Korpiklaani

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Director KIMMO KUUSNIEMI: “Live In Japan Documentary was an experiment into social engineering”

Posted by tarjavirmakari on September 23, 2020
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: , . Leave a comment

Filmmaker KIMMO KUUSNIEMI and Finnish Folk Metal legends KORPIKLAANI made an extended and hectic tour of Russia, traveling from St. Petersburg to Siberia and back. On a follow up tour – this time to Japan with Finnish metal legend, Waltari – they had more time to contemplate Japanese lifestyle and history. Filmmaker Kimmo Kuusniemi traveled with the band. His unseen documentaries are now released online.

Read below Kimmo talking about “Live In Japan Documentary“ and how it was an experiment into social engineering!

Crowdfunding Story: Live in Japan

After my successful “Made in Russia” filming trip, I was very interested to see how I could improve on the new camera techniques I used. Having my camera on a gimbal which was on a pole which allowed me reach into the most unusual angles around and amongst the band and the audience, and looked quite stunning.

One of the most exciting new technology’s I used in Russia was the live Facebook streaming. It was a great rush to see all the hundreds of likes, hearts and emojis flying all over the screen while filming.

Over the years I have used all the possible filming techniques there are but the Facebook streaming was something completely new, I was able to get the instant reaction from the audience around the world, which got me thinking how this could be put to better use in Japan.

Live Documentary Social Engineering Experiment

I created for the Crowdfunders a private Facebook group that I could post live video clips as we travelled through Japan. The Crowdfunders could send me questions for the band and I could have the band members replies on the Facebook site.

So a truly interactive documentary making! The Crowdfunders could actually affect the outcome of the documentary and really be part of it.

One Man Multicam

I also had more cameras (GoPro’s) with me so that I could do a one man multicamera recording of the live gigs. This One Man Multicamera worked superbly and in many ways was much easier and efficient than working with a big crew. The end results speak for itself.

360 camera

The other new technology I used in Japan was a 360 camera. I used it in some of my commentary sections and while out with the band as a normal camera. As the camera records everything around you in 360 degrees :you can edit the camera movements in the edit later.. You will never miss any moments ever again! I also filmed some songs and made one wacky video of one song with incredible 360 effects. In just 3 years the 360 technology has advanced in leaps and bounds and: the new 360 camera I use now has stunning resolution and has given me a completely new way to make films,

Conclusion

Using this technology and cameras allowed me to film on my own what would normally require a crew of at least 6- 10 people. Of course my years of experience working with big crews and bands are giving me an advantage in applying the new technology.

Pre Covid Era

I find it very interesting that what I did in Japan in 2017 was what Covid 19 has made other film makers to follow: Live Streaming and Interaction…

For me the best way to film a band performances is to record them and quickly edit afterwards and then release it as a special event.. You have much better control of the quality and the end result is much more engaging than one of streaming with all possible technical hiccups. People are already showing signs of boredom towards straight live streams, more is needed.

I have some ideas for the future of filming as I try to stay one step ahead of the crowd 🙂

Just recently, KIMMO KUUSNIEMI told more about his ‘behind-the-scene’ experiences on this whole project, in case you missed it, please read below:

Filmmaker KIMMO KUUSNIEMI: 4 Year Relentless Journey Through Russia And Siberia To Japan – “Great memories are worth the pain” – The Story Of Two Rock Documentaries

With these documentaries I broke several rules of professional filmmaking.

RULES OF FILMMAKING: The first rule: “Never get involved in films that don’t have a budget.”

BEGINNING OF THE 4 YEAR STRUGGLE, THE EASY PART

I didn’t realise the mad journey I was about to sign up for when I met Jonne at my brothers garden in 2016. Jonne asked me if I wanted to make documentary about Korpiklaani. When I heard that Korpiklaani were going to have a long extended tour through Russia and Siberia I was sold.

There was no budget, so according to rule number one, walk away. Which of course I didn’t as the excitement of the road trip overpowered the sensibility, which is a common problem with creative people 🙂

After unsuccessfully trying to get the record label to fund the film etc. the only way I could see to do this was by Crowdfunding. I had never done this before so even this sounded exciting. The band didn’t want to take the risk of crowdfunding so as well as everything else I decided I would do the crowdfunding myself.

So I broke the second important RULE OF FILMMAKING: “Never take personal risk financing a film”.

