Yearning
Doom Shall Rise

21.05.2008

It’s hard to find a band that is both original and interesting at the same time, especially nowadays, when everything seems to be said and done in music. But there are still many such bands in the underground around the world, even though we might be absolutely unaware of their existence. One of such underground artists, based in Finland, is Junahi Palomaki, leader of doom metal band Yearning. He’s not just a leader but a multi-instrumentalist, as in his band he plays all the instruments, except drums, and uses two kinds of vocals. We couldn’t miss an opportunity to interview such an interesting person, especially when it took just one e-mail to arrange this conversation …

Can you say a few words about early days of the band? What were the main difficulties that you had to face at that time?
       
We started in 1994 under the name Flegeton and had fun playing dark and doomy death metal at the time. Quite soon the style changed to more atmospheric, anguished and doomy direction. In 1995 we released our first actual demo "The Temple of Sagal" and got signed with it to French label Holy Records. There were no huge problems and we didn't have any huge plans, we were just very much into music itself. Basically at the time I was quite depressed and my only interests were making music and drinking. Nowadays not too many things have changed so much.

The name Yearning characterizes the band’s style in a very good way. Who suggested
this name for the band?

I remember the time when we were thinking about a new name for a band. Flegeton obviously ain’t too good a name. We had many not too clever ideas and Holy Records sent us some suggestions also. In fact, a very, very long list. They had an obsession with the word "spleen" probably because of Baudelaire's “Le Spleen De Paris”, but it wasn't used. Anyway, they had written everything that came to their minds and at the bottom of the list there was "vague yearnings". I started to think about this thing and finally thought that Yearning would be a suitable name. Spleen and Yearning are quite similar anyway.

Your first record “With Tragedies Adorned” (1997) followed the best traditions of classic doom metal, but already on the second album “Plaintive Scenes” (1999) one can hear elements of progressive and other styles. What has been the driving force behind changes in the band’s style?

This probably was because of hearing Arcturus album “La Masquerade Infernale”. That album had quite big influence to a whole band. Toni Kristian’s drumming and symphonic arrangements were strongly present on “Plaintive Scenes”. We were very enthusiastic about making music at the time. We were very hungry, so to speak. I still like this album though I haven't really been listening to it nowadays. There's some great moments in there. It's a very dark and symphonic doomy work of art.

“Plaintive Scenes” was followed by internal differences in the band, and many members left it as a result. What was the reason for this turmoil?

There was a lot of bad vibes in the air between many members. It was a very chaotic time. Even I was about to leave the band, though all the songs were written by me. The drummer and the female flutist/singer also divorced and couldn't get along. Bad chemistry all in all. I continued with Toni as a duo for a two albums, until even that didn't work anymore.

Over the past few years Yearning has been a duo consisting of yourself and drummer Aki Kuusinen. Does Ari take part in the songwriting process, or do you compose everything on your own?

I still compose everything and play all the instruments except drums. Aki did a few clever arrangements on our latest album “Merging into Landscapes” (2007), and it was a pleasure to work with him.

Can you say a few words about the songwriting process? What comes first – music or lyrics? Do you come to the studio when all the songs are 100 percent ready, or do you change or rearrange them in the process of recording?

I always compose the music first and after that start to illustrate the music with words. Yearning's third album “Frore Meadow” (2001) was quite much improvised in the studio on the basis of some of my ideas, all the other albums have been very carefully prepared and arranged before entering the studio. I think this seems to be the best way. Some new ideas always pop out during the recording process and that is always a good thing.

How did you end up being signed to a French label? And why did you decide to stick to Holy Records for “Merging Into Landscapes” after you were so much frustrated by the label’s performance (as your bio says)?

Like I mentioned earlier we sent them our demo and got signed. We made a deal for two albums and that was later changed to four albums. After these albums we had negotiations with many labels, but didn't get good offers. Finally I decided to make one more deal with Holy Records, so that the album could be released. It was made with a very, very low budget, but it was made anyway. Holy Records have been able to release all our albums, but nowadays they
could invest a bit more. Well, they've released five Yearning albums, so that ain't too bad. Unluckily the band isn't too much known.

Your bio also says that you suffered from “bothersome addictions” after the previous album “Evershade” (2003), and the band was close to ceasing its existence as a result of that. How did you manage to go through all these troubles and keep doing music?

No sex, just drugs and alcohol, that's doom 'n' roll. I managed to continue by changing a drummer. A friend of mine recommended Aki from Sinking, The Zombie etc. That was a good choice and thus one more Yearning album came to life. I tend to always make music although life is kicking you in the head too often.

You are very good at both clean vocals and growling. Where did you learn to sing? Do you have any kind of formal musical education?

