interview with Noumena
Have any of you played in other bands?
I think we all have had our bands, smaller and bigger ones but let me
tell you those I think has been significant: Ville Lamminaho was part of
finnish black metal group called ENOCHIAN CRESCENT but when it kind of
went down they did continue with another band/name called THE CRESCENT.
They released EP in 2019. Give it a listen!
Suvi Uura is involved in so many bands that I think I can't even name
all of those. But there is one I need to mention and it's called DOROTHY
POLONIUM. It is a great and awesome rock/metal band and they released
their second album in 01.09.2020. Don't miss it out!
I was a liveguitarist for FROSTTIDE for couple of years and made some
gigs with that group in Finland, Japan and Germany. I am also a live
vocalist for finnish atmospheric metalgroup called ALASE. It is a very
interesting concept because in the beginning they published just singles
and there was always a different vocalist. You can find Alase's music
from Youtube and from Spotify.
I have also played in a bands called AVENIE, CRYONSIDE and GARCHAROT.
I compose a lot of different kind of music and I have published some of
my soloproject songs in youtube. Give them a spin!
What are your names? / Who plays what?
Antti Haapanen – Growls
Suvi Uura – Vocals and growls
Markus Hirvonen – Guitars, vocals and growls
Ville Lamminaho – Guitars
Tuukka Tuomela – Guitars
Hannu Savolainen – Bass
Ilkka Unnbom – Drums
Have you had other previous members?
Noumena has it's core and that core is made from Ville, Antti, Tuukka,
Hannu and Ilkka. They have been really good friends from teenagers to
this day. First female vocalist was Hanna Leinonen but she was more a
kind of session member than an official member. At the times there was
also male vocalist Tuomas Tuominen included and he appeared as a guest
vocalist on ”Absence” and ”Anatomy of Life” - albums. Suvi joined the
band as a fulltime member in 2009 and I started to play liveshows in
2016. I became an official member after our Japan tour in 2018.
Where are you from? Finland, Ähtäri, Southern Ostrobothnia, from the city of cursed bears
What year did the band form? When I was just eleven years old... In 1998.
What's your style of genre? Melodic death/doom/metal with a gothic taste in it.
What inspires you? Animals, beasts, Satan, Carillo and friends. Life as it is shitty or
dancing in the green fields.
Are you looking for a booking agency, and what are your thoughts around
that? Noumena did find a booking agency called HEAVY METAL HEART AGENCY in
the beginning of 2020 but it didn't start so well because of shitty
situation in the world. And yes... I mean that Covid fucking nineteen.
HMH AGENCY has done a very good job for us to get some gigs but let's
see how we are able to manage those shows. Some of those shows has been
postponed. But still the wheel is spinning faster nowadays and we are
eager to play for you alive!
Are you looking for a label, and what are your thoughts around that? Noumena has it's own label called ”HAUNTED ZOO PRODUCTIONS”
What are your songs about?
There is always a story behind. Often a true story. Ideas and thoughts
are born from life and death, pain and suffering, loss and longing, love
and hate in different kind of forms and etc... Noumena's music and idea
is not to sing about happy things... Can you imagine Antti's deep voice
when he is growling: ”I love the pale blue sky...Oh yeah...I fuck like a
beast...” So do I! Hahaha! Okay, maybe some songs are born from joy when
something good and sweet happens. But there is always kind of obsession
to write it in a twisted way so you cannot tell is it bad or good thing
what is happening or did happen already. It is listeners decision and
how twisted they are.
Who does the composing and writes the lyrics?
I think Ville has composed a lot of songs if we take a deeper look into
our albums. Tuukka Tuomela has done also a lot but not as much as Ville
so therefore I think our main composer is Ville. There is also songs
here and there that came up from other members pen. For example
”Murhehuone” from Myrrys-album came up from Ilkka Unnbom's pen. And If
we take a look to our upcoming album ”Anima” there is one song composed
by me, Tuukka, Ilkka and Suvi each. Other songs are composed by Ville.
Hannu Savolainen has done a lot of great lyrics for our albums just like
Ville but there is also exceptions just like there are in the composing.
