The Finnish Christmas project Raskasta Joulua (Heavy Christmas) celebrates this year the tenth anniversary with the release of Ragnarok Juletide, For the first time in english, the songs embrace various genres, from power metal to symphonic and doom. Ragnarok Juletide is available since November 11th via Spinefarm Records.
LFdM: Hello Marco, how are you? First of all I want to thank you for this interview. Through our blog we try to give "voice" to a wide range of music genres , and it's a great pleasure to talk about great artists, like the ones behind Ragnarok Juletide.
Ok, let's start!
First of all I'd like to know when and how the idea of this project was born. Who, among you all, had the idea to start this project at first? And why Christmas carols ?
M: The whole project has a bit of a history, here in Finland this year we have the tenth anniversary so we celebrate on tour, the first show is tomorrow. It all started when Erkka, our guitar player, and the Captain, had the idea to do heavy metal versions of some Christmas songs, but in a serious way, rearranging them all in a symphonic heavy metal way, and asked some vocalists to work with him. I was one of those. And then there was one show in Finland that year, next year three shows. It was an escalation, till now that we are actually doing five weeks of tour with fully booked concert halls. It all started by accident, we never expected this to become this big here. The music was serious but the idea was funny, humourous, at first. Now we actually had the idea to do an English album and see where all the thing would go.
LFdM: Over the years many artists joined the group and among the latest additions we can find the wonderful voices of Elize Ryd and Antti Railio. Why did you choose them?
M: It wasn't really that much of my choice, Erkka contacted all the vocalists. Finland is a rather small country and within this genre we all pretty much know each other. We met in tour quite a lot, Elyze also fits the group perfectly.
LFdM: What I like the most in this project is that you can breath the Christmas' athmosphere in every song, even if each one of them has been rearranged and modernized. In the past few years I loved the magic of all your songs in Finnish, even if I don't know your language. Can you tell us what circumstances led you to decide to sing in English this year ?
M: Well, to do the English versions of course we had a few goals. The main one is that we wanted to see if this whole thing could be transferred also to people of other Countries. Also we wanted to have the original Finnish songs in order to bring the Nordic vibe to other people and make translations, I've made a few myself, to make the translation as faithful enough to reflect the mood of the story, and transfer it with as much respect as possible. I hope we managed to do that.
Even if the whole idea was weird and humorous, when it comes to music you don't make music for a joke, you make it to the full.
LFdM: During this month you'll tour Finland with Ragnarok Juletide. Is there any possibility to see you performing in other European Countries, as a Christmas gift for all your fans?
M: Not now, it's been on the table if there would be a chance to do some showcase outside of Finland, but the time became a bit too short, but if the albums goes well enough, we may try to do it next year. It is something we would really like to do.
LFdM: What do you think about Christmas? Is it something you feel or is just a commercial trend nowadays?
M:Well, to me it's basically a very good reason to shut down yourself, your computer, close the doors and stay with your clan, your own family, eating good food and relax and talk about all kind of things. It's a kind of traditional family Christmas kind of thinking. I'm not very religious, so I don't really do that much for me in that sense. I know many of the songs have this meaning too, but it's more like a historical and nostalgic value in winter times and that's how I feel Christmas. I come from a family where I had always special Christmas times, so I'm trying to provide the same for my boys as well.
LFdM: Is there any song that reminds you of the Christmas time of your childhood?
M:There is a song that is on the album, Sylvia's song which I did the translation for. The character of this song is exiled and he kind of transferred his feelings of being imprisoned outside of his home, in a cage like a little bird. I have to travel a lot around the world and stay away from home, so I can relate to that. And I'm a homeboy in that way, you know, the black Northern skyes full of stars, I'm a romantic in that way.
LFdM: Ok last question: What does it mean for Marco Hietala to be a part of this project? I mean, you are a great artist, you've been making music for 20 years or more, so what drives you to take part in projects like this? Is it something that increases your creative process or is it just a way to have fun with music and friends?
M: Making music is a call, is a very important part of my spirit and backbone, and in that way I really enjoy when I'm around with some good people, musicians and good friends of mine. During these years we've been doing Christmas project we've become really good mates. Making music is the best thing for me in life, well, at least one of the best things. Is the same with Nightwish.
LFdM: Thanks a lot for your time, it's like Christmas has come earlier, here in Milan.
If you'll feel like to, come visit us at lesfleursdumalblog.
(Interview by Dora, transcript by Alessia, editing by Margherita)
Track List:
1. "We Celebrate at Christmastime"
2. "The First Noel"
3. "Here on the Hay"
4. "Little Drummer Boy"
5. "The Elf"
6. "Christmas Is Here"
7. "Sylvia's Song"
8. "White Christmas"
9. "Home for Christmas"
10. "A Sparrow on a Christmas Morning"
11. "Christmas Has Come"
12. "Ave Maria"
Singers:
Elize Ryd
Marco Hietala
J.P. Leppäluoto
Tony Kakko
Jarkko Ahola
Ari Koivunen
Pasi Rantanen
Antti Railio
Ville Tuomi
Antony Parviainen
Tuple Salmela
Kimmo Blom
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