Kepa Lehtinen has released his new album titled ‘In The Heart of Winter’. Such a heartfelt, personal, and cinematic flare. That is the first words that come to mind when listening to Kepa Lehtinen. When I first heard the theremin, it was from the likes of Jimmy Page, who, to be brutally honest, gave me the impression that it was more of a gimmick than an instrument. Kepa shows with his music and, in particular, with ‘In The Heart of Winter’, that not only is it an instrument, but can take the lead with grace, sadness, and beauty.
But, that is one cog in a giant wheel. This is a soundscape. A beautiful set of books lined in harmony within that library in your heart.
Best if listened to alone. Shades drawn. Cognac by your side. Ingest, inhale, inherit. This is what music was always meant to convey. Personal.
Check out our other features with Kepa Lehtinen HERE.
About Kepa Lehtinen
Kepa Lehtinen is known for his forward-thinking works for piano and theremin but has extended himself even further this time out.
“I didn’t plan a freak show,” he says, “but, now that the album is finished, I noticed that there’s a saw, a prepared piano, and, of course, a theremin on it. As a sound designer, I put a lot of emphasis on the sound of my music. I’ve noticed that my interest has shifted from synthesis to traditional acoustic methods of creation. Maybe I also went crazy about artistic freedom after all the discipline of TV work.”
Album highlights include “In The Heart Of Winter,” about which Kepa says “Winter is, above all, a dark season in Finland. It’s also the state of mind in which I’ve written my best compositions. Sadness isn’t bad if you can draw fuel from it.”
“Lake Theme For Saw, Theremin, And Piano” is an adaptation of a theme Lehtinen wrote for a short film. “Theremin and saw together is something you have to experience for yourself,” he says. The saw part is played by the legendary Puka Oinonen, which only adds to its impact. “Waltz For The Sleeping Helsinki” is dark and ethereal, written for piano, theremin, and double bass performed by his brother Ari Lehtinen.
“Waltz For Prepared Piano” uses all the wonderful sounds a piano can make when used in an unorthodox manner. It’s a true earworm and one of Lehtinen’s most off the wall works.
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