Asko Kallonen, a great influencer in the music industry, spends his time these days on his spiritual interests.
Music mogul Asko Kallonen64, listens to songs Record board in the first episode, shoulders on the table, arms crossed and eyes closed. The situation is like a look back at the time when Kallonen sat at his desk at Warner Music and decided the fate of numerous artists’ songs.
In his former job, the man has evaluated thousands of songs very frankly. Kallonen tells Iltalehte at MTV’s press conference whether Levyraad will continue with the same approach, or perhaps a more gentle one.
– I have never taken any role – I am what I am. I’m just saying how I feel and that’s the point here. First you have to be honest with yourself and then with others.
– It’s just as straightforward, said whether the song is good or bad. People just don’t like it if the feedback doesn’t feel good, he states.
Asko Kallonen won Levyraad over to his side in the middle of the 1980s with the song Intiaanit rastastaa from his band Keba at the time. Jenni Gästgivar
New beginning
Kallonen announced in May 2023 that he will leave his big job at Warner Music. He worked at the record company as production manager of domestic music, AAs the leader of the &R team and a member of the management team.
The music mogul is happy with his decision. For Kallos, the career change has been liberating, but at the same time, he gets an empty feeling from time to time.
– It is inevitable. I’ve already dealt with it a lot before I left.
– That feeling always comes back again, because what you do every day forcibly shapes a person’s personality and ego. Ego is often something that thinks it’s terribly important, when it’s not. Everyone has to work with it, the man reflects.
According to Kallonen, he still gets excited about new songs, even though he did a lot of music reviews in his previous job. Jenni Gästgivar
Kallonen admits that he doesn’t really have any work patterns at the moment.
– I will complete their projects with a few artists. After that, we’ll see what happens. Warner has a new gear in sight, and it’s wonderful. It was exactly what I was hoping for. I have other interests, he summarizes.
Kallonen’s future plan is still a secret for now. However, the music influencer reveals what he is doing these days.
– I teach in the spiritual Vapaa tie training program. I also teach Kundalini Yoga. I am interested in such things, as well as therapy. Working with music is partly therapeutic, but the pressure of business life is always present. I’m trying to get rid of it a bit, says Kallonen.
– I also try to get closer all the time to being able to be present in this moment. It’s really important, he adds.
So, Kallose has by no means a lack of things to do. Along with being busy, he tries to focus even more on being with his family.
– I would like to spend more time with my grandchildren. I still have so much to do that I can’t be with them. I know that I should play an even bigger role, because the role of grandparents is really important for children. I’m not at that point yet, but it’s still one of my areas of development, the man states.
– My grandson was in the village last weekend, and it was wonderful. We got to play hide and seek with him. It is really important, he says at the end.
Asko Kallose has no shortage of things to do. Jenni Gästgivar