in depth Wintersun interview with Jukka Koskinen and Asim Searah

Throughout the 14 year history of Wintersun, and counting, the band’s outstanding level of Symphonic Progressive Melodic Death Metal has stood the test of time to some of the most well made Metal you’ll ever hear. I got the chance to sit down with bassist Jukka Koskinen and newer guitarist, taking over for Jari’s live performances, Asim Searah, on the band’s five year absence, breaking down why Jari decided to sing only live, Wintersun’s crowdfunding, Asim’s audition to the band, and so much more!

(The entire audio of the interview can be heard at the bottom of the page)

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Metalchondria: It's been five years since Wintersun has played here. We've all missed the band! How's the tour been going along so far?

Jukka Koskinen: The tour has been going amazing, we've been missing to come back here as well, five years last time was a long time, a long time coming. The response to the tour has been very nice, and definitely nice to be back in LA after a long time. Super nice venue, The Mayan, didn't know at all what to expect, so to say, it brain-blasted me (laughs), with all these cultures and everything, very atmospheric place. I was just saying to Asim as well, I was a bit sad when I heard that apparently, the West Hollywood House of Blues doesn't exist anymore. That was a very nice venue where we played the last time five years ago.

I was there!

And it was like, "Aw damn, what's going to happen now? What kind of venue will it be?" This is an amazing place!

Even The Belasco, Iced Earth played there in April, and it's a nice venue, too! A little smaller, but still, the setup is very similar. And speaking of the five year absence, why did it take so long for Wintersun to come back? Was it in terms of other tour opportunities, making The Forest Seasons, and just other obligations?

Jukka Koskinen: Well, mainly the thing is that, there was certain changes within the band. When it comes to our drummer situation, Kai (Hahto) being in Nightwish, and also what came up with Jari's (Maenpaa) decision to drop playing the guitar live, so obviously, we needed to find new members for the band, and also another reason, was The Forest Seasons album, of course. It took it's time to make a new album, and then we decided not to tour at all, unfortunately. But now we're back, it's amazing! And of course positive things as well, that we found Asim to the band, amazing addition, he's the dude that you've always felt that you've always known him, although you didn't know him. And when it comes to the drummer situation, Rolf (Pilve) from Stratovarious and Heikki (Saarl) from Finntroll, they've been helping us out now for two years, something like that. And of course, the major thing is that The Forest Seasons, we were able to come out with a new album, two years ago?

Asim Searah: 2017?

Jukka Koskinen: Yeah, so like a year and a half, something like that. When it comes to that album, we were a lot more efficient putting it out. It didn't take that many years between (laughs).

And speaking of new additions, now taking Jari's guitar position, how was that being brought in, and someone of his caliber guitar wise, did it...were you confident initially to take that position? Were you not sure at times? Talk about the process that it took to get the point now, and how it was auditioning and got the position?

Asim Searah: Well, it all started with an audition. They announced a particular leave, that Jari would be taking off his position as a guitar player, and just focus as a vocalist. So, that was the time I decided that hey, I want to give it a try and see what happens. And of course, the guys have known me beforehand, as a vocalist, so they had no idea that I'm able to play guitar as well. So I talked with Jari, and he was a little bit skeptic, that okay, we have to go through the whole audition process. So I went through the whole audition process, and eventually, they chose me. And of course, confidence was required but the fact, the beginning of course everything was as completely new. When you try to set yourself in the band, and you start to set yourself in the song, and so on. At first it becomes a harder job, because you need to reach to the caliber of where the band is! And it took a little time, but of course with a lot of work, practice, following up with the guys as well, anytime I needed to know what to play, how to play it, they were there to show. So it's a lot of work on doing the things according to how the band is been putting their caliber.

So it did take some time and it was an amazing experience to be able to share the stage with them, and also take most of the part of Jari, go on and trying to be playing next to him, with him, while he's not playing the guitar. I wouldn't say it was like, I was a bit nervous, "Oh my god, what are the guys going to say?" and so on. I just wanted to be sure that whatever I'm doing, I just should do as of the best abilities of the time that I have. So as we all have been in the learning process, which is a never ending story for a musician, until we're in a grave, even though we'll knock the coffin and say, "Hey! Now I know how to play that note!" So that's a never ending process, that will go on.

