As the earth tilts once more, Finnish alt-rock outfit Free Carmen recently marked the winter solstice with ‘Solstice II’, the final chapter in a two-part concept album that spans the emotional cycles of light and dark. Following the acclaimed 'Solstice I', released exactly six months prior on the summer solstice, 'Solstice II' completes a masterfully structured arc that began in brightness and descends into shadow, only to rise again with cathartic force.
At the heart of the new record is ‘From the Rain’, a stunning new single that captures the band’s immersive songwriting style, born from instinct, reflection, and a refusal to chase perfection. Written by frontman Veeti Mäkinen during a solitary creative trance while serving in the army, the song underscores the band’s commitment to following inspiration wherever it strikes, even at the cost of a missed dinner roll call.
So with the new album out now, we sat down with them to find out more about their origins and what has been inspiring them most over the years.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
Guitar. And even though I’m the singer of the band I still think of myself as a guitar player.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
Mostly different types of rock music. So nothing has changed that much.
What was the first album you remember owning?
Some kind of Michael Jackson collection.
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
In My Tree - Pearl Jam. In that song, there’s some kind of truth in it which I have yet to find out. Just imagine being good enough to write something like that. Kind of scary actually.
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
Not so much as a ritual but leaving my phone at home and going out for a walk is a great way to write lyrics. The music comes to me when I can just sit with a guitar knowing I have nothing else to do.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
Pearl Jam, and especially the albums No Code and Yield at the moment. Lately I’ve also spent a lot of time listening to Carnage which is an album by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis.
No Code (Pearl Jam) offers me a truly wide spectrum of things I love in music. Raw emotion, compelling lyrics, bold production and artistic choices, and heaps of imperfection. The song Present Tense perfectly encapsulates what I think is the album's best quality – its dynamics.
With Carnage (Nick Cave & Warren Ellis) I remind myself that real art doesn't live within any boundaries. The ruthless lyrics and production choices in songs like Hand of God and White Elephant are, in my opinion, unique in the history of music. Yet they are beautifully balanced by more traditional Nick Cave-style songs like Balcony Man.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
Pearl Jam
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
When you finish a song and no one has heard it yet. It feels like you have a secret that you cannot wait to tell everyone about.
And what is the most frustrating part?
Doing all the social media stuff.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
”Do your own thing.” I don’t know if there could be a better piece of advice.
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Free Carmen's new album 'Solstice II' is out now. Check it out in the player below.