It was a beautiful sunny day in Turku, but you could feel that this was definitely our last summer day.
There's probably no need to mention how this year has been exceptional and unexpected in many ways. We found ourselves in a situation beyond what we have imagined. Social restrictions and canceled events... So you can imagine how happy I was when the restrictions were lightened. I've always loved live music, but now I love it even more!

What I also looked forward to was Frank Lloyd's debut album release concert at Surf Shack Turku! He's an Australian modern folk musician based in Turku. He doesn't only write music, but he also helps people to write their own songs!

Let's get to know him better!

Congrats on your new album! How does it feel now that it's out there for everyone to hear?

Really exciting. This is the first album, so it’s quite a buzz to press play and hear something we made coming out of the speakers.

Modern day folk, is it the same as contemporary folk music? Do you have any influences in your music? Someone you would be inspired by or relate to artistically?

The idea behind Modern Day Folk is a reference to the folk tradition of singer-songwriters, but it’s mostly about trying to make music that tells a story in a clear way that’s relevant or relatable. My favourite songwriters are those who can tell a story and have it stay in my mind so that the song evokes feelings or memories every time I hear it. Songwriters like Warren Zevon, Phil Ochs, and John Williamson are masters of this.

As the evening goes it becomes more cosy with all the beautiful lights. A story wrapped up in a melody sweeps over bringing sweet nostalgia to the listeners. Maybe we can enjoy this moment a bit longer?

Even if that late summer night is gone, we can wrap ourselves in blankets and listen to his album from start to finish. The perfect thing to do in October!

Tell us more about your album! Any favourite song?

It took us about a year of studio sessions here and there to get the album done, it was a good way to learn about how recording works. Timo Haanpää at Valtone Recording Studios was really great with all the recording, production, mixing and mastering, and Benjamin Hakala’s guitar work brings the songs to life. The beautiful album artwork is by Paulo Machado, the photo on the cover was taken just outside Turku on a freezing morning just as the sun was coming up.

You have meaningful lyrics in your songs. Do they portray your personal experiences?

Mostly they do, or sometimes one song might be a composite of a few different experiences. A lot of time usually goes into the lyrics, I want to express things clearly so whoever is listening can follow the story.

Have you been writing songs for a long time? When did you write your first song?

If you could choose where to perform what stage would it be?

In Finland I’d love to play at Tavastia in Helsinki, there’s so much history in that place. As for anywhere else in the world, the Troubadour in Los Angeles would be amazing, again, so much history there.

Last but not least, any gigs coming soon?

Nothing booked yet because of the COVID uncertainty, but some are being planned for when things start to improve. You can keep an eye on Instagram and Facebook for updates.

It's been a pleasure to interview Frank Lloyd. Let's keep an eye out on his next gigs! I'm hoping that COVID19 won't make it difficult again. You know the current situation is what it is. Very unexpected!

One thing you can do that doesn't cost a thing is to check out Frank Lloyd's page and share his work.

Have a great weekend!

Cheers

Check out these links!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/franklloydmusic

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frank.lloyd.music/

Songwriting with Frank Lloyd: https://www.doerz.com/turku/write-and-record-your-own-song?list_id=6

The autumn breeze brushed through the city, a typical day in Helsinki. The city was full of colorful leaves and I felt a bit funny walking in my hometown because there are so many new things I haven't gotten used to, for example the big new city library Oodi. Nostalgic thoughts are running through me just before I see a familiar face walking towards me. A bright and warm smile woke me up from my thoughts and new excitement rushed through, it was Hanna Kekäläinen, a good friend from my dancing community!

Hanna's story of finding her true mission is inspiring and I was too curious not to ask for more! She threw herself out into the wilderness of entrepreneurship even though she didn’t know for certain what would come along. With her work she wants to bring the magic of music to people’s lives. On top of her musical career she provides various therapies such as massage therapies, meditational guidance, reiki and Indian head massage.

Her way of expressing herself through piano reminded me of those composers who shook something from the inside. Let's explore deeper into her musical world!

Your story is inspiring; you listened to your heart and did what you've wanted to do for a long time. How did it feel?

- Thank you so much. As my previous long-term work came to an end, I decided to take the chance and follow my heart. It was a big leap of faith but it felt really good. I used to think as a teenager that I couldn’t make a living with just playing piano but now I understood I was just trying to play it safe. Now I’m living my childhood dream, I really am. Music has always been a huge part of my life but to be able to compose - that was a complete surprise to me! Composing has opened up a whole new world for me and deepened my connection with music and also with myself.

