This recording is the 24th in a new multi-episode project by Casey Driessen titled - OTHERLANDS: A Global Music Exploration.
LOCATION: Härmä, Finland
DATE: Apr. 17, 2020
CREDITS
Song: Jos sä olet minun hellunani (Traditional)
Music Arranged by: Casey Driessen, Maija Pokela, Antti Järvelä
Voice & Kantele: Maija Pokela
Guitar: Antti Järvelä
Fiddle, Audio & Video: Casey Driessen
Additional Music: Spoof #2 (Traditional)
EQUIPMENT
The following Shure microphones were used in the making of this collaboration. If you’re interested in learning more and/or purchasing one, please use the links below. This helps to support the music I make. Thank you.
Shure KSM44 [large diaphragm condenser] (amzn.to/2OMSAR9)
Shure MV88+ [stereo video mic] (amzn.to/3bftnZ5)
Shure A75M [universal mic mount] (amzn.to/2tzylyR)
Shure A53M [shock stopper] (amzn.to/2Ox3hqx)
ABOUT THE COLLABORATION
Antti and I met many years ago up at the Shetland Folk Festival in Scotland. A few years later, he helped arrange my first solo tour in Finland, which is when I was introduced to Maija. We had plans to play a concert shortly after arriving this trip, but we scrapped it for Covid-19 safety. The three of us had already been sending recordings to each other in preparation, so the seeds were planted for a get together when things felt safer.
To learn more about Maija and Antti's musical projects, please visit:
• Instagram: / maijapokela
• Facebook: / maijapokelamusic , / orivesiallstars
• Website: www.maijapokela.com, www.orivesiallstars.fi
A couple weeks later, I was fishtailing on sloppy snowmelt back logging roads, headed to their home in a small community called Härmä. After sharing a home-cooked lunch, I asked about playing one of the songs from our canceled gig, "Jos sä olet minun hellunani," or as I called it, the "One in the key of E." Maija explained that it was a traditional song from the Kauhava, Finland region, where we were located. It's in polska rhythm, and the title translates to “If You Would Be My Sweetheart.” There are three verses, one each for summer, fall, and winter in which the narrator promises to make a nest, a silk hat, and a silver bottle for their love. Spring isn't mentioned in the lyrics, but it's springtime while we play, so in a way, we had all four seasons covered.
Additional images in the video are from my countryside explorations between Kaustinen, where my family was staying, and Härmä, where Antti and Maija call home.
If you’d like to read more about our collaboration and day together, please visit:
www.caseydriessen.com/blog/lov...
~~~
To follow along the OTHERLANDS project, please visit:
OTHERLANDS Webpage (www.CaseyDriessen.com/Otherlands)
Instagram ( / caseydriessen ,
Facebook ( / caseydriessen ,
or this KZread channel.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
OTHERLANDS: A Global Music Exploration follows GRAMMY-nominated 5-string American fiddler Casey Driessen as he travels with his family to various countries across the globe to meet with local acoustic-based musicians with roots in their own traditions. Musical exchanges and travels are documented via audio, video and photography elements with collected materials released over the course of the project via his website and social media outlets and official musical releases likely to come at the end of travels.
OTHERLANDS is an independently designed and produced project that is self-contained with a small collection of audio and video equipment. All engineering and recording, including any post-production, can be set up, operated, and completed by Casey wherever on the globe he happens to be.
For more information and to follow the project, please visit - www.CaseyDriessen.com/Otherlands