koria kitten riot

The album’s coming out on the German Kyr Records on March 2nd. Because of this, we’re doing a small promotional German duo tour with Lasse in the end of February. Here are the confirmed dates so far:

THU/23/2/2012 - Tagtraum, Ingolstadt, DE (w/ Joasihno)

FRI/24/2/2012 - Cafe Wagner, Jena, DE (w/ Mexican Elvis)

SAT/25/2/2012 - Radio Buellerbrueck Studio, Berlin, DE

More dates very likely TBC. Hope to see you there!

Antti.

A very last-minute thing just happened, and we’re playing tonight @ Nosturin Alakerta w/ Big Wave Riders. Come along! Showtime at 21.30!

“The Lows & The Highs” will be out on March 2nd in Germany, Austria and Switzerland on Kyr Records, preceded by a German tour. The first confirmed show is on February 24th in Jena.

The new album’s been out for a while, but I’ve been too busy with Facebook updates, and I’ve completely forgotten about updating this blog! Please like the KKR page on Facebook, it’s fun! It’s cool! It’s the new thang! http://www.facebook.com/koriakittenriot

 Anyways, here’s a few places to buy the album:

http://solmu.info/shop/

http://www.recordshopx.com/artist/koria_kitten_riot/the_lows_the_highs/

http://cdon.fi/musiikki/koria_kitten_riot/the_lows_%26_the_highs-16257775

Hey everybody!

I’ve been extremely busy for the past month or so, but I thought I’d post a quick note on the blog about the live shows that are confirmed so far. The list looks like this:

• THU/3/11/2011 (5 PM!) - Levykauppa Äx, Helsinki
• THU/3/11/2011 - Kokomo Tikibar, Helsinki (album release party, w/ Phenomenal Creature)
• FRI/4/11/2011 - Swamp Music, Tampere
• FRI/4/11/2011 - O’Connells, Tampere
• SAT/5/11/2011 - Aamiaisklubi, Klubi, Tampere (DJ set)
• SAT/10/12/2011 - Cosmic Comic Cafe, Turku 
(Toinenkäsi pop-kirppis)
• FRI/20/1/2012 - Bar Kuka, Turku
• SAT/21/1/2012 - Blue Pool, Forssa

There’s more coming up, and I’ll post them once they’re confirmed. All dates are also listed at http://www.koriakittenriot.com.

Oh, and for another list - here’s what our excellent live band will be:

• Eino Anttila - drums, percussion, backing vocals
• Olli Rahkonen - pedal steel, mandolin, stylophone, backing vocals
• Teemu Vänskä - keyboards, backing vocals
• Lasse Toimi - bass guitar, backing vocals
• Antti Reikko - ac. guitar, vocals

We’ve rehearsed quite a bit, and it’s starting to sound good!

I also got a copy of the final, printed album. Looks good! Oh, and I’ll also be visiting the Planetaario show at Radio Helsinki on Saturday, October 22nd, from 10AM to noon.

Can’t wait for November and the live shows!

Antti. 

It’s official!

“The Lows & The Highs” will be released in the German speaking Europe (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) through the wonderful Kyr Records. We have no release date set yet, but we’ll let you know - probably along the lines of early 2012.

Check them out - they don’t have a super extensive back catalog, but quality definitely comes before quantity here:

http://www.kyr-records.com/

…since it’s been awhile. Looks like “The Lows & The Highs” will be out in October through good old Solmu Records. The album was mastered by the wonderful Doug Van Sloun (Bright Eyes, Cursive) and was recently OK’d by me and the label, so we’re pretty much finished there. The artwork for the album is progressing nicely and looks great, and we’re also planning to start band rehearsals pretty soon, next week probably. We’ll be a quintet!

I’ve even started to record demos for a third album. I already have quite a few songs to choose from.

There’s also a bunch of other interesting stuff coming up, but it’s too early to talk about those - other than a new website and a video, which will be out… umm, some time soon.

A

We’re getting close.