CROWDFUNDING THAT FUNDED THE CROWDFUNDING ADVERTISEMENT

Eugene (Co Producer) and I did a very extensive advertising campaign for the documentaries. When the crowdfunding ended we realised that the money raised didn’t even cover the work and time we put into the Crowdfunding advertisement.

We did not get the money to finish the film but instead we did find some very loyal and supportive Crowdfunders who believed in the films as much as we did. Not everything is measured in money.

JAPAN, YOU LIVE AND DON’T LEARN AND MORE RULES OF FILMMAKING BROKEN

During post production on the Live in Russia film the band were going on tour in Japan and the plan was to get me there to film another documentary. Japan has alway’s been my top ten list of destinations to visit. I have made commercial films for Japanese markets before but never had chance to visit. So very tempting.

RULES OF FILMMAKING: “Never make the same mistake again”

Once again I broke the first rule of film making: “Never get involved with films that don’t have a budget.” So now I have done it twice in one project.

As planned with Jonne I again set up a crowdfunding project for Japan. Just when the campaign was online I was forced to cancel it for reasons which are most bizarre.

Against all the odds I still ended up on tour in Japan with Korpiklaani and Waltari. In Osaka I also met Piotr from Polish Death Metal band VADER. Last time we met was in Poland 25 years ago, when I made their first music video for MTV Europe.

HOW TO FINISH DOCUMENTARIES WITHOUT BUDGET; DOCUMENTARIES ARE ALL CONSUMING BEASTS TO FINISH

Then the hard work of editing all this footage together began. I spent a lot of time to editing the Russia film into a loose three hour version. At the same time I was trying in vain to find extra funding through sponsors etc. At this point I had to stop as I had already used all my rainy day savings and needed to work on commercial films to balance the accounts.

Then film editor/musician Sophia LA stepped in to save the day.

Sophia was really excited about the material and wanted to trim my 3 hour version into the final documentary. She spent a long time editing and did a fantastically brilliant job on it but the film was still in it’s first finished version two hours 47 minutes long. She also had reached her limits on working with the film.

JAPAN, WHAT TO DO WITH JAPAN? CROWDFUNDERS STEP UP!

MADE IN RUSSIA was now finished to a long version and could be shown to the Crowdfunders who liked it so much that some of them were willing to donate to help funding so we could start work on the Japanese film.

This gave us a much needed moral boost to get the “LIVE IN JAPAN” edited.

Making films and music is a very lonely place; you don’t get much support until you have finished. Here we are talking about projects that took 4 years to get published. So the support from Crowdfunders was very important and gave me a reason to finish my films, while all the time I was working on the commercial side of filmmaking to balance my books.

DVD FORMAT IS DEAD, TV DISTRIBUTION IS DYING, WE LIVE IN THE MATRIX

The next problem is how to release these films.

All my documentaries have been globally distributed through my International TV Distributor. He was basically interested in this these films but was doubtful about the interest from the international TV companies as Korpiklaani are not Metallica or Iron Maiden.

During the 4 years these films took to finish, DVD’s have had a sudden death.

COVID-19 TO RESCUE

Then came COVID-19 which changed everything. Film and Music Businesses grinned to sudden halt.

It was time again to get back to these films and finally get them out. I shortened the “Made In Russia” to 39min. Set up the websites and we were ready.

Now the new exciting option to release documentaries is your own VOD (video on demand) channel. Not the same as Amazon or Netflix but you are your own master.

DID I LEARN ANYTHING FROM THIS PROJECT?

No, I would do the same mistakes again. The journey through Russia and Siberia was life altering, a once in a lifetime experience and something I will never forget. Great memories are worth the pain.

Kimmo Kuusniemi

Video on demand -links:

MADE IN RUSSIA (39min 22sec)

LIVE IN JAPAN (31min 22sec)

More information on SPLIT SCREEN FILMS: http://www.splitscreendocs.com

About Kimmo Kuusniemi

Kimmo Kuusniemi is a professional film maker and musician based in UK. He has made numerous films from music videos to International TV Series. With his partner in film, Eugene O’Connor, together and separately they have worked with such names as Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Madonna, Rush, Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Kimmo’s band Sarcofagus were formed in 1978 and were the first Finnish heavy metal band. He also made probably the first in the world broadcast quality album length music video “Moottorilinnut” in 1980.

