EARLIER THIS YEAR WE FINISHED SHOOTING THE FIRST ALBUM MUSIC VIDEO WITH PLAYART PRODUCTIONS CREW, VILLE JUURIKKALA AND SUSANNA AARNIO.
VIDEO IS NOW IN THE EDIT AND WE’RE WORKING ONWARDS WITH THE PLAYART TEAM. I’M SO GRATEFUL AND HAPPY TO CREATE.

IT’S MY PLEASURE TO SHARE SOME ACTION SHOTS WITH YOU.

∇ ∇ ∇

The plan was to shoot all the videos before this summer (more about it here) but since covid-19 arrived we’ve obviously moved our schedules. The good news is that these videos are still coming to life beautifully, step by step, the release times are just going to be a bit different.

For this first video we had two shooting days; other day for my parts and other for featuring parts. For one whole day we had the pleasure of enjoying Susanna Aarnio’s company, experience, knowledge and presence––it’s an honour we got to film her for this video. Also, a big joy to work with Ville Juurikkala, photographer, video maker, nature lover and just the right person to deliver this visual world.

I have a feeling that the message of the album songs––and the message in all this visual storytelling––is even more timely than before, and dare I say, even more needed.

 

Feeling so happy to share the news that in the beginning of this winter season I’ve started to collaborate with the wonderful PlayArt Productions relating to the album. During year 2020 we’ll be sharing a series of music videos with you.

 

⋅⊥∇ ⋅

I started this album project two years ago ’cause I’d been feeling a need to create something more honest and more challenging; a strange type of modern sounding, brilliantly produced Nordic world music album. Life had taken a new path and it didn’t really inspire me to write like I had written before, or to sing like I’d sang before. I was dreaming of giving birth to set of new songs that would be very energetic, beautiful and deep – music that would tell about journeying through different states and through time, and would celebrate nature. I longed to collaborate with new people.
It was wonderful to find a music producer, Jukka Backlund, who shared the same sort of passion and vision.
Past few years have been a life changing, challenging journey; step by step crafting the album and inch by inch moving this album baby forward into the world.

I’ve known the PlayArt people for some years now and as the album was recorded and ready we sat down together to discuss about our ideas, visions and motives. PlayArt Productions is a production company that is dedicating it’s creative powers to address subjects such as nature, nature connection, ancient wisdom, rituals and how we can meet and be connected to the roots now, in this ‘modern time’.
Such a joy to team up with the PlayArt crew.

During past few months we’ve been in meetings together, creating the first steps – and during the past few weeks we’ve been moving into growing our team and we’ve been out location scouting and feeling very inspired by the shared passion.

PlayArt’s latest production Nightingales in Berlin was premiered 2019 (Norpas Festival, WOMEX..) and they’re one of the production companies behind Shannon Kring‘s movie ‘END OF THE LINE – Women of Standing Rock’ that will be released 2020.

Stay with us.

Time to share a small album taster!

 

⋅ ⊥∇ ⋅

I’ve had the pleasure to collaborate with music producer Jukka Backlund for a good while and here’s a preview of what’s to come:

If this music finds you share it with your peeps! I’ll keep the album name as a secret for a bit longer. Thank you for your support and stay tuned for more!

This album thing we’ve created with Jukka B is a very awesome thing. Tommi “Master Fader” Vainikainen is taking care of the mixing. Tuomas Saikkonen, visual artist friend who lives in Rio, heard some of the songs and this photo happened. Stay with me! A lot of work still before this whole project is out there with you guys — but it’s really worth the wait.

Albumi kuulostaa niin hyvältä! Tämä levyasia, jonka olemme luoneet Jukka B:n kanssa on todella upea asia. Tommi “Master Fader” Vainikainen miksaa levyn. Tuomas Saikkonen, kuvataiteilija-graafikko-ystävä joka asuu Riossa, kuuli äskettäin muutaman levybiisin ja tämä kuva syntyi. Pysykää mukana matkassa! On vielä paljon työtä tehtävänä ennen kuin tämä prokkis julkaistaan ja työn tulos saavuttaa teidät — mutta malttakaa, odotus todellakin palkitaan.

Welcome! Playing with Miihkali Jaatinen at Linko next week. Free entry!

Showtime 20:30.

Poster by Tuomas Saikkonen | www.tuomassaikkonen.com.

Vocals done, dear people. | Lauluäänitykset purkissa.