Me and Petri Myllys (my mixing and occasional recording engineer, who’s been a true stroke of luck to me) have set a final listening check date for April 11th. I’ve booked a mastering session with Doug Van Sloun of Focus Mastering for April 27th. He’s done most of the Saddle Creek stuff, such as all my favourite Bright Eyes and Cursive albums.

Now this is where the pressure sets in. I’ve lost all objectivity with the tracks long ago, so right now all I can do is guess. Are my vocal tracks good enough? Did we emphasise on the good stuff enough? Are the lyrics going to deliver what I wanted? Which tracks should I leave out? I’m proud of what I’ve done, but will anybody else like it?

I wasn’t near this nervous when we were finishing up my first album. Then again, I hadn’t worked near as hard for that one. There’s a bunch of stuff I would do differently now, but then again - that’s a classic interview cliché, so I suppose that happens every time.

There’s a chance we might wait until fall for the album release - summer is not a very good time to put out music. And there’s also a chance I’ll suffer a nervous breakdown by that time. It’s a weird mix of excitation and scariness.

Antti.

Here’s the cover for the new album, designed by Kirsti Maula!

Hey!

Here’s the first song off my second album, “The Lows & The Highs”. It’s a song about birth, reproduction and death. Hope you like it.

It’s also on SoundCloud for slightly better sound quality:

http://soundcloud.com/anttirok/koria-kitten-riot-mother

The instrumentation was as follows:

Tuomas Lankinen - percussion

Ida Olsonen - cello

Mari Salonen - viola

Jannika Lahin - violin

Petri Myllys - grand piano

Antti Reikko - vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass guitar, percussion, Roland R8 drum machine

The first KKR album now on Spotify!

Came across this photo from an instore show at Levykauppa X, Helsinki, about a year ago. The backdrop says “you’re a poo bum”. Am not.

Photo by Laura Larmio.

A few non-Finnish people have been wondering about how to get hold of the first KKR album. The CD is only out in Finland, but the easiest way would be to order it from either straight from Solmu Records:

http://solmu.info/shop/

or from Record Shop X:

http://www.recordshopx.com/

Both are very reliable, and the CD will probably cost you around 15 € (which is about 20 $ or 12 £) with the mailing costs included.

The album’s available worldwide as a download on iTunes though.

A

A few people have been asking for lyrics, so I figured I’d post them here. If you buy a physical copy of the album (so 2000, I know) you’ll get them beautifully handwritten by my friend Illusia! Cool, huh? Anyway:

The Streets & Their Names

Oh God, what was I thinking of?

Her voice is strong while mine is soft

Oh God, what was I thinking of?

Her wings are open, mine are not

She’s far higher away from the ground than I am

Oh God, she knows me and my lot

She knows I’m lost and out of luck

Some doors are better left unknocked

Oh God, what was I thinking of?

There might be familiar faces

But I don’t know where I stand

I might know the streets and their names

But I don’t know where I am

Golden

Felt like flying to the moon today

But nothing ever goes my way

The gravity was in the way

And if it turned around

The bed I lay in would crush me in the ceiling

Way before I even got to say that “I…”

And stare at the floor

And just keep quiet after all

There’s a monster on my pillow case

That would not let me sleep at night

And won’t give in without a fight

It feeds on hearts and the only chance I have now

Is to get mine back from you somehow

And tell you that “you might know this, but I…”

And stare at the floor

And just keep quiet after all

If I’m not careful I might lose me

I’m just as small as one can be

And if had the chance I’d ask you why you still seem like you…

But it’s not my business after all

Postcards to the Moon

On fire, ecstatic

I’m tired, I’m panicked

I’m free of all others

I need more mothers

Sending postcards to the moon

Wanting too much too soon

I’ve had it, it’s over

These things work slower

Than sending postcards to the moon

I’m trying

Who’s counting?

