INTERVIEW WITH JONNE JÄRVELÄ BY JILLIAN DRACHMAN
PHOTOGRAPH BY PEERO LAKANEN
The Finnish folk metal band Korpiklaani has returned with the sensational new offering Rankarumpu. The beloved Jonne Järvelä, who handles vocals and acoustic guitar, states, “This album came together quite easily. I wrote most of the lyrics myself, and it felt nice and quite easy when I got started. Composing has always been an easy and fun activity for me, but I’ve always found writing lyrics challenging.” However, Järvelä asserts, “The best ideas for songs come easily without having to work hard for them.”
“IN MANY BANDS, FOLK INSTRUMENTS ARE JUST A SPICE HERE AND THERE, BUT, FOR US, THEY PLAY AN EQUALLY IMPORTANT ROLE AS ANY OTHER INSTRUMENT.”
Rankarumpu became Korpiklaani’s first record with violinist Olli Vänskä, who “brought a nice new energy,” and composed “Saunaan.” “He took part in the arrangements of each song and also in the compositions ‘Aita’ and ‘Kotomaa.’” Järvelä continues, “Sami [Perttula], the player of accordion, has worked hard with folk melodies and arrangements throughout his career. He spends a lot of time on it and also thinks about his instrument from the perspective of others, which is rare for many players. Sami and Olli also collaborate a lot so that the folk instruments sound good together. For example, we don’t have guitar solos that are typical in metal music, but all solos are either with an accordion or a violin, often both. They also play practically all the time. In many bands, folk instruments are just a spice here and there, but, for us, they play an equally important role as any other instrument.”
“Our drummer Samuli [Mikkonen] also wrote lyrics for two songs and did it so well that you would think he had been a lyricist for years. He also saw in his dream the melody for the song ‘Kalmisto.’ He came in the morning to our studio, and we finished the song together. Samuli also participates with me in the pre-production and has a big role in the arrangements. Jarkko [Aaltonen] didn’t compose any songs for this album, but he plays his [bass] parts tenaciously.” Järvelä notes that both Jarkko and guitarist Kalle “Cane” Savijärvi put a lot of themselves into the tracks while performing them.
“I COMPOSE EVERYTHING MORE WITH FEELING THAN WITH SKILL.”
Korpiklaani currently enlists the expertise of producer Janne Saksa, who shares Järvelä’s sense of humor. “Janne Saksa is like one of us these days. He also takes part in arrangements and especially chord translation. He is really professional musically, and theory is his tool. In my compositions, majors and minors may go, no matter what, because I compose everything more with feeling than with skill.” Saksa takes this into account so that none of the magic is lost. Järvelä clarifies, “Sometimes, we record here at my house at Miehola Studios and sometimes at his Sound Supreme Studio. For example, the drums were recorded here in Miehola, because the recording room is big and, by using mics not just near drums but around the room, you can get a big and good sound from the drums without using so much technology in mixing.”
When asked about new Korpiklaani material, Järvelä responds, “I have been ‘a song in progress’ now since 1987. I’m writing songs all the time, no matter if I’m sleeping or awake. I’ve started to write new material already.” Järvelä shares, “Now that I moved to the countryside and it’s peaceful here, maybe that inspired me to write songs now as well.” Järvelä lives in a village school that was built in 1908. “We have painted and renovated a lot here, and that is also a nice counterbalance to making music. On the other hand, many times, for example, when I’m painting, I’m composing new music in my mind. It is also meditative to paint and build, and at the same time immerse yourself in thoughts or new musical ideas.”
“I HAVE BEEN ‘A SONG IN PROGRESS’ NOW SINCE 1987. I’M WRITING SONGS ALL THE TIME, NO MATTER IF I’M SLEEPING OR AWAKE”
Fortunately, Järvelä’s cat Leonardo appreciates his music and instruments. Järvelä informs us, “I now have two more cats, Lilli and Louna. Lilli is a cat who likes to be involved in recordings and is not afraid of the noise it creates. She’s actually always sleeping on the sofa in the recording room when I’m writing and recording a new song. Louna doesn’t like noise, but, right after I’m done, she comes to me and asks for some touch and love.”
Järvelä has truly become a cultural ambassador of his homeland “Many people around the world have told me that they have started learning Finnish because of us. It is perhaps the biggest honor, because it takes so much work to learn a new language. I also believe that we have opened up a lot of Finnish humor and worldview, as well as knowledge of nature.” Järvelä takes magnificent nature photographs. “I always want to find some funny or otherwise special angle in my nature photography.”
Before Korpiklaani came into being, Järvelä experimented in Shamaani Duo and later Shaman. Notably, Shamaani Duo’s only album, the entrancing Hunka Lunka, was selected as an official commemorative gift for the Helsinki Summit 1997. “Boris Yeltsin sent a letter that seemed a bit official, but a letter came from Mr. Clinton in which he wrote that it is nice to listen to this record by the fireplace, which feels good because it felt like he had actually listened to it. The record was completely acoustic—guitar, shaman drum, and vocals.”
Concerning his solo project, Järvelä explains, “We put out a new single ‘Tulilintu’ from Jonne. My partner, Jaana, wrote the lyrics for it and also sings in the song. In January, we toured abroad around Europe for the first time out of Finland with Heidevolk for a couple of weeks, and it was a really rewarding experience. It was even fun to take care of carrying instruments and other things every day. Korpiklaani has had its own crew to take care of things for years. It was like going back to the roots. Now, we have a new album composed, but it’s difficult to find time to devote and record it. I thought that I would finish it in the summer and maybe even publish it by the end of the year.” Järvelä has been busy traveling the world with Korpiklaani and making up for lost time caused by Covid. “Of course, it feels good to be on the road again and do what this band is supposed to do, and that is to get in front of people and have fun together with them.”
