Drowsy is the alias of Finnish singer-songwriter Mauri Haikenen, who to date has produced two albums for the FatCat label.

Last year saw a collection of tracks recorded over a three-year period released under the title of Growing Green, while this year saw the beautiful Snow On Moss On Stone.

Drowsy's music has been likened to the melancholic folk of Smog, or the psychedelia of Syd Barrett. Either way, this talented songwriter has written some of the most heartfelt, beautiful music around in the last few years.

After a recent tour, Simon Taylor caught up with Mauri via email.

Hi Mauri, how are things?

I don't know. I just got back to Joutseno from supporting Vetiver in Scandinavia. Sick of all and cursing, not because of the touring but just the way things have been this month in general. Few days in peace should do it.

You've just completed a series of UK live shows, how did it go?

Brighton was good, I was supporting Adem. Others were ok, except with the second London one where there were some sound problems or something even though all was good in sound check. No idea what happened there. And I got really tired of all thattravelling and not sleeping too well.

Do you prefer recording music or performing live?

Recording music. I haven't met too many musicians who like performing live. It depends on the gig. Fly to the venue, play and fly back is all right. Not too fond of touring, for now at least.

You recently released your second album Snow on Moss on Stone, how would you describe it and what were the influences behind it?

I don't know how to describe it. Influences would come from some movies, a loveless life and irritating things in this world. How it's all built. Such as how things that has been writ and kept for years for education such as say religions and philosophy. How those have through the years built this mess of a mankind. There's neither really right nor wrong. All is up to individuals to decide which way to view the matters. Still there seems to be some kind of a union formed by minds that share the same views and enjoy being labelled as profound or somehow ranked higher in some fantasy scale? Then again what can one do for this? Does someone really expect to hear a mind-blowing wisdom which would make one reach what exactly? An inner peace? Surely not that. Ah feck man I don't know, just be kind of people and if not I hope you get a lifetime torture. I'm just pissed off and ranting again. Few days in peace I tell you. Hehe.

Instrument and arranging wise I wasn't too critical of the songs that I came up for it. I did think of throwing songs like Bakery and Treehouse away because they were quite like Syd Barrett, but then again why? That's the way they came out. I like to believe that musicians make songs for themselves. From that view I can make any kind of songs I like. Too large knowledge of music and good self-criticism might make one end up throwing it all away.

You're first album Growing Green was based upon tracks recorded during a three to four year period, but Snow on Moss on Stone was recorded over a duration of 3-4 months. How do they differ?

I didn't work with some the songs on the new one as much as on Growing Green, cause after finishing the guitar and vocals and got them recorded I was already too sick of the songs.

And for some reason I felt like I was in a hurry finishing them. Ah because I was moving to Helsinki and there's just too much noise pollution. And I didn't want to end up paying for a studio.

You're first single actually came out in 2001, how come it took 4 more years to finish the first album?

The album is built out of songs I sent to FatCat during those 4 years. It just took it's time for FatCat to get around to build an album out of those and release it.

Snow On Moss On Stone is a lot more melancholic and mature sounding than Growing Green, why do you think this is?

Maybe I'm less happy and more irritated than before. The more personal lyrics affected the sound too. They aren't straight forward, which gives a room for misunderstanding. I guess that's the way I like to write. But I don't think that they are that hard to understand. Not that one should understand it all to like the songs but it should not be an irritative. Hmm I'm probably thinking too much of this again.

Was music an important factor to you when you were growing up?

Yeh, I guess I let it affect me maybe too much at some point, not sure. Listening to good tunes is a good way to pass time. I got really into all different kinds of electric music at first in the 90's.

Who are the main influences who inspired you to start writing music?

The stuff that Gilles Peterson played in the thing called jazz. Maybe I should try making some jazzy trip-hop stuff or something similar.

What are your next plans, can we expect another album soon or any more live shows?

I'm gonna start writing new songs this summer but won't make it in a short period of time. no idea how long it'll take. no rush.

I've read a few reviews that have compared you vocally to Micah P Hinson and Smog, are you familiar with these artists and what do you think of their music?

Never heard of Micah P Hinson. I like some songs by Smog, but being compared to him was surprising to me.

Speaking of reviews, I've seen you mentioned as a part of the current "new weird folk" / "future folk" scene, do you dislike being pigeonholed in this way?

In this world is being categorised anyways. Not much to do about it.

Who are you currently listening to?

Cryosleep Stream on bluemars.org
Rachel's
The Magnetic Fields
Dvorak