sail away

Time to check out new music!

I got some cd's:

Madrugada - The Deep End.

This is something after The Doors and so on, but its also norwegian Interpol, which has good songs like Sail away and Beautyproof. I've been looking for this cd already couple of years. Unfortunately, now I found it only from Library. Though I have not checked it from cdon.com, but tried to order through Stupido, didn't work. Ohh yeah, name Madrugada means wee hours, pikkutunnit, in portuguese.

Gåte - Iselilja.

Also been looking for this quite long time. Norwegian also, mixed folk&rock. Btw, Iselilja song is not on this cd?!

Mugison - Mugimama Is This Monkeymusic?

Strange strange music from Iceland!

Project Grimm - Huge Beings.

Once in a year I buy a cd which has a nice and comfortable cover. This year it was this one. And it was first time, when I can say, I really like it! You'll hear this one in the future.

and

Tribes of The City - For the Sleepy People.

They got album out. Nice and relaxing music, which I am able to listen at home now anytime I want. Thanks Sergejs, Ksenia, Andrejs, Ints, Juris, Mihails.

Now I am of to sleep a bit before evening halloween-concert in Depo, and yep, I borrowed also film "Populärmusik från Vittula" from Nordic Ministerråds Library.

viikonlopuksi Helsinkiin / for a weekend to Helsinki

I was in Helsinki. I love the city, I love the people, and easyness, which grows when you speak your own language. I saw a LOT of friendly faces: Mikko, Katja, Jukka, Maria, Pekka, Johanna, Antti, Suvi, Don, Ansku, Jenni, Emma, Emppu, Antti, Paula, Nils, Sofia, Tomi, Vera, Claudio, Tiina, Aura, Tuomas, Roy, Iina, Mikko, Emma, Sonja, Emilia, Kaitsu, Tarja, Mia, Sami, Lina, Lari, Annika, Miikka, Maria, Mirkka, Gian Andrea and mystic latvian student of architecture in a plane (mystinen latvialainen arkkitehtiopiskelija lentokoneessa). :P That makes 42 faces in a 3 days.

Anyway, in Tampere I managed to spend some 15 hours, by meeting old Tampere-friends, and on Friday morning calling to YTHS (Student Health Center). I didnt have to go there, just pick up the recipe from there, so I hang out with Johanna and Suvi, drank one cider (good, dry one). And took a train to Helsinki and met Don, went to my old flat to meet Ansku and Jenni and old flatmates. Evening was nice, meeting with people, talking a bit, jamming and drinking as in good old times. Don't know, but taking beer away from me, is not from me, if I get something back, like good conversation with interesting people. (So, you can read, I appreciate conversation more than price of beer = money).

Saturday was funniest, playing a bit Playstation and I loved being with Sonja and Emma, girls, I've miss you. Halloween party was nothing for me, so I ended to Kallio with some friend. And slept well.

Sunday was sad, I met my one of my best friends, Kaisa and Mirkka and Mirkka's Gian Andrea, who had learn to speak finnish. It was so great. :) We ate well in Chinese restaurant and in the end I ran to the train to Tampere. I managed to get there, drank one cider and went to sleep until we came to Tampere. In the bus stop I met this mystic Architect student, who was funny, we talked about music and architecture and ended talking in the bus stop of Basteja Bulvaris in Riga. Now I am in Riga, somehow loving the city, but again... the people. I miss people. If all the good people from Helsinki could move to Riga, I would be so happy. We'll see..

I talked about moving back. I have to think about it more. And decide later. Kela remembered to send me some paper about "why you havent done enough credits at University..." If they decide that I need to pay back all... Dont know what I do.

But here is some pics which made my trip so nice:

Sonja in the concert of Risto in Restaurant-Boat Wäiski. :)

Here is Risto by himself!

I went to eat thai-food to Antti's (on the left). There I met Paula and Nils, all my work-mates from last summers Faces! (great team, I like them much!)

