Doomed Confessionary: Tatu Jeskanen & Kalle Nurmi (Roost)
Photo credits: Mikko Koide Kaistinen
Tampere, Finland based alternative rockers Roost have just released their debut album »Lower Your Standards« on June 13th, 2025.
The Cold War feels like an actual weight on your shoulders as the smiles of the perfect family twist into grimaces in a streetside commercial. Breadline is a valid option for grocery shopping and the scruffy addict a viable role model for a kid.
Roost’s debut album »Lower Your Standards« is a retrospective view of the 90’s alternative rock. A view that’s still visible in urban environments in 2025. »Lower Your Standards« was self-recorded in Nekala from 2022 to 2024, on an industrial real estate. Nothing changed during that time.
Roost are Tatu Jeskanen (guitar), Kalle Nurmi (guitar, backing vocals), Make Makkonen (guitar, lead vocals), Davide di Giovanni (drums) and Toni Karosvuo (bass).
Can you please say a few words about your band?
Tatu: Roost is a journey into the twisted world of 90s alternative rock, led by five experienced rockers.
Kalle: We started doing this about when the covid hit, as there was really nothing to do except drink yourself into a funky stupor. I guess musically we wanted to go as far back as needed to feel like we knew what’s going on, and that meant the nineties. And yes, that decade had its own problems and not all music was great, but that was a good starting point and also something we missed doing was straight-up rock music with good sensibilities for harmony and melody.
What was the biggest challenge for the band?
Tatu: I think everything has gone smoothly with this band. Maybe some of us have a little bit of a challenge in adjusting to the timeline.
Kalle: Obviously, as things stand, noone’s gonna give you any money to do some weird-ass grunge project… So basically everything needs to be DIY or paid out of our own pockets. Luckily, I’m a sound guy professionally, so I could make the record mostly on my own, but that also made it kinda slow and tedious. The album was done in many parts over a few years as a result.
What can you be most proud of so far?
Tatu: Our latest album, »Lower Your Standards«, is definitely so great that we should be proud of it. I also think it’s great that the songs are mostly created by jamming in the rehearsal room and working together. This is the way, that songs can be constantly taken in new directions and it doesn’t get stuck in one trick.
Kalle: The album! »Lower Your Standards« was a big undertaking for us, and me personally.
What was your biggest regret?
Tatu: Why should I regret anything in life? Everything has a purpose, sometimes it just takes time to understand it.
Kalle: I try and try not to have any regrets, either by doing things right from the get-go or just not giving a fuck. Life’s too short.
What was the best concert/tour so far and why?
Tatu: We rarely play gigs… scheduling challenges. The most enjoyable gig was on the legendary stage of Tampere’s Pakkahuone.
Kalle: We’ve had a few nice warm-up gigs in big venues with a lot of people, but just by our own performance and sound the best was this small bar with maybe ten people watching. You never know!
What was the biggest surprise on the music scene for you?
Tatu: Was I surprised by anything? Hmm… Maybe I was a little surprised by how Finnish-language bands dominate the Finnish music scene.
Kalle: I don’t feel at all surprised by anything in the music scene really, but I hardly pay attention.
What is currently in your heavy musical rotation?
Tatu: I listen to a wide range of music, especially rock music.
At the moment, the latest bands I listen to are Amyl and the Sniffers, Bad Sauna, Viagra Boys and Oranssi Pazuzu.
On the other hand, Motörhead, Nine Inch Nails and Queens Of The Stoneage are almost never off the record player.
Kalle: Last whole record I listened to from start to finish was Slayer’s ‘Hell Awaits’. It helps getting the baby to sleep – she loves Slayer apparently! The last one I bought was ‘Euphoria morning’ by Chris Cornell and I listened to that quite a bit. Other than those, I tend to hop a around a bit. Lots of sixties and seventies stuff this summer – Stooges, Bowie, Sabbath.
What was the best advice you’ve ever been given as a musician?
Tatu: Even if the world is destroyed, keep on playing. Never stop the madness!
Kalle: I can’t remember any real advice, mostly it’s just seeing yourself or somebody else trying and failing, then going “well I’m not gonna do that!” Someone probably has told me to tune my guitar, so maybe that. But the best advice you can get is don’t be an asshole. And if you are, then you better be real good!
What are your guilty pleasures?
Tatu: Since this is current, I’ll say Ozzy’s hard rock era, solo production. And Jaffa-biscuits.
Kalle: What’s with the hard questions? Musically I have no shame at all, so it’s got to be something else. Or maybe I’m just too far gone. It might be some sort of cheese.
Can you say something more about the current music scene in Tampere?
Tatu: Tampere has always had a good and vibrant rock scene. Young bands have been enthusiastic about playing alternative rock with a 90s feel and that’s really cool!
Kalle: Lots of bands and too many go under the radar. Lots of really young and talented people.
Where can we see you live this year (concerts/tours)?
Tatu: The next gig is on October 3, 2025 at the Vastavirta club in Tampere.
Kalle: I was gonna say something else, but that is the truth.
What are your plans for the future as a band?
Tatu: To do good gigs. Artistically, I would like the band to continue to develop more and more… wouldn’t it be cool to mix more effects, samples and stuff with grunge?
Kalle: I guess we get on making new music and try to get a few gigs. It would be quite awesome to play live some more.
How can people best support your band?
Tatu: Listen to our music, support local ug-culture and go to the gigs.
Kalle: There are ways, believe you me. You can listen to us online, on the usual digital platforms; you can buy the CD (like an old-school person would) – at least Record Shop X ships world-wide; you can attend our liveshows; or you can follow us online, as we reside on the cutting edge and have both Facebook and Instagram with the tag roostrockers.
Do you have any message for your listeners?
Tatu: Uuno is number one!
Kalle: Huge respect to anyone who supports us and remorseless pity to those who don’t (yet).
Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well