Toget the best out of this blog, listen to the legendary Sabrina’s hit “Boys boysBoys” from the 80’s. Why?
1st because it’s summer nowand the dude sings “summer time love” in the song.
2nd because our brother band“My First Band” who released their international debut album yesterday somehowremind me of Sabrina… They do!
Checkout the Sabrina video on YouTube or somewhere. It’s hilarious. I had her posteron my wall when I was one meter shorter. I can still remember going to bed andsaying “Good night Sabrina…”
It’s funny how I seem to start many of my blogs with the words “I’m sitting in aplane to…” and here I go again. We are flying to Zurich, Switzerland with theboys for this Happy Day- TV show. I don’t know much about it, but our job willbe performing some music, so I guess we’ll be fine. And since we know ourfavorite Swiss music industry dude Mr. Carlo Pozzi with his ever smiling facewill be waiting for us at the airport, nothing can go wrong tonight. It’salways super cool going to the land of cheese, chocolate and private banking.
The spring has been super cool and relaxing after the tour. After the ridiculouslybusy last year, it has felt amazing just being mostly free of all duties. Youreally need this sometimes. I counted that I had more than 200(!!) travel dayslast year. If on top of that you write, record and produce and promote andalbum, it’s no wonder I started looking like a grandmother near Christmas.Nothing against grandmothers, though. The last month I’ve been around Europepretty much just enjoying different leisure stuff and songwriting and I havealso spent time in my little garden. Yes, it’s one of the coolest things to doon a sunny day. By now it’s been mostly about simple plants, flowers and trees,but in the summer I will get into herbs and little vegetables too. On a warmevening it’s just amazing to sit on the terrace with a glass of good wine andjust listen to the watering system do its job on the green stuff. And the smellof wet grass. Mmmmm… I wonder how my little plants survive without me for onenight now…? Hahahahha ;)
Summer’shere and the festival season is near. It feels super good. Especially afterwe’ve had a break with the guys now and we haven’t seen each other in ages, itfeels really great getting on the summer stages together. We have a perfectmixture of different shows this summer and it goes on for four months, untilSeptermber. And since we played a shorter tour this spring due to the biggerarenas, we haven’t played that many shows with the new songs yet. So theydefinitely still feel super fresh. We have only the final rehearsal left withRaul, Riku, Sami and Osmo next week and then we’re good to go. I still can’t getover the tour in February. It was just something super amazing and you have noidea how thankful we are to every one of you making it possible. I’ve had sweetdreams of those moments when you sang the songs with us…
Two years ago keyboardist Heikki, who used to replace Osmo acouple of times at ourshows, came to me with a couple of questions regarding their band and thechallenges they had. We had a coffee at café Ursula in Helsinki and listened tosome of their tracks. They had released two albums already but nothing hadreally happened and he asked for help. After listeningto the new songs they hadand especially after being at their album releaseshow in 2012 at Tavastia inHelsinki, I fell in love with the band.
Our managers Mikko and Anne and myself put our heads together and decided to helpthe boys out with our network. We introduced them to International agents,publishers and record labels and most of all to the Sunrise Avenue crowd.Actually after the first show they supported in Hamburgat the Hamburg SportHalle in 2011, I was convinced. They boys seemed to be humble but they surerocked the stage too. Good combination. That was when I decided to start theproject with them and to help them in any way I can. I have been super lucky inlife with my own career and opportunities and that luck should be spreadforward to good people too, if possible.
A lot has happened in a couple of years and the boys have atiny internationalnetwork behind them now. Yesterday they released their first international albumand I am very very proud of it. We all know how these things go. It’s extremelyhard breaking new acts and the odds and chances are what they are. But checkthe music out anyways. The My First band boys are also supporting SunriseAvenue many times this summer so there’s a good chance seeing them live too.
The top two things I HATE about My First Band:
1. Anttisings too high. Way higher than me. My ego doesn’t like it.
2. Keyboardist Heikki wasn’t in such good shape when we met. It was a mistake taking him to the kettle-bell sessions and introducing him the gym stuff. Those arms.
The top two things I LIKE about My First Band:
1. Juho,Heikki K. and Mikko used to play in one of Finland’s biggest bands, PMMP for years. I was at their shows many times and I always thought Juho looks so coolwith his bass. So, now he sold me his PMMP bass, A Fender Precision Bass fromthe 70’s. That was my glory moment. I have been cheering in their crowd in 1st row staring at thatinstrument. Now it’s mine. MINE!!!
2. Probablyeven better than getting the legendary PMMP bass is that guitarist Mikko reallyliked the LONG UNDERPANTS I brought him from Barcelona. Enough said.
TheVoice Of Germany pre-recordings start late in the summer too. I will have toset a few dates with my German teacher, Dirk again. I must have forgotten mostof my already poor German while just watering my plants and fooling around.Maybe I should speak German to my flowers; it’s still the language of love...People speak to their plants, don’t they? Anyways. I have a feeling the secondseason of the voice for me will be even more enjoyable, since I already know abit what’s gonna happen. And even though I miss Max, BossiHossi and Nenaalready, it’s cool to meet new people. The voice won’t take as much time thisyear either so there will be time for other musical activities. I like how mylife looks like for the next seven months.
So…Rest well everyone and recharge your batteries for the summer. It’s just gonnabe a couple of months of sunshine, festivals and other fun stuff and we bettermake the best out of it. No pressure…;)
Love,hugs and happiness!
