Featured December Interview with Hannu Lepisto

Hannu Lepisto is his name and he comes back with his debut full length album entitled "Have A Beautiful Life". The highly anticipated album was released on the Tuesday 10th of December with the single 'I Wanna Walk All Night' being release weeks before the album dropped.

Since his EP back March 2011 "Run Away With Me" he's generated a lot of buzz with the style of his music and lyrical content. And with the single from that EP 'Run Away With Me' he has clearly caught the attention of some well know music producers as well as gaining a growing fan base outside of Helsinki, Finland. With the latest release of "Have A Beautiful Life" you will not be disappointed, you will hear in this album a very true and more confident Hannu as he sings about life, love and over coming hardships of many kinds. Also it is proof that not only can you compare him to other influential musicians of the same genre but that it is also safe to say that the very name Hannu Lepsito can stand in its own right among such talents as Finnish rock band HIM, Leonard Chen, Steve Earle and Bruce Springsteen, just to name a few.

Since the release of "Have A Beautiful Life" the album has soared to the Top Ten on iTunes for Finland and was the #1 downloaded iTunes Alternative genre album for Finland on December 10th and the 11th. And is ranked #1 on Reverbnation Finnish charts!

Hannu Lepisto
Have A Beautiful Life
December 2013
Finland

The Interview:

December 2013

Ava/Invaders Asylum: First off I would like to say Hello.  And to also congratulate you on your newest album "Have A Beautiful Life" and for breaking records on iTunes and Reverbnation.


Hannu Lepisto: Ava!!! *hugs* and thank you! And thanks for wanting to do an interview, a true pleasure to talk with you again! And thank you for congrats - yeah it was kind of a surprise and a little shock that ”Have A Beautiful Life” broke into top-ten in Finnish iTunes Album charts and went straight to number one on Finnish iTunes Alternative Album charts on the release date! And it feels great, as well, that fans didn't abandon me on Reverbnation while I was fully concentrated on working on album.  Big thanks to Victorian Underground Music and Homeward Records, Oy - they got my back.  And thanks to my online Street Team for support! :-)

Ava/IA: So, what have you been doing since your last EP  "Run Away with Me" and recording this new full -length album "Have A Beautiful Life" ?

Hannu: Well, after the EP - I started to write new material and play-around with some "old" half-recorded songs and I ended up working as the main producer, plus mixing, and as recording engineer; a little over two years went quite quickly rocking by, working on ”Have A Beautiful Life”.  As a perfectionist, it was hard to let go of the album and release it.  But finally I realized that I can’t make anything any better and that the songs were ready because colleagues kept repeating to me to release it.  (I listened to the material in several different good studios asked opinions from colleagues and from co-producer Aqualyra) - Then it was time to pick the best mastering engineer for the job: Matthew Agoglia (James Taylor, Emmy Lou-Harris…).  And he was very enthusiastic to be working with me again. It was my dream that he would master the release because he is so awesome.  I knew just what to expect 'cos had worked with him before.  He had worked with Howie Weinberg on mastering my EP, ”Run Away With Me”, at Masterdisk Studios, NYC.  But now he has his own mastering studio.  So ”Have A Beautiful Life” was mastered there, at The Ranch Mastering Studios, in Hudson Valley, New York.


Ava/IA: I must say with this new album I get a sense of not only musical progression but also but a personal one. Any new milestone within your career as a musician and or personal life that has garnered this fresh new amazing sound?


Hannu: Oh, thank You for the great compliment!  Yes, hard work (playing, singing, writing, rehearsing, arranging…) progresses in music.  But I am very glad here that You noticed something else has happened as well. :)  Being the album's producer (and all that is happening in my personal life) has directed me to a path where I ”accept” myself more and understand myself much better.  Still, I’m an existentialist to death. Don’t wanna say I've grown up...Lol. But I can stand straight better about what -and who- I am; and I'm more confident of what I do when facing difficulties and hard times. Now feeling a lot more capable dealing with them.


Ava/IA: For the first single off of "Have A Beautiful Life" titled 'I Wanna Walk All Night' you did an awesome music video of just you basically holding a video recorder walking around town in Helsinki, Finland. Who's idea was it to do this?