In 2008, Kuusniemi made an international TV documentary Promised Land Of Heavy Metal about the Finnish metal scene as a co-production with Finnish Broadcasting company YLE. As he is known the “Godfather of Finnish Metal” he had unlimited access to the Finnish metal scene, which also even helped him to get an interview with Madame President of Finland.

Video Interview: Filmmaker KIMMO KUUSNIEMI Talks Background Of His Two Rock Documentaries With KORPIKLAANI, Relationship, Challenges And Difficulties Doing Business In Music Industry

Posted by tarjavirmakari on September 10, 2020
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment

Finnish filmmaker KIMMO KUUSNIEMI and Folk Metal legends KORPIKLAANI made an extended and hectic tour of Russia, traveling from St. Petersburg to Siberia and back. On a follow up tour – this time to Japan with Finnish metal legend, Waltari – they had more time to contemplate Japanese lifestyle and history. Filmmaker Kimmo Kuusniemi traveled with the band. His unseen documentaries are now released online.

Just recently Scars And Guitars‘ Andrew McKaysmith conducted a long and interesting zoom -interview with Kimmo Kuusniemi, talking about Kimmo’s relationship with Korpiklaani, The challenges he faced when taking footage on the road, Editing hundreds of hours of footage into sub-40 minute packages, Almost losing many hours of footage on a train, Kimmo’s history as a film maker and documentarian, The difficulties doing business in the music industry and more.

Join and watch the chat here:

Video on demand -links:

MADE IN RUSSIA (39min 22sec)

LIVE IN JAPAN (31min 22sec)

Furthermore, here below KIMMO KUUSNIEMI tells us more about his ‘behind-the-scene’ experiences on this project:

4 YEAR RELENTLESS JOURNEY THROUGH RUSSIA AND SIBERIA TO JAPAN – NEVER GIVE UP, NEVER SURRENDER

With these documentaries I broke several rules of professional filmmaking.

RULES OF FILMMAKING: The first rule: “Never get involved in films that don’t have a budget.”

BEGINNING OF THE 4 YEAR STRUGGLE, THE EASY PART

I didn’t realise the mad journey I was about to sign up for when I met Jonne at my brothers garden in 2016. Jonne asked me if I wanted to make documentary about Korpiklaani. When I heard that Korpiklaani were going to have a long extended tour through Russia and Siberia I was sold.

There was no budget, so according to rule number one, walk away. Which of course I didn’t as the excitement of the road trip overpowered the sensibility, which is a common problem with creative people 🙂

After unsuccessfully trying to get the record label to fund the film etc. the only way I could see to do this was by Crowdfunding. I had never done this before so even this sounded exciting. The band didn’t want to take the risk of crowdfunding so as well as everything else I decided I would do the crowdfunding myself.

So I broke the second important RULE OF FILMMAKING: “Never take personal risk financing a film”.

CROWDFUNDING THAT FUNDED THE CROWDFUNDING ADVERTISEMENT

Eugene (Co Producer) and I did a very extensive advertising campaign for the documentaries. When the crowdfunding ended we realised that the money raised didn’t even cover the work and time we put into the Crowdfunding advertisement.

We did not get the money to finish the film but instead we did find some very loyal and supportive Crowdfunders who believed in the films as much as we did. Not everything is measured in money.

JAPAN, YOU LIVE AND DON’T LEARN AND MORE RULES OF FILMMAKING BROKEN

During post production on the Live in Russia film the band were going on tour in Japan and the plan was to get me there to film another documentary. Japan has alway’s been my top ten list of destinations to visit. I have made commercial films for Japanese markets before but never had chance to visit. So very tempting.

RULES OF FILMMAKING: “Never make the same mistake again”

Once again I broke the first rule of film making: “Never get involved with films that don’t have a budget.” So now I have done it twice in one project.

As planned with Jonne I again set up a crowdfunding project for Japan. Just when the campaign was online I was forced to cancel it for reasons which are most bizarre.

Against all the odds I still ended up on tour in Japan with Korpiklaani and Waltari. In Osaka I also met Piotr from Polish Death Metal band VADER. Last time we met was in Poland 25 years ago, when I made their first music video for MTV Europe.

HOW TO FINISH DOCUMENTARIES WITHOUT BUDGET; DOCUMENTARIES ARE ALL CONSUMING BEASTS TO FINISH

Then the hard work of editing all this footage together began. I spent a lot of time to editing the Russia film into a loose three hour version. At the same time I was trying in vain to find extra funding through sponsors etc. At this point I had to stop as I had already used all my rainy day savings and needed to work on commercial films to balance the accounts.

