Ercola. Photo Mikko Ryhänen.
Electronic music producer Ercola is probably best known for being so unknown – at least for an international hit artist.
You may know Ercola, or VEIKKA ERKOLA, as the near-anonymous producer of the song Every Word, which has lit up international dance charts. However, Every Word is merely a fraction of Ercola’s catalogue. He has also published numerous EPs and singles in his own name and produced both Finnish and foreign artists.
Like so many musicians growing up in the 1980s, Veikka Erkola started making music as a teenager on his computer with a program called Fast Tracker. In the mid-90s, his music was experimental electronica inspired by record label Warp. His style culminated in a group called Brothomstates, more accurately their debut EP, which also featured Erkola.
”I was inspired to make electronic music by artists like Aphex Twin, LFO and Luke Vibert,” Erkola reminisces.
Learning club music in London
Brothomstates’ experimental EP is a far cry from the clean, orthodox club sound of Erkola’s solo singles. Erkola found his sound while he studied commercial music at London’s Westminster University at the turn of the millennium.
”In London, club music is so prevalent that you can’t even escape it.”
During his studies, Erkola met the owners of record label Milk And Two Sugars, who published Ercola’s song Try To Be Calm. While the song never hit big, it gained a lot of positive feedback and even ended up in the DJ sets of house legend ROGER SANCHEZ.
Erkola’s true hits have been Deep at Night, made with productive househead HEIKKI LIIMATAINEN a.k.a. Heikki L, and especially his solo song Every Word, which hit the top spot of the Billboard Hot Dance Airplay list and stayed on Billboard lists for over 20 weeks.
King of his own label
In Finland, Veikka Erkola’s career as a producer kicked off in the early 2000s with songs made for RinneRadio’s album Nao and Fintelligens’ debut LP Renesanssi. Along came Uusi Fantasia, ANNIE, NICOLE WILLIS, The Millioners, ANNA ABREU and a lot of other production and composition work. Abroad Erkola’s work includes the latest single by German girl band Monrose, Like A Lady, which is currently in the national top ten. Erkola wrote the song in collaboration with Finnish pop producer legend RISTO ASIKAINEN.
At the moment Erkola has his hands full with his own label Erconomics, set for launch in the fall. Erkola plans to release his solo songs digitally through the label.
”I have hundreds of songs in the drawer, but right now I have at least three or four really good tracks that I want to publish post haste. The new material will be deeper and more techno than my previous club tracks,” Erkola reveals.
”Club music is often made with strict genre rules, but with my own label I can do whatever I want.”
Versatility is key
Along with his label, Erkola is kept busy by an italo disco project with Swedish JOHAN AGEBJÖRN, and his techno trio Motiivi: Tuntematon (”Motive: Unknown”), started in 2005 with TIMO KAUKOLAMPI and ANTTI KOIVISTO. Erkola is also a co-owner of production company Lönnberg & Zukov, who make music for advertising and television.
Erkola is no slacker, and he also recently became a full-time member of Uusi Fantasia, alongside Vilunki 3000 and DJPP. The group’s upcoming second album will combine acts from all sides of the musical spectrum – Finnish schlager legend FREEMAN, PMMP’s PAULA VESALA, JIMI TENOR, Norwegian EIRIK BØE of Kings Of Convenience fame – and be mixed by triphop veteran HOWIE B, who the group met while touring in China. The end result should be just as versatile as its makers.
”When I’m making a solo song, I have quite a clear idea of what the finished song will sound like. With Uusi Fantasia, you never know. I like the change of pace. If I only made club music, I’d probably get bored quite quickly.”
Text Teemu Fiilin
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