SOURCE – With the new album, are you happy with the reaction it’s been received so far? Everything I’ve seen is rightfully positive!
Tomi Koivusaari (Guitars) – I’m really happy how it was received, as I didn’t have any expectations. It is not that easy album as there are so many different kinda songs comparing each others, so there isn’t certain style with all the songs. I’m thinking it more like soundtrack kinda album, with different scenes. But I’m really happy that it received such a great response.
SOURCE – The album mixes up a lot of different sounds from metal and prog to more melodic material, did you want to show all different facets of the music of Bjorko?
Tomi Koivusaari (Guitars) – I started the project without any musical limitations, I was thinking that I’ll work one song at the time and not trying to make them be the same genre or whatsoever. As my musical taste is very wide I didn’t have any genre-limitations for this project, just going with the flow. It wasn’t purpose that it will have that wide range either, but more like I didn’t want anything to limit what I do. This kind of solo-project where you have different guest-singers it is also easier to focus one song at the time and not even try to make them sound like basic band-album.
SOURCE – What would you say was the main difference between a Amorphis and a Bjorko record?
Tomi Koivusaari (Guitars) – With Amorphis we of course have certain kinda own style, which has been refined for 34 years. Even though we are always open to new ideas and approaches. And of course it is sum, some way compromise as well, of 6 guys. With Bjørkø I didn’t have to make any compromises, just doing it my way. Basically I am definitely band oriented player and person and that is what I enjoy the most, but this project was fun and educating because I was in charge with every decisions. I didn’t want to take any pressures about anything with Bjørkø-album, I financed it by myself from start to finish and at that point I started to search the right label to release it, so nobody was breathing to my neck with this, hah. Svart Records was taking the lead after the whole album was already mixed and mastered. Svart was great label to collaborate.
SOURCE – With the guest appearances on Heartrot. How was it working with those guys and did you always plan to have them featured on the songs they did?
Tomi Koivusaari (Guitars) – While I was working with each songs, I started to hear who would be the singer who would fit to the song. You know language, register of voice, style… so I had these ideas so next step was that I contacted those singers and asked if they were interested to join this project. Everyone I asked said yes which was great! Well one had very busy moment so I had 2nd choice but that turned out really good. Half of the guests make own lyrics for their song and almost every singer did arrangements of their own, so their input was priceless. I knew beforehand almost every guests I asked, so it was easier to contact them.
SOURCE – How do you think of your songs when you create them? Do you write on your own, or collaboratively with the other guys? Do they help with arrangements?
Tomi Koivusaari (Guitars) – Musically I made every song ready at first by myself. Then we recorded it in Sonic Pump Studios again with the band (Waltteri Väyrynen, Lauri Porra, Janne Lounatvuori) based on what I demoed but every musician had their own ideas as well for their instrument-arrangements as well. Nino Laurenne was producing and recording. After that I send the songs for each singers and for half of the songs I had lyrics ready (written by Jussi Ahlroth, my old friend and band mate from Abhorrence) and half of the singers wanted to make their own lyrics and arrangements, which was perfectly fine with me. I know lot of singers prefer to write their own lyrics for what they are singing. So even though it is my solo-album, the collaboration with guests and the band was what made this album how it is.
SOURCE – How inspiring is it to be to be constantly creating such forward thinking music with your solo work so far into your career?
Tomi Koivusaari (Guitars) – It’s always inspiring to make music without any limitations. Especially during the Covid time when we had to cancel with Amorphis more that 100 gigs there was so much free time suddenly. So to me this project was definitely inspiring and kept me in working and creating mode and kinda save me from bigger agony at those depressing times.
SOURCE – Are there any plans for you playing live in support of Heartrot when possible?
Tomi Koivusaari (Guitars) – In theory it could be possible but in practice it would be very difficult to get all the artist same time to same place some day. Maybe with little bit different line-up, why not. I don’t have any plans for live shows but it would be fun to do at least 1 show someday. Never say never.
SOURCE – What have been some of the proudest moments from your time in Bjorko so far?
Tomi Koivusaari (Guitars) – I guess I’m very happy that I managed to take this album to finish and got to released it. Also some of the singers have been the ones I’ve looked up to since I was just a kid, and when they joined this that made me even more happy. Thank you for this interview!
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