
Interview // 2023-06-29
Kalmah
Kalmah has been around for a few decades. I actually discovered them by fan request. They caught my attention, and I was happy to see they had just released their 9th album.
I find these Finnish music veterans' bright melodies hard to forget. They clearly know how to mesh together nicely as a band. They have managed to pull me into this swampy world.
I got a chance to chat with guitarist, Antti Kokko. Here is our conversation.
Your self-titled album was released on May 26th. What made the band decide to name it Kalmah?
ANTTI KOKKO: We tried to figure out a good name but couldn't come up with anything good. Self-titled was one choice from the beginning, though. And bearing in mind that this one can be our last album.
Between your brother Pekka and yourself, who got into playing instruments first? Was your introduction to playing completely different? What was/is the dynamic, as musicians?
ANTTI: Pekka started with bass back in the end of '80s. He was asked to play bass in a local band. Then he changed to guitar after a while. I was still very young back in those days, 11-12 years old. I started to learn to play with Pekka's instruments and also got excited and got involved in band projects with guys my age. After a couple of years, Pekka noticed I was a pretty good player so he decided to get me in his band as well. Of course, back in those days, we played a lot at home together and that created the "sound" or playing style we have together. Nowadays we basically practice together only when shows are upcoming or we are going to record a new album.
You guys are a band that lets creativity flow when it flows. Do you find that the longer you are working on something, the harder it is to hold onto the emotion of it, or do you find the emotions build over time?
ANTTI: For this album, for example, I worked on the first track almost a year. If the song or half of the song is good enough it will hold the emotion. For some cases I try to push and that fires the inspiration and in some cases, I have to rest the song for example 1-2 months and get back to it if my inspiration suddenly gives something that fits in. If the raw song starts or some piece of song is not good enough it will drop off and be totally forgotten. I don't want to get back to those.
Being that you are multilingual, do you write your lyrics in English when they are ideas, or do try to bring the theme together and translate it to English?
ANTTI: Pekka basically writes all of our lyrics and we just read those after recordings. :) I haven't asked but I believe he writes both direct-thinking English and Finnish. With Finnish of course trying to immediately find the right words in English.
Is it hard to know when a song is completed?
ANTTI: For me not. I usually complete the song throughout before I introduce it to other band members. After all the pieces are found and the song is ready they basically don't change at all afterward, but of course, some minor changes can be made if other guys come up with some killer ideas.
Tell me about the swamp. How has it become so strongly intertwined with the music of Kalmah?
ANTTI: Well we live in an area where about 60 percent of the landscape is covered with Finnish swamp. Me and my brother are nature persons and back in the day we of course wanted to be different in some way compared to other bands. We found Swamplord and later on swampmetal. At least there is no other band playing it. :D
Is there a piece of gear that you can't live without?
ANTTI: If I think music gear I'd say good old tube guitar head.
The melodies in your album stand out. They are memorable. This makes me wonder how quickly you started coming up with melodies. Were you creating while learning or did that come once you were established as a guitarist?
ANTTI: I have always tried to create melodies with guitar from the start. The hard riffs were more important in the beginning but melodies came in very soon after that. For me, melodies can come while driving a car or being out in nature, for example. My mind starts to play something or I just start to whistle or hum something and it may develop into a good melody. I try to remember it and if it is good enough I will remember it back home and then record it.
Kalmah has been together for a long time. What do you think has made the band so stable?
ANTTI: We don't tour too much and music for us is just a hobby.
What has changed over the years?
ANTTI: At least we are getting old. :) Of course lot of things have changed but in the end, as a band on stage or in the studio, it is basically still the same stuff. Of course, the band itself has welded together very good when it comes to playing and the rest of the stuff we do together when touring for example.
You have been able to do some live shows, which is awesome. Any pre-show rituals or necessary items to get you through?
ANTTI: For me warming up is important. Otherwise, I'll get one week, painful neck "freeze". Otherwise, we don't have any spirit riser things before the show. We just go on stage and get into it.
I know you guys are fond of the outdoors and anyone that has spent much time outdoors has some kind of crazy experience. What story do you have for me?
ANTTI: Well I haven't faced any dangerous situations, e.g. bear encounters, but when it comes to hunting I usually spend about 60-70 days per year hunting. Meaning go out for a whole day with my dogs.
Just for fun - which is best as it relates to swamps, in your opinion? Sound of frogs at night, sound of mosquitos at night, lily pads, cattails, hip waders, canoe, moss, or algae?
ANTTI: I'd say sound of mosquitos at night.
Thanks for taking the time to chat with me. I wish you and the other band members success with the new album!
ANTTI: Thank you! Hope you like the album!
Playlist Pick
After interviewing Kalmah, I decided to add the song Haunted by Guilt to my playlist.

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