this is the moment when a new song is about to be born?

Joel: It`s every time when I hear something around and get the idea that makes me think. You cannot force it, it always comes naturally. Mostly at night. Or it can happen at any place where any music instrument is. You always can get a new sound inspiring you, get something new.

Which instruments do you play?

Kimmo Erik: Guitar.
Joel: I play guitar and bass and a bit of keyboards. But mostly I write on the guitar. I’m kind of imagining a guitar when I`m writing a new song in my head. It`s like constructing. Especially when you are falling asleep and you are half-conscious and in this in-between condition when your brain starts sparkling new ideas.

So, you have a small guitar in your brain, don’t you?

Joel: Ha-ha, kind of. For me it is really the best when you use only your brain for writing. Because you are…
Kimmo Erik: …on the edge of your limitations.
Joel: Yes, you are distracted from your senses when you are lying with your eyes closed in complete silence. That`s why I have a guitar over my bed. When I figure out something while falling asleep I can grab a guitar and play and record it on my phone. So, this moment when you are almost falling asleep but still awake is the best for writing songs.

That`s interesting. I guess it`s the most picturesque description of the songwriting process I`ve ever heard so far. Joel, in your new video “Crawl To The Shade” you are wearing very interesting body art and makeup. What does it mean and what did you want to say with it?

Joel: We have an EP called “Crawl To The Shade” and you can see a bird on its cover. The picture is inspired by an old 19th century Demonology book. The crow came from Сaum, a Biblical demon who rules 30 legions of demons in the 9th circle of hell. There has to be something mystical.
Kimmo Erik: Yes, a crow is very mystical.
Joel: It provokes thinking, it`s wise, so, it`s cool.

Yeah. I`ve heard that they can live up to 100 years sometimes. Probably some of them are older then we all are going to be. And what is this song about?

Joel: The song is about sex. It`s about lust and sex.

Fair enough.

Joel: Yeah, but we covering this topic with the mystical side. So it is not too obvious.

How about your full-length album? Are you working on it at the moment? When is it going to be released?

Joel: At the moment we are in search of a record company. There are some important people who are interested in us.
Kimmo Erik: We are negotiating about it.
Joel: We hope that the full length album will come in a year. And of course there might by one more EP coming earlier
Kimmo Erik: Or maybe a single.

What shall the listeners expect from the full-length? Are there going to be any surprises?

Joel: We don`t know yet how the future album is going to turn out in the end, but it will showcase more of our musical approach and vision.

Is there any venue or festival where you are dreaming to play on?

Kimmo Erik: This summer we actually are playing “Tirmo Blues”. It is a two-day festival in Porvoo. We play on the second day.
Joel: Yes. With Smokin' Aces and Reckless Love. And we are also negotiating about playing other festivals but let`s see what happens. We have made a deal with a PR and management company recently. And of course it would be great to play Wacken and Roskilde.

How about Coachella?

Joel: Ha-ha, why not? But first we are aiming to play “Tavastia”. And I have good feelings about it. It may happen soon.

Let`s imagine that you could choose any bands to support! Which bands would they be?

Joel:  Black Sabbath and maybe System Of A Down. But there are so many good bands. I`m thinking how would we fit to them.

Well. I feel like you might fit to Black Sabbath very well. Are you going to see them in Helsinki this summer?

Joel: Yes.
Kimmo Erik: Yes, of course.
Joel: Also, I`m thinking we would be good supporting Ghost too because we also have this theatrical thing going on, and also Blues Pills, and there is also a blues rock band called Rival Sons. And in Finland maybe Von Herzen Brothers.   

How did you come up with the band name? Who are the ”blue eyed sons” and where do they come from?

Joel: It`s from a Bob Dylan song. I think it was the year 2013. I was riding my bike and listening to a song called “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall” in my earphones. There in the first line was the phrase “Where have you been my blue-eyed son?”  This phrase just stuck in my mind and I decided that it would be a good name for the band.

How and when did you meet?

Joel: We are childhood friends.
Kimmo Erik: Yes, we met when we were in the 1th grade. Three of us were playing football in the same team.
Joel: We are quite lucky at this aspect. We just hope that everything will stay fine  and we will continue to play with the same people.

And which music influenced you when you were children or teenagers? Do you have any idols?

Kimmo Erik: Of course! For me it`s Jimi Hendrix. And also Pink Floyd, Black Sabbath. All the good old stuff.
Joel: And I am mostly influenced by Jim Morrison and Robert Plant but the most important musician for me is Ronnie James Dio. He is the reason why I am doing what I am doing. He is really like a second father for me. He was a great guy in general and his music means to me a lot.

What do you think about people comparing you to Led Zeppelin? Do you feel any pressure because of it or do you feel proud?

Joel:  People are always comparing bands to others. We are not trying to be Led Zeppelin but our own thing. Of course we are influenced by them, but we are influenced by a lot of bands and Led Zep is just one of them. Though it’s always a pleasure to be compared to Led Zeppelin.

What are you plans for the nearest future? Both in music and in live?

Kimmo Erik: We are definitely planning to record something.
Joel: Yes, an EP or even an album. Maybe we will make some more music videos. Of course we are planning more appearances in the media. Also we are negotiating a future tour with one successfully rising Finnish band which plays hard rock!

Do you have any fears concerning your future music career? What are you afraid of?

Joel: I guess the biggest fear for all of us is to not be able to do what we want musically and and not to be able to reach our potential audience and proceed with our career. The harder you work, the luckier you get. And being in the right place in the right time can be really important.

What are you doing this summer? Any plans to travel or to go to a summer cottage?  

Kimmo Erik: It would be nice to travel somewhere during the summer, but I`m not sure if I will have time for it.
Joel: I hope to go to our summer cottage for a while and maybe visit Sweden. It`s cool just to spend time with the ones you love, experience new things, play some computer games and visit new places.  

Thank you for the interview, guys! Please say something to our Russian readers.

Kimmo Erik: Hello, Russia! Check out our Facebook page and like it!
Joel: Yes, check our new video “Crawl To the Shade” on YouTube. I hope we are going to play in Russia soon. I know there are a lot of good music fans there. So, see you!
Kimmo Erik: Or come here to see us if you want!

Blue Eyed Sons on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BlueEyedSons/

Viktoria Korpun
May 4, 2016
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