Lauri Ylönen of The Rasmus

In this interview, The Rasmus frontman Lauri Ylönen discusses the creative process behind the band’s album “Weirdo,” revealing how personal experiences fuel his songwriting… from the revenge-driven “Rest in Pieces” written at 3 a.m. after a friend’s betrayal, to the deeply personal “I’m Coming For You,” a confessional song for his 17-year-old son about balancing career and fatherhood. Ylönen shares his approach to songwriting, often composing melodies in his head before touching an instrument, and reflects on the band’s “Stay Weird” philosophy as a message against social media pressure and perfectionism. Ylönen also describes performing a charity concert in Ukraine, sleeping in bomb shelters during missile strikes, and meeting exhausted soldiers. Throughout, he discusses writing lyrics in English as a second language, how his naturally shy Finnish personality contrasts with his stage persona, and the importance of maintaining band unity with members he’s known for three decades.