last edited: 17.7.97
MARI KAASINEN - voice
KIRSI KÄHKÖNEN - voice
SIRPA REIMAN - voice
RIITTA KOSSI - accordion
ANTTO VARILO - guitars
PEKKA LEHTI - basses
KARI REIMAN - fiddle, kantele
JANNE LAPPALAINEN - bouzouki, wind instruments
MARKO TIMONEN - drums, percussion
Värttinä was born in 1983 in the village of Rääkkylä, in Karelia, the southeastern region of Finland, as the project of singers and kantele players Sari and Mari Kaasinen. Actually, it was their mother who initiated the whole affair, encouraging her singing daughters to organise, perform and work to keep Karelian musical tradition alive. The concept and goal of Värttinä soon became clear: to explore and revive Karelian / Finno-Ugric musical tradition and to discover new, more exciting ways of arranging and performing. Since that time, the ever evolving group have succeeded not only in reaching the deepest roots of their Karelian culture but have simultaneously exposed this, in massive proportions, to people all over Finland and have attracted enthusiastic audiences all over the world.
The original Värttinä line-up was a rather sizeable group, featuring the distinctive sound of fifteen young girls singing and playing kantele (the Finnish national instrument), plus six young men accompanying them with acoustic guitar, double bass, fiddle, accordion, saxophone, tin whistle and flute. Two recordings were published during this period: Värttinä (1987) and Musta Lindu (1989).
It was 1990 when things took a dramatic turn: several of the maturing young singers and players moved onto other interests and the core members suddenly found themselves in a state of limbo. Not knowing how to proceed, it was unsure if the group would even continue. This period of uncertainly was short lived, however, as destiny provided a new course of action. Some of Finland's top players in the acoustic, folk, roots and rock field, after having been sufficiently inspired by the group's innovative approach (and seduced by their charms!), made their interest known. The feelings between parties were mutual, to say the least, and almost instantaneously, a new Värttinä was born.
Enter Värttinä phase two and a startling new direction: five effervescent young ladies bursting with vocal energy, fueled by a powerhouse acoustic band. The group's repertoire diversified even further into Finno-Ugric territory, borrowing tunes and ideas from women's singing traditions of Setuland, Mariland, Ingria and more obscure areas. Equally as important, if not moreso, was the emergence of original compositions from group members, providing new dimensions to the band's character and clearly showing that Värttinä had risen to a new level of sophistication. In performance, the focus shifted to a more "rock/pop" attack, presenting Finno-Ugric musical tradition in ways never before attempted. The girls' voices had matured, strengthened and were pushed right to the forefront of the group's sound, while the band provided elements of acoustic traditions from all over the world. The change was dramatic, the results astonishing and national media suddenly took notice.
In 1991 the new Värttinä released the groundbreaking Oi Dai album to a curious yet largely unsuspecting Finnish public. Boosted by the single 'Marilaulu' and spurred by fanatic press, Oi Dai became an instant smash hit, qualifying as a gold record and propelling Värttinä to the status of household name. Oi Dai, comprising half trad and half original material, with all original arrangements, was simply the biggest folk music phenomenon in twenty years, selling a staggering 45000 copies in Finland, a country with a population of only 5 million inhabitants. One reason for this staggering success was the lyrical content of several Värttinä songs, which displayed uninhibited freedom of expression in topics and sentiments about love, sex and the everyday lives of girls and women in traditional Finno-Ugric societies. It was nothing less than a sensation and the Finnish public devoured it. Almost overnight, Finnish rock music crowds caught the buzz and Värttinä hit that circuit, playing rock clubs and festivals extensively, expanding their fan base to unprecedented proportions.
It didn't take long for word to leak abroad. From 1991 - 1992, Värttinä performed extensively throughout Europe, including the Belfast Folk Festival (plus gigs and live television in Dublin), WOMAD Reading in UK, Tender is the North Festival in London, Falun Festival Sweden, Dranouter Festival Belgium and BID Music Convention Berlin. Värttinä suddenly became the talk of the European "world music" community.
In the end of 1992, more changes: exit one singer (down to four now), and enter new guitarist, followed by rehearsals, recording and the of release their fourth album, Seleniko, produced by Hijaz Mustapha. More original material this time, significantly better production and a more confident, adventurous approach, gained the album and the group spontaneous praise, at home and abroad. Response was, in fact, overwhelming as Seleniko immediately entered the European World Music radio charts at the Number One position and remained there for three straight months. A single was issued in Finland, 'Kylä Vuotti Uutta Kuuta', ("The Village Awaits the New Moon") and Värttinä finished up the year touring steadily at home.
