Pulse Lab

Ok, just two edits to what I said in the video: “yesterday” was Friday, but nevermind. Also I found out that the first batch of signed copies of “Approaching the Horizon” are sold out. But I guess .info would consider doing the second wave if there is enough demand? In any case if you are interested in a signed copy of the album, get in touch with Daniel. I am pretty sure that something can be sorted out.

And just to add to my thoughts about Suno and AI-generated music: if it’s done for fun, with no claim of it to be artistic and authentic - fair enough. For those who use the argument for it to be the only way to be an artist…If I go to a restaurant and order a dish from a chef that they have been perfecting for years, with skills they have and practice they dedicate themselves to, do I have the right to take a photo of this dish and claim it was my work? I don’t think so.

There are also lots of examples when people are limited due to their physical conditions, and yet they create amazing works of art. I don’t even need to go that far. .silver has a music project Ikon Anarchos with his friend Richard Bennett. Richard suffered a stroke, which left him paralysed. The tragedy that would make the most people give up, but Richard still programs music through a special equipment with his eyes movement 💙 So, no I don’t buy the argument that AI is the only way to be an artist, if you don’t have any previous skills and/or you are challenged with physical limitations. And another thing: a piece of “art” generated by AI will never truly be your vision, your emotional messenger, because it’s just a mashup of previously executed creative ideas. It’s not based on YOUR personal pain, joy, mess, peace and everything in between

That feeling after you’ve escaped something that has tortured you for a long time is arguably one of the best feelings ever (?) This is a short visualiser for “UR QR” (the part I is just two posts away). As you can hear, there is a vintage sounding sample flowing together with more modern arrangement in the end of the song. Simon has a knack for finding those older melodies that fit in perfectly and create a really beautiful atmosphere 🎶

As I mentioned before, this song was inspired by the 90s era. Even as a demo. Then when it came to recording the official version, I had more concrete references: “Missing” (Todd Terry Remix) by Everything But The Girl and “You’re Not Alone” by Olive. To me these songs still sound fresh and innovative.

There was something about the late 90s and early 2000s that made future look exciting: music, especially EDM and trance, movies like Matrix and The Fifth Element, Y2K aesthetics. And now we have more advanced technology right in front of us and around us, but somehow there is less joy and thrill. Don’t become too mechanical, ok? ⚙️

So, once I mentioned that I used an unusual instrument for this track “UR QR”. I am not certain if it comes too clear: what it is exactly, even if you have watched my live videos. This little visualiser with some lyrical bits unveils the mystery: it is marimba! :) Not a real one, a virtual instrument, but I just don’t happen to know anyone who owns and could play real marimba for me. Maybe that’s a music adventure for future.

There is one more unusual element left, well, by unusual I mean for my music that I have released before. I may do another visualiser later to reveal it too. Maybe something more cheerful for these poor two trapped in the QR labyrinth? 🤔

Released on the first day of this year, this two-volume compilation doesn’t lose its relevance. Because, well, the world won’t magically cure itself. I addressed the issue of a blatant music theft by companies such as Suno.

There are real human artists fascinated by the technology, who see it as a form of experimentation and expansion of their creative process. I personally prefer “waste” my time on playing my keyboard, collaborating with other human artists and finding inspiration in music made by humans.

You can find both compilations on Bandcamp:

https://theweaponandtheshield.bandcamp.com/album/the-weapon-and-the-shield-vol-i

https://theweaponandtheshield.bandcamp.com/album/the-weapon-and-the-shield-vol-ii

The initiative of music and protest being the weapon and the shield generated in the head of .info The compilation features artists of different music genres ranging from electronic to rock, just to name a few .silver

All sales go to organisations defending human rights. The 21st century, but we still need those…

Monday, Monday…Apparently it’s not the best day to post, but one of my most viewed reels was put out exactly on Monday, so you never know. I try to give little snippets from the official versions of the tracks on my second album.

