Pepa Päivinen

Personal Breath

Pepa Päivinen - Woodwinds, Flutes, Seagull Merlin, Voice, and Percussion
Jussi Miettola - Drums and Percussion

Recorded in Finland in 2021

Album design by Mark Smith

TRACKS

1. Perihelium 1:10
2. Personal breath 6:12
3. Härjedalen 7:35
4. Smokedance 5:29
5. Aquarelle. (flute solo) 3:12
6. Stanko 4:13
7. 1.5.1918 9:23
8. Aphelium 2:06

Release January 18, 2022

Listen & buy from Bandcamp

ABOUT THE ALBUM

Using classic instruments and simple composition, Pepa Päivinen and Jussi Miettola illuminate a story from their national history, bringing to life a story set in the deep of Scandinavian winter. A thrilling, and ultimately tragic, recounting of Finland’s 1918 civil war is brought to life by Woodwinds, Flutes, Seagull Merlin, Voice, and Percussion. On “Personal Breath,” Päivinen’s layered melodies take center stage as lush instrumental overlays, inspiring emotion and building tension that’s released in the album’s natural arc. In the artist’s words, the project emulates a “warm breath on a cold winter day,” an overwhelmingly human feeling in Finland’s harsh invernal climate. The track 1.5.1918 is inspired by the play ‘Veriruusut’ (Bloodroses) KOM-theatre (Helsinki), about a Finnish Red Guard company, 36 women aged 15-23 years old who were caught and shot by the White Guard without trial on May 1, 1918. It was an event that changed the course of the war, involving the destiny of these women with that of a nation—and beautifully retold through rich baritones, whistling flutes and tempered percussion.