A Chat with Anthony Rausku (22.01.26)
Inspired by Australian rock bands like Midnight Oil and Hoodoo Gurus, singer-songwriter Anthony Rausku breathes life into nostalgic whispers with a contemporary flair. We speak with the Finnish musician about his latest album, Another World, what music means to him, and more.
Anthony Rausku, hailing from Helsinki, Finland, is a talented artist who took the reins of his
latest project, the Original Album “Another World,” which was released on December 31, 2025.
Working diligently in his home studio, Anthony poured his heart and soul into this release,
showcasing his versatility as a musician and producer. Drawing inspiration from Australian rock
bands of the 80s like Hoodoo Gurus and Midnight Oil, Anthony’s sound is a fusion of nostalgia
and modern flair, promising a captivating listening experience for fans of the genre
OSR: Cliché, but what made you decide to pursue music as a career? What drew you to music?
Rausku: It’s hard to say what exactly was the reason, maybe not just a single thing, but many things together. We had an old acoustic guitar at home that my father used to play sometimes, although he played only single notes, no chords. So one day I grabbed it and decided to learn how to play it. And of course, the music that my older sister and brother brought home (70s rock) influenced me on my early days in the world of music.
OSR: You recently released your album, Another World. What can you tell us about this album? Is there a particular theme or backstory?
Rausku: No particular theme, but all those songs I wrote in the early 90s when I founded my first own band Kamikaze Pilots (name comes from Hoodoo Gurus song ‘Kamikaze Pilots’). Australian rock was, at that time, my favourite genre, and it shows on some songs on this album. For example, ‘Down Under’ tells about Sydney (in a not so serious way), where I was recording an album and gigging with the band Wanna-Bees, where I was the bass player.
OSR: The songs on Another World were originally written in the 1990s. Why do you feel you needed to revisit those songs, and what made you decide to place them on an album?
Rausku: I felt that these songs are good enough to give them a second chance. At the time, in the 90s, most of these songs never reached any larger audience. Gigging was the only way to get people to hear these songs if you didn´t have a contract with a record company. But nowadays, you actually don´t need a record company to get your music recorded and heard. You can do it yourself.
OSR: Despite the songs being linked to older material, do you feel Another World is a true representation of yourself at the moment – both professionally and personally?
Rausku: Hard to say. I have published 8 solo albums and 6 band albums. I feel that all those songs represent me at that moment; although the range of the songs is quite wide, there is, however, something at the bottom that combines them together. Maybe it´s me.
OSR: You’ve performed with bands and now as a solo artist. What are the benefits and drawbacks of each?
Rausku: Playing in a band is like having a family in addition to the family you have at home. So, all the things that can go wrong at home can go wrong at the rehearsals or on the road. People are people, and they all have different preferences. Sometimes they just are not compatible with each other. But, of course, doing things together has its good points too.
As a solo artist, I have no boundaries. No one says no (except me sometimes), but it is harder because I do everything myself. But I don´t deplore. I have made my choice.
OSR: What does music mean to you?
Rausku: Music has been a part of my life since I was 10 years old or so. And it still is and will be in the future. I can not imagine life without it. Luckily, I don´t have to. YouTube, Spotify and so on are full of old and new music. It´s like the stars in the sky, just focus on one, and you never know what can happen.
OSR: If you could give advice to your younger self, what would you say?
Rausku: Focus more on developing songs. Don´t accept all the things that come at first. Concentrate more on getting melodies to grow inside the song. Try different keys, which key suits best to your singing range. Which key gives you more opinions to develop melodies? Learn proper English language.
OSR: Do you have any advice for new musicians?
Rausku: Yes. Learn to play an acoustic instrument or keyboards. Real music is made with real instruments. Don´t use A.I., never.
OSR: What can we expect from you in the future?
Rausku: I have plans for the next album. Maybe more autumnal. Already have some songs in my mind.
OSR: Do you have a message for our readers?
Rausku: I hope that they can listen to new artists and bands with open ears and eyes. You never know what you can find.
Many thanks to Anthony Rausku for speaking with us. Find out more about Anthony Rausku on his official website, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
