Random Mullet

Ilmo Ylinärä, Clean vocals

So. Here am I. Finally! I sing the so-called clean parts in the RM.

I have always liked music, in it's different forms. In 1994 I started to play French Horn in Vaasa and I played it almost ten years. I started to sing , I guess, in 2002 when me and my friends formed a band.

Since that I've been singing in different places and bands, styles from jazz to heavy. Nowadays I live in Helsinki and I study in the local pop&jazz conservatoire, hoping to become a better singer.

My friend Henri "Big-Hene" Heikka asked me in 2005 to sing in RM's demo and Oops! Here I am! Still!

I dunno, if You're interested, but here are a few of my influences: Mike Patton (Faith No More, Mr Bungle), Devin Townsend, Opeth, Pain Of Salvation, Katatonia, Meshuggah, Ulver, Nile, Incubus, Guns N´ Roses, NIN, Thal, Leka, Teemu, Simppa, Henbeat, Snekka, Zata, The Funkin´ Funksters, Arcturus, Lamb Of God, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Porcupine Tree, MF Doom

Henri Heikka, Sax

I know sax players don't traditionally chill in a metal band but it is a damn sexy instrument, and well.. it all depends on what kind of sex you are looking for. Y'all know how Random Mullet is... Not your run-of-the-mill type. And that's why I like it.

But seriously, I've been playing my Yamaha alto sax for about 5 years and keyboards for a decade or so. Living in an apartment makes practicing sax kind of harder but gotta go with what you've got and make the best of it. I never got much of a formal training, I like listening to my influences and steal the good stuff as I hear 'em and present them as my own. Gotta figure your thing out by yourself and not learn how you should play in a certain kind of spot. For me, that would be slapping the buttons on random, much like women slap each other in a catfight. Come to think of it, my playing usually sounds a lot like one too.

Influences include Rick Rubin, John Zorn (couldn't have guessed this one?), Mike Patton, Devin Townsend, Phil Anselmo, Ihsahn, Maceo Parker, John Whooley etc. And can't forget Big-Thal & co. of For The Imperium, the second best unsigned band in Finland. Probably the best but I'm blind to my own child's shortcomings.

Simo Järvinen, Growls

Hellyeah! Simo is the name and growling is my game!

Like every horny teenager, I wanted to play in a rockband and be huge star.

I never had enough concentration to learn to play any instrument. So I figured if I banged my head fast enough and made all kind of noises, there could be something to it. Back in the days, when a good friend of mine and my brother formed a band together I decided I wanted in. Come to think of it, it was actually RM boys Raipe and Hene who introduced me to the shitty world of recording in the first place, cheers mates!

Of course I was very honoured when they asked me for the latest one. Guess it has now gone a full circle, time to ram a fist up in someones arse (that would be mine). That's how it all started, and this is what it has come to. I'm still a big headed, noisy asshole, who can't sing for shit, but howls and growls like hell.

What it comes to influences I have always admired great performers with a unique style. To mention few: Philip H. Anselmo, Zakk Wylde, Bruce Dickinson, Jack Black, Onni-Pelle, Mike Patton, Ville Laihiala, Corocheur, Gaspoch, Seizerah and the whole Impera crew.

Raine Oikarinen, Keyboards

I love playing piano. I've been playing piano and keyboards (more or less) for like 9 years now. For me the keyboards are just a cheap replacement for a real piano, but they're indeed more useful in a metal band like this.

In fact, I'd describe myself more as a pianist and a songwriter instead of being a keyboardist or a composer/producer. Some day I'll get the money (in one way or another!) for a Steinway & Sons grand piano, ha!

My biggest influences in playing come from the two Dream Theater virtuosos, Kevin Moore and Jordan Rudess. Kevin Moore really knows (knew?) how to arrange keyboards with progressive metal, and Rudess has made some awesomely cool piano parts for the newer Dream Theater albums. Furthermore, Steinar Sverd Johnsen from Arcturus and Jens Johansson are truly worth mentioning.

