Funky Finland Quarterly is a new webzine on the FunkyFinland.fi website. It collects the most interesting new Finnish releases four times a year from the previous three months. The zine consists of a short feature article and separate lists for fresh album and single releases. The webzine is produced by Funky Amigos ry.
~Feature~
Finnish chillhop is flourishing worldwide
Often when discussing Finnish artists who have achieved international fame, the countless heavy metal bands come to mind. There are however also other Finnish musicians who garner millions of streams every month on music streaming services and are repeatedly cited as the tastemakers of their genre.
There is a great saying in Finland “rakkaalla lapsella on monta nimeä” (beloved child has many names), which applies also when discussing the chillhop music. Sometimes the genre is referred to as “lo-fi hip hop” or “jazzy hip hop”. The genre was born in the late 2000s, when producers in bedroom studios around the world began releasing music that was influenced in particular by the earlier production of Madlib or Nujabes and the lo-fi effect of the Roland SP-404 sampler released in 2005.
The scene grew rapidly in message groups on the Soundcloud platform and really blossomed when user accounts began to appear on the YouTube platform, inspired by a user named Lofi Girl, which collected hours-long playlists containing only calmly moving, usually instrumental, hip hop-influenced beat music.
There are several artists in Finland who have risen to the top of this underground scene. Misha, also known as the rap artist Haamu, debuted with his release Feel on the genre’s leading label Chillhop Music in 2018 and has since become one of the biggest names in the genre, even producing music for the HBO Max series South Side.
Equally a few other deeply respected chillhop producer hail from Finland. Kupla, Idealism ja Tomppabeats who all released their latest albums this winter.
Kupla’s album Dragonfly was released on the Lofi Girl label at the end of last October and is already the artist’s twelfth album. Idealism’s latest album Unsaid was made in collaboration with French artist Lucid Green and was released in February on the Australian 823 collective’s label. Tomppabeats released his latest (forty-track) album on streaming services in January. The album’s name All Night and Study Playlist is a delicious play with genre’s clichés.
~New Releases~
Albums
Zangoma – Faka Mulilo
(Bandcamp / Spotify / Youtube)
Music knows no boundaries nor borders and so Zamrock music, which originated in Zambia in the 70s, has now found its new ambassadors in Tampere, Finland. The band, led by Zambian singer Waina Kolomwe, consists of Finnish musicians and sounds exactly as Zamrock music should sound. African tradition mixed with psychedelic rock and garage music.
Punomo – Kahdeksan Kertaa
The finnish soul darlings Punomo from Turku released their second album Kahdeksan Kertaa in February. The album, which have received rave reviews, continues on the bands chosen path of providing fresh retro soul sung in Finnish. Singer Johanna Rauma’s lovely lyrics and soulful voice deserve a special mention, but the whole band grooves wonderfully and the album cannot be recommended enough for anyone who likes more traditional soul music.
Asa – Sitruunavuodet
Finnish rap virtuoso Asa released a new album at the end of last year, but didn’t rest on his laurels and surprised everyone with a new album at the beginning of February. The album “Sitruunavuodet” offers Asa’s ingenious rhymes accompanied by a more experimental beatscape this time and shows that the master is just as at home with alternative rap as he is with his previously released band album.
Flinga – Hum
The drummer Raine Kokkinen from Kirkkonummi is a hard-working artist who has been active in several different bands. His latest band is called Flinga and their debut album Hum, released in February, is a lovely collection of relaxed instrumental grooves that draw inspiration from Alt Latin music, but at the same time create a unique and fascinatingly Finnish whole.
JätkäJätkät – Norsun Selässä
The finnish ”supergroup” JätkäJätkät returned to the studio after an eight-year hiatus and the first singles from the new album were released last fall. It has been eleven years since the last album. The long wait was finally over in February when the new album Norsun Selässä was released. The bands signature sound remains intact and the album will make you dance and smile just as we knew it would.
Sonja Selene – Pimeä Pää
Sonja Selene seemed to emerge from nowhere last year with a series of captivating single releases. Almost as unexpectedly, the artist’s debut album Pimeä Pää was released at the end of February and a star was born. The critically acclaimed album draws from the artist’s Romani background, but it does not dictate nor limit her music in any way. The songs are delightful and Sonja’s lyrics observe the everyday life in a brilliant manner.
