Koop Arponen won Idols and disappeared from the public – Iltalehti found out what’s up with him now

Since his Idols win in 2008, Koop Arponen, 39, has given hundreds of interviews. Nowadays, there are no reasons to give interviews, because he has “nothing to sell” anymore.

– I think it’s funny when someone comes and says that I look familiar, but the person asking can’t remember from what. I answer that you have been watching porn. They are speechless, Arponen laughs.

I idolized after Arpose released two albums that didn’t feel like their own. The pace was fast, and Arponen still didn’t know what kind of music he even wanted to make.

– I won Idols and the record had to be ready in about six weeks. There was no drama involved in terminating the contract with Sony. I explained the reasons to them and everything was fine. The next day, it was written in the newspaper that the record company rejected Arponen. That was the only thing that hurt.

When his band Flute of Shame didn’t make it in Finland, the band’s guitarist left the band. After that, Arponen wanted to do something else and move to England.

– A couple of times I walked to a bar with live music. I got a nostalgic feeling, but I didn’t enjoy it. I felt I had failed. It was a tough place for me.

Back to England

Arponen trained as a carpenter. He worked as a carpenter and lumberjack until all his tools were stolen a second time. That’s when Arponen threw the gloves on the counter.

– Rents are high in London, kindergartens cost £1,400 per child per month. Staying afloat in London is a daily struggle. My wife and I worked seven days a week, but it wasn’t enough for our income.

However, Arponen is optimistic about adversity.

– I feel that if something good happens in life, it would never have happened if that crap hadn’t happened. There’s no point in regretting what you’ve done before.

In 2020, the plans were to buy a house in central England, where the rents were cheaper and the family was closer. The house wasn’t available yet, so they lived in Nurmo for a while and worked remotely.

– During eight weeks, we both lost our jobs due to the corona virus. The purchase of the house did not go through. We were suddenly homeless and unemployed. At the same time, we found out that my wife is pregnant. I sent job applications to Holland, Germany, England, Finland. I was ready to do anything.

Warner Music asked if Arpo would be interested in negotiating collaboration contracts for their artists and brands. He did similar work in England after finishing carpentry.

Arponen started negotiating cooperation agreements with his friend Pete Parkkonen, and more clients have come. Recently, he was looking for sponsors for the future Lapua 1976 to the movie.

From London to Seinäjoki

The family’s place of residence was Seinäjoki. In addition to his wife, Arponen’s family includes two sons, Harrison6, and Remy2. The decision has not been regretted.

– At Seinäjoki, you could breathe and enjoy life again. There is a supportive atmosphere and community spirit. If someone is an entrepreneur, the whole community encourages and becomes customers. It’s lovely and reminds me a bit of the English mentality.

Arponen also assists a local roofing company that needed extra hands. Arponen has been going every morning for a year and a half to assemble scaffolding, before starting his actual work in sales.

– Even though the scaffolding job is physically demanding, I rest mentally in it. It’s a really fun thing to do. I start at half past seven in the morning and I’m home in good time working on the computer. Now we’ve been gigging on the weekends. For the first time in life, it feels like everything is in balance.

Nowadays, gigging is nice when there is no pressure to succeed. Arponen says he didn’t feel like he belonged on big stages: performing in small bars is a passion.

– I thought that it would never be possible for me to do another gig when I moved to England for five years. As soon as we came back to Finland, gig inquiries started coming. A recording contract was offered if I made a Finnish-language album. Self-confidence is not enough for that.

Language family

The purpose is to teach Harrison and Remy three languages. English is spoken at home, Finnish is learned outside, and Arposen’s mother tries to speak Dutch. Arponen’s own childhood was enriched by several languages.

His father was Finnish and his mother Dutch. They met in Austria.

– My father didn’t speak Dutch, and my mother didn’t speak Finnish. They spoke German to each other. My sister and father and I spoke Finnish, and mother and I spoke Dutch. When we spent our childhood in England, my sister and I started speaking English. There were four people at the dinner table, speaking four different languages, and everyone understood each other.

For Arpose, it would seem wrong to speak a language other than English, which has become his mother tongue, to his children.

– My Finland develops along with the children, reading children’s books. Knowing another language does not only mean the ability to communicate in another language, then you are also able to think differently.

Learning the local language is important to Arpos. It shows respect and a deeper understanding of another culture.

– It seems arrogant if you go to a foreign country and don’t try to adapt to the local culture. You should not assume that others will learn your language. For many, even trying to learn is enough, you don’t have to be perfect. I think people are afraid of speaking foreign languages ​​because they are afraid of making mistakes.