Finnish cello metal band to compose symphony based on country's DNA for tourism video
Finland's tourism office has commissioned a Finnish cello metal band, geneticist, and data composer to help launch a new campaign promoting the 100th anniversary of the country's independence, and underscore the country's unique DNA.
Though the idea may sound far-fetched at first, a second read of the pitch reveals an earnest and scientific conceptualization of the Nordic country.
Like Finland's unique and extreme landscape -- be it frigid temperatures in winter to the midnight sun in summer -- Finland's defining characteristic of contrasts and diversity is also in the people's DNA.
Literally.
Of all the countries in Europe, Finnish people's DNA is described as the most diverse, an interesting factoid that's being used as a springboard to promote the country as a land of contrasts, mystery and surprises.
"We Finns are very different from each other," said Janna Saarela of the Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland in a video.
"So the ones that live on the eastern part of Finland are genetically quite different from the ones who live in the Western parts. Even more different than the British and the Dutch."
The end result will be titled "The Symphony of Extremes," an original piece of music that will be based on DNA samples collected from peoples living at the extreme points of the country.
The Finnish cello metal band Apocalyptica -- incidentally likewise a band of extremes, with the classical strains of the cello superimposed upon screaming electric guitars -- will then turn the genetic data into music which will premiere later this year.
Here are a few interesting facts about Finland in numbers:
Finland is the country with the most heavy metal bands per capita in the world: 3,400
Over 70 percent of Finland is covered in forests
In summer the midnight sun lasts 70 days
In winter, the sun doesn't come out for 52 days
The warmest temperature on record: 37C
The coldest temperature on record: -52C
Number of islands: 179,000
Number of saunas: 3,000,000, more than cars in Finland
Number of lakes: 188,000
Number of summer cottages: 500,000
