You can listen to the audio of this interview on Ylex HERE and the live stream on Youtube which I will post below.

It is not surprising. Lauri has made ​​a successful career as both lead singer of The Rasmus and as a solo artist. You’d think you would have seen him in a talent show and other programs over the years. But he is rarely comfortable with the concepts.

- “I was asked to join the star coach in The Voice of Finland. But I did not, I do not like at all to give feedback to people.”

This does not mean that the band stays away from the spotlight. The Rasmus will make the first gig with her ​​new song I’m a mess on the UMK, Uuden musiikin kilpailu, February 25th.

From: yle.fi

7.5 GOTA KALLARE, STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN
9.5 GRUNSPAN, HAMBURG, GERMANY
10.5 COLUMBIA CLUB, BERLIN, GERMANY
11.5 STODOLA, WARSAW, POLAND
13.5 ARENA, VIENNA, AUSTRIA
14.5 BACKSTAGE WERK, MUNCHEN, GERMANY
15.5 ABART, ZURICH, SWITZERLAND
16.5 MAGAZZINI GENERALE, MILAN, ITALY
18.5 GLORIA, KÖLN, GERMANY
19.5 LA MAROQUINERIE, PARIS, FRANCE
21.5 O2 ACADEMY ISLINGTON, LONDON, ENGLAND

If more show up, I’ll post them A.S.A.P!

The dates include going to Hamburg, Munich, Koln and Berlin, of course this is great for German fans old and new as it’s been quite a while since the boys went there and of course once upon a time they were massive there. The Rasmus will be going in May and the official dates are:

09/05/2012 – Gruenspan, Hamburg

10/05/2012 – C-Club, Berlin

14/05/2012 – Backstage Werk,München

18/05/212 – Gloria-Theatre, Köln

You can already purchase tickets from: eventim.de

As usual it’s in Finnish but the basics of it are (thanks to GhostOfLove for translating):

- Called to guys to come home to make music

- They made an album through their own record label with the old producers.

- Album sounds like real old The Rasmus, it has a good feeling and it will be released during spring

- When asked what they did different face to BR, Lauri said they did this with their own hands, and no one told them what to do, didn’t cost that much either. They decided on 10 songs which after were ready they went to record it.

- It’s only them 4 who decide what singles will come.

- I’m a mess was the last song they made from a 2 minutes demo.

- They chose UMK because the competition would be great there and sounds like a really old Eurovision song

- They will open the whole UMK competition

- Solo career will be now on pause and before new TR stuff maybe will continue a bit too that one, but meanwhile making stuff for his solo come ideas also for TR

- He thinks releasing 100 songs in 17 years in few, and wouldn’t call himself a musician

- During the pause Aki says he was home with his son, taking a break, relaxing. Aki thinks this break made good for their own private lives.

- Lauri tells that previously they woke up in the studio, now the kids are waking them up shouting, makes some difference, but it feels good.

- They are excited bout people hearing their new music

- In a few weeks they will leave to Tokio to make a new video.

Here are two videos from PMMP English page of Lauri and Paula performing together and another backstage.

A teaser for the album will be heared at the final of UMK, when The Rasmus’ long waited single I’m a Mess will have its worldwide premier.

- “We have a realy good song. I just told that it sound like an Eurovision song, putting the guitars on for sing. It will be a great evening, great atmosphere,” Lauri smiles.

UMK Final will be streamed, so that all over the world will be possible to follow the premier of the song of The Rasmus on the Internet.

- ”It is great  that it will be streamed. We anyways have a lot of fans, that are waiting for the new album and song, all over the world. It’s exciting, cause we will surely get a lot of feedback on it,” Aki tells.

-  ”But as Lauri said, this our song sounds probably more like Eurovision than many others in the contest. I listened to all of the participants and there were all kind from schlager to rock, and our poprock fits in just perfect,” Aki continues.

The Rasmus, however, have not yet planned on participating in the contest.

- “Maybe we participate sometimes later,” Lauri commented.

The Rasmus will leave for a tour to promote the new album, but the plans are still very open.

- ”We will do a release gig in Finland, and Finland-tour will surely be only in the autumn, it would also be great to play at some festivals during the summer,” Aki tells.

The band will be performing their new single at February UMK at the Helsinki Ice Stadium which will also feature artists such as Anna Abreu and Paradise. The album will follow shortly after and Lauri has stated that the new album has a similar vibe to their 2001 album Into. The date for the gig is 25/02/2011.

Photos from the interview can be seen HERE

From YLE.fi

“I feel really sorry I have to cancel these shows but the situation is what it is and sometimes hard decisions are required.   I’ve already started to write new material for the next solo album and will try to re-schedule these shows as soon as possible. But now I have to focus on The Rasmus. I’m very excited about the new album and can’t wait to get it out and going on tour with Aki, Eero and Pauli” says Lauri.

Don’t worry it’s not because Lauri is ill. Infact the reason behind the cancellation is because he is needed on emergency work for the new Rasmus album. Management has apologised to the fans and hopes they understand. There is no word if this will apply to the Russian gigs Lauri has lined up in February 2012.

You can refund your tickets.