Come Inside
Encyclopedia
Come Inside is a Finnish glam rock
, brit pop and indie rock band founded in 1996 at the Alppila Senior High in Helsinki
, Finland
. Though Sippola writes the band's lyrics in fluent English, the band remains mostly unknown outside of Finland, where they had several top-20 records.
The band comprised Mikko Sippola (vocals), Junnu Alajuuma (guitar), Samsa Kaukua (guitar), Jotti Taival (bass) and Oskari "Ose" Vilmunen (drums), who first met each other in the aforementioned high school and subsequently decided to form a band. According to their own words, their first-hand contact to music was playing e.g. "Rage Against the Machine
, Red Hot Chili Peppers
, Hendrix
and Stevie Wonder
" together.
Later, during the recording sessions for their second album Fearless, guitarist Kaukua left the band and was replaced by Matti Salovaara (guitar). Around the same time, the band's sound was further augmented by Junnu's little brother Ville (keyboards).
and Sentenced was attached.
Soon it became obvious, however, that Karmila's touch would yield a solid, mature glam-tinged first album. The first singles off the album - now peculiarly called Mosaic, much unlike the quality of the album - Celebrate and "She Wants" made the official Finnish single charts with both breaking the top 20 - simultaneously.
Against this backdrop the next album's broader canvas of sound and easygoing indie-type playing (completely unlike their previous single) was a love child of labour. The band worked long and hard with producer Nick Triani of Treeball and recorder Tom Nyman, eventually releasing the polished and critically well-accepted second album "Fearless" in the year 2000.
Especially the guitar playing on the album was paid attention to, with one critic drawing parallels to Suede
: "Junnu Alajuuma's Bernard Butler
-affected joyful playing is fearless, majestic and actually a deciding factor in Come Inside's overall sound." (transl.) Another critic would simply exclaim "Come Inside is got [sic] damn better than Suede."
A retro-themed record release party gig at the Tavastia
club in Helsinki on 6.4-2000 with lavish disco-ball installations and propaganda films was a success in the minds of the band, but after this the band would only play some more festival gigs over the course of the summer of 2000. Two singles were released off the album, the album-type track "Walk On" and the sonically sugar sweet but lyrically laconic "Follow Me", on which Sippola sings "I fell down the stairs, oh god, it's super!".
, Miss Treatment and Spanish Harlem. His brother Ville has played briefly in Treeball and Mummypowder
.
Glam rock
Glam rock is a style of rock and pop music that developed in the UK in the early 1970s, which was performed by singers and musicians who wore outrageous clothes, makeup and hairstyles, particularly platform-soled boots and glitter...
, brit pop and indie rock band founded in 1996 at the Alppila Senior High in Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
. Though Sippola writes the band's lyrics in fluent English, the band remains mostly unknown outside of Finland, where they had several top-20 records.
The band comprised Mikko Sippola (vocals), Junnu Alajuuma (guitar), Samsa Kaukua (guitar), Jotti Taival (bass) and Oskari "Ose" Vilmunen (drums), who first met each other in the aforementioned high school and subsequently decided to form a band. According to their own words, their first-hand contact to music was playing e.g. "Rage Against the Machine
Rage Against the Machine
Rage Against the Machine is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1991, the group's line-up consists of vocalist Zack de la Rocha, bassist and backing vocalist Tim Commerford, guitarist Tom Morello and drummer Brad Wilk...
, Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers is an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles in 1983. The group's musical style primarily consists of rock with an emphasis on funk, as well as elements from other genres such as punk, hip hop and psychedelic rock...
, Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
and Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
" together.
Later, during the recording sessions for their second album Fearless, guitarist Kaukua left the band and was replaced by Matti Salovaara (guitar). Around the same time, the band's sound was further augmented by Junnu's little brother Ville (keyboards).
First Steps or Chewin' Tobacco Fish Deedle
While the band was recording their first demo tape, they had not yet come to decide upon a name for the band. When asked, they would answer with "Chewin' Tobacco Fish Deedle". Their first demo was recorded in a space provided by their school. As would be obvious from their list of influences, the style and quality of their early material swung wildly: "Behind That Door, on the other hand, sounds like bad European reggae," proclaimed one Finnish reviewer.Mosaic
The band ended up - after bidding from several labels - making a record deal with the Stupido Records/Twin Tone label in the early summer of 1997, after having won the Ääni ja Vimma band review the same year. For their first album's recording sessions - and to the shock and surprise of the band - metal producer Mikko Karmila, who has worked, among other bands, with NightwishNightwish
Nightwish is a Finnish symphonic metal band from Kitee, Finland. Formed in 1996 by songwriter and keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen, guitarist Emppu Vuorinen, and former vocalist Tarja Turunen, Nightwish's current line-up has five members, although Tarja has been replaced by Anette Olzon and the...
and Sentenced was attached.
