Muse's Chris to Lauri: "We are sound nerds"

The Rasmus singer Lauri gasped after Mix asked if he could interview his favorite band Muse. Lauri took the challenge and noticed it isn't easy to sit on the other side of the table.

It's the beginning of October when I run into Lauri in downtown. I have just heard Mix was one of the lucky ones to get Muse's interview. While looking at Lauri I realized we have gone through several discussions in the past about Muse, which happens to be Lauri's favorite band.

- Are you in Finland on October 11 and 12? Would you like to interview Muse since you're an expert in this matter? I ask him. Lauri looks at me with his green eyes.
- That would be coolest thing in the World, the young man says and smiles widely. After that I get a flood of questions. How many questions, how much time, where will be the interview done... After a few days the record company informs me the interview will take place on Sunday the 12th.

Excitement in the air!
When that day comes I start my car and head to the centre of Helsinki. I'm going to pick up Lauri and then we'll head to Nosturi together. Lauri is about to step in to reporter's shoes for the first time. I'm a couple minutes late when my phone starts ringing.
- Where are you? Lauri asks nervously. I say I'm one minute away and when I arrive, Lauri is already waiting for me on his home steps. Lauri jumps in the car and our journey towards Nosturi begins. He is going through his questions in his black book. He is quiet and thoughtful. I break the silence by asking how he's feeling.

- I'm so excited. So excited I can feel it in my stomach, the man says silently.
On the previous night Lauri had been on Muse's first gig at Nosturi.
- The gig was unbelievable! Muse's sound is massive, even though there are only three guys! I'm going to ask about it today.
I park my car infront of the building. Person from the record company is waiting for us on the door and tells us the band is doing soundcheck. We go upstairs and enjoy for a moment of Muse's playing.

- My interview won't probably be typical. I want to ask about their history and sound world pretty much, Lauri clarifies and I tell he can ask whatever he wants.
Muse's guys are a little late from the schedule. They tell us Lauri can interview band's basist Chris. Lauri asks how the tape recorder works. He tests several times it works.
- Can I do the interview so that you won't be standing there. I'm probably going to be even more nervous then, Lauri asks.
Lauri digs Rasmus album "Dead Letters" from his backpack that he's gonna give for the band. Now we're waiting for The Moment. After it comes Lauri goes to the backstage door and knocks. Chris opens the door and welcomes Lauri. The door closes.

Sound nerds
I haven't heard much about your history. I would also like to know if you have had any other bands before Muse?
- When we were 13 we used to play together but nothing more. There were about 20 guys and we used to play at parties and on the beach. We mainly played Nirvana covers, Chris tells.
- When we were 15 Matt and Dominic noticed we wanted to make our own music while the others were doing covers. It was a way to keep out of doing stupid things that kids at our age used to do.

Have you studied music?
- We are all self learned. I used to play drums at first, but as the time went by bass became my instrument. We have also taught each other. We used to practice several hours a day, Chris remembers.

There are only three members in your band but your sound is big. Are you sound nerds?
- Absolutely, especially me and Matthew. Bass gets lots of power in our music because it gives Matt the opportunity to do magic with his guitar. He is very experimental.

Romantic Muse
While I listen to the tape you notice how Lauri relaxes as the interview goes by. He and Chris are already laughing together. They continue:

You have played four times in Finland. What are the difference between Finnish and other countries' audiences?
- In Italy and Spain people go crazy on our gigs. In northern Europe we are "artistic band" whom people are coming to see. Last night's gig was the first one on this tour and the crowd was amazing, Chris says and thanks everyone who were on the gig.

I saw your gig in Leeds, England last year and I noticed your audience is full of people of all ages?
- We like to play on festivals because there we can play to people who haven't necessary heard us before. And it is true, there are a lot of people from all ages.

Your latest album Absolution is brilliant. Do you think it's different from your other albums?
- The album is more solid even though the songs aren't similar. We wanted to try different things on this album, like strings. We didn't want to sound the same like before.

I think your album is also more romantic. What do you think about that?
- The album sounds solid. Rich Costey produced almost the whole album and I think it's because of him. Origin Of Symmetry was done in a hurry and after we got it done we were off for a tour. Now we took more time. We rented a big factory hall where we spent two months of our lives sleeping, eating and making music.

I went to your website (www.muse.nu) and saw some pictures where you had moved your drums to the swimming pool.
- We wanted as big drum sound as possible, so we tried several different ways. Swimming pool worked the best and we got what we wanted.

A couple of more questions left, tell me about your producer Rich Costey. Where did you find him?
- We wanted new things for our new album and they played us some of the bands he has produced. For example Rage Against The Machine, Audioslave, MEW and Fiona Apple. Before we even asked asked him to produce us he had announced he wanted to work with us, Chris says.

As my last question, I would like to ask if you have your own record company? I tried to do some research but couldn't find anything.
- We had Dangerous Records but that was before we had gotten our record deal. We did two EP's under that label that we sold on our gigs.
Lauri thanks for the interview and turns off the tape recorder.

One of my dreams came true
After the interview it's time for pictures. While I was waiting on the stairs of the backstage, Muse's manager asks if we want to take pictures with the whole band. I thank and say it would be great.
- It was cool, Lauri says when he steps out of the door.
His smile is really wide. Matthew, Chris and Dominic gather around Lauri and we take pictures.
- Is that boy singer in The Rasmus?
Band's manager asks suprisingly and after getting a positive answer he says he has seen The Rasmus on European channels. I tell The Rasmus is coming to England in the beginning of 2004.
- Good. They must get popular there, manager says.

After we leave Nosturi Lauri is talking non-stop.
- Now I know exactly how our fans must feel when they meet us. I just met a band who are my real idols, Lauri says.
- This is absolutely one of my dreams that came true.
I drive infront of Lauri's home building. The man hugs me and thanks for the experience before he disappears into the dark stairway.

thanks to Yennay