With now Jari being just only vocals, you've been in the band since right after the self-titled came out, how is it for the band Jari with no guitar anymore live? Does it change the dynamics of the live show? Notice any interesting details about the band?

Jukka Koskinen: Well at first, of course, when he said that he would like to do this change, we were like, "Why?" Because he's been the guitar god of Wintersun, and we were like, "Uh oh...what the hell is he doing? Why does he want to do this? It's not going to work." Okay, we were never saying it's not going to work, but of course very skeptic about it. But I have to say at the end of the day, it's been the best decision ever, in the sense that he can 100% concentrate on the vocals, it's been bringing so much more energy to the live performances, as Jari being the vocalist, all the concentration on that. Because for him, it was kind of like in the past: A burden, that he needs to play the guitar all the time, so it was kind of like executing, executing, but not really like, putting all your focus on certain...

Asim Searah: Not really being able to enjoy it.

Interesting...

Jukka Koskinen: Yeah, that was the case. And I think it's been great!

Asim Searah: He's an excellent performer.

Jukka Koskinen: He's turned out to be, and he's always been, but now he's turned out to be even more like a...

Asim Searah: There's so much of space, and flexibility, you can call it?

Jukka Koskinen: Communicating more with the audience, and being there present, taking everybody along, or so to say. Because in the past it was more or less like, he was just playing, playing, playing, and singing, singing, and just trying to pull it through.

Asim Searah: I've been in bands as well where I was doing the same job, but of course playing Wintersun music, and doing "that", that just requires balls. Everytime I've seen Jari, I've said, "Hats off, man!" Like when I was learning the songs as well, I was right with him like, "Hats off, dude. You were doing this for many years, while playing this stuff as well, and singing at the top of your lungs at the same time.

Jukka Koskinen: And then again, there is one crucial thing that he personally wanted to happen, is that he can focus also making new music more. Because he said that he needs so much practicing, while playing the guitar and singing all the time, that he could take some parts off, from the live performances, so he can focus more on making new music, as well.

Asim Searah: Instead of sitting back home and practicing for the upcoming tour, he now has more time to just give more time...

Jukka Koskinen: And I have to say, when it comes to Asim's progress, it's quite funny that I didn't have any clue that he plays the guitar.

Asim Searah: (Laughs).

Jukka Koskinen: I knew that he's a proper singer, and has been singing in proper bands, but amazing singer like Jari is, it's just funny. I heard that Asim is playing, I was like, "What, is he going to sing all the parts?" What the hell is he doing?" I had no idea, and then I saw the videos and was like, "Oooooo!" I started to feel very warm and natural, my gut feeling told me immediately, " Nope, this is it! No more. No one else, blah blah blah, perfect." And of course when it comes to the vocal as well, he brings so much more into the band, the live stuff, and yeah. Couldn't be better, actually. We didn't know it would turn out like this, but it's great. But usually, when you progress things, talk about them, you find a way and a good way to have them.

And with The Forest Seasons, the latest album to come out. I have to say, I reviewed the album for Metal Assault, and it was to me, it was Wintersun's take on Black Metal. There were a lot of layers, slower moments, very intense. And the production was very woven together, a lot of layers of everything, grim and dark with "Loneliness (Winter)" and "Eternal Darkness (Autumn)" songs, and also for me too, mentioning Jari's vocals, since Day 1 his vocal approach and quality has been excellent. But on this album, it's the best I've heard him sound. Talk to me about the making of this album, the change from say the self titled, and from Time I, something more grim, dark, slower but still a lot going on?

Jukka Koskinen: Super big massive atmosphere, kind of like a huge thunderstorm that comes over you, that's how I feel it, and I think the album is like that. And the point actually, was to have this certain primitive element on this album. The basic idea of course, comes out from the four seasons, the different seasons that are in a year, which all starts from "The Forest that Weeps (Summer)." We actually played that song, in 2014-2013, US tour and Europe tour, we did already, that was an anonymous song back then. Like on this tour, there's a new song again, and the idea came out from that song, but Jari was thinking that he would like to make a whole album off it. Then he came up with the different seasons, and I think like what the outcome is when it comes to every season that represents itself, you couldn't ask for a better whole, in a way. Totally different songs, but they merge nicely together. And when you mentioned this Black Metal thing, yep! Of course there's one song that is really Black Metal, "Eternal Darkness (Autumn)", but yeah, on the the other songs I'd say as well, lot of primitive, Dark Metal/Black Metal things in "The Forest that Weeps (Summer)", at least the verses especially.

