Lauri

Early Life

Lauri Johannes Ylönen, born in the United States, is a Finnish singer and songwriter, best known as the frontman of the alternative rock band The Rasmus. His musical journey began in the early 1990s when he attended Suutarila high school, where he met fellow musicians Eero Heinonen, Pauli Rantasalmi, and Janne Heiskanen. In 1994, Ylönen initiated the project that would become The Rasmus, initially performing under various names before settling on their current moniker. The band quickly gained traction, performing their first show while still in school.

Career

The Rasmus released their first three albums in the late 1990s, establishing themselves in the Finnish music scene. After some lineup changes, including the departure of drummer Janne Heiskanen in 1998 and the addition of Aki Hakala in 1999, the band signed with Playground Music Scandinavia. Ylönen's role as lead singer and songwriter was pivotal in shaping the band's sound, which blends alternative rock, gothic rock, and pop rock. The Rasmus is known for hits like "Bittersweet," "Life Burns!" and "In The City," and they have received accolades such as the MTV Europe Music Award for Best Finnish Act.

Personal Life

Lauri Ylönen has a son named Julius, born in April 2008, with Finnish singer Paula Vesala. The couple married in Las Vegas in November 2014 but filed for divorce in December of the same year. Ylönen later entered a domestic partnership with Finnish model Katriina Mikkola, with whom he has two children: a son named Oliver, born in December 2017, and a daughter, Ever Marlene, born in October 2021. The family currently resides in Miami, having moved from Los Angeles in 2014.