What is the worst fear of being an entrepreneur?

- It felt really wild to pursue something so different than what I was used to when working in 9 to 5 job, but I’ve always admired entrepreneurs who work in many different fields and get to use all of their gifts and creativity; master their own schedules and live their passion. I never dared to dream I could live that way but now when I was in the middle of this surprising state of freedom I figured that it would be impolite to the Universe not to try since it gave me this amazing possibility to actually go after my dreams! I just had to trust that life will carry me to the right place. I believe that the right things come to you if you follow your heart!

I hear Debussy vibes in your work. In what kind of storms has Debussy been soothing?

- Debussy is perfect for any mood! It has helped me in times when it has been difficult to process my feelings and thoughts. When I’m playing Debussy, I feel like I’m discharging my energy and purifying my energy. In the most difficult times, I used to play for hours until I started to feel better. Music is magic. It can really heal people.

What inspires you to compose?

- People, cities, movies and visual things inspire me to stop and create but when I start playing, I don’t necessarily think about those inspirations anymore. I start by improvising. I just let go and the music starts to flow. I don’t really remember afterwards what I’ve just played so I record everything. And then based on those recordings I start to work on the song. Sometimes I receive complete songs only by improvisation, other times it can come out as different themes.

It really feels like magic.

How do you combine your piano music with work as a massage therapist? They don't collide?

- Not really, only my hands get sometimes a bit tired since I’m using my hands in both activities. In the future I’ll probably focus more on teaching and composing etc. but also love healing work and making people feel better. I enjoy the fact that I can express different parts of me and work varyingly music and care work simultaneously. It brings the perfect balance!

Are there any new songs on their way?

- Last fall I recorded two new songs, they’re out now on Spotify etc. And now I’m working on two more songs. Feels good! Last year I concentrated on my studies but this year 2020 feels so fresh and free. I’m so excited to see what’s on the way for me.

The first thing that popped into my mind listening to your music is that it would suit perfectly in a movie. Have you ever thought about making film music?

- It would be lovely to compose film music; especially the ambience and visuals in French movies speak to me. Certainly I would compose for anything else that speaks to me too!

Bisous

Kaupallinen yhteistyö

Muotia vai ei? Teininä olin monesti miettinyt asiaa vaikken seurannut muotia jatkuvasti. Kuitenkin aina tuntui siltä että vaatekomerostani puuttui jotakin. Halpa ja nopea muoti on antanut kaikille mahdollisuuden pukeutumisen ylellisyyteen, mutta nyt on ilmennyt miten tottumuksemme voivat johtaa kestämättömään tulevaisuuteen.

Mitä voisimme tehdä toisin? Siitä olen jutellut ystävieni kanssa ja välillä iskee ahdistus ja pelko. Eikö mitään ole tehtävissä?

Törmäsin taannoin Instyleout yritykseen ja huomasin kuinka tärkeää kestävä kehitys on heille heidän toiminnassaan. Yksi asia johti toiseen ja päädyimme lopuksi ryhmästailaukseen!

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Is it in or is it out? That was a question that was constantly popping into my mind during my teens. Even though I didn't follow the latest trends, I was still feeling that there was always something lacking in my wardrobe. Cheap and fast fashion has provided a possibility for everyone to affordable clothing , but now we're struck by how our habits can lead to an unsustainable path.

What can we do to live more sustainably? We have discussed about it with friends and sometimes anxiety hits us. Isn't there anything we can do?

Anni otti meidät vastaan kodikkaassa tilassaan. En tiennyt mitä odottaa stailaukselta, mutta minulla oli hyvä tunne tästä!

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Anni welcomed us with some fuzzy drinks and snacks in her cozy place. I didn't know what to expect, but I had a good feeling about it!

Ryhmästailaus alkoi rennolla esittelyllä. Tämän päivän teema oli Vastuullisuus! Saimme Annilta hyviä vinkkejä kestäviin tapoihin!

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The group styling session started with a laid back introduction with sustainability as the main theme. Anni gave some really good tips on sustainable habits!

Esittelyn aikana saimme tutustua erilaisiin tekstiileihin ja niiden tuotantoon. Aihe herätti paljon keskustelua, mitkä materiaalit ovat hyviä ja mitä kannattaa miettiä kun on ostoksilla. Paras vaihtoehto on kuitenkin että pitää hyvää huolta omista vaatteistaan!

Ainakin yksi asia jäi mieleen, älä koskaan osta akryyliä!

