Wywiad z Jonne,Luty 2013(angielski)

NEGATIVEON89

The Whole Nation's Jonne

The Vain elämää show, which was shown on TV last autumn, rose to high popularity. Simultaneously, it changed people's ideas about different artists. In people's eyes, Jonne Aaron is no longer a sheer rock rooster but a deep, emotional and pure person.

In the beginning of February, Jonne Aaron announced that he'll start his own solo career. However, the Tamperean man, who's renowned for being Negative's frontman, emphasizes that his steady intention is to continue cooperating with his own band next year.
- My days are filled with making my own solo album and it will come out this spring. I've also spent a lot of time with a rising talent called Peppi Polviander as I've been making and producing her album. My tour will start in the beginning of March and all of the weekends of this year are booked already, so I have a year filled with work ahead of me.

- Negative would have suffered from my own solo thing so we had to take a break. When I informed the guys about my decision, I hadn't experienced that long silence in the rehearsing place before. We've gone in fast speed for many years, so variety is the spice of life. One has to follow their heart. We have so long history with Negative that I'm sure that the guys will understand, Jonne tells.

The solo career brings some change to Jonne's music style as exceptionally, he will perform Finnish songs he has made himself. The songs are about his own life.

Old Songs Have Ripened

- I've written songs to other artists in Finnish for many years. Some of the songs have stayed in my storage as I haven't wanted to offer them to anyone else. When the songs have been awaiting for a few years, an emotional bond has developed. They have ripened in peace. The upcoming album tastes like life.

Jonne's two gigs in Tampere-talo on March were sold out fast but it's possible to see the favorite artist in his hometown also 26th of April when he plays a gig in Pakkahuone.

The decision about making his own album wasn't an aberration.
- I had dreamed of releasing an album when I'll turn 30 - and that year is now. Ten years ago, I wouldn't have believed that I'd make a Finnish album, but people change.

Warm Juice Wrapped In A Quilt

Jonne Aaron Liimatainen, who grew up in Lielahti, played ice hockey when he was young. He played in Lentävänniemi's quarter team but it was pointless to dream of being an NHL star.
- The parents of the other players brought me some warm juice when I sat with a quilt over me in the end of the substitution bench. I never learned how to slapshot. When we practiced it, the bars of my helmet fell down to the ice and only the snow flew off from the top of the puck - and as there wasn't another helmet, I got to practice skating in the other end of the field while the others practiced slapshotting. When we were in the red enough in the games, the coach let me come to the field, probably just because the licence was paid. My career was like from the Forrest Gump movie, Jonne laughs.

- For some reason, my wrist shot is damn good! I went to play outdoors a few weeks ago and I goaled with wrist shots via the upper pipe - there weren't any goalkeepers, though, the musician continues laughing.

Jonne got his first guitar when he was 11 years old. His father was a drummer but didn't make music for a living, even though he accompanied i.a. Irvin Goodman and Anita Hirvonen when he was younger. Jonne's mother played the piano and his godfather is a guitarist, so there is musicality in the family and its vicinity.
- Music saved me from playing sports, Jonne grins.

"Negative Is Like A Marriage"

Music was a big part of Jonne's life already when he was young. The idea of Negative was born at school and at first, the line-up consisted of schoolmates.
- I took music quite determinedly already back then. I designed the logo of the band on schoolbooks and during the way to school, I pondered over compositions and lyrics to songs.

When the talented musician was 16-17 years old, he started to gather people to his band seriously.
- I searched for the guys I found the coolest and the toughest from the different bands in Tampere and I wanted to gather a some sort of All Stars line-up - and in my opinion, I made it. For some reason, Negative have been cursed when it comes to guitarists but otherwise the gang has stayed together well.

Jonne tells that Negative didn't break through with their playing skills but with their enthusiasm and fire.
- We aimed to be distinguished from the others visually. When you look at an old pic of our band and listen to our music, you notice that they don't match at all. I really feel like we got the recording contract as half a joke. I don't know why it was us who managed to break through. Maybe it was the right time and place and the single worked. An outsider could surely tell better why people found us interesting.

Negative's songs are in English and written by Jonne.
- I learned the language by listening to music and watching movies. People learn by listening. If someone placed notes in front of me, I wouldn't understand a thing about them. I trust in my ears. Music isn't maths to me - it shouldn't be thought about and pondered over too much. I might spend 20 minutes on making a new song and then it's already complete and finished. Everyone of us can compose - we all have that talent somewhere, Jonne ponders.

During the past years, the members of Negative have spent more and more free time together.
- Before that we saw each other only in the studio, the tourbus and the gigs. Negative is a marriage to me, in a way. Now I'm only cheating on my spouse - with a permission, Jonne utters a laugh while referring to his solo career.

- Negative hasn't been buried, no way. We are fine. We've managed to make good albums and tours and to keep the bar set high, even though it's not very Finnish to say it. We're enjoying the reputation of a good touring band also internationally. We could consider our aim to be being Finland's The Scorpions or The Rolling Stones of which people say "will they never quit?" Routine is good but too much of it can suffocate the enthusiasm and creativity.

The Hot Topic of the Early Winter

Finnish people got to enjoy a new program format from October to November. The Vain elämää show, which was shown on TV by Nelonen (Channel 4), made its way to people's hearts right away. In the show, seven well-known artists - one of whom was Jonne Aaron - spent time in Satulinna, Hirvensalmi, and interpreted each other's songs. The show gained a big audience and the Vain elämää compilation albums have been sold extraordinarily.

The filming was supposed to happen on autumn 2011 but it was postponed to the spring 2012.
- That was a better solution to me. I was going through a hard phase in my life and I wasn't really interested in anything. Everything happens for a reason, Jonne goes quiet.

