1. So at first can you introduce yourself (age, hobbies, work).

I`m 39 years old, working as an instructor/practical nurse with schitzophrenic, mentally retarded persons etc. I have hobbies, like reading, collecting records etc.,and more way-of-life – things are lifting weights, playing/recording music and the searching of my roots.

2. When and why came decission to start doing music and record it by yourself...?

I started doing music back in the late 80`s. Did my first demos in the early 90`s. A few years back I bought more equipment, so I could record it by myself. Before that, I had to use other studios etc.

3. You were involved into many musical projects including some metal stuff...can you tell us something more about your musical story??

Morningstar was the main band for years; it all started in the late 1989 under the a different name, then we changed the name again into ”Thor`s Hammer”) and finally into ”Morningstar” in 1991. We made many demos, albums etc. We started as a primitive ”Venom meets Bathory” -combo and after years, we went into more ”True Metal” -direction, the last 3 albums ”Weight of the Hammer”, ”Kalevala Mysticism” and ”Finnish Metal” were the peak. I also had another project called ”Minotauri”, which played heavier Doom Metal. We did lotsa recordings (vinyl, albums) and the band was very unique if compared to other bands of the genre; anti-drug, Northern vibe, no sorry-attitude..We split up at the same time as Morningstar; in 2006. Then there was Heathen Hoof; which was/is like the most NWOBHM-sounding band from Finland. A local project with great musicians.We made a few albums too. Jani (Kareliaani – guitar) plays in Heathen Hoof too.

4. At first I hear about you from Kalevalan Viikingit, then Kareliaani, then Skinboiss, Ironbird and Arska & Hakkapeliitat. Can you tell us why did you do so many projects under different names? It doesn´t worth to unite it under one band/project?

They`re all a bit different musical projects, so I can`t mix `em up. Kareliaani has some Arska & Hakkapeliitat -songs in their live-set. Kalevalan Viikingit lost it`s bass player after the ”Hail Norden” 12”, so we never kinda recovered from it & could not found a new bassist. We did a few Ep`s, but felt like this is it now. Skinboiss was just a beer-drinking project with Dan, which kinda grew more than we expected. The purpose was just to get drunk & play Oi!. Never anything serious. IRONBIRD started already in the late 90`s, from the ashes of another studio project. When I got the recorder, I just wanted to record something and the album was the result of this. Arska & Hakkapeliitat is my solo, I wanted to use a bit more synths and could do it here.


5. You record all stuff except drums and I think that only Kalevalan Viikingit was playing live...is it true and do you expect any changes in this fact (like playing live with your different projects)?

Kalevalan Viikingit was a band during the ”Pohjolan Korkeajännitys”and ”Hail Norden” and we played live only about 4 times or so; 2 private parties, once in Kuggnäs (2010) and once in a pub. Kareliaani has played live once; last summer in Kuggnäs. It`s hard to find a line-up; harder than anything else.

6. Can you describe the topics of the songs of each mentioned project and also musical differences?...I think that Arska & Hakkapeliitat are more into Finnish folclore, Kareliaani are more patriotic, Skinboiss are more into streetlife, Kalevalan Viikingit are more into viking rock, Ironbird is about...??

Actually the lyrical content is allmost the same in my projects, except on Skinboiss, which is just the usual Oi!-bullshit. Kalevalan Viikingit mixed Oi! and Viking Rock, trad/surf Rock, Kareliaani is more Viking Rock & Patriot Rock -kinda band, Arska & Hakkapeliitat has more Metal in it. IRONBIRD has some Viking era- Bathory, Falkenbach, Isengard – type of things in it.

7. From the title of your project I suppose you come from Karelia area...is it true..?

No, I come from central Finland. Kareliaani means ”being a Karelianist”; a national romantic, etnographic Karelia-hobby; that many artists, painters, musicians, writers, photographers had especially in the 1890`s. Karelia was seen as a base of Finnish culture. It was also influenced by the New Romantic movement of that era. The most famous Karelianists were Akseli Gallen-Kallela, Louis Sparre, Eero Järnefelt, Pekka Halonen, Albert Edelfelt, Eino Leino and Juhani Aho. Arska & Hakkapeliitat is lyrically also inspired by the Forest Finns – phenomenon. As for being from central Finland; I`m more likely ”Hämäläinen” (it`s all about tribes in Finland).

8. You played live with Kalevalan Viikingit on Kuggnas Festivalen...do you like it? And is there any difference between scene in Sweden and in Finland?


Kuggnäs was nice, I really like the place. Scenes? There are no Viking Rock – scene in Finland. Just our Hakkapeliitta Rockers Crew; the Viking Rock enthusiatics around me.

9. You have cooperated with many labels such as WAR, Shout Proud, 4Subculture Records, Olifant, Hostile Class, Southerner, etc...can you tell us more about the cooperation, how you like it?

I want to thank all the labels who have released my music. There`s not much telling about the co-operations, I won`t bore you about it.

10. You have also your own record label Hakkapeliitat Records...can you tell us more?

It`s just for getting my stuff out, mostly via co-releasing with another labels. I like the idea; I`ve worked with WAR, Dim Records, VainoValkeat Prod., and soon with VikingaRock France Records. So, not a real record label, or anything like that.

11. Where can we order your stuff and do you have some t-shirts?

In Finland, the big Record Store -chain/mailorder ”Record Store Äx” distributes my stuff – they`ll ship world wide too. You can find my stuff from 4Uvinyl, Dim Records, Spirit of Ancestors Prod., Vikinga Rock France etc. - and you can always ask me.

12. Do you know anything about Czech republic?

Probably some beers hah hah. I have read some history of your country.

13. Plans for the future...

I have plans to play live with Kareliaani this spring/early summer. We do not play live often, due the drummer`s other musical activities. There`s a new Kareliaani CD coming on Hakkapeliitta Records, titled ”Pagan Europe”. The new Arska & Hakkapeliitat Lp ”Taisteluun!” will be out around the same time too, on Hakkapeliitta Records & VikingaRock France Records. I may record something new soon too – I`m recording all the time.

14. Last words...

Thank you very much. Everybody into Viking Rock; please check out the Finnish version of the style; Hakkapeliitta Rock.