Funky Finland Quarterly is a new webzine on the FunkyFinland.fi website. It collects the most interesting new Finnish releases together 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.
The first issue can be found here.
~Feature~
Short history of finnish ska music
Ska music originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s, when producers such as Prince Buster, Coxsone Dodd and Duke Reid began producing singles with local musicians to play on their sound systems. Early American rhythm and blues was very popular in Jamaica and producers combined it with Caribbean mento and calypso rhythms in the studio, eventually creating a unique, offbeat upstroke-emphasizing style that became known as ska. Both rocksteady and reggae evolved later in the 1960s from ska music.
Music historians often divide the history of ska music into three distinct eras. The first covers the original Jamaican style of the 1960s, while the second era refers to the rebirth of ska in the United Kingdom in the 1970s, when so-called “2 tone ska” combined the faster tempo of punk with ska upstroke and sent british youth into a craze. The so called third wave of ska is the globalization and spread of the style around the world that occurred in the 1980s and 90s.
In Finland, ska music was made to some extent by reggae and punk bands in the early 1970s and 1980s. Early names include The Clap from Lahti, who released one full-length album, Lattapäät Laineilla, in 1981.
Ska music however did not really reach Finland until the late 1990s. One of the first Finnish ska bands to emerge was The Blaster Master from Oulu, whose debut album Skanga! from 1996 sparked a small-scale ska mania in our country. The band is still active, although their fourth and latest studio album, Rude Boy Life, is from 2008 and is the only one that can be listened to on streaming services. Members of the band are also active in the acoustic twotone/reggae combo The Skandinistas.
Around the same time, Voimaryhmä started in Tampere, with their debut EP released in 1999 and their first full-length album Straight Outta Tampere in 2001. The band’s second album Menopaluuna was released in 2007 and their third Rudistan in 2012. Voimaryhmä is also still active and even released their fourth album Vauhtikuume in 2022.
After the turn of the millennium, several new bands appeared. In the Helsinki metropolitan area, ska was played with punk-flavours by Evilsons and with reggae flavours by Tirehtöörit. The Evilsons’ debut EP De Mysteriis Dom Skathanas was released in 2002, followed by the albums Petas City Rockers in 2004 and Cooking with…Evilsons in 2006. Tirehtöörit released their first album Autonomia in 2007 and their second and so far the latest album Ongelmia Kaupungilla in 2011.
Goon was founded in Karhula, Kotka, in 2001 and has released a lot of music and music videos during their long career. Break A Leg Entertainment label released the band’s debut album Kaikki Kunnossa in 2007. The second album Tehtaan Varjosta was released in 2009 on the same label and the following year the band released their third album Goon on Music Mall label. In 2015, Goon announced that they would go on an indefinite hiatus, but returned some years later and released their fourth and latest self-released album Valtatie 7 in 2021, although on the new album the band’s music has morphed into straightforward rock.
In the middle of the first decade of the new millennium Finnish ska music was living its golden age and the albums even entered the official Finnish album chart repeatedly. The Valkyrians, who have collected multiple music industry awards and enjoy international fame, released their first album High and Mighty in 2006, also on Break A Leg Entertainment label. After this, the band moved to Stupido Records and have released the subsequent albums The Beat of Our Street in 2009, Punkrocksteady in 2011, Rock My Soul in 2015 and most recently the album Monsterpiece in 2022 on the label.
The Capital Beat‘s debut album A Greater Fire, released in 2009, also entered the official album chart. The band eventually released two albums through Stupido Records, the second being On The Midnight Wire in 2011, which also appeared on the official Finnish album chart upon its release.
Although ska music and culture have largely remained underground in Finland, the scene is alive and well. In March the Ska Fest party was held at Korjaamo in Helsinki for the second year in a row. On both years Ska Fest have seen live shows from new groups alongside the veteran bands. Donna and the Dynamiters, Treasure Islanders and The Apollonians represent the new generation of ska in Finland.
The finnish Blues News magazine hosts an excellent Skapedia database on its website, if you want to study the scene in Finland further. The information is in finnish, but the database contains by far the most comprehensive listing of the local ska bands and recordings.
~New Releases~
Albums
Rosettes – Lifestyles
(Bandcamp / Spotify / Youtube)
The Rosettes’ debut album sparkles just as brightly as the singles releases promised. Tytti Roto’s voice floats beautifully over the eight-piece band’s retro and psychedelic funk. Music that caresses listener’s soul both from where it hurt before and from where it feels so sweet and wonderful. A masterpiece.
