Born and raised in Finland’s vibrant music scene, JJ PINESTONE is a modern rock ‘n’ roll powerhouse. Active since 2014, he has made a lasting impact with electrifying performances and dynamic compositions.
JJ PINESTONE’s journey has taken him across Europe and Asia, primarily as part of the thrash metal band TAKALAITON. Along the way, he has honed a sound that captures the raw energy and passion of rock ‘n’ roll, blending adrenaline-fuelled intensity with authenticity.
Now embarking on a solo career, JJ PINESTONE delivers a visceral sonic experience that embodies the enduring spirit of rock ‘n’ roll. His music transcends boundaries, uniting fans worldwide through powerful riffs and heartfelt lyrics, inviting listeners on an exhilarating journey into the heart of the genre.
The new album “Break the Chain” came out on December 13 and is available now on all platforms. It has seven songs.
We grabbed a chance to chat to JJ Pinestone in a quick pre-Christmas interview.
JJ PINESTONE is:
- JJ Pinestone – Guitar/Vocals
- Joona Juntunen – Guitar/Backing Vocals
- Sami Turku – Bass/Backing Vocals
- Lauri Kutvonen – Drums
I’m sure our readers do know you, but just in case any have stumbled into the page, what would you want them to know about you and your music?
JJ Pinestone: What your readers should know about me is that I’m your everyday average guy who happened to pick up a guitar at the age of 13-14’ish and decided that this is going to be my life. I started learning singing and playing in my home garage and here we are. What I want to say about my music is that its as honest as Rock’n Roll can be—no virtuoso-style book-learned playing but songs with feel, straight out of the heart.
Our reviewer who does the rock music for us is called Stevie, and she had a little baby last Friday called Zak! She listened to a few tracks for us and she commented on them:
“The Run,” a mixture of fast NWOBHM, like those bands on acid! Heavy, riff-based driving music. So, were you a fan of the NWOBHM bands? And do you think the best rock music is music to drive to?
JJ Pinestone: First of all, congratulations on the new arrival! All the best for the parents and Zak on a wild journey called life. And for the question, a huge yes. NWOBHM is literally one of my biggest influences. From that group, I could name Def Leppard, Judas Priest and Motörhead as the biggest “directors” for my style. Well okay, also Iron Maiden played a big part since they were probably the first ones I heard since I was around 5 because my dad is a huge fan of them! And is rock music the best music to drive to? Like, are there any other options to listen behind the wheel? I think not. So yes, it is.
On My Own” had a radio-friendly, lighter melody and had a blend of backing harmonies. It was Stevie’s favourite to play. Can you tell us a bit about that track, how it was written and what you feel about it now?
JJ Pinestone: Honestly, I was a bit nervous about it. I usually never dive into my personal problems so deeply because there are things that the public can know about an artist and things they can’t, and a lot of personal issues are like that. “On My Own” is about a bad breakup I had years ago and the writing process felt like finally dealing with what happened and putting an end to it for good. Afterwards, I feel really good about it since the song turned out well and a lot of people have said that they can relate to it because, of course, breakups are an everyday thing and usually someone gets hurt during it.
“Killshot” seems to have a don’t judge me, go hang, you won’t stop me attitude. Is that a general attitude for the album ahead?
JJ Pinestone: You got that right! As a kid from a small town in Finland, I’ve gotten a lot of doubting since the start of my career back in 2014. But it always worked as fuel for me and nothing has changed ever since, although I’m grateful for the things I’ve already gotten to experience within music (Tours, Festival headlines out of Finland, etc.) This is still hard work and nothing comes for free. So usually everything I write comes with that attitude cause you can’t settle, but you gotta thrive!”
You have been in the music business a little while now; have your feelings about it changed? Has it become harder, or does experience help you navigate it better?
JJ Pinestone: It has become partly easier and partly harder. Since my projects are on a “worldwide scale” and I have my own label, you have to be really cautious with the people you meet and with the deals you are offered. But with experience, I’ve gotten pretty good at recognising the bs-talkers and the real deals. I’ve never liked the modern music business side in general because it’s usually only about money but I’m not here to become rich; I’m here to party with great people.
Image often goes alongside the music. Since you have set out as a solo artist now for this album, have you consciously thought about the image, or are you not too bothered about that?
JJ Pinestone: Honestly, I have never thought about that. I’m in a thrash metal band and my solo stuff is borderline glam metal, because, why not? I’ve liked both of these genres since I was a kid and if someone says, “It’s not good for your thrash band image to play this hair-metal stuff,” who are you to tell me what I can do and what I can’t? Better yet, who are you to tell what people can like and what not? The main thing about me going solo was to create something that was “me” from start to finish and “Break the Chain” is exactly it. So, I think I am within my image without even thinking about it haha!”
It’s nearly Christmas (it probably will be around Christmas when this feature comes out). If you were playing a show around Christmas and the venue insisted you had to play a cover of a Christmas song in the set list, which Christmas song would you play and why?
JJ Pinestone: Definitely Wham’s Last Christmas! And why? Just to ruin everybody’s Whamageddon. If you don’t know what Whamageddon is, Google will tell!”
Lastly, what lies ahead for you in 2025 that you can share with us?
JJ Pinestone: Shows, hopefully around Europe for a start. I’ve always wanted to play in the Americas, North and South so hopefully we get something cooked there also. Booking agencies on the continent, take a note!” Also, I have finalised the demo of a new EP and the master recording is planned for the upcoming year. About the release schedule, I can’t tell, but it’s going to be awesome.
You can stream music by JJ Pinestone here
And I hope you liked the review, dear reader! If you did, please check out the other pages of the magazine; we have many great features, merchandise, editorials and even poetry! We work hard for you, and if you want to show some appreciation and support what we do, then do use the Support Us link below and buy us a coffee for Christmas! Always appreciated.
Album Credits:
- Producer: JJ Pinestone, Teemu Aalto
- Recording Studio: Teemu Aalto Music Productions Studio
- Engineer: Teemu Aalto
- Mastering: Teemu Aalto
- Mixing: Teemu Aalto
Album Cover Artist: Kimmo Sormunen
By Benny (the Ball) Benson