Hannu: Oh, thank you! Actually, it was my idea. My label went along with it - they got me this tiny Sony Action Cam with a head band and I walked etc. lol - and gathered material for over 16 hours and edited it down to 3 mins.  And I’m not a video-editor in any case, for God's sake - but I think I got the song’s mood captured there. And learned a bit of Final Cut Pro and video editing, at the same time.



Ava/IA: Do you remember what the song writing process was like for this album in particular?


Hannu: I wanted to make a good album, concentrating on the "Have A Beautiful Life" concept-wise, but I didn’t do songwriting in a way that "now this needs this kind or that kind of song".  I wrote a bunch of songs, a lot of good ones were dropped out from this album.   But I wanted the album to be a rock’n’roll journey for the listener, with different moods to relate to, like all my favorite albums have done, but most of all I had to be satisfied with the album. So others could enjoy it, as well.


Ava/IA: How has the feedback been about the release of "Have A Beautiful Life"?


Hannu: There has been a lot of raving!  And I feel very taken about that, and it makes me feel humble, and at the same time I feel that Team Hannu has succeeded.


Ava/IA: Finally, how do you feel about the comparisons that have been made about the style of music you've created? (For Example: Artists such as Steve Earle, Lou Reed, Bruce Springsteen, Leonard Cohen and HIM.)

Hannu: I take that as a huge compliment.  After all, these artists all are my influences so it feels great!  But mostly it's important that everyone is saying my sound is unique and every one of those great songwriters has their own influences and uniqueness, as well.  So continuing keeping doing my own thing is the most important for me, as a singer-songwriter and producer.


Ava/IA: Any tours that we should be made aware of, at home or abroad?


Hannu: No, not really. Yet.  *laughing*  But there are some shows scheduled, like Suomi Sound Fest in Poland next summer, but we are just getting there planning gigs… And we are planning this worldwide web online streaming gig on iBroadcast.tv - and I hope it will happen sometime in the near future.


Ava/IA: Any words for your fans that are scattered all over the world?


Hannu: I want to thank each and everyone for your amazing support and hope that you guys continue to share, stream and tell friends, and spread the word - and support by buying my music as well, so we get more options in releasing new material!  BTW. I've started working on a new LP already.  :)  If people haven't gotten them yet there are some free downloads of songs on the website www.hannuofficial.info .


And thank You, Ava for this, always a pleasure! Take care everyone and greets from Helsinki!


Love,

Hannu

I Wanna Walk All Night (Music Video) \
YouTube (Slides version)-

Vimeo Version (Full Video)
Link Below-
https://vimeo.com/80969931

**To read the October 2012 Interview for Hannu Lepisto's EP "Run Away With Me" click HERE!

Hannu Lepisto
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Ava @ Invaders Asylum
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Featured Interview: Hannu Lepisto

... in March of 2011 Hannu Lepisto released “Run Away With Me” -EP. The 5 track EP is by far an amazing album. Lepisto really showcased what it means to really come undone with this album. Having gone through a painful divorce, battling a heavy addiction and then almost succumbing to the almighty himself but before it could get any worst he was quickly surround and rescued by close friends and family from a further downward spiral.

To read more ------> Review: Hannu Lepisto

Since August of this year we here at Invaders Asylum received great response for the review with did about Finnish singer/songwriter Hannu Lepisto. And for the most part we were asked if an interview would ever happend with the talented singer/songwriter. So in late September yours truly asked if we could conduct an emailed interview with Hannu Lepisto. And in doing we were granted access to asked the questions we though that might be of interest to you (the fans) and of course us!



Hannu Lepisto
Singer/ Songwriter
#1 on Finland Reverbnation!

The Interview .....

October 9th 2012

Ava-Invaders Asylum: When and why did you start playing music?

Hannu Lepisto: Hi and thank you for the honor for asking me for an interview.