Ilkka Arola Sound Tagine – Adventures in the Now
(Bandcamp / Spotify / Youtube)
Ilkka Arola Sound Tagine’s fourth full-length album takes the listener again on an adventure into the soundlands of the Mediterranean and the Middle East. Ilkka Arola’s Quartertone trumpet and bouzouki reach beyond Western musical harmony on the album and the band plays joyfully making the feet dance equally in Istanbul and in Helsinki.
Jimi Tenor & Freestyle Man – Sinus Amoris (Songs from the Bay of Love)
(Bandcamp / Spotify / Youtube)
Jimi Tenor has worked extensively with the Timmion camp lately and last year he released an organic and soulful album on the label with Timmion’s “house band” Cold Diamond & Mink. The new album Sinus Amoris (Songs from the Bay of Love) however is a return to the artist’s electronic roots and is a fine collection of electronic space jazz. The album was made in collaboration with Freestyle Man. Another veteran of the Finnish electronic music scene.
Timo Lassy Trio – Live In Helsinki
(Bandcamp / Spotify / Youtube)
Timo Lassy is one of the undisputed giants of Finnish jazz and now he has also been working with a stripped-down trio band in recent years. Ville Herrala is on bass and Jaska Lukkarinen on drums. The trio was recorded live at Helsinki’s G Livelab in 2023 and the recording was released in March. The entire trio simply shines and plays so gorgeously that at times it’s hard to believe that there were really only three musicians on stage.
Singlet
Dub Vallila – Fukushu
(Bandcamp / Spotify / Youtube)
There has been mystical dub reggae brewing in the Helsinki’s Vallilla district for several years already. The aptly named group Dub Vallila is the source and they released a new single in early January to continue the series of singles released last year. The band’s second album is still to be released, but their latest single Fukushu sounds gorgeous and reminds us that their dub is deep.
Kuningasidea – Kuningasidea
In the middle of the darkest winter early January the group Kuningasidea released a refreshingly summery new single. The joyful anthem will surely accompany many dances throughout the summer and at the same time give you the super powers to continue beyond the winter towards brighter times.
FYRK – Helt Otroliga
Finnish-Swedish rap music rarely gets much publicity even though the scene is alive and well. Now DJ Rullbiza and four Finnish-Swedish rap veterans have joined forces to form a kind of supergroup and released their second single Helt Otroliga in March. The groove is particularly strong with this one. The full-length album will be released in the spring. One to check.
Nea Neuroosi – Helsinki City Cowgirl feat. Valma
More rap. Nea Neuroosi is a newcomer to the Finnish rap scene but she appeared so ready and with pockets full of bangers that her name has been growing and growing with each single. Her latest hit is Helsinki City Cowgirl made together with another great finnish female rapper Valma.
Hannibal – Takakontissa
Hannibal, an absolute legend of Finnish rap, also released a new single in January. A fat funky beat and the rhymes of a trusted veteran are all that is needed finally. Hannibal did not rest on his laurels after the MEGAFAUNA album released last fall with Tomigun and continues straight into the new year with his solo single and proves again that he is one of the true champions in Finnish rap music.
Bronze, Silver & Brass – Renard’s Groove
(Bandcamp / Spotify / Youtube)
Timmion’s renowned soul camp has produced several artists who have achieved international success and the new band Bronze, Silver & Brass is no exception. The band’s sound, as the name suggests, is dominated by brass instruments, and the band’s third single continues on the retro-soul path of their previous singles getting your feet dancing.
Garland & Jemina – Patty’s Born Day
Nicole Willis has had a long career both abroad and in Finland. The artist, who has been active in various groups, has now released solo singles under the name Garland & Jemina and this time the music is sensually electronic. Patty’s Born Day, released in February, swings in a delightfully 2070s way and shines brightly among the singles released so far.
Rosettes – Spirals
Rosettes is a new name in the Finnish soul scene. The band has been releasing singles and is preparing their debut album and expectations are really high. Spirals continues in the vein of previous singles and sounds mystically soulful like the endless spirals of life.
Dashing Waves – Vibing
A long-awaited comeback from one of the pioneers of Finnish reggae music. Dashing Waves released one album and toured extensively at the turn of the millennium gaining an almost cult following among fans. The band’s comeback single was released in March and it shows that the long break hasn’t hurt their sound at all.