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During the presentation, we were introduced to different kinds of textiles and how they are made. Very soon we had such an interesting discussion about what materials are good and what's good to consider while shopping. The best thing is to keep your clothes in good shape!

At least one thing I remember from this presentation, don’t buy acrylic based clothing!

Saimme nopeasti mennä tutkimaan Instyleoutin aarteita! Täältä löytyy sekä uusia että käytettyjä vaatteita. Uudet kokoelmat ovat huolellisesti valittuja koska laatu ja tuotantomenetelmä on tärkeää Annille. Brändit jotka löytyy Instyleoutissa ovat Thought, Closet London ja Lanti.

Jos kiinnostaa saada vähän muutosta vaatekomeroon niin voi tulla Style Swap-päivään vaihtamaan omia vaatteita muihin vaatteisiin! Tämä järjestetään joka kuukauden viimeisenä sunnuntaina!

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Quite soon we got busy hunting in the treasures of Instyleout! You can find both new and second-hand clothes. The new collections are carefully chosen as quality and production is very important to Anni. The brands available are Thought, Closet London and Lanti.

What I found amazing is that you can swap your clothes on the Style Swap-day which is organized last Sunday of each month.

Tuntui hyvältä tutkia ja kokeilla uusia vaatteita. En tuntenut mitään painostusta ostamaan mitään. On tärkeää päästä kokeilemaan ja fiilistellä asua. Anni on ihanan auttavainen ja antoi meille myös tilaa löytää omaan tyylimme sopivia vaatteita!

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It felt very comfortable to walk around and try new things. I didn't feel the pressure to buy anything. It's important to be able to just test and see how it feels. Anni was very helpful and gave us the room to explore our own fashion!

Välillä olin vähän eksyksissä koska en vain tiennyt mitä valita. Sitten tuli mieleen kysäistä Annilta mitä hän ehdottaisi minulle kokeiltavaksi. Tuntui hyvältä kokeilla jotain uutta! Jäämme helposti kiinni tuttuihin kuoseihin ja väreihin. Tekee kyllä hyvää mennä mukavuusalueen ulkopuolelle!

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I got a bit lost at some point, because I didn't know what to choose. Then I thought that I'll use the opportunity to ask Anni what she would suggest me to try on. It feels good to try something new! We get easily stuck on certain colors and shapes. It's good to stir things up a bit!

Oli ihanan rento päivä ystävieni kanssa ja pidimme hauskuuden vuoksi pienen muotinäytöksen. Täydellistä lauantaiohjelmaa!

Yritän välttää turhia ostoksia, keskityn nykyään sellaisiin vaatteisiin joita voin käyttää pitkään. Nykyään etsin monipuolisia kappaleita jotka voin käyttää monella eri tavalla! Laatu on tietenkin korkealla minun listallani!

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It was such a laid back day, spending it with friends and having our own small fashion show. Perfect for spending a Saturday!

I try to avoid excess shopping, concentrating on pieces I can use for years. I found a beautiful basic black skirt with beautiful details suitable. It was exactly what I was looking for, something simple and pretty! Nowadays I try to find pieces that I can use in many different ways and quality is high on my list!

Loppujen lopuksi aika oli vierinyt ja olimme pitäneet hauskaa rennossa ilmapiirissä. Saimme rauhassa tutkia ja kokeilla. On se yllättävää miten pienet stailaismuutokset voivat tehdä asusta hyvin erilaisen!

Oli niin mukavaa ja tuli mieleen että tämä olisi ihana tapa yllättää ystävää vaikka syntymäpäivä lahjana. En ole koskaan ollut stailauksessa aikaisemmin ja tämä tuntui hauskalta ajanvietteeltä. Nyt kun olen takaisin Turussa, olen saanut inspiraatiota ja olen oppinut arvostamaan vaatteitani enemmän. Pitäisi tehdä niin kuin mummoni aikoinaan, korjata vaatteet ja sitten ne ovat kuin uudet!

Jos on muuta kysyttävää stailauksesta, kommentoikaa tähän alle tai lähetä viesti Instyleoutille [email protected]!

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In the end time had gone by having fun in a relaxing environment. We got some nice styling tips on the way too. It's surprising how you can highlight your look with small changes!

Thinking about how much I enjoyed it, this could be something that would be fun to share with friends by surprising them on their birthday!

Now when I'm back in Turku I feel inspired, I see that I have learned to appreciate my clothes more and I have learned how to keep them in good shape. I should start doing as my grandmother did, fix them and then they are as new!

If you are interested to know more, please do comment below or contact Instyleout [email protected]!

Besos