JÄÄPORTIT is not a doom band by any stretch of the definition and neither is it a metal band. Instead the sound of Jääportit can best be described as electronic ambient drift, which is created through layers of synthesizers, and represents the cosmic side of the music. Jääportit is a one-man band by Tuomas M. Mäkelä and is coming from Finland. The name Jääportit is a Finnish word and could be translated in English as Icegates or Frostportal.
The story in short: Jääportit was found somewhere in autumn 1997 when Tuomas Mäkelä got interested in creating darkwave-sounding music. During the next half a year he composed approximately half an hour of material for his first demo and decided to release the songs on a CD-R titled "Halki lumisen metsän". The material on the demo didn't convince numbers, but nevertheless gained interest from a small record company named Noitavasara. A contract was signed about the next album, and all through the next autumn Tuomas begun to create new material. In spring 1999 he had a full-length in his hands, and the album "Kauan koskematon" was released on a music cassette. Despite the aging format, all 500 copies made were sold. The album was a lot more mature and original in material than the demo, and it received a surprisingly good response from both the media and the regular music listeners.
In autumn 1999 Tuomas started composing material for the next album, but wasn't content with the quality of music he had created with his old equipment, and the songs were left waiting for better times. Noitavasara quit business and at times it even seemed that this project was not worth continuing. For roughly a year Tuomas was playing the keyboards in two different rock bands, but got tired of the band circles and decided to concentrate on his own music once again.
In 2002 Firebox Records contacted Jääportit after finding some old songs from the Internet, and offered a record contract. After signing the contract Tuomas started to compose new material and remix the old ones. All this he compiled to one package and released it under the title "Uumenissa", which reflects an inner journey beyond the ice gates. "Uumenissa" was released in summer 2004 and has attracted positive response, even from the metal audience who generally resent ambient music.
After "Uumenissa" was released, a record label called Foreshadow invited Jääportit to be featured on a J.R.R. Tolkien themed compilation album. Jääportit made one epic 15 minute long track for the compilation, and asked Masa Yardse from the band Ruotomieli to play acoustic guitar on it. "Sonic Visions of Middle-Earth" was released in early 2005, and Jääportit truly stands out from the other songs with its original style.
In the future, a new full-length Jääportit-album will be released. Tuomas has already created some material, and the outcome will probably again be something different and unheard.
In addition to his musical career, Tuomas has also been creating visual art. In early 2004 Markus Marjomaa asked him to make covers that "differ from the usual" for the "Bathos"-album of his band Aarni, and the watercoloured booklet has aroused a lot of attention and wonder among the viewers. Also the visual side of Jääportit is solely credited to Tuomas. |
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Line-up
Tuomas M. Mäkelä - keyboards, sound and music
Discography
Sonic Visions of Middle-earth compilation (Foreshadow, 2004)
Uumenissa (Firebox Records, 2004)
Kauan koskematon (Noitavasara, 1999)
Halki lumisen metsän (self-financed, 1998)
Samples
Contact
HOMEPAGE: www.jaaportit.net
E-MAIL: Jääportit |