Can’twait to see you all soon,
HapaHaber
PS:Now, don’t forget Sabrina and her Video.
1st because it’s summer nowand the dude sings “summer time love” in the song.
2nd because our brother band“My First Band” who released their international debut album yesterday somehowremind me of Sabrina… They do!
Checkout the Sabrina video on YouTube or somewhere. It’s hilarious. I had her posteron my wall when I was one meter shorter. I can still remember going to bed andsaying “Good night Sabrina…”
It’s funny how I seem to start many of my blogs with the words “I’m sitting in aplane to…” and here I go again. We are flying to Zurich, Switzerland with theboys for this Happy Day- TV show. I don’t know much about it, but our job willbe performing some music, so I guess we’ll be fine. And since we know ourfavorite Swiss music industry dude Mr. Carlo Pozzi with his ever smiling facewill be waiting for us at the airport, nothing can go wrong tonight. It’salways super cool going to the land of cheese, chocolate and private banking.
The spring has been super cool and relaxing after the tour. After the ridiculouslybusy last year, it has felt amazing just being mostly free of all duties. Youreally need this sometimes. I counted that I had more than 200(!!) travel dayslast year. If on top of that you write, record and produce and promote andalbum, it’s no wonder I started looking like a grandmother near Christmas.Nothing against grandmothers, though. The last month I’ve been around Europepretty much just enjoying different leisure stuff and songwriting and I havealso spent time in my little garden. Yes, it’s one of the coolest things to doon a sunny day. By now it’s been mostly about simple plants, flowers and trees,but in the summer I will get into herbs and little vegetables too. On a warmevening it’s just amazing to sit on the terrace with a glass of good wine andjust listen to the watering system do its job on the green stuff. And the smellof wet grass. Mmmmm… I wonder how my little plants survive without me for onenight now…? Hahahahha ;)
Summer’shere and the festival season is near. It feels super good. Especially afterwe’ve had a break with the guys now and we haven’t seen each other in ages, itfeels really great getting on the summer stages together. We have a perfectmixture of different shows this summer and it goes on for four months, untilSeptermber. And since we played a shorter tour this spring due to the biggerarenas, we haven’t played that many shows with the new songs yet. So theydefinitely still feel super fresh. We have only the final rehearsal left withRaul, Riku, Sami and Osmo next week and then we’re good to go. I still can’t getover the tour in February. It was just something super amazing and you have noidea how thankful we are to every one of you making it possible. I’ve had sweetdreams of those moments when you sang the songs with us…
Two years ago keyboardist Heikki, who used to replace Osmo acouple of times at ourshows, came to me with a couple of questions regarding their band and thechallenges they had. We had a coffee at café Ursula in Helsinki and listened tosome of their tracks. They had released two albums already but nothing hadreally happened and he asked for help. After listeningto the new songs they hadand especially after being at their album releaseshow in 2012 at Tavastia inHelsinki, I fell in love with the band.
Our managers Mikko and Anne and myself put our heads together and decided to helpthe boys out with our network. We introduced them to International agents,publishers and record labels and most of all to the Sunrise Avenue crowd.Actually after the first show they supported in Hamburgat the Hamburg SportHalle in 2011, I was convinced. They boys seemed to be humble but they surerocked the stage too. Good combination. That was when I decided to start theproject with them and to help them in any way I can. I have been super lucky inlife with my own career and opportunities and that luck should be spreadforward to good people too, if possible.
A lot has happened in a couple of years and the boys have atiny internationalnetwork behind them now. Yesterday they released their first international albumand I am very very proud of it. We all know how these things go. It’s extremelyhard breaking new acts and the odds and chances are what they are. But checkthe music out anyways. The My First band boys are also supporting SunriseAvenue many times this summer so there’s a good chance seeing them live too.
The top two things I HATE about My First Band:
1. Anttisings too high. Way higher than me. My ego doesn’t like it.
2. Keyboardist Heikki wasn’t in such good shape when we met. It was a mistake taking him to the kettle-bell sessions and introducing him the gym stuff. Those arms.
The top two things I LIKE about My First Band:
1. Juho,Heikki K. and Mikko used to play in one of Finland’s biggest bands, PMMP for years. I was at their shows many times and I always thought Juho looks so coolwith his bass. So, now he sold me his PMMP bass, A Fender Precision Bass fromthe 70’s. That was my glory moment. I have been cheering in their crowd in 1st row staring at thatinstrument. Now it’s mine. MINE!!!
2. Probablyeven better than getting the legendary PMMP bass is that guitarist Mikko reallyliked the LONG UNDERPANTS I brought him from Barcelona. Enough said.
TheVoice Of Germany pre-recordings start late in the summer too. I will have toset a few dates with my German teacher, Dirk again. I must have forgotten mostof my already poor German while just watering my plants and fooling around.Maybe I should speak German to my flowers; it’s still the language of love...People speak to their plants, don’t they? Anyways. I have a feeling the secondseason of the voice for me will be even more enjoyable, since I already know abit what’s gonna happen. And even though I miss Max, BossiHossi and Nenaalready, it’s cool to meet new people. The voice won’t take as much time thisyear either so there will be time for other musical activities. I like how mylife looks like for the next seven months.
So…Rest well everyone and recharge your batteries for the summer. It’s just gonnabe a couple of months of sunshine, festivals and other fun stuff and we bettermake the best out of it. No pressure…;)
Love,hugs and happiness!
Can’twait to see you all soon,
HapaHaber
PS:Now, don’t forget Sabrina and her Video.