Tuomas and Aura, Aura is one of my best Helsinki friends, somehow so greagreat person. And they both, they look so cute together. :)

On a field work trip

I've been listening my uncle's band clips from the website, The Seathieves. But I was also on a field trip to Latgale, which is region in east Latvia, I was IN the Russian border area, and the people there, they were nice! On a saturday evening we take part into traditional apdziedooshana, which is kind like finnish kilpa-laulu (competision singing - groups compete who can sing best about others and with best words and strenght). We were the youngs there, all the other groups, their average age was probably 60+. The place itself was called Medneva and its next to Vilaka. So its in the very north-east. On the traditional fest we had A LOT of food and A LOT MORE of home made beer, which was quite gourmet - beer with fine taste of smoke cannot be bad! Evening ended with jams with russian style accordeons (5-rows) and violin.

Next morning we continued to the church at 8:30. It was a catholic one, where I have never before been. I liked the way the kept the service, and thought about differents. I think, I still like more our wooden churches like in Joroinen, my first home village. After church we went to Natalia's house. Natalia was one of the oldest singer lady's in Mednevas Etnographic Ensemble. She offered us great amount of sandwiches and coffee from a can. Then she sang for us, and all the friends of her (born in 1920's) came to sing more for us. They song traditional songs like Tolku balss (Talkoo-laulu) and one Kalado (christmas) song as well. They wanted to hear finnish tradtional singing, so I had to decide fast what could be the old kalevala-tradition song which I could sing, so I went with lullaby: Nuku nuku nurmilintu (väsy, väsy västäräkki, nuku nurmelle hyvälle, väsy maalle mainialle... nuku nuku nurmilintu, väsy väsy västäräkki, nuku kun minä nukutan, väsy kun minä väsytän - so basicly I combined two versions together to make it last longer).

Last stop was to go for and look after Roma-people. (romanit in Finnish). As I had have friendly-relations to my own age Roma's at Finland, in Varkaus (they still wave me, if I drive on a same road with them...), for me it was interesting to look after them. Roma's in Vilaka where nice. We ended in one home of about 25yrs couple with one child, and some other young Romas came along. In the end the head of the village also came to dance for us, and his wife song with the younger people. I liked this encounter and in the end whole trip was succesful, so thought I and so thought all the others. I just hope this wont be the last one, even though my specialization lies in some other music styles, this one was most welcomed freshing!

On monday at Academy we had a talk how we felt about the weekend. I suprised all my collagies to let them know that all my interest (main) lies in the popular music, specially all the alternatives and harder corners of the popular sides. I told also about interest towards peace-songs in Finland. And my "bachelors thesis" about Latvian alternative music, specially about bands The Movies (now known as Tribes of the City) and hc-punk band In.Stora.

Here is some older ladies in their traditional suits - these ladies sings in the Medneva Ethnographic Ensemble.

And here are my Collagies in the stop-place in Gulbene. From left to right: Kristiine, from Latgale good trad. singer, Anda, my teacher, doctor of music, violist, Vita, mom of 2 kids, great person, conductor, Inese, quiet nice girl from Jelgava, good singer as well, Austra, violinist (classical side) and really helpful schoolmate and Rasa, who reminds me all the time about being a child of nature. Joyful person.

And here the second picture of our group in the morning of sunday right after church. There is also Ieva in the left, she has made her masters thesis about Roma-people in Ventspils and she teaches also us instrumentation and she is known also as a pianist. Old lady in the middle, in a blue jacket is Natalia, who was the leader of Ethnografic Ensemble. And in the most right there is this Lady, whose name I didn't catch, but she's the Balvu rajons (Balvi's areas) cultural chief or secretaire. Anyway, cultural person. Ohh yeah, and the guy in the picture is Oskars, nice quiet fella, who was our driver.

Most interesting thing in whole weekend was that all our experiences where shot by a journalists from the LTV1 (Latvian television 1) and we get into the telly. Me as well, and guess what: I got dubbed! So like Kalle said, being in TV is nothing, but get dubbed in TV is something :D All the cultural stuff was broadcasted on monday evening in 100g Kulturas, daily cultural half an hour where is allways interesting stuff. And my friends Gunta and Eliina, they both told that it was a nice shot. :)

And getting back to the first line of my text today, If I would made my uncles cd, I would done something a bit different, anyhow, I like the way it sounds also now!

last weeks again

So, what has happened in here. I would like to point out couple of days, which has been REALLY nice days. :)
Firstly:

I've seen 3 Tribes gigs this autumn. This photo is from Depos gig, which was extremely nice. I was there with Agnija and Kalle and some exchange students came also. And there we started "russian-english" lessons with Andrej. Who is a guitarist of Tribes of the City. :D

Next weekend was a concert of Hospitalu iela. I was waiting for it, because I LIKE MUCH their music and of course, I hadn't seen them playing. Par Kiosku was as good as I expected in Live. And new songs, they all sounded quite nice.

