Korpiklaani is band which truly guarding the Finish history and habits. The northern winds starts the blows  and bringing some special pagan things. About new album, concerts and any more answering Jonne Järvelä from Korpiklaani.

Korpiklaani official started in 2002. How were your beginings?  

I started to play folk music 1993 and the first album came out 1996. Then we put together metal music and folk music 1998 and the first folk metal album came out 1999. We played back then as a name Shaman. We made two albums and when third Shaman album should be came out we decided to change our name because it appeared another same named band from Brazil. They were already much more succeeded, so it was easier for us to change the name. 

Your discography contains seven albums at all. Which album is for you the „Heart matter“ and why?

Yes, we have seven albums as Korpiklaani and this newest Ukon wacka is right now my “heart matter” I have a feeling, that now everything is as it should be. Each song on the album is very strong and in the right place of the album whole. 

Yours seventh studio album in line is „Ukon Wacka“. Ukon Wacka is a pagan sacrificial feast from ancient times. Why you name the album by pagan festival?

The name of the album comes after the song Ukon wacka.

Ukko is ancient Finnish high god of thunder, harvest, beer and many other nature things.

The celebration was also occasionally held in holy groves. Only a bushelful of commodities, at least possibly food, was sacrificed to begin with. Sacred beers brewed for the party was also drunk. There were supposedly other sacraments to have been carried out at the feast, e.g. kneeling in a circle or ritualistic dancing. There was a specific toast of beer to be drunk at the party. This could be called a drinking bushel or the toast of Ukko. The toast may have also been drunk in midsummer. We Finns still celebrating the Ukon wacka feast but now it is called Juhannus. We are the guys, who love to party, so this is a great name of our album.

The new sample promo songs posted on internet is Tuoppi Oltta and Tequilla, especially Tequilla is interest with lyrics and visual style. When and where were are filming the video? Have you enjoyed it?

The Tequila video is filmed here in Finland, Sysmä. The weather was very cold and the shootings took two days, so it wasn’t so fun all the time. Also in general this kind of filming is never so nice. This band is made for play in the front of people, so we are feeling little bit uncomfortable in the front of cameras.

I will return to song Tequilla. Your previous famous songs about alcohol (the ones you have to play live nearly everytime) are „Beer Beer“ and „Vodka“. You think the Tequilla can compete with this legendary songs?

I have no idea :) and I don’t know why it should compete with other songs. Actually Tequila is not a drinking song like the other songs you mentioned. Tequila is made right after our South American and Mexico tour. I still was kind of “latino” feelings when I wrote the song. The song is about us and our tour there and about the feelings what we had right after that great tour. The life there was tequila and caipirinha…

Whitch type of booze you will be sing about on next album? :)

Absolutely about Kossu. Kossu is very traditional and good Finnish booze.

Rhytm of yours songs are different, some songs are swift and other little bit slower. Were these songs talking about some experience from your life? 

The life itself is the best source and inspiration for the songs. You know, like the song “Tuoppi oltta” It is about manly needs. It is two them; cold beer and hot women.

There are also songs about the nature, which is basis of the whole life. Mythology and history, which makes our life what it is now. Touring and playing music is one of the biggest inspirations and it is the life, we are living right now.

This year is interesting for your fans - the new album will be released and you’ll play great number of concerts around the world. In 4th March starts the Paganfest 2011 and you will visit many countries.. Where you like to play the most and why? 

We like to play the places, where is a venue full of good people and conditions as it should be. It doesn’t matter what is the country because our fans are very similar around the world. Great people most of them. Some of them are also become as friends. There is people, who travel long distances and check many Korpiklaani gigs during the year, so those people become familiar to us and we spent some good time with them many times.

How do you prepare for the tour that will be played this year? Any special exercises or habits? 

Not anything special preparing. We’ve had been rehearsed pretty much because we are going to play almost the whole new album on the next tour and also some old songs we haven’t played before. 

You’ve been playing last year in Slovakia - Bratislava. What do you remember from our country?

There was a good atmosphere and I think the gig and the crowd was good. We haven’t time to see the places so much but it was very nice what I saw. There were also good drinking buddies :)

Are you preparing any concert for your fans in Slovakia this year?

I really hope so, that we could get a chance to play there soon again during this year. You must push promoters there in Slovakia. We are more than ready to come!

Thank you very much for your time. Is there anything you want to tell to your fans?

I want to thank everyone, who were there partying with us on the last gig and hope to see you again next time.  It will be soon. Pints up ‘til then!

cheers, Jonne