New Artist: Lasse Tapio Junnila

Writing and performing electronic music under his own name, Lasse Tapio Junnila started writing his own songs in 2018 after getting a hold of his first own sampler. The first pieces were created to accompany the art of visual artist Tuuli Oikkonen and were featured in her exhibitions around Finland in Rovaniemi, Oulu and Helsinki and in Berlin, Germany.

In the autumn of the same year, Junnila began playing live, utiziling a hardware live setup from the very beginning while also putting the dancefloor first. He eagerly plays at venues with a proper PA and an enthusiastic party crowd.

Luola will release a single called Childhood Amnesia, along with a music video, on November 13. It's the titular track from Junnila's upcoming debut & concept album, presenting some if its danceable side. More info coming on release day. In the meantime, head over to Bandcamp and check out Granular Well Being, a fresh ambient track that Junnila decided to release to celebrate our collaboration.

Originating from Pattijoki in Northern Ostrobothnia, Finland, Junnila currently lives in Turku, Finland, and is active in bands such as Sepikka, The Botherers and Villi Huhu.

Photograph by Joel Karppanen.

Out Now: Lauri Kallio - Rusko

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In the Finnish city of Tampere, somewhere between the districts of Hervanta and Annala, there is an industrial zone called Rusko. Lauri Kallio used to spend time there during his teens, walking around the gloomy surroundings, as it was a peaceful place, especially in the evenings and nighttime. When Kallio was finishing his yet unnamed record, working in the Roihupelto industrial district in Helsinki, the rainy autumn evenings reminded him of the times spent in Rusko. So it felt natural to give this name to the record.

The first recordings took place already in 2017, in the village of Kiikala, Finland Proper, the birthplace of Lauri Kallio's father. The very first recorded material was a bunch of four track tape loops made in an attic, where Kallio's grandfather used to maintain his hunting weapons. At the time, there was no vision for an album - only a compulsive need to create something. The experiments and creative work continued in Göteborg. At some point a collection of recordings began to form into an album and the work was finished when Kallio moved back to Finland.

Rusko fuses together electronic minimalism, ambient and jazz, and so it naturally fits into the continuum of nordic experimental jazz music. In addition to industrial cityscapes the music has been inspired by clean nature, friendship and all touching music experienced throughout life.

Everything on the record, except for the covers, is self-made and some tracks feature Kallio's musician friends Anders Hagberg, Eero Savela, Johannes Sarjasto and Jesse Ojajärvi.

The record is supposed to be like a big, warm hug or a trusted friend whenever you feel lonely. That's what it was for Lauri Kallio.

The record is released on cd and digital platforms, including Bandcamp, by Luola. A limited batch of cds are available on Luova Shop.

Lauri Kallio's playing and producing skills have recently been associated with Ville Lähteenmäki Utopia, Janne Masalin, Frankosun and the Family, UNYA and The Mystic Revelation of Teppo Repo. In addition, he has mixed Juna Kainuuseen, the breakthrough album of the renowned indie-rocker Litku Klemetti.

Out Now: Lappländer - Loppu ja alku

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AFTER THE END COMES A BEGINNING

Lappländer's new album Loppu ja alku (The End And The Beginning) moves from one dimension to other - from milky way to the riverbank, from outer space to inner space. Every thing and every phenomenon is a part of the same cycle, constant change and rebirth. Lappländer's philosophy is to include the listener in the creative process. The music is experienced in a different way depending on time, place and the listener's state of mind. It's mostly improvised and recorded on the first take, but over time it forms into some kind of a story in the listener's head, being open to their interpretation. The aim is to seize the moment in order to keep everything fresh and to preserve the joy of discovery. ​ This record was heavily inspired by the movies of Luis Bunuel and the classic movie Stalker by Andrei Tarkovski. Like Bunuel's movies, the music takes turns into unexpected and surprising directions. The aesthetic of Stalker is evident in the delicate balance between beauty and harshness. Lappländer aims to make timeless music, and that is reflected also on the technical side of things, where old and new blend into one. Vintage analog gear and modern software instruments are played side by side. Lappländer also employs his own variations of tape techniques originally used by Brian Eno and Robert Fripp.

The album is out now on streaming services and Bandcamp.

Cover design by Tapio Laitinen