Luutarha arrives on the 1st November 2024 via Soliti Recordings
“Maan alle” is the first single from Henna Emilia Hietamäki’s new album Luutarha, which will be released 1st November 2024.
“I feel great pleasure in the directness of these old folk poems: how things are not twisted to be a bit challenging, but rather express directly that now I feel so bad that I just want to die. When you dare to face all feelings without repressing them, they also pass.” The text of the song “Maan alle” is a modified interpretation of a Finnish-Karelian folk poem.
Listen to “Maan alle”
Lyrics: Trad. & H.E.H.
Composition & arrangement by H. E. H.
Recording & mixing by H.E.H.
Mastering by Ville Valavuo
Photos by Tekla Väly
“Maan alle” is released on the 23rd August.
Initial Reaction
“Chillingly beautiful music” Rumba
“chilling and beautiful” Setlistmx
“It’s more like Julie Andrews singing to a group of fellow nuns before eventide prayers. You won’t be dancing to it but you won’t be waiting until your own funeral to want to hear it again, either.” Nordic Music Central
Also shared via One Chord To Another, Revista Arte Brasileira
Luutarha album sleeve by Melina Pääkkönen
Luutarha is a collection of new interpretations of old folk songs and folk poetry. There are new translations and arrangements of American, English and Finnish songs from the 17th‒19th centuries, as well as new compositions for old Finnish folk poems. The unifying theme is death, facing it or longing for it. Many of the songs on the album are made especially to be played at funerals. Luutarha (“Bone Garden”) was an early suggestion as a Finnish name for the cemetery.
Four of the ten songs from Luuutarha have been recorded in Sakke Vänttinen’s Rock Alley Studio in Hamina with the band, and six songs have been played and produced by Hietamäki alone. Tytti Roto (bass), Hanna Perälä (drums), Juuli Jokinen (cello) and Sakke Vänttinen (vocals) have made their mark on the album. In addition to the guitar, Hietamäki has played the harmonium, Finnish zither, piano and various keyboards on the album.
Prior to her recent solo releases, Henna Emilia Hietamäki has performed with Henna Emilia & Houreet, Cats of Transnistria and Dust Mountain. In 2021, the progressive and psychedelic folk band Dust Mountain, led by Henna and Toni Hietamäki (Oranssi Pazuzu), released their debut album “Hymns for Wilderness” (Svart). Indie rock band Henna Emilia & Houreet has released the long play “Lauluja ihmisistä ja eläimistä” 2019 (Stupido) and the EP “Beibi, mä oon pilalla” 2017 (Stupido). The experimental dream pop band Cats of Transnistria has released three long plays: “Aligning” in 2019 (Soliti), “Opium” in 2018 (Soliti), “Divine” in 2016 (Soliti) and “Away” EP in 2015 (Soliti). The debut solo album from Henna Emilia Hietamäki “Maija” was released in August 2022 via Soliti.
Henna Emilia Hietamäki Discography
HENNA EMILIA HIETAMÄKI
Maja 2022 (Soliti)
CATS OF TRANSNISTRIA
Aligning 2019 (Soliti)
Opium 2018 (Soliti)
Divine 2016 (Soliti)
Away EP 2015 (Soliti)
DUST MOUNTAIN
Hymns for Wilderness 2021 (Svart)
HENNA EMILIA & HOUREET
Lauluja ihmisistä ja eläimistä 2019 (Stupido)
Beibi, mä oon pilalla EP 2017 (Stupido)
You can also find Henna performing live with Modem, Ty Roxy & Rusty Triggers.
Henna Emilia Hietamäki by Tekla Väly
Praise for Maija
“And Maja is not only alive, but these eight pieces, beautiful in a simple and unadorned way, are actually flourishing as a whole.” 4/5 Desibeli
“Henna Emilia Hietamäki has built a softly humming and hypnotically flowing musical Maja , which has an unhurried, timeless and thought-provoking atmosphere inside..”Kulttuuritoimitus
“The compositions of the DIY-inspired album and the rather bright-eyed lyrics create a strong atmosphere and the illusion of a homely and safe place.” Soundi
“The vibe she creates invokes those singer-songwriters; deep thinkers who were the diametric opposite of the five-minute wonder, ‘famous for being famous’ set that permeate the arts today..” Nordic Music Central
“In particular, the instrumentals Vällilla tuulee and Vesihiisi are warm reminders of the peak years of domestic lo-fi folk in the 00s and an aesthetic that is rarely encountered today.” HS
“Hietamäki has a very sweet voice that does not need more than a nice accompaniment in this piece of folk, it has a very natural and warm sound and I really like the discretion of the percussion and bass.” The Sun Died Twice This Monday
Henna Emilia Hietamäki profile via Suomen Kuvalehti
Henna Emilia Hietamäki favorite albums feature via Soundi
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