Interview Korpiklaani



Can you tell us more about your new album called « Korven Kuningas» ?

Korven kuningas, translated in English "King of the woods" is absolutely our best album so far. I know it is old cliché to say that but I really think it is the best work of us and I’m pretty proud about it.
Song writing was very easy and almost every songs was finished already then when we were recording our last album before this, Tervaskanto.
I had been a concept for this new album in my mind long time.
It is pretty long album but we just couldn’t leave any of those songs away from it.
Most of the texts are honour songs for hard working men in the forests in past days when the men worked by their shoulders, not using machines like nowadays.
There is translations for Finnish lyrics on the cd booklet and also little story about every song. It is important to us, that people know what we are singing about. That’s why we liked to write good explanations about the songs to the booklet.
The album might be little bit darker than our previous albums. There is not drinking songs on it this time but of course it sounds like Korpiklaani must sound. The scale of the songs is just wider now.



How long have you been recording the album?

We started the recordings last spring. May 2007. At the first we recorded the drums and bass lines. Then festival season stop the sessions and we actually went back to the studio again at autumn. We spent two weeks for recordings after all. One week for mixings and then the album was ready. Rhytmn guitars we recorded in my home studio because that’s how we saved some money and it is nice to lay in the floor wearing underpants and play some guitar. More relaxed feeling.



How did you proceed for the composition ?

First I write and record a song in my home studio. Then I sent the demo version to other members.
After that we make some changes to them if some one has something they would like to do different or they has some ideas.
Juho, our accordion who also write the songs in this band works pretty much same like I do.



Can you tell something about the lyrics?

Most of the Finnish lyrics is writen by our long time friend Juha Jyrkäs.
I make some corrections to make it fit to the compositions.
We have very good working method and everything is easy with him.
Many times I give some ideas or story to Juha and he send to me back good poems which are easy to wear as a song lyrics.



What are your favourite songs out of this new album ? And what makes them so special for you ?

I really like them all. I think best of Juho’s song is Ali Jäisten Vetten. Most important from my own songs is Kipumylly.
Somehow we were very lucky with Kipumylly. Everything just clicked perfectly with it.
It was hell of a hang over in that morning when I sung the song in the studio but the hang over made just good vibe for it. Kipumylly means translated in English "Mill of Pain" and because of my hang over it is easy to hear and feel the pain from the vocals J



Can you speak to us about your musical evolution ? For you, what are the biggest differences between this new album and the previous?

Everything is easier and easier because of the same line up. We know how other members play and even how we think about the things.
After all these tours, when we are together days and nights is been made us as brothers. We are fighting but we are also hugging. Like brothers do.
Little by little we also play better, so things go naturally forward all the time also in musical way.



Which songs from the album will you playing live ? Why did you choose that ones?

We are going to play pretty many new songs but I don’t think, that we will play it all in one gig. It is nice to change the gig set list time by time.
At least we are going to play some of these songs on further gigs:
Keep On Galloping, Paljon On Koskessa Kiviä, Kipumylly, Ali Jäisten Vetten, Suden Joiku, Metsämies. Maybe with some changes later.



Did you film a promotional video ?

Yes, we filmed Keep On Galloping, which is also released as a single.
Then we filmed Metsämies.



Are there certain songs on the album you want to mention or tell something about?

It was funny thing when our recording day went pretty late when I was singing the songs. Recording engineer went home and we started drink some beer but I had a feeling, that I would like to continue singing anyway, so we decided to press rec.
When it was time to sing a song Runamoine, it was very late and after many beers. I couldn’t remember the vocal melody but because the feeling was so good I made another melody line when singing. Mood was very "Slayer" and so is the Runamoine’s chorus vocals J



What are your touring plans for 2008 ?

We are going to tour a lot. Now first we are going to play some gigs here in Finland and Russia before the European Tour with some other cool folk metal bands.
Pagan Tour will start at the beginning of April and we will be on the road about three weeks.
Then it is time for summer festivals.



And as a conclusion, can you say some words for my radio show Metal Choc ?

I want to wish a very good spring for all Metal Choc listeners and I hope to meet you on Korpiklaani gigs. Also my big hope is all Korpiklaani fans would like our newest album! It’s made with our heart flesh and blood for you!

　

 





<~~retour accueil