B!rthday – B!rthday
B!rthday appeared from nowhere. A rarely updated Instagram account, three music videos and now a debut album. No one seems to really know what and who, but with their debut album, the twelve piece collective succeeded in what often seems so difficult these days. They produced a full length album of modern r’n’b hybrid music that surprises, intrigues, seduces and inspires you to listen on repeat.
FYRK – Lama
Finnish-Swedish rap music gets very little attention in Finland, so five pioneers of Swedish-language finnish rap decided to correct the situation. A real supergroup FYRK was born and their debut album Lama was released in April. DJ Rullbiza’s beats and scratches will have you nodding your from the first hit to the last beat, while the four-person rhyme team keeps passing the mic and spitting blazing rhymes on top. Flows like the Hudson River. Don’t sleep on this one.
Syskofrenia – Vapaa
Syskofrenia released their second album Vapaa in the beginning of April. The album has become this summer’s soundtrack for many of us. The band, built around singer-songwriter Saga Söderström, plays as fresh as a sunny summer morning and observes everyday life with inventive lyrics that leave you both thinking and smiling. The songs draw effortlessly from soul, jazz and pop. Special mention goes out to the band’s virtuoso playing, which makes the quintet sound like a large orchestra.
Ina Forsman – After Dark Hour
Ina Forsman released her debut album back in 2013 with the legendary finnish blues artist and harmonica player Helge Tallqvist. The singer, who has since made a long career in the blues scene, began writing her own songs during the COVID pandemic, and the new album After Dark Hour is a stunning collection of timeless soulful music. A future classic. If you enjoy your soul dark, strong and well-roasted, this album will stay on your stereo for a long time.
Joska Josafat – Pystyn Mihin Vaan
The first lines on the album translate to “heaven’s gift to the world, so much joy under the sun” and the album couldn’t be described more aptly. Joska Josafat is perhaps better known from his work with finnish rapper Asa and as one of the driving forces in the superb group JätkäJätkät, but his third album Pystyn Mihin Vain confirms again his brilliance as a solo artist also. A delightfully diverse and rich collection of songs that leave you humming long after the album has ended.
Hannibal – Uutisia Ei Mistään
This funk stinks. Makes you shake what your mama gave you. Ghettoblaster material. True legend of Finnish rap and the absolute microphone master Hannibal dropped his latest album Uutisia Ei-Mistään, just in time for the summer get togethers in the parks. The lyrics comment on the state of the world with sharp street smart, the delivery is impeccable and the beats pump the hi-fi just right.
Jimi Tenor – July Blue Skies
(Bandcamp / Spotify / Youtube)
Jimi Tenor has been working hard recently at the legendary studio of the Timmion label in Helsinki together with the house band Cold, Diamond & Mink. Their first album together was released in spring 2024 and now we got the brilliant follow-up album July Blue Skies. In terms of mood, we continue where we left off. Serene soul music with cosmic vibrations the way only the maestro Jimi Tenor can. Music which unveils new surprising details even after several listens.
Yeboyah – Emotional Gangsta
Yeboyah is one of the brightest stars of the new wave of Finnish female rappers that appeared almost ten years ago. She has rocked both small clubs and main stages, has done radio, television, gone through the release routines of major record labels and now, with her new album Emotional Gangsta, starts a new era as an independent artist with her own record label. The album is amazing! The production shines, the bass is BIG and Yeboyah raps, sings, talks and whispers in your ears like a siren.
Sami Saari ja Jazzpojat – Nyt Tai Ei Koskaan
Sami Saari is also known as the “godfather of Finnish soul”. The musician has been making soulful music both as a solo artist and in various bands since the 1980s and is definitely one of the pioneers of black music made in Finland. His latest album Nyt Tai Ei Koskaan was made together with the group Jazzpojat and groove is particularly strong here. The lyrics tell charming stories about the colorful life of a soul man and the band swings with elegance and wit.
Kalabaliikki – Leijonan Kääntöpiiri
(Bandcamp / Spotify / Youtube)
Kalabaliikki describes itself as an ethno-fusion band that plays imaginary world music and creates nostalgia for something that never existed. As confusing as it sounds, the album is just that, and much more. Lush Middle Eastern rhythms and juicy synthesizer basses provide the base where laouto and baĝlama saz lutes roar wildly. The vibe is that of a wedding party in the Mashriq. The musicians are previously known from the bands Maria Gasolina and Hypnomen, but have now found a groove that has never existed before.