Music was always present at home, my keyboard player nowadays and big brother - also head of Homeward Records Oy which I'm signed to, practiced classical etc. piano playing constantly and my father who was vicar opened his voice and singed hymns every day and then at about 4 years old I swore - I don't never want to be involved in anything that concerns music but then my world was blown away at the age of five - when my bro came home with Springsteen's Born in the U.S.A and soon other great records from various great artists. And then I knew what I want to do when I grow up. (Laughing)
 
But that was long since I started to actually play something. But after I saw my brother's band supporting quite famous Finnish gospel rock band - I had the chance to try drums that were minced through PA - I was sold. I had finally found my thing. And quite soon I got my own drums.
Thank You parents for that too.. :)
 
And then I played drums in different congregation / school / noise / punk/ grunge /rock etc. bands and later on high school - I met Petteri my lead guitarist nowadays and at some point I switched to guitar as well and man we played and jammed all the time, skipped classes and all and then I started singing and started to write songs because I felt that I was better than previous leaders and songwriters of the bands I played drums in. And when we were in the studio with one of my previous bands - I sang the reference melody for our lead singer to one of my songs (I've just switched to guitar and started to write) - the recording engineer praised my voice and tone. Of course it felt good, but at the same time it felt awkward for our lead singer’s point of view... But that gave me courage to continue on this path.


IA: Do you remember at what point in your life when you realize that you wanted to make this a career?

HL: That was my goal at the age of five when I heard the first beat and notes of Born In The USA - but seriously when my band (The Matt Pistol Project) had some buzz and we got signed to one of the major agencies: Koetinkivi Oy here in Finland and later on we signed an international publishing deal with Stockholm based Marsongs (now defunct). And when my songs started to be on radios all around the world, especially in USA and online and in some FM-channels as well.


IA: Do you come from a musical family background?

HL: :) My Godfather and my idol and my father's youngest brother Tapani Lepisto played guitar in popular band called Esko Nummisuutarit here in Finland back in 1970's and made living out of it for years. And man he plays guitar so awesomely still. And I've an honor to tell that the same "family" label Homeward Records Oy that I am currently signed into releases his and one of his old friend Juhani's comeback single before Christmas and I'm very proud to be in such a great role in their project as a recording engineer, bassist, programmer, mixing engineer and Producer. Their band's name is Tapsa & Juhani and it's like a time trip to 70's. And I'm very satisfied what we have accomplished. It's instrumental but I feature on vocals on the title track. So stay tuned. ;)

IA: What was your first instrument(s) that you learned to play? And what was the very first tune or song you learned how to play?

HL: [Drums] and first song I learned to play was my first "composition" or song. Lol. I've quite never or seldom played nor rehearsed other artists songs with guitar (as a drummer of course I did) except some great covers on gigs.

IA: What and who are your musical influences?

HL: Oh, I could write a book of out them lol, but to mention "few": The Boss (solo and with) & The E Street Band, Steve Earle, Johnny Cash, Elvis, Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, Pearl Jam, Michael Jackson, Pink Floyd, Michael Blair, Tom Waits, Tapsa, Nirvana, Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, Juice Leskinen, Eric Clapton, Dire Straits & Mark Knopfler, Dave Grohl, Roy Orbison, Frank Zappa, Dr. Dre, Sonic Youth, JJ Cale...

IA: I notice that before you decided to go solo, you were in a band called “The Matt Pistol Project” what was it like being a part of that band?


HL: Band is like a family with it's good and bad sides. Maybe the chemistry and different life situations and too democratic arrangement policy :) broke the band. And my personal problems then and urge to go solo.. We were bunch of friends and I'm still continuing to work with Petteri and Markku from TMPP. So no hard feelings. And boy it was great to support artists like Bonnie Tyler in front of many thousand peoples!

IA: In March 2011 you’ve finally released your debut 5-track EP ‘Run Away With Me’. What was the inspiration for this EP?


HL: More personal touch was living very hard phase in my life and so it was therapeutic as well and for more artistic freedom and I wanted to push out more out of my songs. Oh and finding new love in my life inspired me very much.