At first he was afraid that the show would be some kind of Big Brother to celebrities but when he heard more about the format, his fear vanished. The artists got to choose one song to perform from each other.
- Cheek's rap songs made me feel the most dubious but luckily I got to apply a little. We had a couple of rehearsal sessions before performing but I didn't rehearse much. I like to just go and do, so that it doesn't become a sheer routine. Music is an emotion - it's hard to explain.

The filming of the show lasted for about 10 days and the end result is history. The Vain elämää show won the Golden Venla award for being the best entertainment and music show of the year.
- The popularity surprised us all. I hadn't thought about the whole thing that much. I've tried to stay on the sidelines and I watched only two episodes of the show. Negative have had also grown audience but I've noticed that also pensioners have become interested. Once I went to a grocery shop and the salesman fetched me a green fireball from the backroom, Jonne refers to the story he mentioned in the show.

Emotions to the Surface

The filming days were long - they started around 8 or 9 in the morning and could last until 1 a.m.
- At first the cameras made me nervous but they were gradually forgotten. We all talked together for hours, our dining sessions lasted for a long time and pure reciprocity developed between us.

- That show was written by life. Of course a TV show always has a director and an editor but their task is to see the things through an outsider's eyes and lift up the most interesting things.

Afterwards, Jonne is happy about joining the show.
- It was a damn fine thing. I'm proud of the fact that I dared to jump in without thinking about what others think. I try to live so that I won't have to deplore lost chances when I'm old.

The artists opened their feelings and emotions to each other and simultaneously to the whole nation. Also the viewers got to wipe tears from their eyes.
- Feelings have to be shown purely. It's a part of creativity, there has to be sensitivity. Some people know how to harden themselves and I've tried it myself, too, but I've sometimes cried on the stage. The audience hasn't necessarily noticed it as there's sweat flowing anyway.

- When I sat in the end of the table listening to the others performing my own songs, it was a rollercoaster of emotions. There are so many memories and feelings and lived moments related to my songs. I got to listen to my songs from an outsider's point of view and that was probably the most amazing moment, Jonne becomes sensitized.

One Isn't Allowed To Lose Faith

Jonne became a follower of Ilves (Lynx, a Tamperean ice hockey team) already when he was little. His big brother Tommi played in Ilves and made Jonne become interested in it, too.
- If Tamperean people succeed, it's great, but when I've been ilves once, I'll always be it. When you look at the championship banderols in the ceiling of Hakametsä, it tells a lot. People can change their favorites when it comes to music, food and many other things, but Ilves remains.

The Vain elämää artists threw a gig together in the crowded Barona Arena after Christmas. The performers sat by a table on the stage and performed to the audience in turn.
- I was in my own dreamworld again when Jari Sillanpää hollered that I'm up next. I woke up with a start and heard that the band had already started to play. I rushed up and told the audience that I was just listening to Ilves' match on my headset and that the game was 3-0, Jonne smiles.

If Jonne's hockey career would have blossomed and he played in Ilves' league team, his role would be vaguely clear.
- There's no way I would be a power attacker. I'd be a stalking sniper who could also build goal places to others. Or then I would be warming the substitution bench, the musician smiles contentedly.

He believes strongly in the better tomorrow of Ilves'.
- Sometimes one has to trudge and to touch the bottom so that they know how to appreciate the better times. The good moments are always followed by a more tranquil phase - that applies to the entire life. I only hope that the team will believe in itself and in their own thing. Losing faith and hope is a bad thing.

Just like many other Tamperean people, Jonne considers Raimo Helminen his biggest Ilves hero.
- Once, I went shopping to Raipe's firm and we shook hands in passing. I haven't washed my hand since then and these days, when I meet people, I offer them my left hand...., laughs Jonne.
- Raipe was a heart player and a great role model.

Music Is Everything

Jonne Aaron Liimatainen has made songs to many Finnish forefront artists. I.a. Suvi Teräsniska, Popeda, Yö, Muska, Olli Lindholm, Topi Sorsakoski and Peppi Polviander have gotten to enjoy his pen and sharp ear.
- The song doesn't always have to become an awesome radio hit. I enjoy getting to build a musical world to other artists.

Even though Jonne has written numerous songs, he still considers himself a novice.
- Vexi Salmi has made more than 5000 songs, so it's a long way to go, Jonne says.

- Music is everything to me. It's a hobby, a lifestyle and simultaneously a bread-and-butter job, as when I go to throw a gig, I go to just sing and make music. I'm privileged as I get to make music and I haven't had to work a real daytime job. I wouldn't necessarily have the energy to be creative after a working day.

This Tamperean man likes many kinds of music.
- Many might think that I listen to only Mötley Crüe, Nirvana or Guns N' Roses but I also like i.a. Tapio Rautavaara, Kari Tapio and Topi Sorsakoski.

- Having a radio in my head is a disease brought by this occupation. Music is everywhere and I start to listen to it analytically. When I'm going through the creating phase, I don't listen to any other music. Usually the ideas for songs appear when I'm going to bed. The melody starts to play in my mind, then some new thing comes and they fit together well. I have to get up, open the laptop, hit the rec button and grab the guitar. When it's finished, I can go back to bed.

With A Relaxed Touch

Jonne emphasizes that people fulfill themselves via different things. Some people like to paint, others like to play sports, but to Jonne it's music.
- I try to maintain the little boy-ish touching surface when it comes to making music so that it doesn't become too serious. Also the puck has to be shot with a relaxed hand and not with your jaw set. One needs casualness also when it comes to music and one shouldn't think about what they've done before. This is just life.

- Life is great because you never know where you're gonna be in 10 years. I hope that I'll be sitting in Ilves' match then and that the team leads the Finnish championship league - and that we've gained a couple of championships in between