Procrastinating

I’m breathing

I’m thinking

My ship is sinking

I’ve got my present and I’m sick of it

Don’t like my past because it’s over with

I’m way too hooked in my delusion of karma

Milgram Experiment

He smiles to you

Will do favors too

‘Cause he finally found you

Calls you by the name

Seems to know the fame

But he doesn’t like you

He’ll give you choice

Says it’s your own voice

But it isn’t like you

Says we can all be kings

But it’s who dares wins

‘Cause he doesn’t like you

He’ll throw you overboard

He wears a uniform

Says you’re a thunderstorm

Gives you guns that kill you

He wears a white lab coat

Says it’s not your fault

But he doesn’t like you

He is not like you

The Wedding Waltz

And love will come like a sunny day

Like a big, slow train

And end the game

Your friends are wild

Your family proud

Your four feet standing safe on ground

And when they sway to your wedding waltz

We sit and watch without a sound

In a world that is full of fake heroes and heroin

You finally found your place

And then you say that it’s no big deal

But it might just be the biggest deal of all

You choose the soil to grow your roots

And I sometimes wish I had them too

‘Cause I know you’ll love your baby girl

And it’s people like you who should run the world

The one that is full of fake heroes and heroin

But you finally found your place

And then you say that it’s no big deal

But it might just be the biggest deal of all

You know - it might just be the biggest deal of all

Waiting for a Resolution

There was a time when everything seemed so nice and in order

Everything’s fine when you’re drinking way too much

I stumbled home and casual acquaintances deleted my number

Waiting for life to take me out and turn me into someone

I’m waiting for a resolution

Still waiting for the revolution

I’m waiting for the time to come

To put my two feet on the ground

There was a time when I was fond of falling into depression

I don’t know why

It’s just the chems inside my brain

Reality bites when your emotions roll around on the coasters

Wasting a life under the sheets

Turning into a bum

I’m all I need to satisfy

And I’m tired of waiting here

There was a time when all the thrill turned into hangover

Everything sucks when you’re thinking way too much

Taking our time when they turned on the lights

And bumming smokes in the corner

Afraid of the time when I put my feet on the ground

Every Time We Had to Say Goodbye

She made a birthday card

To the man who never gave her kisses

Who never knew the things she misses

Sent her wages off to the dogs and cats and poor and homeless

Though he said animals were soulless

But every time he changed the subject

She grew a bit more tired to object

The TV news of beasts and monsters

Numbed her down the more she watched them

Like every time we had to say goodbye

And every time we made each other cry

She said she only wanted to write a book

Or paint a picture

But normal life would seem to trick her

Claimed she loved her job

‘Cause it paid for bills and wine and smoking

And I could tell she was not joking

But every time her bosses blamed her

She grew a bit more scared to answer

For every thought they tried to outrun

She cared a bit less about the outcome

So if the story’s fun and pointless

And if the character’s good and clueless

Then what’s the point in writing formal?

And what’s the point in acting normal?

25

Twenty-five

I’m young and alive

Alone in a bad apartment

A little anxious, but mostly okay

A little scared, but in general feeling fine

Twenty-five

I’m younger than my mom and dad in their twenty-somethings

No children, but I’m staying alive

No car but the shoes I wear are mine

Still feel the wind up in the tree

Still feel the world calling

I wanna go to sleep

Still feel the fire burning inside

Still feel the tide turning

I wanna go to sleep

Still feel the fire burning inside

It’s still there though I thought I lost it

I had a plan, but now I’m twenty-five

Overwhelmed by how much I wasted time

…I wanna go to sleep with you

At the End of the World

Do you remember my name?

Do you remember my face?

Do you remember how we started to melt away?

Do you remember it all?

Do you remember at all?

Do you remember how we thought we were here to stay?

And if the end of the world

Came in a horrible storm

Would you know what exactly was the final score?

Or if the fountain of youth

Was lost for the lack of its use

Would you be able to change though you remembered all?

And when the end of the world comes

We’ll sleep in our cars

And be glad that we went through it all

We made mistakes

But came out of our caves

And went on ‘till we conquered it all

Do you remember my name?

