written by Marko Jakob | 01.03.2022 |
Pix666: Hello Mikko. Thanks for your time. How are you doing these days? How are the other guys of Kuolemanlaakso?
Mikko: Hello hello. Pissed off as usual. Nothing’s really easy in this world for musicians these days. Live music nearly died and future looks still uncertain. Been sitting at home for two years mostly. Other guys are probably doing better. They’re family guys so they’re busy anyway. We’re modern Finnish guys. We have Whatsapp chatgroup. We talk about things in that group and hardly never see each other in real life. But we’re spread around Finland so that explains also. But not much.
Pix666: What kind of music does Kuolemanlaakso make and how and where did you meet your band mates?
Mikko: Well it’s heavy music sung in Finnish. Not very happy music. Maybe it’s close to death/doom but also has some folkish elements. Guitarist Kouta and me used to live in a same city for a while so our bromance goes back over 15 years or something like that. He asked me to join this band when they were recording the first album. I agreed to do the vocals, not to join the band but here i am, some years and three albums later.
Pix666: Recently your new single ‘Surusta meri suolainen’ was released – how were the reactions to this song so far?
Mikko: I’ve seen maybe two comments on Facebook. I don’t really follow how people are reacting. But those two individuals seemed to like the song. I like it. It’s not the best song of the album but still solid.
Pix666: For your single ‘Katkeruuden maljain’ you were supported by Lotta Ruutiainen on the microphone. How much do you like the result of this collaboration and is this something you would like to try more often in the future?
Mikko: Mr. Laakso, the main songwriter is good friends with Lotta and it was his idea to ask her. She’s very talented young lady and i have nothing against to work with her again in the future.
Pix666: The new album will follow in March. What can fans expect from ‘Kuusumu’? In which versions will the album be available – do you also have special editions or bundles in the shop?
Mikko: I’m sure people who liked the first two albums are ok with this new one. Maybe we have matured a bit in 8 years. But hopelly we can also gain some new fans. The album sounds really Finnish. Sad and depressing, cold and dark like life in eastern dictators shadow. CD and digital versions come out first and vinyl unfortunately months later but that’s not in our hands.
Pix666: Do you plan to tour this year, or at least to play a few shows around the time of the album release?
Mikko: Yes. At least some shows in Finland. European tour already got cancelled due to covid before it even got announced. Wonderful times we’re living.
Pix666: You had a break with Kuolemanlaakso that lasted about 8 years. How did the cooperation within the band work after this break and what influence did the Corona Pandemic have on the processes in the work on the album?
Mikko: Mr. Laakso is the one who’s runs this band and he’s the main dude. He was really busy in his life during those years we had a break. He wrote two books for example. This pandemic didn’t really affect at all. When the time was right and everybody had time we just recorded the album as usual.
Pix666: Let’s talk a little bit about your songs. How do you create your songs? Is there a certain plan? Who in the band is responsible for what and what themes are the lyrics of your songs about?
Mikko: I’m just a singer so i’m totally wrong guy to answer this one. The songs are pretty much ready before i even hear them. Laakso writes all the lyrics and most of the songs too. So my job is not the hardest. Theme of this new album loosely based on 10 year long winter that happened around 530 a.d.
Pix666: Do you have some – typically Finnish – hobbies? Here in Central Europe they say that ice swimming, drinking alcohol, ice hockey and sauna are a must for Finnish men.
Mikko: Not a big sports guy so my only hobby is alcohol. That’s typically Finnish.
Pix666: Do you have any other news about Kuolemanlaakso, or even about your other band Swallow The Sun, that you would like to share with the fans?
Mikko: Well we’re still living in the middle of pandemic and it’s not over yet. Hopefully we can play live and tour with both bands but hopes are not high. We’ve had to cancel over 150 gigs with STS so far during these two years so i don’t really trust or believe in anything anymore. Just hope this shit will be over sooner than later.
Pix666: Thank you very much for the interesting answers – Good luck for the future and stay healthy!!!
Mikko: Likewise! Take care!
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photos © by Riku Jokinen & Markus Laakso
