What are your names?
Paola Suhonen and Olli Happonen
What is the duo’s name.
Lone Deer Laredo
How did you come up with the name?
The name has its origin in at least two different places. Paola’s father had jeans company that had Laredo Jeans label so it is a kind of tribute to him also. Laredo of course is also a place in southern parts of The USA close to where part of our musical influences are coming from.
What is your genre of music?
Folkrock twisted with americana and little slavic elements
Give us a little bio about you.
Paola met Olli couple of years ago in a bar in the bohemian side of the city of Helsinki. During the afterparty Paola sang a song called Why Do I Need the Winds (on our debut!) to Olli and Lone Deer Laredo was born (immediately).
What made you go in to music?
That endless longing when you keep searching for the chosen one to appear.
Are you signed?
The first edition of the album Lone Deer Laredo Vol. 1/7 is out on Ivana Helsinki Records (side label for Paola’s fashion brand Ivana Helsinki). The future is open for many questions…
You released a new single ‘ Golden Harvest’; tell us more about the single.
It is a song that mixes dreams, reality, hopes and desire. It’s about the dreams that can be reached only on the silver screen.
Describe the track in two words.
Widescreen poetry
What was the writing process like?
It was a real adventure…The origin of the song goes back to very early days of our duo. It was a song had wall of sound in it even with only one acoustic guitar and Paola’s voice. And yeah it achieved its climax with lap steele and those baritone guitars recorded at the Alex the Great Studios in Nashville. Brad (Jones) our fantastic producer had all those amazing vintage guitars at his studio and he perfectly understood our vision of the songs. So there you go some spagetti western stuff twisted with folkrock romanticism…
What was the recording process like?
We really felt good at Brad’s studio in Nashville. It was a trip to heaven for 10 days. Brad has a really good ear for music. A very nice and enlightened character with also very sensitive mind for culture, art and life in general.
What is the meaning behind the title of your new single?
The main character has lost his chosen one due to golden harvest and he keeps on waiting (in vain)…
Who did you work with on the single with?
Brad also brought in some fantastic people and unique musicians who had worked with legends like Paul McCartney, Josh Rouse etc: Chris Carmichael on strings, Jim Hoke on flute and recorder to mention few super cool people…
You also released the video, who did you work with on it?
Paola shot the video with 16mm camera in Redwoods with Olli and serious looking Finnish girl.
You also released your debut album ‘Vol 1/7, tell us more about it?
It is the first part of the 7 album series that will see daylight during the following years. When the seventh comes out we are done…
What was the inspiration behind the album?
Endless road trips, longing, love, murder ballads, hope, desire, animal rights, God, rock and roll, poetry
Describe each track in two words.
”Golden Harvest”: Hope/Desire
”Why Do I Need the Winds”: Shadow/Wind
”Queen of Revenge”: Revenge Song
”True Light of Mine”: Stealing Light
”Mad Marie”: Murder Ballad
”Stars Stars Lights Paradise”: Rauli Somerjoki
”Silver World”: Second Choice
”Make the Sea Freeze in June”: Dead Leaves
”Summer of Silk”: Killer Road
Do you have any shows coming up or a tour in planning?
US tour and gigs in Tokyo planned for 2019, special show in Finland…
If so where will you be heading?
Just have to figure out the exact dates first…
What else can we expect in 2019?
Touring and song writing for Lone Deer Laredo Vol. 2/7…
Do you have any collaborations coming up with any up coming artists?
There might be something coming up but cannot really release any details yet…
Would you be up for collaborations if other musicians wanted one with you? and who would they have to contact?
Yeah of course… Please contact Ivana Helsinki.
Who are your influences?
Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Joan Baez, Nancy Sinatra, Gram Parsons, Leonard Cohen, Velvet Underground
How do you get inspiration to write songs?
From the road trips, love, poetry, God, animal rights, Cinematography, vintage films
Where do you see yourself now in 5 Years?
Making six missing pieces of the puzzle…
When you’re not doing music, what do you do?
Paola has Ivana Helsinki fashion brand, makes films, writes books. Olli has New Silver Girl, another newcomer in the sphere of rock and roll. The duo is also running an art and music festival Superwood in Helsinki.
What was the song you listened to most that influenced you to go more in to the music scene?
Paola: She (by Gram Parsons)
Olli: Waiting For the Man (by Velvet Underground)
What’s the best advice you have ever been given?
Work only with the people who are better than you.
What advice would you give to aspiring musicians not about the industry and just as an artist?
Keep your own road whatever happens, whoever questions your ideas under whatever circumstances.
What quote or saying do you always stick by?
”I’ve been a miner for a heart of gold”
Where in your hometown is a must go to visit?
The archipelago of eastern Helsinki.
Your coming off tour;
1/ Where do you go first?
To hug and kiss our rescue dog Mauri.
2/ Who do you see first?
Parents.
3/What do you eat first?
Veggie soup and salad.
When you are at a gig, what are 5 things you cannot forget?
1968 FenderJazzmaster, good looking vintage clothes, lyrics, bottle of red wine and candles
Do you have social media accounts so your fans can follow you?
We have instagram