On a lazy sunday we decided to visit old airport of Riga: Spilve. It was working until some Soviet Times, but now there is just some aviation clubs working. Buildings there would be so great, if they could renovate. Money.. Goes to other places right now.

On a day before Field work I went to Ievas 24birthday. Party was hold in Riga Hostel (old town) where Ieva works. Party was nice, I met really nice people and hoping to see such a people again!

uusi kaveri / new friend

is here!

runonlaulu

Luulin, etten osaa runonlaulua, mutta kävi ilmi kun kuntelin tätä kouluun tarkoitettua kappaletta, että aina kun lauleskelin Emulille ja Ellalle kun olivat kesällä kyläilemässä ja yritin saada lapsukaisia nukkumaan, niin lauloin runoja. Samalla metrillä, samalla rytmillä, samoilla sävelmillä. Ilmeisesti ne ovat lapsesta asti jääneet alitajuntaan kiertämään.

Trolleybussissa nro 24 tänään oli mummeleita, jotka näyttivät ihan omalta Kyllikki-mummolta. Ihan varmasti samanlaisia ihmisiä kaikin puolin. Ongelmineen ja elämineen. Mikähän siinä on, että tänään on ollut tälläinen oivaltamisen päivä. Eilen kirjoitin tuonne toiseen vähän hullumpaan journaliini, asioita, esim. sen, että toivoisin, että kaikki elossaolevaa isovanhempaani kirjoittaisivat/lukisivat nauhalle muistonsa. Aina lapsuudesta asti, niin paljoin kuin jaksaisivat. Ja ihmiset voisivat muutenkin muistella enemmän. Se kun yhdistää jotenkin. Luin juuri Eeva Kilven lapsuusmuistelmat. Kovin oli herkkää.

Ainiin ja professori Dambis tuli vastaan rappukäytävässä tänään Akatemialla. Sanoi päivää latviaksi ja sitten sanoikin yllättäen vielä englanniksi. Olen ilmeisesti piirtynyt mieleen. Dambis oli musiikin historian opettajani Latvian kulttuuriakatemiassa. Miksei Suomessa voi olla yleishyödyllistä kulttuuriakatemiaa. Sen on oltava Neuvostoliiton perintöä?

Käänsin kaksosille amerikkalaisen jalkapallon Powerpoint-esitelmän. Meni ilmeisesti mukavasti. Vielä vähän Raised Fistia. Sitten kirja ja uni. (Oli muuten mielenkiintoisia kirjoja kirjastossa...) Siitä vaikka sitten kun olen tutustunut niihin enemmän.

Ohh yea, only foreign person whom I know reading this knows all the things already I wrote about. Others, you have to make yourself alive for me, to get translations.

last weeks

so i have thought of putting here good and bad things which has been in my life lately:

GOOD THINGS.
1) New people/people I've met only fastly and had good conversations. For example my last HC-guest Björn from Norway was a great conversationalists. He told me about Vipassana-meditation, which sounded so interesting, that I think, I need to try, when I am ready. It was also great to meet Aija, Latvian girl who knows finnish really well. She is interested about music and lots and lots of different things. I have also enjoyed to share short Russian/English -lessons with Andrej.

2) Movies. They are cheap comparing to Finnish one and because I like to live with vegetables and milkproducts and soya and bread, I have money to go 1-2times in a week. Well, still I use less money for movies than in Finland. I've seen funny, stupid, good, bad and average films, best one had been Wristcutters, because it was full of black humour. Worst movie, which I saw was latvian movie called Tumshie Briezi (Dark Deers). Story was stupid and only things which where something was filming (cinematography) and music.

3) School has been more informative since last weeks. It's worth of going there.

