Category: Music

  • UOYMAI (single, 2023)

    UOYMAI (single, 2023)

    UOYMAI. I’m happy to share my first single release in three years! It will be out this Friday on all streaming platforms.

    Sometimes writing a song is like taming a bull. And sometimes a bird flies in through your open studio window and writes the song for you. This song is latter kind. It was done impulsively and finished before I had time to reflect on it.

    I played an early voice memo version to my friends and they said they could listen to the groove on loop for six minutes straight. Another friend commented, it sounds like I am in love, which is very much true.

    UOYMAI is based on two components: a syncopated repeated rhythm over a steady beat, and a simple descending melody, that is contrasted by two alternating bass lines. Although I enjoy drifting into complex structures and ideas, I often gravitate towards simplicity in production. Here I aimed for an even simpler form than usually. There is funky beauty in simple things!

    The title is a nod to my friend Jeremie Rinaldi (@chiefofnothing), who gave me my favorite t-shirt. The mix was done by my awesome friend Connor Shafran, and the mastering was done by Manu Schlindwein.

    —

    Kumea Sound Releases Vibrant New Single “UOYMAI”

    Helsinki-based musician and producer, Lauri Wuolio, better known as Kumea Sound, is set to return to the music scene with his first release in three years, after the success of his critically acclaimed album, “Real Music for Unreal Times: Volume 2.” On Friday, October 6th, audiences across all major streaming platforms will be treated to his latest single, “UOYMAI.”

    Radiating optimism, the track seamlessly combines a consistent beat with a syncopated handpan rhythm and artfully arranged samples of synths, piano, and guitar. The outcome? A masterfully crafted track that’s as deceptively simple as it is irresistibly catchy.

    “UOYMAI” serves as a nod to the art of minimalism, emphasizing that even in our ever-complicating world, there’s profound strength in simplicity.

    “UOYMAI”
    Composed and produced by Lauri Wuolio/Kumea Sound
    Mixed by Connor Shafran
    Mastered by Manu Schlindwein
    Released on Future Rust

    OUT EVERYWHERE 6.10.2023

  • Real Music for Unreal Times: Vol. 2 (2020)

    Real Music for Unreal Times: Vol. 2 (2020)

    In the spring of 2020, when the coronavirus pandemic began, the Helsinki-based percussionist Lauri Wuolio ended up recording his new album at a project studio he built under his loft bed. Despite being literally an “indie bedroom album”, it sounds grand and spacious, as if it were recorded in an imaginary wooden church overtaken by nature. Wuolio has described the album as “ambient chamber music from the future”.

    The ten tracks were played with eclectic choice of acoustic and electronic instruments. Wuolio’s cupolas are accompanied by the Finnish bowed lyre, or jouhikko, and different viola da gambas (all played by the virtuosic Ilkka Heinonen) and cello (Iida Sinivalo). The organic instruments are contrasted by the distinctly characteristic sound of the experimental synthesizer Lyra-8 (played by Wuolio) that can sound like anything from a rusty harmonica to ancient choir of sea monsters.

    Recorded in full isolation during the pandemic, the album is a deep reflection on the spectrum of various shared emotions the world experienced during the first 6 months of isolation and lockdowns. It is the second volume in Kumea Sound’s Real Music for Unreal Times series, that explores spontaneous reactions to unexpected events.

  • Oceans of Sadness, Mountains of Hope (2017)

    Oceans of Sadness, Mountains of Hope (2017)

    Kumea Sound’s third album, Ocean’s of Sadness, Mountains of Hope, marks the artist’s first foray into the ambient chamber music genre. Offering a striking contrast to the more serious tone of its predecessor, the album was originally recorded as a personal musical diary in June 2017 and was released only after receiving encouragement from friends who recognized its potential.

    The album was released as a numbered vinyl edition of just 20 copies and in digital format, and the vinyl edition sold out within 30 minutes of being announced.

    Featuring a captivating mix of handpans, synthesizers, and samplers, the album maintains a hopeful and playful tone. The combination of traditional handpan melodies and modern electronic elements seamlessly merge to create a harmonious soundscape that transcends genres.

    Ocean’s of Sadness, Mountains of Hope is a testament to Kumea Sound’s versatility and artistic growth, as the artist broadens his expression with more compositional elements along with improvised material. The album offers listeners an uplifting and immersive journey that is both reflective and inspiring. With its unique blend of musical styles, Ocean’s of Sadness, Mountains of Hope delivers an enchanting listening experience.