“The Other Side of the Line” is probably the least promoted track, but not because I love it the least. The reason is that I don’t relate to it as much as I used to. Still, there is a little story to keep you…hmm…entertained? In April I went to celebrate my birthday with my friends and have some MASSIVE pizzas (photo number one in the reel). After that Dora, the pizza destroyer, and me continued to a dance event: 80s music special, what’s not to love? I was having a really great time, occasionally trying to drag my friend onto the dancefloor until she got convinced 😅 And at some point I noticed someone familiar, but the realisation didn’t hit straight away. Until I understood. That was the person that this song was written about, who I hadn’t seen God knows how long for. I didn’t feel either sad or happy. He was just a stranger like the most people around me. So even if this song sounds quite melancholic, it doesn’t mean to carry any heavy emotional weight now. It’s just an acknowledgement that something happened in the past, but there are no hard feelings left.

P.S. I figured that staring at just one photo of the massive pizzas might, indeed, increase your appetite, so I added some more photos from this spring photo shoot. Me and my magic golden boots :)

The last photo drop from 04/07 gig at patio. Thank you for capturing those moments! 📸 It was an emotional performance. The part of me wishes I was in a better mood that day, but perhaps this is something that helped me have a catharsis on stage. It was odd experience, because I think I got haunted by the older version of myself, but I had no intention to settle down for it again. I am happy that this summer goes way better than a previous one: I had a great gig, I go to some really nice events every now and again, and I want to think I forgave myself for being naive and silly in the past ☀️

The snippet you hear in this video is called “Love Is a Limited Edition”, and it was one of those songs which I wrote without having any musical references in mind. Lyrically it might resonate a bit with “Modern Love” by David Bowie, but I guess I’ve never been sceptical enough to lose faith completely :)

A football fever is over for England, or is it really? 😅 Perhaps this post will have more visibility for the UK in general too. A few more shots from my gig at patio’s stage :) Thank you, Robert of 📸

I was upset to find out that Beyond Retro clothing shop in Helsinki got closed due to bankruptcy. This is where I got a performance t-shirt for my gig at Kuka last year. Yes, sometimes I go on a fashion mission to other cities and even countries…🧐 This time I wanted something to inspire me, because I had a rough week, and the weather was…”I predict you’re gonna take a walk in the rain
and you’re gonna get wet”. So I went with a Sparks t-shirt, in that life-affirming lime green 🍋‍🟩 I’ve only had a pleasure to see this incredibile band once in 2022 in Helsinki, but their performance left such a profound impact on me. I decided that I would go and do my best no matter what 🎤 I will let you know when the next gig is confirmed ✅

The snippet is from the track called “Dan, Do You Really Try the Best You Can?!”, and it is influenced by Sparks and ABBA. .collective also thought that the demo sounded like Pet Shop Boys :D Either way, it’s all good references 🎶

Another heated football day, especially for my UK friends and audience, well, for those who are interested 😅 This time no football collage with me though. I just want to share some photos of a preparation for the outdoor gig we had on the 4th of July plus few more shots of my performance.

As I mentioned before, it was a DIY event, as I was eager to play gigs. Alas, one gig fell through, because a venue had an issue with financing. Some venues said that electronic music wasn’t a fit (we don’t have a dancefloor). It’s amusing that sometimes I am treated as EDM artist or assumed to be a DJ just because I say that I am electronic music artist. Either way, I can’t help but thinking why electronic music (not EDM and raves) have no proper events and festivals. There are people who make electropop/synthpop and other “genre-friendly” music like me, but they are always mixed with something else. I understand that it’s the nature of many festivals, but wouldn’t it be nice to have a purely “alternative” electronic music event (not just all dance and trance?) And here in Finland, electronic music is pretty niche, and perhaps it explains the lack of such events. But I don’t see the situation is being any different in the countries where it’s supposed to be a bigger music genre. Anyway, just thinking out loud…

Thank you to Robert for helping me organise the gig, designing the poster, promoting the event and being a moral support! We learnt a bit about the stage lights that day 🚦🚥 :D Thank you to for the equipment, without you our voices wouldn’t be amplified (literally) 🎶🎤 And yes, you were my moral support too :) Also thank you to and .lyyra for a brilliant performance! 🌟 Hope to see you live again or maybe even play together 🙌🏼 Please, check that talented crowd. If I could, I would sign them all, honestly 💙🎶 Photos: Robert & Santeri 📸🙏🏼