I did write a song ”Ajaton” with Hannu's helping hand, Antti wrote
lyrics for ”Totuus” and Suvi made the lyrics and composing for
”Joutsen”.
Do you compose in a certain environment?
tell you those I think has been significant: Ville Lamminaho was part of
finnish black metal group called ENOCHIAN CRESCENT but when it kind of
went down they did continue with another band/name called THE CRESCENT.
They released EP in 2019. Give it a listen!
Suvi Uura is involved in so many bands that I think I can't even name
all of those. But there is one I need to mention and it's called DOROTHY
POLONIUM. It is a great and awesome rock/metal band and they released
their second album in 01.09.2020. Don't miss it out!
I was a liveguitarist for FROSTTIDE for couple of years and made some
gigs with that group in Finland, Japan and Germany. I am also a live
vocalist for finnish atmospheric metalgroup called ALASE. It is a very
interesting concept because in the beginning they published just singles
and there was always a different vocalist. You can find Alase's music
from Youtube and from Spotify.
I have also played in a bands called AVENIE, CRYONSIDE and GARCHAROT.
I compose a lot of different kind of music and I have published some of
my soloproject songs in youtube. Give them a spin!
What are your names? / Who plays what?
Antti Haapanen – Growls
Suvi Uura – Vocals and growls
Markus Hirvonen – Guitars, vocals and growls
Ville Lamminaho – Guitars
Tuukka Tuomela – Guitars
Hannu Savolainen – Bass
Ilkka Unnbom – Drums
Have you had other previous members?
Noumena has it's core and that core is made from Ville, Antti, Tuukka,
Hannu and Ilkka. They have been really good friends from teenagers to
this day. First female vocalist was Hanna Leinonen but she was more a
kind of session member than an official member. At the times there was
also male vocalist Tuomas Tuominen included and he appeared as a guest
vocalist on ”Absence” and ”Anatomy of Life” - albums. Suvi joined the
band as a fulltime member in 2009 and I started to play liveshows in
2016. I became an official member after our Japan tour in 2018.
Where are you from? Finland, Ähtäri, Southern Ostrobothnia, from the city of cursed bears
What year did the band form? When I was just eleven years old... In 1998.
What's your style of genre? Melodic death/doom/metal with a gothic taste in it.
What inspires you? Animals, beasts, Satan, Carillo and friends. Life as it is shitty or
dancing in the green fields.
Are you looking for a booking agency, and what are your thoughts around
that? Noumena did find a booking agency called HEAVY METAL HEART AGENCY in
the beginning of 2020 but it didn't start so well because of shitty
situation in the world. And yes... I mean that Covid fucking nineteen.
HMH AGENCY has done a very good job for us to get some gigs but let's
see how we are able to manage those shows. Some of those shows has been
postponed. But still the wheel is spinning faster nowadays and we are
eager to play for you alive!
Are you looking for a label, and what are your thoughts around that? Noumena has it's own label called ”HAUNTED ZOO PRODUCTIONS”
What are your songs about?
There is always a story behind. Often a true story. Ideas and thoughts
are born from life and death, pain and suffering, loss and longing, love
and hate in different kind of forms and etc... Noumena's music and idea
is not to sing about happy things... Can you imagine Antti's deep voice
when he is growling: ”I love the pale blue sky...Oh yeah...I fuck like a
beast...” So do I! Hahaha! Okay, maybe some songs are born from joy when
something good and sweet happens. But there is always kind of obsession
to write it in a twisted way so you cannot tell is it bad or good thing
what is happening or did happen already. It is listeners decision and
how twisted they are.
Who does the composing and writes the lyrics?
I think Ville has composed a lot of songs if we take a deeper look into
our albums. Tuukka Tuomela has done also a lot but not as much as Ville
so therefore I think our main composer is Ville. There is also songs
here and there that came up from other members pen. For example
”Murhehuone” from Myrrys-album came up from Ilkka Unnbom's pen. And If
we take a look to our upcoming album ”Anima” there is one song composed
by me, Tuukka, Ilkka and Suvi each. Other songs are composed by Ville.
