BJØRKØ RELEASE SINGLE AND VIDEO FOR ‘MAGENTA (Ft. MARISKA)’

BJØRKØ
RELEASE SINGLE AND VIDEO FOR ‘MAGENTA (Ft. MARISKA)’ 

DEBUT ALBUM ‘HEARTROT’ due 1st DECEMBER via SVART RECORDS

A couple of months ago Amorphis guitarist Tomi Koivusaari announced his long-awaited solo project BJØRKØ, which features an array of stellar guest vocals and collaborations. The second single to be released from that body of work is ‘Magenta’, featuring Mariska. The debut upcoming album Heartrot is due 1st December 2023 via Svart Records.

Watch the music video to ‘Magenta (Ft. Mariska)’ here.
Stream ‘Magenta (Ft. Mariska)’ here.

One of two songs on the album that are in the Finnish language, it is the softest song on the record in terms of sound but not content – it is a raw, feral love song. ‘Magenta’ is one of the oldest songs on the album and also the one that started the whole project. “Originally, the piece was a floating ten minute instrumental with a slowly building crescendo towards the end. When Mariska agreed to join and perform vocals, I had to rearrange the song into a more traditional form. I let Mariska freely write the lyrics and the vocal melody.”, comments Koivusaari.

Mariska is one of the best respected female artists in Finland and, performing in her native Finnish language, she is also known as a successful lyric writer for other domestic artists. “Her attitude is genuine and she has style. She fits the atmosphere of the song perfectly, and she’s also one of the best lyricists in the country”, says Koivusaari.

The spectacular video accompanying the single is shot and directed by Antti Kuivalainen and Jani Tanskanen.

For years, Koivusaari has been the one of the creative backbones of Amorphis, a band synonymous with innovation in heavy music. Now, with BJØRKØ (“Birch Island” in English), Koivusaari ventures beyond band dynamics to showcase his distinct artistic vision.

The album is far from a solo endeavour in the traditional sense. It features an all-star lineup of vocalists in multiple languages, contributing to an atmosphere that’s rich and multi-layered. The talent of Waltteri Väyrynen (Opeth, ex-Paradise Lost), Lauri Porra (Stratovarius), and Janne Lounatvuori (Hidria Spacefolk) adds a rock-solid foundation to Koivusaari’s artistry.

Unfettered by the structural limitations of a traditional band, Heartrot stands as a testament to Koivusaari’s versatility and depth. “It’s a collection of various songs and points of view,” he says. “I didn’t want a traditional approach to limit my artistic expression.”

Heartrot serves as an emotional panorama, each track capturing a unique sentiment. Koivusaari describes it as “a soundtrack to an imaginary film” replete with a “strong visual connection to nature and an ever-present sense of melancholy.”