Aino & Hajonneet is a very good finnishsinging punkgroup. They have done some earlier records and I got their latest six-track record Pääkallokiitäjä from Stupido records and I felt I was forced to interview them. April 2026.

Please start with the history of the band, why and when did you start to play?

-Petri: When the Covid pandemic hit, all plans with the bands at the time evaporated and suddenly there was too much free time and nothing to do. Aino and I had previously talked about starting a new rock band and due to the pandemic there was time for that. We thought about making a couple of songs to pass the time and for our own pleasure, and then we asked our friends to play and record them in our rehearsal studio. We didn’t have any plans or ’high hopes’ about it. Just wanted to have some fun with our friends. 

Tell me a little about every member in the band, age, bands before and what you do when you don’t play music?

-Aino: Currently, the band has three original members: in addition to me, the guitar-duo Petri and Harri are also involved. Petri is also responsible for all our songs and lyrics. The rhythm section Eetu (drums) and Juha-Matti (bass) have also been involved for a couple of years now. Our organist Jesperi is the newest member and has been in the band since the this ”Pääkallokiitäjä” tour. We all have our day jobs, although the band is taking up more and more of everyone's time and effort. But still you can't call this work yet! 

Was it clear that you wanted to call the band Aino & Hajonneet from the beginning or did you have any other names on the list?

-Aino: I really can’t remember any other names.. so maybe it was quite an easy choice.

You play some sort of punk/new wave, is that the music you have been raised up on?

-Petri: For me, punkrock was the reason I started to listen music and play guitar as a teenager. We all share some kind of mutual interest in certain kind of rock/punk/indie music. But we are also a bit allergic to any genre thinking and drawing boundaries. Good music is good music, period. We like to pick up influences from any kind of music and blend it in to our music. After all, we see ourselves as a rock band - we play loud, guitar driven and melodic music. That’t us.

To,play this sort of music in Finland right now, how is it?

-Aino: Well, not so easy. Let’s put it that way. But I’m sure there is more room for rock music in the near future. We are happy where we are now, but it has taken a lot, a lot of work over last five years.

Any old Finnish bands you really like? And new ones?

-Petri: Sooo many, let’s say Ratsia, Tehosekoitin, The Flaming Sideburns, Eppu Normaali from the older ones. If you’re looking something a bit newer, I’d say Lasten Hautausmaa, Jukka Nousiainen, Mary Ann Hawkins..  although they have all been around for more than 10 years. 

To sing in Finnish was it so that it was clear from the beginning to do that?

-Aino: Yep, neither of us have made music in Finnish before, so it was definitely something we wanted to try.

I have the new one and the Livee and Lovee, what have you done otherwise?

-Aino: we have released 5 albums: Hullui unelmii (2021), Kuluneita kaikuja (2023), Enemmän kuin mitään muuta (2024), Livee & lovee (2025) and Pääkallokiitäjä (2026). Plus some singles and videos. We’ve also played something like 30-40 shows per year.

Is it important to release records physically?

-Petri: Yes it is. Maybe it’s a bit selfish thing too but that is something we won’t negotiate. I need to have the record as a vinyl, touch it and feel it, read all the little prints and see the pictures or whatever details there is.. the whole package. Otherwise there is no point to release a full album at all.

Have you ever think of only release digitally?

-Petri: Nope, it’s not an option. 

You we’re on Svart Records before but now yoúre on Stupido, what happened?

-Aino: Nothing dramatic! Our live booking has always been in Stupido - we just felt like it would be easier to have all ”the bussiness” side in one place. We are really grateful to Jukka and all the lovely people at Svart Records - they helped us a lot right from the beginning and gave us the chance to grow and become what we are now.

Do you have any Swedish favorites?

-Petri: Yes, a lot. I think Swedish music has influenced me the most, probably more than Finnish music. The Hellacopters, Hurula, Robert Pehrssons Humbucker, T.S.O.O.L, The Hives, Spiders, Union Carbide Productions… just to name a few.

How is it to live in Finland right now, politics, racism and so on, the nearness to Russia ?