Hannu Savolainen has done a lot of great lyrics for our albums just like
Ville but there is also exceptions just like there are in the composing.
I did write a song ”Ajaton” with Hannu's helping hand, Antti wrote
lyrics for ”Totuus” and Suvi made the lyrics and composing for
”Joutsen”.
Do you compose in a certain environment?
I think our composing comes mainly in our homes, in front of our
computers when we are just throwing ideas and recording them. But
there's always a deeper reason why someone is composing some kind of
song... If you know what I mean. Sometimes when you want to compose some
heavier and faster one but in the end it is either of them. You just sit
there and be like ”where the hell this came from”... You know, you don't
always do it consciously.
Have you done any covers live?
Maybe once that I remember. We were in China, somewhere, maybe in
Shanghai and we sang that ”Happy birthday” song for one of our fans...
Hah! If I remember right I might have witnessed when Noumena played
couple of older ”IN FLAMES” songs called ”Behind space" and ”Only for
the weak”.
What are the least and most people to attend one of your gigs?
computers when we are just throwing ideas and recording them. But
there's always a deeper reason why someone is composing some kind of
song... If you know what I mean. Sometimes when you want to compose some
heavier and faster one but in the end it is either of them. You just sit
there and be like ”where the hell this came from”... You know, you don't
always do it consciously.
Have you done any covers live?
Maybe once that I remember. We were in China, somewhere, maybe in
Shanghai and we sang that ”Happy birthday” song for one of our fans...
Hah! If I remember right I might have witnessed when Noumena played
couple of older ”IN FLAMES” songs called ”Behind space" and ”Only for
the weak”.
What are the least and most people to attend one of your gigs?
I have heard that back in the 2007 there were some three people in
audience in Germany. It was really small pub (Kneipe) with the owner and
his two friends in audience. The biggest might be our first gig in
Tokyo, Japan with sold-out crowd, almost 1000 metalheads.
What ages are most of your concert attendants?
Noumena is kind of old band so I think the age range is somewhere
between 15 – 45. I was about eleven years old when I first time heard
Noumena demo called ”Aeons”. It was so super!
Do you always play the same songs live, or do you vary?
audience in Germany. It was really small pub (Kneipe) with the owner and
his two friends in audience. The biggest might be our first gig in
Tokyo, Japan with sold-out crowd, almost 1000 metalheads.
What ages are most of your concert attendants?
Noumena is kind of old band so I think the age range is somewhere
between 15 – 45. I was about eleven years old when I first time heard
Noumena demo called ”Aeons”. It was so super!
Do you always play the same songs live, or do you vary?
Example for China and Japan tour we did three variations of our setlists
and decided after the show what to play in the next show. We have so
much good songs so it's kind of hard to decide what to play but I think
there is always those ”evergreens” that we play almost in every show.
Do you have a regular place you play live often?
Have you heard Noumena's new slogan? ”More gigs in Tokyo, Japan than in
Tampere, Finland.” Haha!
What was your first gig like?
and decided after the show what to play in the next show. We have so
much good songs so it's kind of hard to decide what to play but I think
there is always those ”evergreens” that we play almost in every show.
Do you have a regular place you play live often?
Have you heard Noumena's new slogan? ”More gigs in Tokyo, Japan than in
Tampere, Finland.” Haha!
What was your first gig like?
Guys told me it was in some high school party back in 1998. Lots of
friends and teachers from our hometown Ähtäri.
What was your latest gig? I think it was in China, Beijing..
Where have you played live this year?
All our shows got cancelled or postponed because of Covid19 this year
but last autumn and winter we did six shows in China and after that we
just gave our focus for finishing the new album.
When did you start to sell merchandise, and what do you have for sale?
friends and teachers from our hometown Ähtäri.
What was your latest gig? I think it was in China, Beijing..
Where have you played live this year?
All our shows got cancelled or postponed because of Covid19 this year
but last autumn and winter we did six shows in China and after that we
just gave our focus for finishing the new album.
When did you start to sell merchandise, and what do you have for sale?
I think we start to sell merch when our label Haunted Zoo Procuctions
was found in the beginning of 2013. If we take a look to our shop there
is albums, shirts for men and ladies, patches and that kind of stuff. We
have plans to do some special merchandise in the future but it's still a
secret.