But I have to say, when it comes to this album and the earlier ones, it's like Jari's way of surprising everybody is just brilliant. He came up with "Eternal Darkness (Autumn)" for example, a song like, "Wow!" It's amazing to have one Black Metal song so to say, Wintersun-ish Black Metal, but people were like, whoa, what the hell is this? (laughs). And it's always nice to surprise, and to come out with new themes, and personally I have to say, I love all the Wintersun albums, but somehow, The Forest Seasons is something that's so close to everything, the atmosphere, it's somehow more, personal.

It's the most different album, for sure. And also I know, the fans are very, very passionate about the band, from all the albums and everything. From the first album as well, it came out so long ago, I heard it about six months to a year after it came out, and it was something I really never heard before. Time I coming out, kind of drawing from that album with a little more atmosphere, and this album as you said, complete, personal, dark atmosphere. How have the fans, from your perspective, have viewed the changes, from album to album to album? Do people really The Forest Seasons, are there fans who just enjoy the first album? What is your vision and what you see them enjoy of the newest album?

Jukka Koskinen: Well, the response has been very nice, really great for the new album. Sales have been good as in the past, but I think when it comes to many opinions, I think people have loved the album a lot. Of course, there are lot of these fans that respect the first album probably, more than anything else. And like in Europe, we played a few By Request shows, that the fans can decide the setlists. And I have to say, the majority has been the first album, and Time I. But I think this is kind of like a regular thing, that usually when the newest comes out from the band--

Asim Searah: People still hold to the previous.

Jukka Koskinen: When the next one comes, then they ask more of The Forest Seasons (laughs).

Asim Searah: But everyone can relate themselves to this album, as well. Of course, we all live in different parts of the world, and we all experience the seasons, in a different way. So, many people in the North, they experience Summer in a different way, then the people experience here in a different way. Jari said over the tour, which is true as well, that our Summer is gone, so Winter has just begun. Here in Winter, it'll still take time to come, but Winter is Coming (laughs).

(Sees Jukka's Winter is Coming shirt) Game of Thrones!

Asim Searah: Many people are able to relate themselves to different seasons. Some people are like, they love Summer, so they're excited about the new "Summer" song, maybe others like Winter, and want to hear the "Winter" song, and so on it goes. But I think it becomes, this album had been more...not that it has divided the aspect of the people who say, oh yeah, the first album people are going to remain the first album people, but I think the people who love the first album as well, they see the attributes of that album in this album as well, because it's more, more straightforward. Not saying that Time I was not, but Time I has the more aspect of, massiveness, giantness, while this album has that with it, and the rawness to it as well. Don't think that the people get divided by the factor, "Oh, the first album guys are always going to remain the first album guys!" I think everyone's able to link themselves somehow.

Jukka Koskinen: And another thing that you say about the seasons, it's not just who likes Winter and Summer, but it also you can also relate a lot more to the lyrical themes. When it comes to "The Forest that Weeps (Summer)", is kind of about the forest, and the mind of it. And there's the "Loneliness (Winter)" song about Loneliness, feeling very certain different emotions and things you go through sometimes, and I think in that sense, it's way more "close", and maybe easier to relate.

I think so too, and speaking of, there was talk about Time II, about it being released or already made. Is the music actually done for that album? And is that album supposed to be released, or is that something that Jari put in the back, and it may come out, or it may not?

Jukka Koskinen: The music is partly done, but now we released the stress ball...A Time II stress ball (laughs).

That's great, wait, that's, really? You have that? (Yours truly making a horribly stupid confused look)

Jukka Koskinen: You were like, "What the hell are you talking about?"

Asim Searah: We have it in the merch booth, there's a new item.

That's so funny (laughs).

Jukka Koskinen: Time II Stress Ball. At the moment, you can't really listen to it, but you can squeeze it.

Asim Searah: From the crowd they're like, "I want the Time II album!"

Jukka Koskinen: But yeah, the story goes: Time I and Time II were supposed to be one album, and the basic rhythm guitars/bass guitars were recorded in 2006. It's been lying around, Time II now.

