Just recently, Metalheads Forever interviewed Finnish violinist, composer, ethnomusicologist TUOMAS ROUNAKARI, talking about Bear Awakener production and concept, Khanty and Mansi Tribe, and how was his journey to find the ancient tribes and mans relationship towards nature!

Watch the video interview here:

Metalheads Forever wrote:
“Tuomas is a one-man-band blending violin, vocals and stomping with ankle-bells. In his performance he enters various trance-states. He is inspired by different forms of dialogue; man and nature, the seen and the unseen world, ancient and future. His first solo album Shamanviolin was a result of ethnomusicological studies of the earliest 20th century wax-cylinder recordings from Siberia. These studies have also led to many collaborations with indigenous artists. He is one of the few artists who have actually returned their art to native communities for evaluation and development.”

Read the whole article at this location.

On April 14th, TUOMAS ROUNAKARI released his new album “Bear Awakener”, available now at https://rounakari.bandcamp.com! The release party was held on May 8th at Uusi Paviljonki, Kauniainen – Finland. All the contributions were donated for the benefit of Ukrainian Mothers 🇺🇦

While Tuomas was playing, happened something what is considered impossible…

Tuomas shared:
“This moment from the record release show keeps amazing me. I’ve never even heard of a bow breaking like this! It should not be possible to break’em by simply playing.
Anyways.. very grateful for this evening! Playing Bear Awakener live for the very first time. Just once in a lifetime! Ending on standing ovations✨”

Watch what happened at https://fb.watch/dvjmwxotVa/

More about “Bear Awakener” album:

Awakening the Bear is a symbol of succumbing to the greater forces of existence. Awakening a new energy while being more connected to the ancient. And first and foremost – opening to a dialogue with mythical entities and re-creating harmonious and long lasting relationships with our surroundings, including human and non-human beings, seen and unseen worlds.

The songs in this album are formed by Khanty, Mansi, Carelian and Finnish ancestors. They carry a resonance of those before us who were better equipped to collaborate with nature in a sustainable and self-sufficient way. Such songs have always been Tuomas’ best teachers.

“This is music that gods are listening to” said Pekko Käppi after having listened through the freshly finished mastered tracks.

The album coverart was created by Karolina Pärnänen.

“Bear Awakener” tracklisting:

1. First Morning
2. In the Land of the Bear
3. Man with a Bear’s Snout
4. Second Morning
5. Song of a Small Goose
6. Origin of the Bear
7. Third Morning
8. Bear Clan Girl
9. Man-observing-the-world
10. Roopeska’s Bear Hunt
11. Last Morning – Departure
    Running Time: 42,10 min.

“Bear Awakener” was recorded, mixed and mastered at the Verde Studio with the gear-wizard Mika Rintala. None of his modular synthesizers were used. All of the equipment used in recording was built by Mika – microphones, pre-amps, EQ and even the mixing console and electrostatic monitors.

TUOMAS ROUNAKARI is an internationally acclaimed violinist, composer and ethnomusicologist from Finland. He is a one-man-band blending violin, vocals and stomping with ankle-bells. In his performance he enters various trance-states. In this album he will also be playing a traditional Khanty instrument called Ning-juh.

Tuomas is inspired by different forms of dialogue; man and nature, the seen and the unseen world, ancient and future. His first solo album Shamanviolin was a result of ethnomusicological studies of the earliest 20th century wax-cylinder recordings from Siberia. These studies have also led to many collaborations with indigenous artists. He is one of the few artists who have actually returned their art to native communities for evaluation and development.

Enjoy online concert from Kaustinen Folk Music Festival 2020. Shamanviolin at Pauanne is a full-length online concert produced by the Kaustinen Folk Music Festival 2020. The concert was filmed at the magical Pauanne where a community of folk musicians and folk healers used to live in the 1980’s. All buildings are fully hand made with many mythological decorations. This Shamanviolin concert ends with lament melodies in a burnt down sauna. The magic and unique beauty of this place is still strong. A perfect environment for my music.

Watch here and sign up to his newsletter at https://rounakari.com/watch-full-video-for-free/

Also watch
-Tuomas’ performance video, a throwback to Tokyo 2017, from the materials of ‘Live in Japan’ documentary by Kimmo Kuusniemi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g718diJlW1s
-‘Farewell of Kamas People’ – https://youtu.be/oV16Qipd0MQ
-‘Langetus’ – https://youtu.be/HVsU7PTqqHY

More information at
TUOMAS ROUNAKARI: http://www.rounakari.com | http://www.facebook.com/shamanviolin
Web store: https://rounakari.bandcamp.com
Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCliVnARlDv2Y3ykBo_YFlRA
MANAGEMENT: https://www.facebook.com/SplitScreenManagement | http://www.splitscreenproduction.com