So we started working with Petteri on acoustic vibe and soundscapes and more acoustic traditional Singer-Songwriter type of thing - but label and we thought the songs were so good and versatile to be just pure man and guitar type (of course there is one song of that type too, my first single: "There Is An Angel For Everyone") that I and label asked my good friend Michael Blair and previous producer of TMPP (The Matt Pistol Project) to bring his great twisted magic on percussion and drums and to production and he was in and brought his good friend great Ulf "Rockis" Ivarsson on the bass and Rockis to work as another producer as well, and the Finnish- American-Swedish connection we had, worked like a charm. Yet another top-notch guy a veteran mixing engineer Ollie Olson mixed the EP and Michael's old buddy Legendary Howie Weinberg mastered the EP on Masterdisk Studios on New York. Country boy's (Mine that is..) wildest dreams had come through. And it was great to share the stage with Michael on my EP's release gig here in Helsinki. He had just arrived from States from Hugh Laurie's tour and recording sessions. Way cool.

IA: What is your song writing process like? And how do you come up with material for the album in process?

HL: I never force myself in songwriting process (You know - like I have to start to write a song).

The arranging and getting the song finished is more "work like". Sometimes song births from a good lyric line or lyrics that just comes out of somewhere, of course they somehow reflect my own life to a certain point, and sometimes I come with a good riff or chord progression and like great John Fogerty's had said about his songwriting process that when he just jams with guitar and then plays accidentally wrong note on a chord - - the song starts to build from that accidental hook. That happens to me a lot too. (Laughing)


IA: For this EP you worked with the legendary Michael Blair (Tom Waits, Lou Reed, Elvis Costello) and Ulf”Rockis”Ivarsson (Thåström, N. Dunger) as rhythm section and co-producers. What was this experience like for you working with them in the studio?

HL: It was great and a dream come true and very, very professional and creative but in the end we all breathe the same air. So they are still legends in my eyes but normal, friendly, moody, sensitive guys and friends as well.


IA: You also took part in a documentary “"Maailman Valloittajat"(Veikka Gustafsson, Thomas Johanson and Timothy Kopra) "Conquerors of the World" in English by Olli Pirhonen. And wrote the song is of the same name "Conquerors of the World". How did this collaboration with Olli and you come to fruition?


HL: Yeah indeed! It was great honor and experience to be part of such huge project of those Finnish heroes. I knew Olli from the past - he was my good friend's friend and we used to hang out in our teens sometimes. Olli likes my music and is a fan and gave me all the freedom - trusted me and that kind of working suits me well. I read lot of background of the heroes and used them as construction parts but I wanted the song to be more universal at the same time and when I got the lyrics ready - I came up with the chorus, well the title was obvious and then all the rest and then we produced it with Michael, sending e-mails and speaking on the phone in the middle of the night, (laughing) to get it to sound right for the project. And the song was ready to give to Publisher and Olli 4 hours before the deadline. And it was very exciting to hear what they would say and to my relief they loved it, without wanting to fix anything in it. I think it's one of my best songs I've written. And all the "Conquerors" liked it very much as well. And goddamn that felt good. An alternate version of the song is in the debut LP that is soon coming out. Our plan is to get it released before the Christmas.

IA: What inspires you to do what you do, musically of course?

HL: Emotions...Sometimes and often playing guitar and writing are good way to write down sad and happy things to release stress and music is what I love, so I love to play as much as possible

IA: Are you currently working on an album? If so, when should we (the fans) get to listen to it?

HL: [Debut LP that is soon coming out. Our plan is to get it released before the Christmas]. On the album you can hear Michael, Rockis, Petteri, Markku. As well as fantastic new players bringing their magic to my songs. And there is one song I've co-written with Michael as well.


IA: Any other side projects you are currently working on other than music that you would like your fans to know about?

HL: Basically just music. Tapsa & Juhani rules. :)

IA: Are there plans for a tour? If so, will it be outside of Scandinavia and Europe? Do you have plans of touring US and Canada one day?

HL: I totally hope so - performing especially in the USA and of course everywhere around the world. Agencies here I am! :)

IA: Where should your fans try and purchase your music physically and/or digitally?

HL: You can listen to my songs for example on my reverbnation profiIe and in Spotify. And from my soon opening websites. Goddamn freaking Japanese? pornfirm stole my domain, we weren't quick enough... I think all the digital stores. For example iTunes, Amazon... and from cdbaby and from some record stores in Helsinki, like from Levykauppa Äx. We have had several distributor and label negotiations but haven't found agreement that suits both of the sides. But suggestions are always welcome.

