Jari Mäenpää

Jari Mäenpää
Jari Mäenpää at Bloodstock Open Air in 2011.
Background information
Born (1977-12-23) 23 December 1977
Origin Helsinki, Finland
Genres Folk metal, extreme metal, power metal, symphonic metal
Occupation(s) Musician, songwriter
Instruments Vocals, guitar, keyboards, bass
Years active 1997−present
Associated acts Wintersun, Cadacross, Ensiferum, Immemorial, ArthemesiA
Website www.wintersun.fi

Jari Mäenpää (born 23 December 1977) is a Finnish heavy metal multi-instrumentalist and songwriter. He is the founder of Wintersun for which he records all instruments. Before forming Wintersun, Mäenpää was best known for his role in the folk metal band Ensiferum, which he joined in 1996 after leaving his prior band named Immemorial.[1] Wintersun was initially planned as a parallel project alongside Ensiferum, but in January, 2004 he was forced to leave Ensiferum due to clashes between their touring schedule and the studio recording time he had booked for Wintersun.

In 1997, Mäenpää had to put his musical career on hold to take part in Finland's compulsory military service. In an interview, Mäenpää admitted he disliked the time he spent in the military and suspects it's where he acquired tuberculosis.[2]

Jari was also a member of the band Arthemesia, and participated in Kimmo Miettinen's sideproject Lost Alone.

Writing style

Jari's style of guitar playing utilizes tremolo-picked melodies and phrases and the heavy use of extremely fast sweep-picking solos and breaks as heard on most of the songs. The speed of Wintersun's music is due in part to the use of blast beats and quick, spacey keyboard lines. This gives the guitar a charging, power metal feel for the most part.[3]

Notable instruments

Jari Maenpaa No longer performs guitar live ""After thinking about it for a long time I have made the decision to drop the live guitar, which means that I will solely become 100% live vocalist. "[4]

Discography

Band Year of release Title Label
Immemorial No commercial release Ensiferum - Immemorial Split Demo
Ensiferum 1997 Demo 1
Ensiferum 1999 Demo 2
Ensiferum 1999 Hero in a Dream
ArthemesiA 2001 Devs - Iratvs Native North
Ensiferum 2001 Ensiferum Spinefarm
Cadacross 2002 Corona Borealis Low Frequency
Ensiferum 2004 Iron Spinefarm
Wintersun 2004 Wintersun Nuclear Blast
Ensiferum 2005 1997-1999 (compilation)
Wintersun 2012 Time I Nuclear Blast
Wintersun 2017 The Forest Seasons Nuclear Blast

References

  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-01-30. Retrieved 2014-03-18.
  2. https://www.facebook.com/wintersun/posts/jari-drops-live-guitar-becomes-solely-a-live-vocalisthi-everyoneit-is-time-to-st/10154685944692402/



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