”There are two ways to answer this kind of a question. First school relies on raw facts and answers: ”Anssi Kela was born at Kätilöopisto maternity hospital in Helsinki on 29th July in 1972, and is nowadays a 180 cm tall and 60 kg weighing young singer-songwriter. His debute album Nummela was released in spring 2001, and if measured by length, it sold about 1,5 kilometers, and if you multiply that by two, you get almost the same distance he ran in Cooper’s test in 1992. Since those days Kela hasn’t been interested in running, so his present shape is unknown.”
Something like that would probably be written in the new ”Who’s who” book if I had returned the inquiry form I got from the editors. Anyway, there is still the other school, who sees the question ”Who is Anssi Kela?” as a big playground of existentialism. This school would begin philosophizising with a sweaty upper lip and probably would end up raising the final question: ”Is Anssi Kela anybody?”
I prefer facts.”
That’s how Anssi would describe himself. Since his debute album in 2001, Anssi Kela has been one of Finland’s foremost artists whose songs can be compared with the works of Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young, Tom Petty and several other internationally renowned artists. He knows his roots and adds up some modern spices to create songs that touch people.
”Some of my songs come from real life and some from the running tracks of my brain.
It’s a classic cocktail of facts and fiction!”
The only song Anssi admits to describe his own life is ”NUMMELA”, the name track of his debute album. Since those days a lot has changed, being a popular artist turned into being a less popular artist – except in the eyes of some dedicated fans. For the greater audience he made a comeback with his album ”ANSSI KELA” in 2013. The album raised him back in the front line of Finnish artists, introducing current music with a little touch of nostalgic 1980’s. With his forthcoming, 6th solo album, ”NOSTALGIAA”, Anssi continues where he left with the previous album. The new album will be out in Finland on May 15th 2015 and Anssi will be on the road in summer with his band.
Some news from the recent years:
THE FIFTH SOLO ALBUM is on it’s way. Anssi has many new songs but he’s making more of them. He has a new record company, Live Nation Finland, which has only a few artists, so they can give all their attention to Anssi’s forthcoming album. Yes, Live Nation is also his booking agency, that’s what makes it so special. The album should be out on March 22nd 2013. The first single Levoton tyttö is already being played in radios and seems to become a huge hit.
Anssi’s second book MATKAMUISTOJA was published in May 2012. It’s all based on true life of Anssi and his great band. How you invent sports for long rides in a tour bus or for cruise ship corridors. Or what happens when you name yourself as Risto Rante at hotel reception. Lots of wonderful details and lots of mad laughter!
Anssi and his band are on the road again in autumn 2011! PIENI JUHLAKIERTUE celebrates the 10th anniversary of Anssi’s solo carreer by giving the audience a possibility to travel back in time to 2001. The two drummers, acoustic guitar and old Gretsch guitar, and of course the old-time setlist have returned! The second half of the concert brings audience back to the future, you might hear new tunes from the forthcoming album! Check the dates here.
If you wish to have all singles as recorded versions, plus the same songs in live format and two great new songs, the new ANSSI KELA COMPILATION ”SINGLET 2000-2010” is perfect for you! The live-cd was recorded on Viking Isabella ship in February 2010. The songs can be also listened on Spotify.
THE FOURTH SOLO ALBUM ”AUKIO” was released on 09.09.09. It is a concept album meaning that all the 11 song lyrics are linked as one story. The story takes place in a village next to a copper mine, which is about to be shut down due to the bad times. An accident happens and the main character of the story gets buried alive in the mine. The musical style is said to be ”from Dire Straits to Pink Floyd”. You can listen the first single Aamu here.
ANSSI’S BOOK ”KESÄ KALEVI SORSAN KANSSA” was published in August 2008. It’s a story of Johannes, who has injured in a car accident and lost his memory of last two weeks. His best and only friend Markus is a bad liar. One day Johannes meets an imaginary friend, who happens to be Kalevi Sorsa, an ex-prime minister of Finland. With his help Johannes learns many things of the lost two weeks and life as a whole. Here’s another good reason to learn some Finnish!
We advise all fans to go and see the ANSSI KELA YOUTUBE CHANNEL! It contains different kinds of music, travel diary and reports. Open the channel.