1993 began with even more Finnish tours, then in March, Värttinä hit US shores for the first time as a showcase headliner at the SXSW Music & Media Convention in Austin, Texas, coinciding with the US release of Seleniko on Green Linnet's new Xenophile label. Seleniko was then licensed to Music & Words, Holland, and Värttinä, with new bassist, embarked on a Benelux tour, performing for folk, world music and rock audiences. European concert demands continued as Värttinä were invited to numerous festivals, including Rudolfstadt in Germany, Skagen in Denmark, Telemark in Norway, Glastonbury in England and Fribourg in Switzerland. Värttinä also filmed and released their first video, 'Pihi Neito', a track from the Seleniko album.
Meanwhile, US response to Seleniko was extremely positive and Värttinä, with new guitarist, took to the road in November, for a three week US tour, selling out eight concerts, igniting audiences and media at every turn. Simultaneously, Oi Dai was released in USA on Xenophile. Värttinä returned home with piles of rave reviews of the tour.
Värttinä eased into 1994 with a much needed rest period. Sari Kaasinen gave birth to her first baby, a girl, while band members re-energized and began work on the next album. Now in the strongest line-up of their career, Värttinä found new inspiration, direction and ideas for what promised to be their most ambitious work to date. The new material was unveiled at the Kihaus Festival in Rääkkylä, then again at dates in Belgium and an appearance at Molde Jazz Festival in Norway.
In September '94,Värttinä recruited one of Finland's most versatile and talented drummers and entered Finnvox studios, Helsinki, to record their fifth album. At the controls, two of Finland's most respected and imaginative names in sound. The new album Aitara was released in November on the MIPU Music label of Finland featuring the single, "Tumala"/"Travuska". Once again, critics responded favourably to the new, more contemporary direction of the group which features powerful rhythms, mostly original compositions from seven band members and, of course, those thrillingly distinctive vocal harmonies.
More activity to finish off 1994: Värttinä performed live on European television with Baaba Maal and Angelique Kidjo in MTV's anti-racism video competition PRIZE OF EUROPE. Aitara entered the World Music Charts Europe at number 5 and is picked "Album of the Week" at Multi Kulti radio, Berlin.
1995 kicked off with a Xenophile release of Aitara (for North America, Europe except Benelux, rest of world except Japan, Sweden, Norway) and a Benelux release by Music & Words. The band also began filming the new video, 'Yötulet' (Night Fires). Simultaneously, Sony released Hector Zazou's Songs from the Cold Seas, featuring the Värttinä singers on the opening track "Annukka Suaren Neito".
Värttinä returned to USA in February '95 for their second tour. This tour was beset with a few minor difficulties: singer Sari Kaasinen became ill and had to return to Finland after only six concerts, Riitta Potinoja's accordion was stolen in San Francisco and several of the band members came down with the flu. But these problems did not hold back the group for one moment, though, as they went on to finish the tour with flying colours, selling out concerts in New York, Washington DC, Los Angeles and Minneapolis. Once again, the press was ecstatic and Värttinä came home winners. They immediately headed for Sweden for a full two week tour, followed by a performance at Vienna Festival's "Out of the Cool" Nordic music event. Summer of '95 finished with tours of Benelux and Spain, Finnish Festival performances in Rääkkylä and Kaustinen and a packed house at the WOMAD, Helsinki event in August.
Late breaking news: Aitara was released in Japan by King Records in August. Plans are now underway for appearances in Japan in September 1996.
November 1995: Värttinä singers spend a day in Finnvox studios in Helsinki with Scottish singer Maggie Reilly, recording backing tracks for her forthcoming EMI album.
For the year's end, it's another long period at home, as Sari and Sirpa tend to their newborn babies (Sari's second, Sirpa's first), both born in October. Band members are now collecting material, composing, preparing and rehearsing for 1996, which will start off with a performance at MIDEM in January and the recording of a new album in April. Summer 1996 plans include concerts and tours in Benelux, England and North America.
Aitara is voted "World Music Album of the Year" by CD Review Magazine, USA.
