Interview with vocalist and guitarist Jonne
Korpiklaani was born when their previous band Shaman was forced into a name change. Although the band's mainman Jonne felt the name change was for the better; Korpiklaani have quickly recorded and released two full lengths; Spirit of the Forest and Voice of Wilderness, in as many years. Their style of music relies heavily on their native folk music. Here is an interview with frontman Jonne from the Finnish band Korpiklaani.
How do you feel about how Spirit of the Forest came out? Would you like to have done anything differently?
I think that it was a good start to us. Marketing always could be better because it makes easier us to get a tours and gigs. Gigs are what we want to do and Korpiklaani is more live band than anything else.
I understand you are currently in the studio recording the second album; what plans do you have for the next album?
It`s finished already. The new album Voice of Wilderness will be on the stores at December. It was easiest recording session that I ever been part of. Everything went just so smooth and easy to forward and we think that the album is far better than we ever dared to hope.
How will the new album sound compared to Spirit of the Forest?
Songs are better, sounds are better, producing is better and we had a better atmosphere and feelings on the studio. We found the best possible producer and a studio to us because Samu Oittinen have a good touch with recording of metal music but acoustic instruments too. We will keep this method of recordings in the future too.
If it weren't for the Brazilian band Shaman, do you think that you would still have changed the bands name to Korpiklaani?
We wouldn`t have to think about the changing the name without the other Shaman so I think that our name would be still Shaman. But now I think that it was good thing because Korpiklaani fits to us better than the name Shaman. Here`s unknown reasons to everything so many times I later think that it was good that everything went as it went.
More than any country, Finland has several bands which pay homage to traditional/ folk styles while still throwing in some metal; why is this element so strong in bands like Korpiklaani, Finntroll, Moonsorrow, etc.?
Folk music is very strong here in Finland. Even every child knows the many known folk songs. My family from the side of my dad is old folk music family also so maybe it`s in my veins. It`s very easy to make this kind of music to me. Songs just come naturally and I don`t have to make and compose with hard work. I just play and the songs drip to me.
Do you think fans of the two Shaman albums would also be interested in Spirit of the Forest?
Some of them are and some of them aren`t. But it`s very normal reaction if you change something in a musical line as we did. Korpiklaani is more aggressive and more metal than the Shaman was and we have now different and permanent line-up. Shaman was more like my own project but now we have a real good band and I want to keep it like it is. Somehow I dare to make excactly that kind of music that I want without any compromises with me. Does it sound weird that I have made compromises with myself? I realize it later. I let myself free and I unleashed all those folk melodies out of me. I won`t think about what other people think about the music anymore.
What new ideas or changes did you want to make when Korpiklaani came in existence?
We change our musical line more metal, more folk and we change our language of singing. It was earlier Sámi language which is spoken in north side of Finland. I need that people can understand what I sing so it was main reason to this change.
How do you go about trying to capture "the spirit of the forest" in musical form? Do you feel a connection to nature when writing your music?
I lived in coutry side in the little house when the songs came to the Sprit of the Forest album. So I lived the life that I sung. I don`t know, I grew up in the country side and near forests so I`m forest boy wherever I am. I feel connection to nature every day because the nature is my only religion. That`s why it takes so big role in the lyrics.
Do you like to travel? What countries have you visited and which have made the biggest impact upon you?
Yes I like to travel a lot but I haven`t been so many coutries yet. I don`feel like being abroad if I`m just our neighbour countries like Sweden, Norway or Estonia but Russia is different thing because there is so different culture and feeling. I have been few times in Germany and Spain. One time in Turkey and Denmark. I hope that I can travel enough with the band in the future.
With various different instruments; is it hard to get a full set of musicians together and play live shows?
It`s easy because our violinist Hittavainen plays all of those folk instruments as well on the stage. He is busy guy on the stage that's for sure.
Final comments?
Thanks for the support and see you on the gigs somewhere sometime.
Discography:
2004... Voice Of Wilderness (Napalm)
2003... Spirit Of The Forest (Napalm)
Current line-up:
Jonne... vocals and guitar
Arto... bass
Honka... guitar
Matson... drums
Ali... percussion
Hittavainen... violin, jouhikko, flutes
Cain... guitars
| TTM reviews of albums by Korpiklaani: | |
 | 2005 - 'Voice of Wilderness' |
 | 2003 - 'Spirit of the Forest' |