Then film editor/musician Sophia LA stepped in to save the day.

Sophia was really excited about the material and wanted to trim my 3 hour version into the final documentary. She spent a long time editing and did a fantastically brilliant job on it but the film was still in it’s first finished version two hours 47 minutes long. She also had reached her limits on working with the film.

JAPAN, WHAT TO DO WITH JAPAN? CROWDFUNDERS STEP UP!

MADE IN RUSSIA was now finished to a long version and could be shown to the Crowdfunders who liked it so much that some of them were willing to donate to help funding so we could start work on the Japanese film.

This gave us a much needed moral boost to get the “LIVE IN JAPAN” edited.

Making films and music is a very lonely place; you don’t get much support until you have finished. Here we are talking about projects that took 4 years to get published. So the support from Crowdfunders was very important and gave me a reason to finish my films, while all the time I was working on the commercial side of filmmaking to balance my books.

DVD FORMAT IS DEAD, TV DISTRIBUTION IS DYING, WE LIVE IN THE MATRIX

The next problem is how to release these films.

All my documentaries have been globally distributed through my International TV Distributor. He was basically interested in this these films but was doubtful about the interest from the international TV companies as Korpiklaani are not Metallica or Iron Maiden.

During the 4 years these films took to finish, DVD’s have had a sudden death.

COVID-19 TO RESCUE

Then came COVID-19 which changed everything. Film and Music Businesses grinned to sudden halt.

It was time again to get back to these films and finally get them out. I shortened the “Made In Russia” to 39min. Set up the websites and we were ready.

Now the new exciting option to release documentaries is your own VOD (video on demand) channel. Not the same as Amazon or Netflix but you are your own master.

DID I LEARN ANYTHING FROM THIS PROJECT?

No, I would do the same mistakes again. The journey through Russia and Siberia was life altering, a once in a lifetime experience and something I will never forget. Great memories are worth the pain.

Kimmo Kuusniemi

More information on SPLIT SCREEN FILMS: http://www.splitscreendocs.com

About Kimmo Kuusniemi

Kimmo Kuusniemi is a professional film maker and musician based in UK. He has made numerous films from music videos to International TV Series. With his partner in film, Eugene O’Connor, together and separately they have worked with such names as Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Madonna, Rush, Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Kimmo’s band Sarcofagus were formed in 1978 and were the first Finnish heavy metal band. He also made probably the first in the world broadcast quality album length music video “Moottorilinnut” in 1980.

In 2008, Kuusniemi made an international TV documentary Promised Land Of Heavy Metal about the Finnish metal scene as a co-production with Finnish Broadcasting company YLE. As he is known the “Godfather of Finnish Metal” he had unlimited access to the Finnish metal scene, which also even helped him to get an interview with Madame President of Finland.

KIMMO KUUSNIEMI: 4 Year Relentless Journey Through Russia And Siberia To Japan – Never Give Up, Never Surrender – The Story Of Two Rock Documentaries

Posted by tarjavirmakari on August 23, 2020
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment

Filmmaker KIMMO KUUSNIEMI and Finnish Folk Metal legends KORPIKLAANI made an extended and hectic tour of Russia, traveling from St. Petersburg to Siberia and back. On a follow up tour – this time to Japan with Finnish metal legend, Waltari – they had more time to contemplate Japanese lifestyle and history. Filmmaker Kimmo Kuusniemi traveled with the band. His unseen documentaries are now released online. Further information at this location.

Now KIMMO KUUSNIEMI tells us more about his ‘behind-the-scene’ experiences on this project:

4 YEAR RELENTLESS JOURNEY THROUGH RUSSIA AND SIBERIA TO JAPAN – NEVER GIVE UP, NEVER SURRENDER

With these documentaries I broke several rules of professional filmmaking.

RULES OF FILMMAKING: The first rule: “Never get involved in films that don’t have a budget.”

BEGINNING OF THE 4 YEAR STRUGGLE, THE EASY PART

I didn’t realise the mad journey I was about to sign up for when I met Jonne at my brothers garden in 2016. Jonne asked me if I wanted to make documentary about Korpiklaani. When I heard that Korpiklaani were going to have a long extended tour through Russia and Siberia I was sold.

