Kepa Lehtinen Interview on Nagamag

Nagamag:
What are the genres that describe better your music style?

Kepa Lehtinen:
Classical, cinematic

Nagamag:
Few words about your musical background and career?

Kepa Lehtinen:
I was born in Helsinki, Finland in 1971 and began studying music in childhood, eventually learning to play piano, synthesizers, theremin, and drums. I went on to study Sound Design at Finland’s Aalto University and I have since written music for many films, commercials, and TV productions. My work has appeared in award-winning Finnish titles such as Kimmo (TV series), Almost 18 (feature film), and A Stone LeftUnturned (short film). I released my first solo album, Playing Theremin, in 2018. In 2019 I released Helsinki in November and 2020 album “It Is OK To Be Sad And Dark”.

Nagamag:
Do you remember your first connection of love to music that was the right impact to be a music artist now?

Kepa Lehtinen:
As a child, the Queen was the biggest. Seeing live aid on tv and year after that seeing band live (on Stockholm). Point of no return.

Nagamag:
Does your music have any underlying messages in it?

Kepa Lehtinen:
Strong melodies over anything else.

Nagamag:
Is music political? Should it be?

Kepa Lehtinen:
I have been on some political projects, including "I Have Only Just Begun,” a song for gay rights in Russia. It made Boy George cry and Madonna said it is something Putin should hear.

Nagamag:
Most artists have a favorite song from a different music genre than the one they are producing music for... Which is yours?

Kepa Lehtinen:
Placebo "Running up that hill"

Nagamag:
Of Course Nagamag would love to listen also which track from a similar artist you admire?

Kepa Lehtinen:
Ryuichi Sakamoto "The Sheltering Sky"