4) Fall is here. I like it a much. You know the colors and so on. And the thing, that I miss my finnish friends more than in Finland, though I haven't seen for example Ninni and Elli since last February or something like it.

5) Concerts which I have visited are awesome. Also the feeling which comes just by sitting outside of the classes in music academy gives so much new things to think. All those tomorrow's opera-singers, pianists and choirs. Think about it.

6) Walks around the city. Old town and new side. Something new everytime. This is thing which should be done more in Finland, but I think works takes all the energy and time.

BAD THINGS:

1) Problems with heating, electricity, toilet... Just small ones, but makes living a bit more difficult.

2) Violence in City: Sebastian's case, Maltes brother's case. All the beatings I have seen.. All the briberies I have heard. All the money which goes to WRONG places makes situation more complicated.

3) Problems with my mind, which are not so new one's but gets a different view in here.

4) Culture Shock, Home-sickness. Well everyone will gets it, mine has reached the worst point already. But you know, Helsinki is so much better place: safer, more variety of people, not so busy running after money and more softer values.

5) Stress of doing nothing. I will learn out of it! ;)

Not so badly here, in fact. It's just normal life.

tipatonko?

Ei ole ei. Tribes of the Cityn keikka ja Ievan kutsu Brakin kotibileisiin oli aika niittejä. Jukka ei uskonut, eikä kukaan muukaan, ei Eli eikä Charlene.

Noh, vähentänyt olen - pääasia.

Kuuntelen vähän Sigur Rosia ja ei ole mitään järkevää tekemistä. Olen soitellut huilua ja katsonut Lostin kolmannen tuotantokauden ensimmäisen jakson :)

Hyvin menee siis.

prove that i am

here, but i might be tired. I am. (joo vilkuttaisin, jos en olis niin vakavamielinen)

sauna party in 6 pics

we came there on after noon with some exchange students

A nice view towards haus.

People in the dark: Maaris, Valera, Charlene

More people in dark: Ziga and someone and Elina

Morning after: Estonians Lina and Liis

Finnish: Elina and Kalle

mosquitos + people

I have always been allergic to mosquitos, but here, here they make me REALLY feel bad. stiching and itching everywhere, I bet there is only one in my own room, but every morning I woke up with new itches. I've already thought going to see doctor, who could give me some helping medicaments.

3rd day of Sober October, I haven't even thought about beer/vodka, seen those though in a grocery store, but they are not moving me in any ways. Besides, I felt so bored with alcohol already last saturday in Sauna-party, so I left half a bottle of beer (2litre bottle) on the balcony and next morning I saw Maaris enjoying it. Sauna-party in otherhands went well. I enjoyed company, had a argue(s) with Russian born in Riga and also tried to understand what is moving in a head of 19 yrs old Latvians and Estonians. Seems I am so much further somewhere, other leg in a grave, almost.

Today I have been thinking about going to the cinema to see Brokeback Mountain. Or I could do it also on Thursday. I went to see BbM first time to Finnkino's Tennispalatsi on it's first showing in Finland. I wasn't only one, also Oscar was there. And I managed to learn how to play Stabule. I even could play some easy children songs with it. So basicly it's like "nokkahuilu", but a bit nicer voice because it's made by wood.

People: I've started to write a short stories. Maybe someday you will meet Marija, Stella, Kaisa (dedicated to Kaisa) and I. ;) There is also story about pakda-bear called Ki-o. And that's a fairytale of remembering how Paa-bears and Mii-bears help eachother to build up a common network where to feed more Ki-o with bambu-wine. One story is about staying one night in Paris, walking on streets which I have never heard about, but I saw it on a dream. That's "an on the road -story".

Do you think already I've lost my consciousness? Wrong! I've been better that I thought: enjoyed going to school, woke up every morning and went by walk to school a bit before 9:00. And people are looking me like they look lunatic: I'm smiling, wearing all black (my shoes, lovely black velvet-trousers, black jumper, black scarf, black gloves and black hair... wait for the winter: i have also black hat!) and listening iPod: some aggressive punk or alternative sweet sounds, which is up to mind on each morning. I like those 20minutes. Best time of the day (they will be even better when there is a bit more frosty climate.)