There was no budget, so according to rule number one, walk away. Which of course I didn’t as the excitement of the road trip overpowered the sensibility, which is a common problem with creative people 🙂

After unsuccessfully trying to get the record label to fund the film etc. the only way I could see to do this was by Crowdfunding. I had never done this before so even this sounded exciting. The band didn’t want to take the risk of crowdfunding so as well as everything else I decided I would do the crowdfunding myself.

So I broke the second important RULE OF FILMMAKING: “Never take personal risk financing a film”.

CROWDFUNDING THAT FUNDED THE CROWDFUNDING ADVERTISEMENT

Eugene (Co Producer) and I did a very extensive advertising campaign for the documentaries. When the crowdfunding ended we realised that the money raised didn’t even cover the work and time we put into the Crowdfunding advertisement.

We did not get the money to finish the film but instead we did find some very loyal and supportive Crowdfunders who believed in the films as much as we did. Not everything is measured in money.

JAPAN, YOU LIVE AND DON’T LEARN AND MORE RULES OF FILMMAKING BROKEN

During post production on the Live in Russia film the band were going on tour in Japan and the plan was to get me there to film another documentary. Japan has alway’s been my top ten list of destinations to visit. I have made commercial films for Japanese markets before but never had chance to visit. So very tempting.

RULES OF FILMMAKING: “Never make the same mistake again”

Once again I broke the first rule of film making: “Never get involved with films that don’t have a budget.” So now I have done it twice in one project.

As planned with Jonne I again set up a crowdfunding project for Japan. Just when the campaign was online I was forced to cancel it for reasons which are most bizarre.

Against all the odds I still ended up on tour in Japan with Korpiklaani and Waltari. In Osaka I also met Piotr from Polish Death Metal band VADER. Last time we met was in Poland 25 years ago, when I made their first music video for MTV Europe.

HOW TO FINISH DOCUMENTARIES WITHOUT BUDGET; DOCUMENTARIES ARE ALL CONSUMING BEASTS TO FINISH

Then the hard work of editing all this footage together began. I spent a lot of time to editing the Russia film into a loose three hour version. At the same time I was trying in vain to find extra funding through sponsors etc. At this point I had to stop as I had already used all my rainy day savings and needed to work on commercial films to balance the accounts.

Then film editor/musician Sophia LA stepped in to save the day.

Sophia was really excited about the material and wanted to trim my 3 hour version into the final documentary. She spent a long time editing and did a fantastically brilliant job on it but the film was still in it’s first finished version two hours 47 minutes long. She also had reached her limits on working with the film.

JAPAN, WHAT TO DO WITH JAPAN? CROWDFUNDERS STEP UP!

MADE IN RUSSIA was now finished to a long version and could be shown to the Crowdfunders who liked it so much that some of them were willing to donate to help funding so we could start work on the Japanese film.

This gave us a much needed moral boost to get the “LIVE IN JAPAN” edited.

Making films and music is a very lonely place; you don’t get much support until you have finished. Here we are talking about projects that took 4 years to get published. So the support from Crowdfunders was very important and gave me a reason to finish my films, while all the time I was working on the commercial side of filmmaking to balance my books.

DVD FORMAT IS DEAD, TV DISTRIBUTION IS DYING, WE LIVE IN THE MATRIX

The next problem is how to release these films.

All my documentaries have been globally distributed through my International TV Distributor. He was basically interested in this these films but was doubtful about the interest from the international TV companies as Korpiklaani are not Metallica or Iron Maiden.

During the 4 years these films took to finish, DVD’s have had a sudden death.

COVID-19 TO RESCUE

Then came COVID-19 which changed everything. Film and Music Businesses grinned to sudden halt.

It was time again to get back to these films and finally get them out. I shortened the “Made In Russia” to 39min. Set up the websites and we were ready.

Now the new exciting option to release documentaries is your own VOD (video on demand) channel. Not the same as Amazon or Netflix but you are your own master.

DID I LEARN ANYTHING FROM THIS PROJECT?

No, I would do the same mistakes again. The journey through Russia and Siberia was life altering, a once in a lifetime experience and something I will never forget. Great memories are worth the pain.

Kimmo Kuusniemi

Video on demand -links:

MADE IN RUSSIA (39min 22sec)

LIVE IN JAPAN (31min 22sec)

More information on SPLIT SCREEN FILMS: http://www.splitscreendocs.com

About Kimmo Kuusniemi

Kimmo Kuusniemi is a professional film maker and musician based in UK. He has made numerous films from music videos to International TV Series. With his partner in film, Eugene O’Connor, together and separately they have worked with such names as Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Madonna, Rush, Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Kimmo’s band Sarcofagus were formed in 1978 and were the first Finnish heavy metal band. He also made probably the first in the world broadcast quality album length music video “Moottorilinnut” in 1980.

