Put two powerhouse female vocalists together, build a band around them and have them make an album… guaranteed that sparks fly! That’s what happened in 2021 when Frontiers Records, Smackbound’s Netta Laurenne and Battle Beast’s Noora Louhimo teamed up resulting in the excellent album “The Reckoning”. And they’re pulling that stunt again with their sophomore album “Falling Through Stars” that will be out on April 18th, also on Frontiers Records. We sent some questions to Netta by mail (Noora wasn’t available at the moment) to find out more about the new LAURENNE/LOUHIMO album.
Hello again Netta. Yes, again… we also did an interview with you for Female Fronted Power when LAURENNE/LOUHIMO released their debut album “The Reckoning” in 2021. Do you remember that?
“Cool! Of course.”
2021, that’s four years ago. Of course, you’ve been busy with your own bands – you Netta with Smackbound and Noora with Battle Beast – and some other projects for both as well. But have you and Noora been together in the intervening years to talk about LAURENNE/LOUHIMO or even done some songwriting?
“We started writing the songs with Nino Laurenne (Netta‘s husband – ed.) in the summer of 2023. We knew from the beginning of the project that we were going to make a second album at some point. We even signed a two-album deal with the label back in 2020.”
About that songwriting process, how does that work for you? Who does what?
“I compose the songs with Nino, like on the first album, and I write the lyrics for them. On this album, Noora also joined the songwriting on three songs. We worked on some lyrics together on “FTS,” “Loud And Clear,” and “To The Dark,” and Noora also came up with the vocal melody in the chorus of “To The Dark.””
Your new album “Falling Through Stars” will be out on April 18th, again on Frontiers Music Srl. Who was the one saying: “Isn’t it time for a new, second LAURENNE/LOUHIMO album?” You or the label?
“We knew we were going to make the second album at some point, and when the label started asking when we’d do it, we gave them an estimate.”
On your Facebook, it was written: “This album is about friendship and enjoying the possibility to make music together.” In what way is that reflected in the songs on “Falling Through Stars”?
“I wrote all the songs so that they reflect both of us, as we know each other well and have had many long and deep discussions about everything in our lives. It was important for me to include Noora’s voice in the songs, even if she wasn’t writing them, so that she would feel them as much her own as I do when it came time to record the vocals for the album.”
You’ve released three videos from the new album so far: one visualizer video for “The Cradle” and two official videos for “Damned” and the title track “Falling Through Stars.” Especially the latter is striking in terms of design. Who does these videos for you?
“Thanks. I design, direct, and edit the videos myself. We had Topias Kupiainen (Arion) as the cameraman on both videos. He is very dear to us and a great talent. Topias is also Smackbound’s technician and live mixer.”
It is obvious that your husband Nino Laurenne has had a large role in the sound on both LAURENNE/LOUHIMO albums, not least due to his guitar work. How important is it for you to have him with you during the recording sessions?
“He has a much greater role on the albums than just as the guitarist (which is also great). We co-produced both albums together, and without his vision and expertise the albums would not be what they are. He also mixed them. It takes the two of us to produce such versatile and interesting albums, as we have different strengths. And it also takes both Noora’s and my voice to make it sound the way it does. I was in charge of vocal production on both albums and actually rarely had Nino present during my vocal recordings. He was with us for some of Noora’s sessions, but I recorded my own vocals alone at our home studio while he was recording drums and guitars at Sonic Pump Studios. It’s teamwork where everybody trusts each other. A dream team, really.”
That sound is a mix of hard rock and heavy metal, often with clear references to the 80s. Which bands from that period are your favourites?
“Dio, Judas Priest, Queensrÿche, Heart, Whitesnake – to name a few.”
Building on that, the beautiful ballad “Loud And Clear” could have been on a Heart album. The structure, the vocals – so typically Wilson sisters. Did you feel that too when you wrote or recorded the song?
“As both Noora and I love Heart, we did get some vibes, but it’s impossible to really observe those kinds of similarities when you mainly hear the differences. You’re so immersed in your own creation, your own song.”
If you’re going to drop one more video off the album, I secretly hope it will be “FTS.” What a powerful live sing-along! What does FTS stand for again?
“Fuck This Shit.”
Closer “David Bowie & Clyde” is again a beautiful acoustic track where both your vocals blend so well, and it reminds me a lot of, again, a Heart song: “Dreamboat Annie.” What is it about?
“I’ve never actually heard that song by Heart, so there hasn’t been any connection to it when we wrote “David Bowie & Clyde” with Nino. I wrote the lyrics as a dialogue between good friends. I imagined it as a kind of love letter to your pen pal asking questions and recognizing the similarities between the two of you. Having the feeling that you would travel anywhere with this person, your best friend.”
Can you plan a LAURENNE/LOUHIMO tour in between your already busy schedules – especially Noora’s?
“No, we are not planning any live gigs at this point, but never say never. It would be fun to share the stage with your dear friend.” ■
Henk van Nieuwenhoven