Above, in the picture, feeling happy after the singing days and feeling very inspired about working with Jukka Backlund. Below, a picture from session days; producer Jukka Backlund and throat singer Mikko Heikinpoika having a chat before tracking. Mikko came to visit one song.. |

Yläpuolella kuvassa, onnellisena laulupäivien jälkeen ja inspiroituneena Jukan kanssa työskentelystä. Alapuolella kuvassa tuottaja Jukka Backlund, sekä kurkkulaulaja Mikko Heikinpoika jutulla ennen Mikon äänitysvuoroa. Mikko käväisi kurkkulaulamassa yhteen biisiin..

Oh yes, studio happened. Next: vocal sessions. | Studio! Seuraavaksi laulusessiot..

Oona Kapari from Finnvox and producer Jukka Backlund.
Finnvoxin ääniteknikko Oona Kapari ja tuottaja Jukka Backlund.

Antti Kujanpää (piano)

Oskari Lehtonen (perc., drums)

Jukka Backlund & Antti Kujanpää

Tero Hyvaluoma (violin, mandolin)

Olavi Louhivuori (drums)

Oona Kapari

Ape Anttila (double bass), Ape’s epic session shoes from India & Jukka B.
Ape Anttila (kontrabasso), Apen äärimmäisen tyylikkäät sessiokengät ja Jukka B.

Harri Kuusijärvi (accordion)

Aino Kurki (kantele)

Me & Oona

---

Oskari’s cool demo from the sessions:
Oskarin sessaridemo:

---

Music producer Jukka Backlund, me and sound engineer Oona Kapari with musician Jouni Järvelä after the last session day. What a week!

Musiikkituottaja Jukka Backlund, meikä, Finnvoxin Oona Kapari, sekä muusikko Jouni Järvelä viimeisen sessiopäivän jälkeen. Mikä viikko!

It’s a pleasure to announce that an album is in the works! Studio is now booked – during the past year I’ve started to work with music producer Jukka Backlund. I’m collaborating with Backlund and other musical wizards (Niillas Holmberg, Timo Kiiskinen..) for this album it will be a wonderful moment to get it all out and share that music with you..

Photo from last summer’s band camp sessions with Backlund.

On ilo kertoa, että työstän juuri nyt albumia! Studio on varattu. Olen työskennellyt vuoden ajan musiikkituottaja Jukka Backlundin kanssa. Teen yhteistyötä Backlundin, sekä muiden musiikillisten velhojen kanssa (Niillas Holmberg, Timo Kiiskinen..) tätä levyä varten ja odotan suuresti sitä hetkeä kun pääsen jakamaan kaiken sen musiikin kanssanne. 

Kuva viime kesän bändileirisessioista Backlundin kanssa.

 

Karelia is a name, a female name, in many different cultures around the world.

We will join forces with wonderful Kalle Ylitalo (drums), Oskari Lehtonen (bass) and Sonja Korkman (soundpainting) for a special gig at Tenho Restobar, Helsinki, on 12th of January.

Welcome!

The night is free entry, like all nights are in Tenho.

Wishing you a great New Year’s celebration!

Karelia on nimi, naisen nimi, monissa eri kulttuureissa ympäri maailman. 

Yhdistämme voimamme basisti Kalle Ylitalon, perkussionisti Oskari Lehtosen ja soundpainter-muusikko Sonja Korkmanin kanssa Tenho Restobar:n lavalla 12.1.2017; tervetuloa kokoontumaan musiikillisen leirinuotion äärelle.

Tapahtumaan on vapaa pääsy, kuten aina on tapana Tenhossa.

Hyvää uuden vuoden juhlintaa!

Art work by Tuomas Saikkonen

It’s a joy to start collaborating with artist, director, Marita Liulia. Liulia’s exhibitions will open for public at Serlachius Museum on November 5th, 2016. The exhibition includes a video piece we did together.

“Marita Liulia’s Golden Age is an experiential exhibition in which the connecting material of the new paintings, photographs, video works and sculptures is gold. The exhibition reflects on life’s different stages, on the turning points and painful experiences that people need to find their own path.” | http://www.serlachius.fi

Mikä ilo onkaan ollut aloittaa yhteistyö taiteilija-ohjaaja Marita Liulian kanssa! Liulian näyttely aukeaa Serlachius Museossa Marraskuun 5. päivänä, 2016. Näyttely sisältää videoteoksen jonka teimme yhdessä.

“Marita Liulian laaja Kultakausi-näyttely sisältää sata uutta teosta: maalauksia, valokuvia, lyhytelokuvia, videoita ja installaatioita. Teoksia yhdistävää kultaa nähdään monessa muodossa ja merkityksessä. Näyttely käynnistää Serlachius-museoissa Suomen 100-vuotisjuhlavuoden.” | http://www.serlachius.fi

---