Scarlett Thread - biography+weblink

Biography

Scarlet Thread was founded by Jani Timoniemi in 1995. At the time, he did some recordings with the help of a few session musicians. The first actual line-up was formed between 1999 and 2000, when Scarlet Thread participated the 'Tuonen Tytär: A Tribute To Finnish Progressive' (Mellow Records MMP385) compilation CD which was put together by the Finnish Colossus Ry. The band made a version of Sahti's song 'Säikkyvä'. Since then, the line-up has changed quite drastically, and only bass player Jukka Jokikokko has remained in addition to Jani.

The musical direction also started to become what it is nowadays. With violin and flute coming along, the sound of the band got some folkish feeling to it. The next publication was again a compilation composed by Colossus Ry, called 'Kalevala: A Finnish Progressive Rock Epic' (Musea FGBG 4463.AR, 2003). The song was 'Pimeästä Pohjolasta', which was taken from the band's first album 'Psykedeelisiä Joutsenlauluja' (2003, Mellow Records MMP448), published by Mellow Records. This album was released worldwide, and got some quite nice reviews.

Just before the release of 'Psykedeelisiä Joutsenlauluja', Jani bumped into his friend from chilhood, Sami Hiltunen. Together, they became the basis of the current line-up. They hooked up with drummer, Ile Harjula, and two violin players, Erja Lahtinen and Nelli Rönkä. In December of 2003, they recorded some new songs, one of which was 'Haarasilta'. It was Erja's composition, and it ended up on a local folk club's CD 'Oulu Folk 2004' (Oulu Folk R.Y. OFCD-101, 2004). They also started making some gigs with bass player Kimmo Kuoppamaa, which at the time was a new to Scarlet Thread.

During 2004, the line-up changed again. Nelli left the band, and Jukka re-joined the band. Ile was replaced by Jere Nivukoski, who was Sami's old friend. In 2006, this group recorded 'Valheista Kaunein' (Musea FGBG 4670 AR, 2006), for which they already had a release deal with Musea Records, based on the recordings they made in 2004. The album was still purely instrumental.

Singer Mari Vuoritie was taken in the band after a two-minute audition after a gig in 2006. Some of the old songs have now been re-arranged for vocals, and they are performed on gigs.