Asim Searah: But basically the reason for that, that's the reason the crowdfunding was made as well. Production wise, Time I as well, lacked a lot of vision which Jari had. Because of not being able to have the bigger production, he was not able to, he was not satisfied with Time I. And he didn't want to risk the rest of Time, as one album which it was supposed to be, that this Time II which is now to be released someday, that it suffers his vision anymore. So that's the reason to the point that the production does not become to the level that he's satisfied with, is the time, that is going to take it's time, until it happens. To make things easier, for the faster production of the albums, and the vision Jari wants, to make everything faster and being able to produce, and the ease of his mind that he wants, that's the reason why the crowdfunding came about as well.

Jukka Koskinen: Of course, it's quite hard. I know it myself as well, from Wintersun maybe, but in earlier bands that I played, when you compose a song, it's kind of a hard time if you have to make a lot of compromises, that it really doesn't sound like what you want it to sound like. Because then at the end of the day, you're disappointed. So we made a huge compromise with Time I already, and it's maybe sound wise, 50-60% of what it should be. Although of course, we can analyze these things, how it should sound, and it's great that it's out and there's great songs and everything, but there are these aspects, and if you're a composer, you suffer from them. So that's why the Time II is on hold. It is coming, we've been diplomatic, and fucking telling this thing for a long time (laughs).

And you talked about the crowdfunding, I remember Wintersun, and Jari, there was a lot criticism about it. People were saying, "Why does the band have to ask for these things?" But a lot of fans, when it comes to downloading music and everything, people wonder why shirts are more expensive, well, bands don't make money off albums unless you're the highest high in Pop and Mainstream stars. If everyone bought albums like they did, ticket prices would be normal, shirts would be normal, you can't have your cake and eat it too.

Jukka Koskinen: The answer to that, why don't you make money from the album sales nowadays, because all the sales have been decreasing, a lot. But also the main thing, usually there's a big record label behind it, behind the band. It's employees and it's machinery needs a lot of capital, so it's kind of like the margin that comes to the artist, is kind of like, it's not so much, unfortunately. And I think the crowdfunding was way faster and a new productive thing to do, to actually aim where you want to really be. And of course, it's a new thing for many people when it came out, people were like, "Why the hell are they doing this? They're signed to a big label." But there are a lot of things that people do not know. And when you come out with a new concept of course, you always get...someone has to create something.

Ne Obliviscaris did the same thing with Patreon as well, and it was very successful for them, the reason they can be over here.

Jukka Koskinen: Exactly. But the thing is, what we said over and over again, it was that the crowdfunding wasn't asking money from people, some people took it like that and I don't understand why, it was pre-saleing our new album. And even pre-saleing in the sense that the album was already out when we came up with the campaign. Because if we would have done that in a typical way, "Hey, can you crowdfund our album? We will come out with it one day." With Wintersun, how long it takes for the albums to be out, the thing is that would have been so unfair. We did it kind of like, the most honest thing you can do. Normal and honest thing to do.

The band also offered gifts, prizes, guitar lessons from Teemu, a lot of extra things, instrumental tracks, the band I believed offered something worth equal to that, if not more value, then what you were asking.

Jukka Koskinen: That's exactly what you just said, that when it comes to the amount of material, although everything digital still, we could have asked for a lot more, but we didn't. We kind of silently put it altogether there, and silently thanked everybody that have been waiting for us. But we didn't want to say it out loud, we just did it and not concentrate on that any further, to make the best way possible.

After this tour, what is next for the band, for the end of the year? Is there a possibility to come back to the US this year, or that's something going to be next year? And going forward, they'll be more visits to the United States?

Jukka Koskinen: The plan at the moment, is we do this tour, and after this tour we have a few shows in Europe.

Asim Searah: A few By Request shows, and a festival.

Jukka Koskinen: And after that, I would say from November onward, we're going to concentrate on making a new album. Next year plans, a bit in the open, but there's next summertime, we decided to do the first album 15th anniversary shows, it's over 15 years old, as of next year (laughs). We would play some selected shows, and play the entire first album from start to finish. And when it comes to during that time and after the new album process has gone on, other plans at the moment not really internally, discussing this and that.

Asim Searah: We would love to come back to the states!