-Petri: it’s hard to describe. It feels a bit paradoxical. Our government is doing everything it can to make peoples life miserable and hard. And of course the situation behind the border causes anxiety and disbelief. But at the same time it's great to make music and tour etc… strange times.

Who does the lyrics and what are they about?

-Aino: Petri writes all the songs, music and lyrics. The songs are usually about the darker side of life, issues related to mental health, challenges in relationships - things like that. But there are also positive glimmers of light here and there!

Was is the meaning to fool people on your new six-track to call one song Heart of Glass and let us think it was the old Blondie-song?

-Petri: Well it was more of a little joke. It’s fun to cause confusion!

Are you satisfied with the new record?  Something you could have done better?

-Aino: There’s always something you’d like to do one more time or try something else. But at the moment it feels like we did good job with this record. It sounds fresh and pretty much the same we sound live. 

Is it much interviews? Is it boring?

-Aino: Not that much, it’s always a pleasure if someones interested in what we do!

Which is the most odd question you ever have got?

-Petri: Can’t really say, usually all the interviews have been pretty basic stuff..

Ten favorit records all time?

-Petri: This is too hard…but today I would say:

Roky Erickson: The Evil One

The Hellacopters: Rock & Roll Is Dead

Mirel Wagner: Mirel Wagner

 Hurula: Vi Är Människorna Våra Föräldrar Varnade Oss för

Neil Young: After the Gold Rush Aino: 

Fleetwood Mac: Rumours

Queens of the Stone Age: Like clockwork

Jukka Nousiainen: Jukka Nousiainen

Desert Sessions: 9/10

Norah Jones: Little broken hearts

If you must describe your music in three words for someone who never have heard you, which three words describe you?

-Aino: Energetic, melodic, loud

What does punk mean to you, is it only a word, lifestyle or only a musicstyle?

-Petri: Punk for me is an attitude. In life in general and in music too. 

Politics and music, does it goes hand in hand, your most political song?

-Aino: This is something we talked and thought about when we started. Politics and music can go hand in hand, of course, but it depends.. We made a conscious choice in the beginning not to mix politics with our music. Of course, there are plenty of references and comments in lyrics, that you can find somehow political.. 

Petri: We want to focus on sharing good feeling, good energy and pure rock’n’roll to our listeners - so they can forget all the shit around us at least for a few minutes. I believe there are so many much more talented and smart artists, that deal with this ”politics in music” better than we ever could.

To play live, what’s the best and what the worst?

-Petri: Best part of playing live is the whole thing. Driving all over the country with your friends, having a laugh or a beer, waiting the intro to stop and blow the shit up. It’s really fun and I could still do it every day!

Aino: I  really love interacting with the audience, the moment when we all become one and the same energy. It’s magical. 

Petri: Maybe worst part is the mount of sleep on tours, it’s still hard to slow down and sleep like a normal human being. But that’s how it goes, we*ll sleep later.

Tell us something really odd which have happened during a concert with you?

-Aino: I don’t know if it’s odd, but it sure was interesting when the whole festivals electricity went down during our show. Lights, sound..everything. So we started a chant together with the audience while waiting the electricity back. It was fun!

Many bands do their own beer or similar, is that something for you, if you did it what will it be called and which beerstyle?

-Petri: Oh, that would be great. I’m sure it should be some kind of IPA. Maybe. It’s should be called ”Pääkallokiitäjä”!

Futureplans for the band ?

-Aino: We well continue touring, summer of course and after that we’ll do clubs at least ’till the end of January 2027. 

Petri: And there is also two special shows coming up later this year where we combine acoustic set to our normal rock’n’roll thing to play longer 2 hour set. 

For yourself?

-Petri: I was thinking I should try to work on some new songs in some point. Maybe after this release tour is over. And sleep. I should really get some sleep!

Wisdomword?

-Aino: Enjoy the days you can spend with your loved ones and be grateful for that. 

Something to add?

-Petri: Thank you for reaching out, go check out our new record ”Pääkallokiitäjä” - we’d appreciate it a lot. Hopefully, we can come over to Sweden some day, we’ve been trying to make it happen but it hasn’t worked out yet. Hopefully one day it will!