Tuomas-Jouni-Between the friends Ilta-Sanomat Plus 28.04.07

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Ilta-Sanomat Plus 28.4.2007.
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Text: Merja Asikainen Photos: Rosemarie Särkkä

Tuomas - Jouni - Between the friends

Kaksi ujoa urhoa - Two shy bravehearts

The friendship of Tuomas Holopainen and Jouni Hynynen has such a strong foundation that it doesn’t always need even words.

Tuomas Holopainen from Nightwish and Jouni Hynynen from Kotiteollisuus made friends four years ago.
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“Two Finnish Uunos are combined in him: Turhapuro and Kailas.” Tuomas on Jouni
[Uuno Turhapuro is a fictional anti-heroic humoristic male figure of a Finnish movie series and Uuno Kailas (1901-1933) was a Finnish poet, writer and translator, best known as a poet nowadays.]

WHO?
> Tuomas Lauri Johannes Holopainen was born 25 December 1976 in Kitee
> The keyboard player and leader, composer and lyricist of the band Nightwish
> Is interested in movies, books, hiking, travelling and scuba diving. Admires Walt Disney.
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Tuomas: We talk about women all the time

When and where did you meet?
At the same place where all the fine Finnish relationships begin, that is, at the bar. The bar was located in Tohmajärvi. Kotiteollisuus was making their album “Helvetistä itään” [From Hell to East] year 2003. We got along right away. We have same kind of East Finnish funny bones. Some things strike right straightaway.

How did your friendship move on?
I was asked to play with on the next album, too, and after that we went on tour. I was terrified at first. Kotiteollisuus is “a bloke band” with a capital b, and then some guy looking like me boards the stage to play the piano. But it worked fine.

What combines you with one another?
Each makes his music and lyrics with extreme piety. Makes songs about serious matters and in earnest. Similarly, we both laugh at ourselves all the time. Bumble around on purpose a bit more than it would be necessary in reality. At the same time there is a serious side in music. It comes straight from the heart and one pours out one's soul to it.

In what kind of things do you differ from each other?
Jouni is rock and I’m not rock. Jouni has far better self esteem than I have. He plays along right away and sometimes even against his will. He has presented himself such an image that he is easy to approach. I let in only when I feel like it.

What do you do together?
Jouni lives in Lappeenranta and I live in Kitee, so whenever we meet, it’s usually somehow work-related. Sometimes weeks go by and we don’t meet but it’s one of the clearest signs of friendship that when you finally meet it’s like it’s been only yesterday. With Jouni it’s just like that.

How Jouni is when he is drunken?
He is such an incredible guy to vomit. Jouni can be feeling just ok and everything’s fine but just half a minute after that he can be vomitting on to his shoe, ashtray or where ever. All these have been seen. That throw-up always comes just like behind the corner. I never vomit.

How much do you talk about women?
All the time. When we sit on the tour bus we naturally talk about women there. It’s by no means serious talk about relationships but joking good willingly.

Could you tell Jouni anything whatsoever?
I could but it’s a whole different matter if he were interested. Jouni is extremely reliable. There are only few people who genuinely listen to the other person. I have noticed that Jouni can do that. But we don’t usually dwell on things.

How straight talk can your friendship take?
Extremely straight, even though it’s my opinion that talking straight is one of the most overrated things in the world. One should always remember certain kind of discretion.

Which album and song of Kotiteollisuus are your favourites?
The album “Kuolleen kukan nimi” [Name of a dead flower] and the songs “Satu peikoista” [Fairytale of goblins] and “Ukko perkele” [God Damn]. “Satu peikoista” has always touched me. “Ukko perkele” has fine lyrics. It tells exactly what’s going on in this world right now.
[Ukko = 1) old man 2) an old Finnish main god almighty in folk religion; Perkele = 1) Devil 2) an old Finnish god of fire in folk religion].

What is best in Jouni?
I like that two Finnish Uunos are combined in him: Turhapuro and Kailas. Really sensitive profundity and humour. He balances with those aspects.

What could break down your friendship?
I can’t even imagine that we could have disagreements. We enjoy each other’s company so much. There’s mutual understanding that needs no words.

>Nightwish is making the new album at the moment. The new vocalist will be announced on 30 May.

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“I often get a feeling that Tuomas is too kind a chap for this world.” Jouni on Tuomas

WHO?
> Jouni Kalervo Hynynen was born 15 February 1970 in Joutseno
> The founder member, vocalist-guitarist and songmaker of the band Kotiteollisuus
> Causeries e.g. on weekly colour supplement Seepra of newspaper Etelä-Saimaa and Keskisuomalainen.
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Jouni: We are shy ponderers

How did you meet?
Our producer Mikko Karmila phoned Tuomas that we needed a keyboard player for our album. I wasn’t enthusiastic because I have never been a keyboard fan. I guess we met even in the same evening at a bar but we didn’t get to know each other yet during that night. We are shy boys and even though we were slightly pissed we couldn’t really get into cracking jokes or anything. When Tuomas came to do his part for the album I realized what a great guy this is.

What combines you with one another?
We are both a kind of ponderers. Slightly shy, introverted and calm. Neither hustle nor fuss. We both take music with passion. And we are both really good-looking, aren’t we!

In what kind of things do you differ from each other?
Tuomas has still left a boyish sincere view on things while I am at least gradually losing it. Tuomas has seen the world so much more, so one would think that he would have become harder but that hasn’t happened - and that’s a fine thing.

How Tuomas is when he is drunken?
Tuomas is always calm, and that’s why he is extremely safe company even drunken. One measure for friendship for men is that one is good company in a pissed state, too. Not unpredictable, no need to be afraid or ashamed of.

In what kind of situations does Tuomas ask for your help?
He doesn’t and neither do I. It’s an old truth. One carries even a freezer to the fifth floor by oneself but aid is not asked.

Could you tell Tuomas anything whatsoever?
Certainly we can talk about anything. Even though we don’t make a habit of being shoulders in bunch of blokes.

How straight talk can your friendship take?
I believe that it could take anything. If Tuomas criticized my music, I might get excited and shout for a moment, because if one has made something with great passion, killing it might well create a reaction. It couldn’t mess our good terms, though.

How often do you listen to music of Nighwish?
Never. The album “Once” is still left unopened at home. I am not any fan for Tarja. She sings well but I can’t listen to that voice.

Do you give gifts to each other?
Actually no gifts have been given by me. Tuomas gave me a Christmas card that he had made himself but I wasn’t able to bring myself to give anything to him.

What is best in Tuomas?
Calmness and certainty. I don’t know how balanced he is but at least he gives an impression of being well balanced.

What is annoying in Tuomas?
He could be a bit harsher. I often get a feeling that Tuomas is too kind a chap for this world. He has to take a harder line not to get into the shit.

What could break down your friendship?
One can’t get upset or be angry at Tuomas for anything. Such kindness and warmth smoulder inside him that you can feel it. One simply can’t become angry at him. I feel that Tuomas is close to me. One of the clearest signs of friendship is that one can be totally oneself with other’s company and doesn’t feel even remotely uneasy even though there’s nothing to say. Just that sort of things are going on with us. There’s some goddamn connection between us.

> Jouni Hynynen in on the tv programme “Äijät” [Blokes] on SubTV on Fridays at 21.