J. Karjalainen’s Väinö son is a judge at Levyraad – This is how his father’s success has affected his career

All-rounder in the music industry Väinö Karjalainen28, is one Disc rate– about the program’s standard panelists. Karjalainen has not followed Levyraat before, but does not see it as a weakness.

– For me, the word Levyraati is more associated with the concept of listening to music in a group and evaluating it together. It’s really familiar and nice to me, he thinks to Iltalehte at MTV’s press conference.

Karjalainen describes himself as picky when analyzing music, but feels that the genre doesn’t matter when it comes to a good song. However, he doesn’t want to be a judge in the program who barks all the songs, but shows that he gets excited about many things.

In Karjalainen’s opinion, you can of course give criticism in Levyraad if it is directed at music.

– Of course, that can be done well or badly. I try to give my honest opinion, but I think there is always something good in all music. It’s worth focusing on the good things in general.

On the father’s path

The musician ended up in the same field as his father J. Karjalainen, 66, who is one of Finland’s most legendary musicians. The man admits that his father’s great success may have sometimes brought him pressure regarding his own career.

– Maybe something by force. But our family has always had such a good atmosphere that at least no unnecessary pressure has been created.

– But I’m not a solo artist, and I think it’s more liberating. I’m doing producer stuff in the studio, which is different from what my dad does. We are not competitors in a way, which eventually removed unnecessary pressure, he states.

The musician has accepted that he may be compared to his father, but he does not feel that he has been left in his shadow.

– Of course, people certainly want to compare. But I feel that it has been clear to many what Väinö’s point is. I don’t feel that I was ignored at all because of my father’s work, quite the opposite.

Where is that Väinö?

The Karelian has been known to many since 1996, when his father dedicated an iconic song to his son Where is that Väinö?. The native of Karja says that the hit followed him in his life for a while.

– Maybe it followed more during elementary school recesses, when many people used to play it. It’s just a great thing if for some it’s a great and important song. Maybe at some point it followed me more, but not to the point of bothering me.

So what is your attitude towards the song nowadays?

– Good song, he says with a smile.