In 2008, Kuusniemi made an international TV documentary Promised Land Of Heavy Metal about the Finnish metal scene as a co-production with Finnish Broadcasting company YLE. As he is known the “Godfather of Finnish Metal” he had unlimited access to the Finnish metal scene, which also even helped him to get an interview with Madame President of Finland.

KORPIKLAANI And KIMMO KUUSNIEMI Join Forces In Two Rock Documentaries

Posted by tarjavirmakari on August 13, 2020
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: , , , , , , . 1 Comment

Finnish Folk Metal legends KORPIKLAANI and filmmaker KIMMO KUUSNIEMI made an extended and hectic tour of Russia, traveling from St. Petersburg to Siberia and back. On a follow up tour – this time to Japan with Finnish metal legend, Waltari – they had more time to contemplate Japanese lifestyle and history. Filmmaker Kimmo Kuusniemi traveled with the band. His unseen documentaries are now released online.

***MADE IN RUSSIA Documentary

KIMMO KUUSNIEMI: “I did not need to think twice when Jonne (Vocalist, Korpiklaani) asked me if I would like to make a documentary about the Korpiklaani’s extensive Russia/Siberia tour. I knew instantly this would be a one of kind trip. I have travelled the world extensively making films but this journey was completely different from anything else I have experienced. Due to the relentless schedules, all the time on the road on planes, trains and automobiles forced me to re-think the film equipment and filming techniques. This turned out to be great gamble that paid off royally as the look and style to the documentary ended up like something you never seen before.”

TUOMAS ROUNAKARI (Violinist, Korpiklaani): “During the live shows Kimmo blended in with the crowd and was almost un-noticable with his gimbal camera setup. He was able to really deliver the real live show feeling of the packed clubs. When I look at these documentaries they really have captured the essence of the journeys, audiences and the band on stage.”

KIMMO KUUSNIEMI: “The latest development in camera technology has really taken away a lot the limitations of film making. Now I can do things I was dreaming about 10 years ago!”

TUOMAS ROUNAKARI: ”The Russian tour allowed me to visit exceptional places for the first time. I had dreamt of visiting Lake Baikal for decades because of its unique nature and strong shamanism that is still alive among the indigenous peoples. While I was dreaming of seeing these places, our fans had been dreaming of seeing us live. So this tour was full of win-win situations, different dreams coming true. I am very grateful for our fans, who at the end, made this trip possible.”

Kimmo Kuusniemi, himself of heavy metal fame, known as “the godfather of Finnish Heavy Metal”, is a filmmaker by trade. Packing his equipment he set out with Korpiklaani – on an amazing road trip all over Russia. The result was unforeseen footage of Russian heavy metal fandom and the wonders of this huge country of diverse cultures.

TUOMAS ROUNAKARI: “In Khabarovsk, We (me and Kimmo) wanted to visit the Amur river and the Nanai tribe people. I posted this wish on Facebook and that’s how one of our fans, Boris, contacted us and arranged everything. It would have been very difficult to do this without local help.”

KIMMO KUUSNIEMI: “Meeting the Nanai people was one of the many highlights of the journey through Siberia. Travelling through Siberian landscapes on a Skidoo in -30 C, hearing the stories about the ancient petroglyphs by the frozen Amur river, eating frozen raw fish with vodka and trying at the same time to film as much as possible before the cameras froze over was an unforgettable experience.”

***LIVE IN JAPAN Documentary

Another trip took Kuusniemi and Korpiklaani to Japan. Here three generations of Finnish Metal; Kimmo, one of the first Finnish metalheads, and Korpiklaani, a furious act of modern folk metal met with another Finnish legend, Kärtsy Hatakka and his band Waltari. The trip proved to be a series of intensive gigs and a journey into the open minds of Japanese metal fans, while on the side Korpiklaani’s shaman violinist Tuomas Rounakari and Kimmo wanted to make acquaintances with the ancient history of the land of the rising sun.

TUOMAS ROUNAKARI: “The Finns and Japanese have a strange connection. We both appreciate silence more than most other cultures. Maybe it is due to the still lasting connection to the nature that is in the center of ancient beliefs of both cultures.”