Soon it became obvious, however, that Karmila's touch would yield a solid, mature glam-tinged first album. The first singles off the album - now peculiarly called Mosaic, much unlike the quality of the album - Celebrate and "She Wants" made the official Finnish single charts with both breaking the top 20 - simultaneously.
Fearless
Though the band would only take two years between Mosaic and the follow-up, internally the band was undergoing discussions regarding their strongly guitar-leaning sound they felt was affecting their songwriting and improvisation adversely. Out of this was borne the electronic, dance-oriented single "Jinx" (1998), possibly an attempt to avoid classification and to try something new before the usual difficult second album.Against this backdrop the next album's broader canvas of sound and easygoing indie-type playing (completely unlike their previous single) was a love child of labour. The band worked long and hard with producer Nick Triani of Treeball and recorder Tom Nyman, eventually releasing the polished and critically well-accepted second album "Fearless" in the year 2000.
Especially the guitar playing on the album was paid attention to, with one critic drawing parallels to Suede
Suede (band)
Suede are an English alternative rock band from London, formed in 1989. The group's most prominent early line-up featured singer Brett Anderson, guitarist Bernard Butler, bass player Mat Osman and drummer Simon Gilbert. By 1992, Suede were hailed as "The Best New Band in Britain", and attracted...
: "Junnu Alajuuma's Bernard Butler
Bernard Butler
Bernard Joseph Butler is an English musician and record producer. He first emerged in the early Britpop era with Suede. He has been hailed by some critics as the greatest guitarist of his generation, as well as one of Britain's most original and influential guitarists...
-affected joyful playing is fearless, majestic and actually a deciding factor in Come Inside's overall sound." (transl.) Another critic would simply exclaim "Come Inside is got [sic] damn better than Suede."
A retro-themed record release party gig at the Tavastia
Tavastia
Tavastia may refer to:* Tavastia , a historical province of the kingdom of Sweden, located in modern-day Finland* Tavastia Proper, a modern region of Finland* Päijänne Tavastia, another region of Finland...
club in Helsinki on 6.4-2000 with lavish disco-ball installations and propaganda films was a success in the minds of the band, but after this the band would only play some more festival gigs over the course of the summer of 2000. Two singles were released off the album, the album-type track "Walk On" and the sonically sugar sweet but lyrically laconic "Follow Me", on which Sippola sings "I fell down the stairs, oh god, it's super!".
Aftermath
There have been regular rumours of the band's return, and in the past some band members have answered inquiries at the Stupido Twins message boards about returning to music in a reservedly optimistic manner. Like so many other bands, Come Inside have seemingly had both personal and artistic difficulties since the release of Fearless and it seems the band has split up for good.Trivia
- The band members did not call the band by any name at first, and when asked, they said they were called the 'Chewin' Tobacco Fish Deedle'. This dadaDadaDada or Dadaism is a cultural movement that began in Zurich, Switzerland, during World War I and peaked from 1916 to 1922. The movement primarily involved visual arts, literature—poetry, art manifestoes, art theory—theatre, and graphic design, and concentrated its anti-war politics through a...
istic response can be found on a released album track as well. - 1997 Winners of the Ääni ja Vimma band contest.
- 1997 Record deal with Stupido Twins.
- 1998 Jyrki Hit Challenge Awards: Winners of the Most Exportable Band. The band considered this something of a consolation price even though at the time, the Hit Challenge was the biggest national pop/rock event on Finnish television.
- 1998 The video to the Hold Me Now single deals with adult entertainment and caused a bit of a stir, eventually shown censored only on the television show Jyrki. Director Pete Riski received an honorary mention of the video at the 1998 Oulu Music Video FestivalOulu Music Video FestivalFounded in 1994, Oulu Music Video Festival is an annual festival of music video, cinema, live music, and air guitar world championships, held in Oulu, Finland.- External links :* *...
.
Member activity outside Inside
Junnu has been involved in bands such as The Flaming SideburnsThe Flaming Sideburns
The Flaming Sideburns is a Garage punk/Garage rock revival band that was formed in Helsinki, Finland in 1995. Most of the members are Finnish, but lead vocalist Jorge Eduardo "Speedo" Martinez is an Argentine expatriate.- Band history :...
, Miss Treatment and Spanish Harlem. His brother Ville has played briefly in Treeball and Mummypowder
Mummypowder
Mummypowder are a four-piece alternative rock band from Helsinki, Finland. Their frontman and the only remaining original member is the singer, guitar player and songwriter Janne Lehtinen...
.
Singles
- Celebrate (1998) (Stupido 38)
- She Wants (1998) (Stupido 39)
- Jinx (1998) (Stupido 42)
- Walk On (2000) (Stupido 49)
- Follow Me (2000) (Stupido 50)