Jukka Koskinen: And I really hope it won't take another five years to be touring here.

And also, if you can bring that 15th year show to the United States, that would be quite something, quite something.

(Jukka and Asim smile)

My last question, but separate for the two of you: You (Jukka) were in the band about a year after the self-titled came out. That period of time, that 2004 era I felt for bands like Wintersun, Augury from Canada, and a lot of those bands, Metal evolved to this high level of ability, playing, musicianship and songwriting. Tell me from your point of view 15 years ago seeing that album, playing it right after it came out, and what you thought about it? And for you, (Asim), as a fan hearing that album as well, did it inspire more to be in this band, and what your thoughts are of the self-titled?

Jukka Koskinen: I really didn't think about what kind of band we are or something, it was this like, the chemistry that's always been in Wintersun, always. It's always been doing the thing that everybody loves the most, respecting one another, and we were just a good, good, good team. But what I of course saw when the album came out, that it was kind of like, "Whoa. There's a lot of audience, and a lot of potential." And that really surprised me, because I played in another band called Norther, back in the days for a long time. And we were kind of doing okay, but when it came to Wintersun, it was like, "Boom!" Everybody was asking for Wintersun everywhere. The only thing I can say that I just, just been enjoying it since Day 1 (laughs). I haven't really thought about how we're doing, and what's happening on the outside when it comes to the CD, not really, just focusing on your own thing.

Asim Searah: Well me, I came about the album in 2005, and since then I was a fan. I saw Wintersun for the first time in Wacken Open Air in 2006. I could never say from that point in 2016, that they were giving me an opportunity for me, or anybody else to be a part of Wintersun, in that sense. They were a team of four people, and Jari dropping the guitar was an opportunity for me, to become a part of it, as being a fan, and pushing myself forward to become a part of my favorite band. And who I've looked up to for so long, and I have been inspired by, so it was an incredible venture. Until last year's, 2016, I still was a fan, and still am, but the process was like this. Right after that, just is a pleasure to be on the stage with the same band, and the dream, so to speak. The whole thing with, you could have sang as well, I knew his band well, back in the day. But Wintersun really skyrocketed at that time, like really super fast. Their expectations were different, but my expectations were always being a big fan, seeing the fan from a different point of view. And now being in the band for nearly two years, it's a total different ballgame. It's inspiring, it still is.

Jukka Koskinen: You've had quite an interesting inspiring story, when it comes to Wacken.

Asim Searah: True, true. I saw them for the first time in 2006, as being a fan from the front row, and then I met them at the meet and greet after the show, being totally been outblown, "Oh my god, I saw them for the first time!" Coming from Pakistan, as I am, it's just crazy that I joined my favorite band, which was my favorite band, joining them in 2017, and in 2018, on the bigger stage of the Wacken Open Air. And the second time they're playing, they're playing with a kid who was in the front row seeing the band, now a part of the band, and opening up the major stage of Wacken Open Air. What else can I say? That should be enough for me to say that, that is living the dream. So this is like the movie Rock Star, a moment, when Mark Wahlberg is at the show of Steel Dragon and stuff like that, and I still hold myself to that. So this is inspiring stuff!

Jukka Koskinen: I thought you meant the Rock 'N Roll thing with Mark Wahlberg in Boogie Nights, when he's in front of the mirror naked (laughs).

Asim Searah: (laughs) That's a dream come true, too.

Jukka Koskinen: Rock 'N Roll moment!

Any last words for this show, the rest of the tour? Working on that album and hopefully can see the band a lot more, than once every 5 years or so?

Jukka Koskinen: Well one thing I can say, is that our progress has been a lot in the plus, when it comes to how often we release albums, and now the last year and a half, how much we've been playing shows, we will definitely this going, and be more active and around, than in the past.

Asim Searah: The other thing is, keep believing. Don't stop believing, just keep working on it. One of the most important things is: Work hard, work day and night, work hard to what you believe in, and never let go of the dreams. Dream big as hell, never fear that your dreams cannot come true. I'm the living example, so if I can do it, damn it, a guy who can come from Pakistan and do things, I think the people who have the opportunity here, should be thankful enough that they have the opportunity, and go seize it. And that's the other thing as well, if you have dream of seeing us live somewhere, don't give up, we will come! Just don't stop believing.