Do you remember my face?

‘Cause sometimes I kinda wish I could forget it all

4 AM Cars

4 AM cars

Always blue or almost black

They have their wipers on although it’s hardly raining

Roaring past

The sound they make

It only echoes for split seconds

Almost spaceships

Almost homes

So violently alone and balanced with yourself

That if you felt something

You’d probably cry your heart out

Wondering if the passing drivers share the thought

Because at 4 AM it’s the only one you get

Your face is too far to recall

Not sure you existed after all

I wish you said to me

We’re almost there

4 AM bars

Feel like talking but you won’t

Because you probably would not make much sense at all

Then stumbling home

Completely soused and disconnected from the world

Sleep is closer every footstep

Thought I’d write a little blog note since I haven’t done that in a while.

So yeah, the album’s still in the mix - partly because after I’d already decided I was finished with recording, I suddenly got two more song ideas and, well, being the idiot I am, I decided to record them too. But I’m glad I did, because I think the album benefited from them very much.

Another thing that’s been delaying the KKR album is my day job - I work as a film editor and I just spent the last 3 months of 2010 editing my first feature film. There’s a teaser trailer on YouTube, check it out!

The film, called Elokuu, was directed by Oskari Sipola and also features a wonderful score by Joel Melasniemi. Its theatrical release date in Finland is 8th of April. Go see it, I’m very proud!

Anyways, now that I’m finished with the editing, I’m considering it my primary task to get the album finished. I also found a perfect photo for the front cover, it’ll be great!

Love, Antti.

My second album is now getting mixed. It’ll probably take a month or two.

Also, I haven’t played a show in a while, but I’m playing one at Helsinki’s Club Liberté on November 10th with Markus Perttula and Laura Airaksinen.

I’ve been working hard this week recording the vocals for the album. I’ve done five songs now and there’s still six left - and I still have to write the lyrics to one. Talk about last minute.

I actually did these five twice - once I’d laid them down once, I realized my mic choice was a bit off, and decided I’d redo them. I’m glad I did tho, it’s much better now.

Last weekend I recorded some strings with three lovely women. It was very different than any recording session I’ve been to before, but most of it turned out great. And boy oh boy - if you’re ever planning to do the same, prepare for a LOT of tuning. I think it was about 70% tuning and 30 % recording. But you just gotta love people who can actually play their instruments.

Also, I saw Anvil! The Story Of Anvil today, and loved it. And as an obscure artist nobody’s heard of, I could relate to Lips and Robb totally. I’ve seen the audiences of five people and received the “thanks, but it’s not what we’re looking for” -letters from record companies. But they’ve had that happen hundreds of times, I’ve only had a few. I doubt I could go on as long as they have. Go see it, it’s one of the best music-related films I ever saw.

It’s so me - I have decided on eleven songs for the album, and they’re about 2/3 recorded. However, I only have lyrics to 5. Writing lyrics is always a lot of work for me somehow.

Anyhoo, today I finished writing a song I’m probably going to call “Playing Truant”. It has a weird mandolin part and the choir of six people I mentioned in an earlier post.

At the moment it looks like I might be able to get a string quartet to play on a few songs. Needless to say, I’m EXCITED. Also, I’ll probably have a pedal steel & dobro session this week with the ever-wonderful Olli.

If anybody knows where I can get my hands on a celesta, please give me a hint! I’m still also dreaming of a Mellotron, but it might be a bit too far-fetched. I have a dogma of not using samples on this album (which, naturally, I’ve broken at least once already), only real instruments. And no, I don’t consider the Mellotron a sampler.

A

I’m just about to head for the summer cabin, where I’ve been doing most of my recording recently. I have my mandolin with, as well as the zither I bought from a flea market a year ago.

Yesterday I recorded a choir (well, “choir”) of six people, which turned out great, and the day before that I did a track with harpsichord (thanks, Ida!). It’s amazing how people are happy to help if you just ask them.