IA: What’s currently playing on your iPod, (laughing)... name at least (3) bands/singers that you’ve got on heavy rotation lately?

HL: Leonard Cohen's fantastic new album "Old Ideas", Springsteen's newest and Promise-package,
Mojo from Tom Petty and Heartbreakers, Rage Against The Machine's debut (Imo - one Of the best debuts ever - I never get tired of it, although I need certain mood to listen for that)
and Bob Marley's Natty Dread just to mention few.

IA: And anything you would like to say to your fans and to the readers of The Invaders Asylum Blog site?


HL: I wanna thank everyone who took the time to read my thoughts and please listen to my songs and join my fan groups on Facebook and on other sites. And please spread the word and support by buying if you like what you here. And many thanks for the interview request Ava - a pleasure. And most importantly thank you dear fans for your support! It means the World to me. Greetings from Helsinki!


Hannu Lepisto
Finland's genre-bending answer to Tom Waits, Nick Cave, Lou Reed & Johnny Cash & Leonard Cohen.
Finland's #1 Alternative artist on ReverbNation since April 2011
www.hannuofficial.info
www.victorianunderground.com/hannu-lepisto.html
Hannu is signed to Homeward Records, Oy, Finland



Invaders Asylum
Website - http://www.invadersasylum.com
Blog - http://www.invadersasylum.blogspot.com
Twitter - @invadersasylum
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/invadersasylum

Hannu Lepisto: Great Artist To Look Out For!

Hannu Lepisto

Helsinki, Finland

Label: Homeward Records Oy

Current Sound: Rock / Alternative / Folk

By: Ava-Mimose

In March of 2011 Hannu Lepisto released “Run Away With Me” -EP. The 5 track EP is by far an amazing album. Lepisto really showcased what it means to really come undone with this album. Having gone through a painful divorce, battling a heavy addiction and then almost succumbing to the almighty himself but before it could get any worst he was quickly surround and rescued by close friends and family from a further downward spiral. As soon as he could, Hannu went back into the studio this time trying his hand as solo artist. From those studio sessions Hannu and his awesome team of Petteri Mård,   Michael Blair, Ulf Rockis Ivarsson and Markku Lepisto finished and released “Run Away With Me”.

Hannu Lepisto
Singer / Songwriter / Composer

The EP has been well received and has garnered many awards and recognitions. Hannu Lepisto is now currently ranked #1 for Helsinki, Finland Reverbnation music page. Hannu has a voice that commands with the likes of Lou Reed, Tom Waits, Elvis Costello, Leonard Cohen, Nick Cave and Jyrki Linnenkivi (The 69 Eyes). You might also notice from the title track “Run Away With Me” there is also some Hip-Hop influences as well. Over all this EP is a success.

Run Away With Me

Track List
1. Run Away With Me
2. Wild Girl
3. Little By Little We Drift Apart
4. 99
5. There Is An Angel For Everyone

Later in 2011 Hannu was commissioned to do a soundtrack for a DVD that is to accompany a book called "Maailman Valloittajat"(Veikka Gustafsson, Thomas Johanson and Timothy Kopra) "Conquers of the World" in english by Olli Pirhonen. The song is of the same name "Conquers of the World". The book is about three men who all are or come from a Finnish background and have three different chosen fields. Mountaineer Veikka Gustafsson, Olympic champion Thomas Johansson is an all-time most successful Finnish sailor and Astronaut Timothy Kopralla have Finnish ancestry (On land, at sea and in space). The links for this will be provided down below as well as a trailer for the DVD but note that the website to purchase this book with DVD is in the Finnish language.


    


Maailman Valloittajat - Facebook

Maailman Valloittajat - Docendo.fi



Hannu Lepisto - Cdbaby

Hannu Lepisto - Twitter

Hannu Lepisto - Official Facebook

Hannu Lepisto - YouTube

Hannu Lepisto - Myspace

Hannu Lepisto - Reverbnation