KIMMO KUUSNIEMI: “In the past I have made some commercial films for Japanese markets but I had never visited before. Japan is a very interesting contradiction of industrial high tech in perfect harmony with the ancient traditions. In between the gigs me and Tuomas tried to see as much as we could of the old traditional side of Japan.”

TUOMAS ROUNAKARI: “We had a hilarious interview in Japan. We found out that most of our songs were very obscurely translated to japanese, mostly in innuendo way. Apparently these curious titles were one aspect of our fame in the country.’

The resulting documentaries are a rare peek into the on-the-road life of grown up men behaving as rockers on stage. But they are also a tribute to the international heavy metal fan family: wherever the bands go, they receive a warm and hearty welcome. The live footage shot by state-of-the-art technology, is enigmatic, and the behind-the-scenes material shows the band exploring local cultures, from the Siberian tundra to cherry orchards in Japan.

KIMMO KUUSNIEMI: “One great thing of making these documentaries was that I met Tuomas. We are very like minded and we already are working on a new project called “SAMPO” that combines music and myths. More about that soon.”

“MADE IN RUSSIA” and “LIVE IN JAPAN” OUT NOW AS VOD (VIDEO ON DEMAND)

KIMMO KUUSNIEMI: “These documentaries were partly funded through Crowdfunding. As the DVD format is now pretty much dead the Filmmakers have the same challenge as musicians: how to finance your work. We need to adapt and this is the first time that I’m trying out the VOD (Video On Demand) to get some revenue in.

Our Split Screen Films production company will be releasing more interesting documentaries soon on VOD.”

MADE IN RUSSIA (39min 22sec)

LIVE IN JAPAN (31min 22sec)

More information on SPLIT SCREEN FILMS: http://www.splitscreendocs.com

More photos below from the tours:

About Korpiklaani

Korpiklaani are a folk metal band originally from Lahti, Finland, founded by Jonne Järvelä. While other folk metal bands began with metal before adding folk music, Korpiklaani started with folk music before turning metal. Korpiklaani lyrics often originate from ancient Finnish and Sami traditions, and the band mixes tough heavy metal and traditional music played with instruments such as the violin, accordion and even jouhikko and torupill. The band have made twelve full-length albums so far.

About Kimmo Kuusniemi

Kimmo Kuusniemi is a professional film maker and musician based in UK. He has made numerous films from music videos to International TV Series. With his partner in film, Eugene O’Connor, together and separately they have worked with such names as Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Madonna, Rush, Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Kimmo’s band Sarcofagus were formed in 1978 and were the first Finnish heavy metal band. He also made probably the first in the world broadcast quality album length music video “Moottorilinnut” in 1980.

In 2008, Kuusniemi made an international TV documentary Promised Land Of Heavy Metal about the Finnish metal scene as a co-production with Finnish Broadcasting company YLE. As he is known the “Godfather of Finnish Metal” he had unlimited access to the Finnish metal scene, which also even helped him to get an interview with Madame President of Finland.

KORPIKLAANI Unleash New Digital Single ‘Mellanöl’ [Feat. Viking Danielson]

Posted by tarjavirmakari on August 7, 2020
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: , . Leave a comment
Korpiklaani 2019 Photo: Jani Mahkonen / LOMA GRAPHICS

To celebrate today’s international beer day, KORPIKLAANI saved the best for the end of an epic journey: Today, the band is pleased to release the last version of ‘Beer Beer’. This time it is ‘Mellanöl’  featuring Viking Danielson singing in Swedish!  Continuing KORPIKLAANI’s concept of singing in different languages and cultural influences for ‘Beer Beer’.

Check out the new lyric video for ‘Mellanöl’ here:

KORPIKLAANI says:
“We approached many bands in Sweden to create the swedish version for Beer Beer without success. Some simply did not want to, one did not like the idea of singing in native swedish tongue, some feared that their stainless image would be rotten if they get involved with something like a drinking song. Had Sweden forsaken us?
Luckily the word went around and we had a hint about a lesser known band from a mystical Öland Island. So here is Viking Danielson from Svarta ljuset (Västerås tjejerna, smutsigt mamma, ta kuken I munnen Konungen) singing his heart out about Mellanöl, the common swedish beer with disturbingly low alcohol level.”