Where can people buy your merchandise? From our webstore. Feel free to check it out! www.hauntedzoo.net
What do you think about people downloading music instead of buying
records now a days?
was found in the beginning of 2013. If we take a look to our shop there
is albums, shirts for men and ladies, patches and that kind of stuff. We
have plans to do some special merchandise in the future but it's still a
secret.
Where can people buy your merchandise? From our webstore. Feel free to check it out! www.hauntedzoo.net
What do you think about people downloading music instead of buying
records now a days?
It's fucked up! Things were better in the past. Most people want to hear
new music from their favourite bands but they aren't ready to pay for
it. It is very hard especially for smaller bands. Record labels kick out
every band from their roster that is not selling enough and that's it.
Buy albums and merchandise if you want to keep your favourite bands
alive. How simple is that!
How do you think the music industry have changed because of this?
I think I answered that in the previous question. One thing is also that
it's so easy to do good sounding music in your living room or bedroom.
You have to be super cool if you want to stand out from other bands or
musicmakers. I think it's harder to get a record deal nowadays than it
was in the past. That's how I think of it.
What do you think of my work?
new music from their favourite bands but they aren't ready to pay for
it. It is very hard especially for smaller bands. Record labels kick out
every band from their roster that is not selling enough and that's it.
Buy albums and merchandise if you want to keep your favourite bands
alive. How simple is that!
How do you think the music industry have changed because of this?
I think I answered that in the previous question. One thing is also that
it's so easy to do good sounding music in your living room or bedroom.
You have to be super cool if you want to stand out from other bands or
musicmakers. I think it's harder to get a record deal nowadays than it
was in the past. That's how I think of it.
What do you think of my work?
To be honest, this is the first time I
heard of you. But I have to say I'm not so active interview reader.
Other guys seem to know you and knows what is your thing you are doing.
Keep up the good work!
How do you think and know that this interview will help you in the music business?
It is always a good thing if some interview reaches even one pair of
eyes. And more better if that person keeps spreading the word from us!
Do you have any role models or idols? Of course but like they say...Never meet your heroes! Haha!
Why do you think that they exist? To make the world more interesting place.
Is it easier to find inspiration from older bands, or bands that are
more active today?
I think if you listen both you are going in right direction. Maybe you
can achieve something interesting if you mix those together.
What have been your biggest obstacles?
Well, maybe that we have not been able to commit altogether to music.
But we are wuite happy with our lives, working in dayjobs and making
music.
What advice would you give other bands or artists? Keep doing it! Believe in yourselves. It's hard work but there is always
something nice waiting for you.
Do you have any new material? Yes! Lots of new material! Me, Ville and
Tuukka has composed so much music these days so I think that album what
comes after the ”Anima”album is coming sooner than you can imagine. How
cool is that!
What are your web sites? www.noumena.info
Do you have something to add? Stay safe and love!
heard of you. But I have to say I'm not so active interview reader.
Other guys seem to know you and knows what is your thing you are doing.
Keep up the good work!
How do you think and know that this interview will help you in the music business?
It is always a good thing if some interview reaches even one pair of
eyes. And more better if that person keeps spreading the word from us!
Do you have any role models or idols? Of course but like they say...Never meet your heroes! Haha!
Why do you think that they exist? To make the world more interesting place.
Is it easier to find inspiration from older bands, or bands that are
more active today?
I think if you listen both you are going in right direction. Maybe you
can achieve something interesting if you mix those together.
What have been your biggest obstacles?
Well, maybe that we have not been able to commit altogether to music.
But we are wuite happy with our lives, working in dayjobs and making
music.
What advice would you give other bands or artists? Keep doing it! Believe in yourselves. It's hard work but there is always
something nice waiting for you.
Do you have any new material? Yes! Lots of new material! Me, Ville and
Tuukka has composed so much music these days so I think that album what
comes after the ”Anima”album is coming sooner than you can imagine. How
cool is that!
What are your web sites? www.noumena.info
Do you have something to add? Stay safe and love!