HIM mastermind Ville Valo spoke to Spotify about his new single, "Loveletting", which he released under the VV banner. "Loveletting" is taken from VV's forthcoming debut album, "Neon Noir".
"These are weird and exciting times as I'm releasing my first debut solo album, plus the first single called 'Loveletting'," Ville said. "The album is gonna be released early 2023 and it's called 'Neon Noir'.
"Since the pandemic hit, I started working on the album," he explained. "I actually learned how to record — I learned how to record drums and bass and guitar because I wasn't able to get any musicians; I had to do it solo — literally solo. So I'm really sorry but it did take me two and a half years to get the album done. 'Loveletting' is the first single. It's kind of what I normally do — it's a loud love song; it's a very sad and melancholy wistful one, but sort of maybe light at the end of the tunnel which is hopefully not the oncoming train.
"So there's not much new under the sun of VV, but I love it. [Laughs]"
"Loveletting" is now available across all digital platforms. An official music video can be seen below.
When the single was first released on Friday (April 8), Valo stated: "Artistically speaking, the main difference between HIM and VV is the extra line in the Heartagram, but what an exquisite line it is! It's the MAMAS AND THE PAPAS dressed up as METALLICA on their way to a Halloween bash at the Studio 54, and now who wouldn't want to witness that?"
Further details around "Neon Noir" will be released in due course. In the meantime, fans are invited to any number of VV's headline tour dates taking place next year across Europe and North America. Naturally starting in Helsinki, Finland, the 2023 extensive run reaches the U.K. in March before heading to America come April.
A special BLABBERMOUTH.NET presale will begin on Tuesday, April 12 at 10:00 a.m. local time and end on Thursday, April 14 at 10:00 p.m. local time. General on-sale will be Friday, April 15 at 10 a.m. local time.
"Loveletting" will mark Ville's first new music in over two years, following the arrival of the three-track "Gothica Fennica Vol. 1" EP, also released under the VV banner, in March 2020.
"Gothica Fennica Vol. 1" bore a strong musical resemblance to HIM and featured the tracks "Salute The Sanguine", "Run Away From The Sun" and "Saturnine Saturnalia".
HIM completed a farewell tour in 2017, closing the final chapter on the band's 26-year career. At the time, Ville explained to Kerrang! magazine why the band decided to call it a day. "We were tired of the same shit," he said. "When you've done it for a long time, at some point it doesn't taste good anymore. We started working on some stuff, it didn't sound good enough, and we didn't get the teenage buzz you're supposed get."
He also discussed the future of his artistic and musical endeavors.
"I'll be figuring out the emotions I'll be going through after the HIM period is done," he said. "That's how I experience life. I experience it through music, I'll pick up the guitar and start writing and I'm sure some of the emotions that come out of this wild ride will come through. My life is not done yet. The HIM part is done, as it is now, the chapter is closed, but the book is still unfinished…"
Formed in 1991 by Valo, guitarist Mikko "Linde" Lindström and bassist Mikko "Migé" Paananen, HIM offered the world a new take on the metal genre, which became known as "love metal" (also the title of their fourth album).
HIM in 2015 parted ways with its longtime drummer, Mika Kristian Karppinen (a.k.a. Gas Lipstick), and replaced him with Jukka "Kosmo" Kröger (formerly of HERRA YLPPÖ & IHMISET).
Three years ago, Valo teamed up with guitar legend Esa Pulliainen to record an album based on songs by the late, legendary Finnish singer Rauli "Badding" Somerjoki. The self-titled album by VILLE VALO & AGENTS was released in February 2019 and was followed by a short tour.
