Yes, I think KP definitely mixed in a lot of his experiences from that field. Were you and KP able to draw many of the characters from your experiences in rock bands? The supporting cast in Perkeros, including a drumming bear and a mystical hippie bass player full of tales of partying with classic rock legends, add some whimsy and humor to offset Aksel's anxiety. We find it a fun combo all in all, as there's a lot of material for the reader to venture into later, after reading the book. We dug up a lot of background info ranging from neuroscience to archaeoacoustics, and mixed that with fact, fiction, fables and urban legends. After all, our idea was to construct 'Sing No Evil' like a progressive concept album, including various styles (and sometimes surprising) elements that'd still fit together.

Honestly, I think I wouldn't have done it any other way, even if he'd suggested otherwise.

I discussed the angle several times with our Finnish editor, but he convinced me it's worth the gamble. I'm really glad to hear this, as we definitely knew the risks when scripting the book this way. Was it a challenge to juggle those aspects? While the early chapters have a mystical element, the outright horror doesn't truly come into play until 130 pages into the book, yet it feels very natural when it happens. The book balances humor and horror, the mundane and the extraordinary quite well. How it eventually plays out will be seen later on during the series. In the first story Aksel takes his first step towards becoming the true frontman of the band and a proper, responsible adult. I think you don't even have to be a music junkie to appreciate the story I'm pretty sure most readers can still relate to the problems. After all, the band, composing and performing are all allegories to expressing yourself and focusing on your ambitions whatever they may be. I hope the readers will find the ones that address them the most, so I don't necessarily want to pinpoint anything. The actual story includes several themes, Aksel finding his own voice being just one of them.

Perkeros by J.P. Ahonen