I've played naturally some classical music during the past years, but never got THAT much into it. Of course Frédéric Chopin is one of the greatest men ever when it comes to technique and composing with piano. My all-time favorite bands along with Dream Theater are American pioneers Megadeth and Pantera, besides the incredibly brilliant Opeth. Lately I've been listening to a lot of Porcupine Tree, The Dillinger Escape Plan and Meshuggah (great bands to relax with!)

Tuomas Laurila, Guitars

Hello, my name's Tuomas Laurila. This whole guitar thing began when I was eight years old and I heard my brother listening to Yngwie Malmsteen's "Marching Out" and I was like "Wow!" Shortly after that I got into Bon Jovi, and when Iron Maiden got into the picture, I knew I wanted to be something.

I first touched a guitar when I was twelve years old and was playing my friend's guitar which's neck was all bent and I was picking it with a 10 pence coin. A while later I got an electric guitar and started practicing like hell and the sports hobby which I was pretty serious about, got to get out of the way.

I played a couple of years with various bands before joining Random Mullet. My gear is Ibanez RG08LTD, Jackson PS2 Custom, Boss GT-8, Peavey Valveking.

Influences include Bon Jovi "Richie Sambora" , Journey "Neal Schon", Vinnie Moore, Jeff Kashiwa, Craig Chaquico, Pat Metheny, Marty Friedman, David Gilmour,  John Schaffer, Adrian Smith, Teena Marie etc.

Mika Luosujärvi, bass

Wadap mulleteers! What should begin with? I have played bass for like 6 years now and I'm still as bad at it as I was when I began. I'm thinking of buying a new bass, my current sling sounds so bad it gives headaches every time we have to record something. Seriously, it sounds fucking horrible! Maybe I'll come up with somethin' (people - donations accepted)!

Like I said, I'm still learning to handle that low-frequency monster. Bouncing between 2 jobs, university of applied sciences and fatherhood does not necessarily leave your schedule empty so it's kind of tough to slip in some spare time to play. Fortunately band's music gives (I prefer "forces" to "gives" in this context) me opportunities to train a bit. Besides, I am self-taught anyway so is it up to me to decide whether I train like hell or not? Hell yes it is. But believe me: I'm trying to practice my ass off, it just doesn't seem like it.

My biggest influences in case you are interested: John Muyng is numero uno. His technical abilities are amazing. There is no arguing about that. I also admire Tony Levin (who would not?) and Les Claypool. Their skills kick some serious hairy ass too.

PS. Nowadays I like Jaloviina (go home, Jack D!) Oh man, the greatest and the worst booze on the planet!

Janne Riikola, Drums

I first touched a guitar when I was 13 years old but started playing seriously when I was 16 years old by practicing Dream Theater and Meshuggah material. Drums I have played here and there since I was 13 years old but have never owned a drum set which I could use for practicing. I also am completely self-taught in playing both guitar and drums.

In the spring of 2008 I finally bought my first drumkit and started to practice more seriously 'cause we had our very first RM gig coming later in the summer. Long story short, I was actually sober for six months to be able to save money for the kit. Crazy shit but what is done is done.

For some reason playing guitar and drums is not enough for me. About four years ago I became intrested about music production shit, recording, mixing and mastering. I hate it but I also love it. I think it's all Kevin Shirleys fault because I've always loved the sound of the records he have mixed so I wanted to learn how get the "KEVIN SHIRLEY SOUND". I'm still working on it, haha. We have a recording studio at our rehearsing spot called Dollar Sound Studios and that's where we recorded our new "Remission" promo. All the mixing and mastering happens in my apartment.

I also play guitar in Fish Doll and Catastrophe.

INFLUENCES: Dream Theater, Limp Bizkit (Wes Borland, John Otto), Korn, Dave Weckl, Meshuggah, Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg, Ludacris, Ed Belfour, Ben Stiller

GEAR

Drums: TAMA drums, pedals, hardware Sabian and Meinl cymbals Promark sticks DIXON rack REMO heads