Q.: Tell us about yourself …

JPP.: Jussi-Pekka Parikka, 28 years old, universal hassler.

Q.: You started DJing before you producing ? Would you now consider yourself a DJ or producer ?

JPP.: Actually i produced “music” before i started to dj… I made first tracks around the early-90’s and my first records were bought on 1995. I can’t say that “i’m a dj” or “i’m a producer”… I’m a dj that composes music. I’m also a producer, that spins records.

Q.: What is your studio setup like? Do you use a laptop at all ?

JPP.: Now this is quite boring, as i do everything with my pc… So unfortunately no gear-list with all x0x -rolands…
If I’d do a live-pa, i’d use a laptop for it. But at the moment, i don’t (though it’s under the future plans).

Q.: What about for your DJ sets, what equipment do you use ?

JPP.: I’m an old-fashioned dj, so i use turntables and 12″ vinyls. Some like to use mp3/wav based systems, but for me, the feel of 12″ is a must.

Q.: Do you ever encounter any trouble at the places you are playing at ?

JPP.: Yes, of course. Not much though, but something. Actually, last october one dude in Germany didn’t give me a lift to the airport, so i had to take a taxi for 290km to get there… But 99% of the events everything is done professionally.

Q.: About your own projects; is there anything you’re working on now?

JPP.: Well, of course, i’m doing new jussi-pekka -tracks for frozen north recordings. Also some other stuff coming up on other labels, mostly remixes. Oh and a long project, a monoder lp, it’s mostly dubby techno / art kinda listening stuff…

Q.: Why do you think minimal has suddenly become hugely fashionable ?

JPP.: That’s a hard one! Well, for me it’s really nice music, i mean, not too much corny elements or so. Just the small things that make the tracks roll and groove. I guess no-one can tell why something is liked… but about the fashion, well surely all big dj’s have something to do with that.

Q.: Can we move on to technology you might be using? Traktor? Final Scratch?

JPP.: What comes to composing, i’m always ready to explore new synts/drumsounds or samples, what ever… but djing, i trust on 12″… Sure many people use Final Scratch or such, but it’s not just for me. At least not at the moment…

Q.: Do you ever incorporate any live instruments into your work?

JPP.: Yes, sure. I have an older deep-house track called “iltapala” that has live percussions and a saxophone. But the problem is, that don’t know that many musicians that play “real” instruments. And i don’t feel comfortable in working with total strangers…

Q.: Why “Frozen North” ? Only because Finland ?

JPP.: I wanted to have the name something about the winter, north and so on… and in the end it’s “Frozen North”. In my opinion it’s a cool name (literally) as it makes an image about snow and ice etc. Hah, would be a bit daft to call my label “sunny beach day @ ibiza” or such!

Q.: Drop us a line about finland, the scene, club, record store and other artist ….

JPP.: Finland in general is quite hard for electronic music. Of course there are a few clubs around the country, but mostly in Helsinki and mostly of more pop-music, like trance, hard house, etc crap… Sometimes there are really decent parties, but not too much like resident clubs or such. As “a club to visit”, i’d say Rose Garden in Helsinki and as “The Record Store” Voltti in Tampere (best collection of Jamaica 7″).
There are quite a many talented musicians in Finland, althought not too many of them are know around the globe. To name a few, i’d go for Sami Koivikko (shitkatapult), Tuomas Salmela (20:20 vision, phonogenic audio), Kalle-M (Frozen North, iron box music), Star you star me, Hulkkonen, Sam&Gigi, Zentex etcetc. Too many to name them all.

Q.: Tell me about your opinion to start yout own frozen north label ?

JPP.: I finished my studies in the end of 2004 and had made tracks for 4-5 years or so… after spend some time as unemployed, i got a suggestion that i’d start my own label… My friend Jukka had made his label 2year before (called Vuo~records) and i was also a part of it, so i had some experience what kinda it would be to run a label…
So now, after 1 year of business (8 months after the first release) and 4 releases, i feel it was a good desicion for me. Now i can release my own music and support unknown finnish artists. The future will show where the label and i end up to, but at the moment, we’re both doing well

Q.: Which releases coming next on the Label ?

JPP.: The current release is frzn004, my own “the snake re-poisoned” which is my older track “the snake” remixed by me and Jori Hulkkonen. Next one will be by Phil Stumpf (duplex 100) and after that, there are 4-5 ready ep’s with only finnish music. Timo Anttila will drop a great ep on 007, Samuli Kemppi (of Sam&Gigi) will do 009, Perttu Lindroos and Miika Salo will appear on 011 as the Finland’s newtalents etc. Great music coming up!

Q.: We know you a friend of share your own livesets. What do you thing about the hysteria from the major labels about the mp3 sharing ?

JPP.: Well, as a owner of a label and an artist, i kinda understand their point of a view… But for me and my music, i don’t mind if someone plays a dj-set and shares it in different forums, soulseek etc. For me it’s just good promotion and i feel sharing mixes is a part of this culture. But what comes to earning money with illegal music, that i don’t accept at all. For example mp3-shops that get the files from JiM, or dj’s that play ware-mp3s and get payed for that.
Of course it’s a hard issue, whether labels are loosing money because of music-sharing, or just because that britney spears hit was already made on both of the previous cds…

Q.: Which DJ Set from which artist download you self ?

JPP.: The last set i downloaded, was my and samuli kemppi’s back-to-back -set from Mbar, helsinki. we didn’t record it for some reason, but some nice guy did and shared it. Thanks for that!

Q.: So many people out there dream of having their own label then find it tougher when they actually set one up…

JPP.: Hmm, well, personally i found it easier than i imagined… But i guess i had a lot of good luck, as i didn’t need to hassle between different distributors and i have some sort of academic degree on business (or what ever).

Q.: Do you play next time December / Januar three time in germany. What do you think about the german scene, and what the different across to finland scene.

JPP.: Actually they’re quite a lot the same… Although in Finland it’s smaller and more ug, but still, people react the same way to same tracks. Although in Finland, you need to always think of the tracks you play, in Germany people accept different kinda music more easily.

Q.: I saw your photo as a icehockey player. You like and/or use this sport ?

JPP.: Heh, actually that was my only time as a icehockey-goalie, but it was quite fun! I like to watch icehockey every now and then, but i’m not a big fan of tv-sports.

Q.: Which sport like you too ?

JPP.: My all time favourite is a japanese martal-art called Taido, which i did for about 8 years… but nowadays i’m old and in bad shape, so i just walk around with my dog

Q.: This year we have the soccer world game in germany - do you visit ( or plan to visit) one game of the tournament ?

JPP.: To make it short: no. Soccer isn’t that interesting (and now all dutch and turkish will kill me )

… thanks for your time and enjoy ! UMP3