Ultrasport is in my opinion the most criminally neglected pop band ever to come out of Finland. Not that I really know many pop bands from Finland, but they definately should have topped a few charts in their lifespan. The band broke up in 2007 and singer Juho Kosunen has since worked on his solo project, Future Gravity. Indie-mp3 had a little chat with Juho about the new project, life with Ultrasport and the merits of dictatorship. While reading on you can start by listening to “The Engineer“, a favorite of this writer.
Hi Juho. Tell me a little about Future Gravity and yourself. Who are you and were are you from? When and how did Future Gravity come about? Who are your co-workers on the project?
I’m a hard working DIY man from Helsinki, Finland. Future Gravity is my very own love child, a chance to finally do things my way. Over the years I’ve developed the skills to make pop music almost completely on my own and on my own terms. I write, play and produce the songs the way I want to hear them.
I started working as Future Gravity early 2008 and spent the whole year studying audio technology and learning how to record and arrange music on my own.
I’m blessed with many musically talented friends whose talents I can exploit shamelessly. Olli Moilanen, Samuli Toivonen and Sami Kurppa are my old friends from Ultrasport and Petri Nakari is an old friend of mine. Päivi Kankaro should have been my little sister, so I sort of adopted her as one. They all contributed to my songs and I love them for it.
You were formely in Ultrasport, how did that band come about? Were you in other bands before, and what are the others doing now?
Ultrasport was formed in 2000 and it was originally a trio. Olli came in later on and turned us into a band. Ultrasport really was my first band and I’m glad it was. Great times and not-so-great times were had and I can proudly say that we had a good run.
Olli is in a band called Metsätahti, they’re just starting out. Sami has a project of his own, haven’t heard it yet but should be promising.
In what way has Future Gravity evolved from Ultrasport?
Ultrasport was a democracy and Future Gravity is a dictatorship. I like it better this way.
Here’s the inevitable band question, what are your influences? Do you wear them on your sleeves?
Bruce Springsteen will always be a true hero of mine, musically and otherwise and so is Stephin Merritt from the Magnetic Fields. The Bad Seeds have a sound that I’m constantly impressed with. The National’s Boxer was a great album to me and I love Arcade Fire like everybody else, I guess. Earlier on I was really into Sonic Youth, The Cure and R.E.M. and I think that still shows. I still have to mention Final Fantasy ’cause I love the way Owen Pallet creates his art live.
Do I wear my influences on my sleeves? I don’t know, you tell me…
The future of Future Gravity? Is an album in the making? If so, who’s releasing and when can we expect it? Will you be playing live?
I’m making music at my own pace, not really concerned about release dates yet as I’m still looking for a label to release Future Gravity’s music. So all you moguls with awesome connections and deep pockets, drop me a line, ok?
Live shows are a different beast altogether. Would love to do them at some point but now I’m too busy creating new music. Recreating the arrangements live is going to be interesting but now is not the time.
Of the Ultrasport songs I’ve heard so far, I’m particularily fond of “God save the architects”. What is it about and how did you get the idea?
Sami Konttinen wrote that song for Ultrasport and I’d hate to (mis)interpret it for him. I think it’s a love song about girls and ugly architecture but that might just be me.
What’s the music scene like wherever you are in Finland? What local bands should we be watching out for?
Juho: Right now there’s a whole lot of electronic acts that are really good, like the whole New Judas family, Hannulelauri, Zebra and Snake etc. Apart from the healthy electronic scene there’s not that much going on at the moment. I have to mention my friends Harry Hunks whose new stuff I’m currently producing, they are great!
Thanks Juho, and good luck with Future Gravity!
Future Gravity – Repo Man
Future Gravity - The Engineer (Highly recommended)
Ultrasport – Nothing can go wrong (Pop perfection)
Ultrasport – God save the architects (Best song about architecture ever)
Ultrasport – The boy that never lied
Ultrasport – Bad Poetry (clip)
