The Band News
Here's a band with a fresh attitude. Sunrise Avenue play pure rock'n'roll with an unstoppable passion, and a dash of sunshine in their melodies. You can hear their commitment to the music and performing in everything they do.
"From the beginning our thing has been that we don't act. We are what we are, and always do whatever we're doing with a big heart otherwise why do it," singer-guitarist Samu Haber says firmly.
Words like genuine and unpretentious aren't just pretty phrases in Sunrise Avenue's world. The words ring true and are visible both in the band members as well as the music they play.
Haber started the band together with guitarist Janne Krkkinen in 2002. Bass player Raul Ruutu joined the gang soon after, and Sami Osala came on as the drummer in the fall of 2005 he was recruited by Killer Aspect's Teijo Jms, who plays drums on several of the album's tracks. Producer Jukka Backlund got interested when he saw the band perform live, and with him Sunrise Avenue decided to make a record, even before they had a record deal. The first tracks Backlund and Sunrise Avenue did together also clinched the deal.
Fantastic songs. That's the key element of Sunrise Avenue's music. Songs that sound good whether they're being played only with an acoustic guitar, or produced to sound massive. All four guys sing during gigs, so it's no surprise that singing in harmony and melodies that stick to your mind are important in the band's music.
"It's the same basic thing that The Beatles did, and what Bon Jovi and Foo Fighters have done for years. It isn't about today's trends, it's music that will work just as well today, tomorrow and in ten years time," Haber states.
Debut album On the Way to Wonderland is about Sunrise Avenue's road towards its dream, the moment when the band members hold a completed album in their hands.
"This album is a very direct and personal portrayal of all the different stages of traveling towards your dream: you've got the highs, the moments of boasting, and also the times when everything is going to hell," Haber describes.
Sunrise Avenue have been determined on the journey to where they are now, as a recording artist with an open road filled with opportunities in front of them. We're talking about a strong live band, which has gained a lot of experience by playing all the gigs that have been there to play. That open attitude has helped spread the word about them. The main reason for playing all those gigs was simply the fact that these guys hunger for playing live.
"When you go on stage, it's never about life or death. If there's even one person who's into it, that's great. If we're enjoying ourselves, even that's enough. And if a hundred people are standing with their hands in the air, then wow! But for us playing live is the thing, that's enough to make us happy," Haber says convincingly.
Sunrise Avenue want to connect with other people. The band members emphasise the audiences whenever possible. The fact that people came to the live shows even when things weren't going that great gave the band faith.
"Sure we've had the moments, when we didn't think anything could ever come out of this. But those feelings disappeared every time we got on stage, and saw the guy or the girl smile. When we saw that we became convinced again that there's something to our music after all."
Another thing that has kept Sunrise Avenue together is the band itself, and the chemistry between the guys in the band. Every person has a role: guitarist Janne and bass player Raul take care of everything related to the web and the sound systems, guitarist-singer Samu writes the songs, and handles other band leader-types of things. Drummer Sami concentrates on playing his instrument.
Sunrise Avenue prove again that rock can be played with a positive attitude, and without taking it too seriously. The band also shows that a rock band can look the audience into the eyes during their performance, and not just glance mysteriously from under tons of make-up. Sunrise Avenue will melt many hearts in the months to come with their open attitude.
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