J.EM – Hullu
J.EM is the first discovery of Yeboyah’s new label. With the emphasis on the word discovery, because the artist’s debut EP sounds very mature and complete. The beats are woven with organic elements and roll effortlessly while J.EM absolutely owns the microphone as if she was born to rock it. New star is born. Very strong start for the Yeboyah’s new Abenayo Creative House label. Big things.
Singles
Maria Aleksandra – Kaikki Viestit Luetaan
There isn’t much roots reggae being released these days in Finland. Fortunately Maria Aleksandra isn’t letting the flag fall. The second-generation Finnish reggae artist has already released several singles and latest Kaikki Viestit Luetaan dropped in April. Maria Aleksandra’s soulful singing is once again backed by a band led by the singer’s father René (aka Renegade and Sir Rappa Rene) providing steady skanking reggae rhythm for the track.
Dub Vallila – Ruffneck Bizness feat. Paleface
Dub Vallilla is known for their mystical dub rhythms and heavy bass pressure. On their latest single they surprised us. The band, which has released mainly instrumental music until now, invited the number one rap MC Paleface to the studio and took things straight to the dance floor. And what a gem the song is. Paleface’s rhymes fire the group’s heavy rhythm to the next level. Ruffneck Bizness indeed. Play it loud.
Mofongo – Puolisynteettiset Tanssikengät
(Bandcamp / Spotify / Youtube)
Mofongo returned after a few years of recording hiatus in late April and released a new single with a nice psychedelic tango/not tango vibe for the slightly more serious dance floors. The mystical lineup doesn’t give many interviews, doesn’t appear on cooking shows in television and doesn’t actually really follow any clear musical lineage in their releases, but they make great music that surprises the listeners time and time again.
Yona & Saimaa – Laula Mulle Laulu
Finnish singer Yona and the band Saimaa are preparing an album where they will perform Ukrainian music translated into Finnish to show support for the war-torn nation and its culture. The first single, Laula Mulle Laulu, is a translation of the song Obijmy by the Ukrainian band Okean Elzy. The song has become one of the anthems uniting the people in Ukraine after the war began.
Grande Mahogany – Salford Softie
(Bandcamp / Spotify / Youtube)
Grande Mahogany released his debut album in the winter of 2024 and became one of the hottest names in Finnish funk and soul music scene. Now a new single Salford Softie was released in May. Somewhat a surprise follow-up to the album with its almost symphonic sound. Guitars playing backwards, vocal harmonies fermented in psychedelia and the song reaching higher and higher in mood. We are witnessing the work of a truly singular artist.
Jimi Tenor – Release Me!
(Bandcamp / Spotify / Youtube)
Jimi Tenor is known for his relentless release schedule with new music coming out almost every month. The latest solo single was released just few weeks after the new album July Blue Skies. The story goes that the artist performed the song at a gig in London at Cafe OTO and asked the audience what he should do with it and what it should be called. Someone in the audience shouted Release Me! and now it has been released as part of Fluid Ounce label’s 25th anniversary singles series.
Jo’ Buddy’s One Man Stomptet – Poppin’ Up!
Jussi Raulamo was given his “Texas name” Jo Buddy almost forty years ago by the harmonica player Stanley Anderson when he couldn’t remember the finnish boy’s real name after the previous night’s jam sessions. Absolute legend in the finnish underground who has been making music in several groups and with various styles along his long career released now a new single Poppin’ Up! as his solo project Jo’ Buddy’s One Man Stomptet.
RAMSÉS – Min Ana feat. RAZĀN
(Bandcamp / Spotify / Youtube)
The artist, who previously made music under the name Ramithawi, was born in Venezuela to a Syrian family and now lives in Finland. Now we see him launching a new project under the name RAMSÉS as he wants to explore his identity and memories in more depth and interpret his diaspora experiences through music. The second single Min Ana takes us to the sandy lands of the Middle East in dreamlike state.
NaharY – Eu Posso
NaharY rose to fame making finnish afrobeat, but then went on a hiatus and has lately released very little new music. At the end of June came the new single Eu Posso. Made in collaboration with Estonian-based Brazilian musician Denise Fontoura, the song is bursting with joy for life. It’s seductive Brazilian groove provides the perfect soundtrack for a lazy day on the beach under the bright summer sun.
Vesta – Jää Mun Viereen
Vesta’s unique voice and delivery is impossible to describe. It must be heard. The artist, who has been making majestic soul music with almost cinematic grandeur and heartfelt emotion for years, returned from a brief recording hiatus last fall and now her latest single Jää Mun Viereen may finally lead to the feverishly anticipated third album from the beloved artist.