I've studied classical guitar playing for ten years, but haven't really trained my voice. I myself am not too convinced about my singing, but what can you do. I know some things that are useful in opening one’s voice and that's it basically. I think I'm a better guitarist or composer than really a singer.

By the way, since you are an excellent growler yourself, why did you bring in Tuukka Koskinen (Let Me Dream, Saattue) to do “harsh vocals” on “Merging Into Landscapes”?

Tuukka did a few parts on that album, just to add a bit different shade here and there. It's nice to have some variation on the vocals. Some parts we growled together, so it's quite "romantic".

“Merging Into Landscapes” features much more classical influences than before. Have you been listening to a lot of classical music lately? What are your favorite classical composers?

In fact I haven't been listening to much classical music nowadays, only now and then. Anyway, I've listened to it for so many years actively, so it's deeply rooted in me as an influence. Nowadays I’ve been listening to dark ambient, metal and progressive stuff. My favorite composers are Claude Debussy, Dmitri Shostakovich, Anton Bruckner, Tschaikovsky, Jean Sibelius, Eino Juhani Rautavaara, Stravinsky, but most of all Debussy. There are many others
also.

Why is the band’s live activity so limited? Is it because session musicians are hard to find and to keep?

Well, people tend to move to different places, are having kids etc. There's also a lot of laziness in the air.

Can you say a few words about your new project Colosseum? What is your role in this band, and how much is its music different from Yearning?

Colosseum is a band that plays symphonic funeral doom metal. I compose all the songs and play guitar, synths and growl like hell. A pretty similar role to Yearning, but we also play live now and then. We have released “Chapter 1: Delirium” through Firebox Records/Firedoom Music and will record the next album “Chapter 2: Numquam” in July. I'm very excited about this album. There are killer songs and most of the orchestrations are ready and colossal as hell. Colosseum is even darker and slower compared to Yearning and there’s not too much clean vocals.

Colosseum is the name that has already been used before by a British progressive rock band of the 1970s. Why did you still decide to use it? Is it of any special meaning to the band members?

Colosseum is close to death and megalomania. It suits our music in a good way. I chose the name ‘cause I wasn't aware of this prog band’s existence at the time. Now I am, and curses are raining like from an open sky.

How do you earn your living? Is it possible to survive just by doing Yearning and Colosseum, or do you also have a dayjob?

I get basically nothing out of music nowadays. I'd like to, but I'm not Paul McCartney, you know. I do have a daily job, but will probably end up being whole time drunk. That ain't too bad either.

Do you have a family? Is it difficult to combine personal life with music?

I do have a family and it is a good thing and there's no problem with combining music and family. Being a whole time drunk can prove to be more difficult case.

You started in the early 1990s, when the Finnish metal scene was very narrow and not very well-known outside the country. Now metal is on top of Finnish charts, and numerous metal bands from Finland are touring the world. Which situation is more comfortable for you – the “underground level” of the early 1990s, or the present time, when metal acts win Eurovision and Idols?

I don't really care about this issue. It's pretty much the same who's on the Eurovision anyway. These things don't have any influence in my way of making music. Of course it's great when good Finnish bands get the attention they deserve.

How much have your personal musical tastes changed over the years? Do you still listen to metal nowadays? If yes, do you follow the latest developments on the scene, or do you stick to the classics?

Well, the musical horizons have broadened of course. I'm a music addict, so I'm listening very much to music. I still follow the metal scene and check out interesting releases and new bands. I found a good Russian band: Comatose Vigil. It's not far away from Colosseum's style and they've got very strong atmosphere. I basically listen to death/black/doom metal and ambient, progressive rock and classical music, but can appreciate a good song most of all regardless of a style.

The Yearning website has not been updated since August 2007. What has happened to the band since that time? And what are your future plans?

Yearning hasn't been really active after the release of “Merging Into Landscapes”. I've done some interviews, but that's it basically. I've made new Colosseum material and will try to find a new path for Yearning after the second Colosseum album is done. It may take some time to find a new inspiration again, but writing music will never stop, I believe.

Have you ever been to Russia? What are the first things that come to your mind when Russia is mentioned? Is there any chance for a Yearning gig in Russia one day?

We might come to Moscow with Colosseum and Skepticism in June/July. In fact I've been just at the border of Russia, but that's it. First things that come to mind are vodka, “Kalinka”, great writers Dostojevski, Tchehov, Bulgakov, Gogol and many of my favorite compositors. There are no recent plans to play gigs with Yearning, but with Colosseum we've had quite a few offers from there. So, we might see you soon anyway. Cheers!

Yearning on the Internet: http://www.yearning.cjb.net

Andrey “Joe” Babanin, Roman “Maniac” Patrashov
May 7, 2008
© HeadBanger.ru