Interview with Stella

Stella is disbanding after this summer, after more than ten years on the road. So on Saturday, July 13th, their touching songs will sound out for the last time in Ilosaarirock. The festival web press talked with guitarist Janne Sivonen about quitting, the gig on Saturday, and his creative process. Sivonen says that the decision to quit feels good.

– We’ve played a few gigs after the decision, and the band has been in excellent form. I think that our energy levels are now automatically higher than usual, because everyone is enjoying the fact that we’re still together touring this final time.

– It’s also more fun to travel when you know that it’s the last time on the road. The atmosphere could be a bit different if you knew that it would just continue.

How have your fans handled the news?

– People have been very understanding, and the atmosphere in gigs has been great. The situation and feeling is in some way very reminiscent of the one we had when we had just started.  There’s something similar in starting and stopping.

Stella released “Siinä kaikki” (eng: “that is all”), a collection album that also includes some new songs, including the song On maailma meille avoinna (eng: “the world is open to us”). Does the piece in any way refer to the situation of the band members, which is changing at least in some way with the decision to quit?

– The name of the song mainly has to do with the lyrics, that describe the relationship of a couple. Of course some kinds of allusions to our situation can be drawn.

In any case, the world really is now open to the members of Stella. What’s coming next?

– I’m hoping to be involved with music in some way, but nothing is certain yet. I don’t have any music projects in the works at the moment. I do know that I’d like to find something interesting that inspires me, whatever that may be. It doesn’t matter if it doesn’t involve music.

Stella is known for their unique and touching lyrics that often include stories of everyday life. Janne writes those lyrics. Where does he draw inspiration for them – from his own life, from his friends, or someplace else?

– From absolutely everything. As a songwriter, I try to register things that other people may not notice. I write lyrics from several starting points. Other than looting stories from myself and others and then writing them into a song, I’ve also gotten ideas from random sentences and the books I’ve read.

Janne tells us that he is often especially inspired by matters close to his heart.

– When something is important to you personally, the idea carries a lot further. There’s a long road from inspiration to a finished song.

Some of the songs on the new collection have been written in cooperation with author Inka Nousiainen, and a few songs have been written completely by Ms. Nousiainen.

Your lyrics and Stella’s performance will be heard in Ilosaari for the last time on Saturday. What are the band’s hopes for the gig?

– I hope that the audience enjoys the gig and I enjoy the gig. A good performance usually doesn’t leave any recollections, because you’ve been so completely engrossed by what you’re doing, for the whole time. A gig that lasts a long time creates a good feeling. As a performer you also try to create a connection with the crowd. If you can make it happen, that’s a really good feeling.

Interview: Elina Saarela
Photo: Markus Korpi-Hallila
Translation: Jaakko Suvanto