I’ve been interested in woodwind instruments for the majority of my life. I find it highly fascinating that a piece of pipe can make a world of sounds with human breath. I’ve been exploring different woodwinds from different traditions, as well as crafting my own instruments. I focus on low woodwinds and modified instruments.
As a musician I value collaborative and transcultural improvisation as a catalyst for making new music. As a composer I work on the ambiguous borders between pre-composed material and improvisation. My view over improvisation is often real-time composing.
My approach to instrument making is similar to being a musician. I try to bring together past experiences and styles that I have encountered in my life, crafting the product to be an outcome that feels natural to me. I aim to make flutes that produce a sound that touches me.
As a green woodworker I produce simple, yet effective everyday objects and aim to find the balance between form and function. Currently I’m focusing especially on end-grain pole lathe turning.
I try not to divide my work into different boxes. Music, instrument making and woodcraft exists in a cycle that feeds from one another. Being a musician has made me search for new sound aesthetics. I find the bodily engagement and close connection with wood while working with hand tools to be an important aspect that makes me want to work more with green woodworking methods. By having that knowledge I can also craft instruments in a manner that makes me feel connected to the instruments as a musician but also as a woodworker and a human. These instruments again inspire me to improvise in a different way and continue that ever lasting search for new sonic worlds.
Bio
In English
Jaakko Arola is a Finnish musician, composer, improviser, instrument maker and a green woodworker. Arola plays a large variety of woodwinds, focusing especially on low woodwinds and modified instruments.
Arola works as a musician, composer, sound designer and instrument maker in multiple projects. He values collaborative and trans-cultural improvisation as a tool. In addition to woodwinds Jaakko uses live electronics and field recordings as a part of his practice.
As a composer and bandleader Arola tries to find the balance between pre-composed material and improvisation. His view over improvisation is often real-time composing.
Besides being a performing musician Arola works as a woodworker, crafting wind instruments and everyday wooden objects.
Suomeksi
Jaakko Arola on suomalainen muusikko, säveltäjä, improvisoija, soitinrakentaja sekä puukäsityöläinen. Arola taitaa laajan kirjon erilaisia puupuhallinsoittimia, keskittyen erityisesti mataliin puupuhaltimiin sekä modifioituihin soittimiin. Arola toimii muusikkona, säveltäjänä, äänisuunnittelijana sekä soitinrakentajana useassa projektissa. Arola arvostaa yhteisöllistä sekä kulttuurienvälistä improvisointia työskentelyn välineenä. Puupuhaltimien lisäksi Jaakko käyttää taiteellisessa työskentelyssä hyödykseen mm. live-elektroniikkaa sekä kenttä-äänitteitä.
Säveltäjänä ja yhtyeenjohtajana Arola yrittää löytää sävellysten sekä improvisoinnin yhteensulavuutta. Hän näkeekin improvisoinnin usein hetkessä säveltämisenä.
Esiintyvän muusikon lisäksi Arola työskentelee myös puukäsityöläisenä, valmistaen puupuhallinsoittimia sekä puisia käyttöesineitä.