The band recently launched their own spruce flavoured Vodka in cooperation with Pyynikin Distilling Company as well as a special live stream event to celebrate:
KORPIKLAANI will fulfil everyone’s dream of having a “piss up in a brewery” and will perform live from inside the brewery on Saturday, August, 29th at 20.00 CEST. 
Tickets can bought from their new website, www.korpiklaani.live where you can also get exclusive merch and also pre-order the Vodka!

More new KORPIKLAANI singles:
‘Jägermeister’ OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOmC-cLPYsU
‘Land Of A Thousand Drinks’ OFFICIAL LYRIC VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fSRhS-UYCo

Check out their performance at Masters of Rock 2014: youtu.be/qfGDrPNZLuk
Check out their performance on Masters Of Rock 2016: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2xqelmO-Jo

Order »Kulkija« and more, here: www.nuclearblast.de/suche/korpiklaani

Check out their various versions of ‘Beer Beer’:
‘Beer Beer’ [feat. Christopher Bowes | ALESTORM]: https://youtu.be/gIbKSxD5pmQ
‘Kaljaa’ [feat. Vesku Jokinen | KLAMYDIA]: https://youtu.be/w94bc2xdIw4
‘Øl Øl’ [feat. TROLLFEST]: https://youtu.be/9ghS5ITdT8c
‘Bier Bier’ [feat. Gerre | TANKARD ]: https://youtu.be/r-S4XNOwr_Y
‘Bír Bír’ [feat. FLERET]: https://youtu.be/rUgN5C_7gsM
‘Pivo Pivo’ [Meri Tadic | IRIJ]: https://youtu.be/c7WfANuCCAk
‘Beer Kill Kill’ [feat. Steve ‘Zetro’ Souza | EXODUS]:https://youtu.be/8Hp-e2LqHTs
‘Birra Birra’ [feat. Emilio Souto | SKILTRON]: https://youtu.be/0dAVmyq717I
‘Pivo Pivo’ [feat. Milan I ACHSAR]: https://youtu.be/fNYpLR2Ep6I
‘Bier Bier’ [feat. Lars Vogel | HEIDEVOLK]: https://youtu.be/hEmrCobW0b4

More on »Kulkija«:
‘Kotikonnut’ OFFICIAL LYRIC VIDEO: https://youtu.be/bh4qirl96uU
‘Harmaja’ OFFICIAL VIDEO: https://youtu.be/VVntXX7ovs0
‘Henkselipoika’ OFFICIAL VIDEO: https://youtu.be/wYVPHcT1CsA
‘Aallon alla’ OFFICIAL LYRIC VIDEO: https://youtu.be/iQC8mGzr6Xs
‘Kuin korpi nukkuva’ OFFICIAL LYRIC VIDEO: https://youtu.be/Gw9FGM62iQI

KORPIKLAANI Launch Own Vodka And Announce Live Stream For August 29th

Posted by tarjavirmakari on July 31, 2020
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment
Korpiklaani 2019 Photo: Jani Mahkonen / LOMA GRAPHICS

With over 100 million streams and views of ‘Vodka’ racked up, making this arguably the most popular song about ‘Vodka’, it comes as no surprise that KORPIKLAANI are launching their own unique Finnish Spruce flavoured Craft Vodka. They’ll be collaborating with one of Finland’s largest independent Breweries and Distilleries, Pyynikin who also produced the KORPIKLAANI Lager. 

KORPIKLAANI Vodka is a premium grain based vodka from the land of a thousand lakes. Distilled, handpicked spruce, together with the purest water in the world, form a product with a unique forest aroma and perfect smoothness. No other word would describe it better: refreshing.

Credits: Markus Lehto/Fotoni

Samuli Peltonummi, the head distiller of Pyynikin Distilling Company is excited and proud of being able to distill KORPIKLAANI Vodka into an actual vodka. In his opinion, spruce gives powerful and authentic Finnish flavour that fits well with KORPIKLAANI‘s music and spirit. 

To celebrate, KORPIKLAANI will fulfil everyone’s dream of having a “piss up in a brewery” and will perform live from inside the brewery on Saturday, August, 29th at 20.00 CEST.

Bringing along with them a full production, stage, lights and LED screens all built in front of the Beer tanks, this will be the event of the year. The livestream will stay available on the website for an unlimited time, so you can even watch a year later!

Today, the band releases a trailer for the live stream spicing up the waiting time until late August:

Tickets can bought from their new website, www.korpiklaani.live where you can also get exclusive merch and also pre-order the Vodka!