1996: First gig of the year (and after babies) was a slot at MIDEM, in Cannes, sharing the bill with Dadawa (China) and I Muvrini (Corsica). Back to Helsinki with short set at a special tribute concert for Finnish rock legend Hector at the famed Tavastia Club. Värttinä performed to a packed house their own arrangements of two of Hector's songs. The event was televised and released on a CD by EMI Finland, including one of the Värttinä pieces.
March: Success in Oporto, Portugal as Värttinä sells out a 1000 seat hall at the Festival Interceltico. All aisles were jammed as Värttinä shook the house and led the audience to a roaring climax.
April: Värttinä enters Finnvox studios in Helsinki to record their new album. Producer: the fabulous Janne Haavisto! Tentative release planned for late 1996.
May 3 - 12: Värttinä tour of Benelux was a hit, particularly in Belgium, where audiences were singing along gleefully! Members of Dutch band The Nits were in attendance at the show in Den Haag. There is now talk of some kind of on-stage collaboration with The Nits in August. Stay tuned.
May 9 marked the signing of a worldwide recording deal with Nonesuch Records. Nonesuch is home to such respected modern classical artists such as Philip Glass, John Adams, Henryk Mikolaj Gorecki and Kronos Quartet. Nonesuch is also one of America's top "world music" labels with Cesaria Evora and Gypsy Kings riding the charts. Värttinä 's new album, the first for Nonesuch, is due October 1.
May 25: Värttinä's Aitara album is voted "Best Contemporary World Music Album" at the NAIRD (National Association of Independent Record Distributors) convention in USA.
June: Värttinä and Leningrad Cowboys share the bill for two sold out shows at the Queen Elisabeth Hall in London. Band members interviewed live on the BBC radio program Kaleidoscope.
July - August 1996: An opening slot with Björk at Pori Jazz Festival in Finland and the summer mini-tour of North America. This tour was supposed to feature an appearance at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia on July 29, but due to the bombing, the show was cancelled. Värttinä opens for Joan Armatrading at the Edmonton Folk Festival, with an audience of 10000 people.
August: Värttinä participates in the WDR Folk Festival in Bonn, broadcast live on WDR and taped for future TV broadcast. Onward to the Lowlands Festival in Holland for a rousing set that had the crowd dancing throughout the entire show.
October: North American and Finnish release of new album Kokko on Nonesuch.
November: Kokko is released in Sweden, France, Holland, Belgium, Spain and Portugal.
January 1997: Kokko entered the European World Music Radio Charts at Number Two. Kokko is named "CD of the Month" by Lift Music Magazine in Germany and "Album of the Month"by Stereo Review magazine of USA. Kokko reaches Number Two position on the U.S. CMJ (College Media Journal) World Music radio charts. Kokko is released throughout the rest of the world except England. Sari Kaasinen leaves group.
Värttinä performs to nearly full house at Fasching club in Stockholm. Swedish Radio and Swedish TV recorded the performance for later broadcast.
February 1997: Kokko is released in other worldwide territories. Single "Tuulilta Tuleva" / "Kokko" / "Night Fires" is released commercially in Australia.
February - March: The group embarked on their first German tour, including dates in Holland and Belgium. Response was very positive all around and there are plans for a quick return. Stay tuned!
April: Värttinä finished their fourth US mini-tour, including a packed house at St. Ann's Cathedral in Brooklyn.
Värttinä completed their first tour of Australia in June, including a sold out show at the Brisbane Biennial festival and two national television programs. The climax of the tour was a packed house at Club Quattro in Tokyo on June 10, without a doubt one of the best gigs in the band's career. Värttinä loves Japan!
The band recently returned from Budapest and a headline performance at the A Zene Unnepe Festival, also featuring Muzsikas, Master Musicians of Joujouka and Anitas Livs.
Up next is Voix Festival in Lörrach, Germany, Dranouter Festival in Belgium, plus La Mar de Musicas and Pirineos Sur festivals in Spain, followed by a Galician tour.
Related
CONTACTS
Phillip Page, Hoedown, Laivurinrinne 2, 00120 Helsinki, Finland, ph: 358 9 6224804, fax: 358 9 628950, e-mail: pap@dighoe.pp.fi; http://personal.eunet.fi/pp/dighoe/
For an insightful and accurate story of Värttinä, written by Steve Winick (in 1994) and printed in Dirty Linen magazine, check this space.
Finally, one important link: for those of you contemplating a trip to Finland, with the idea of catching Värttinä live on their own turf (or any other Finnish band, for that matter), check out the Finnair website for flight schedules, fares, reservations, etc.