Welcome to Luminous Online, a virtual showcase event presenting some of the most exciting acts in the Finnish music scene today. The program consists of nine shows (10 minutes each) as well as short keynotes and group conversations.
The showcase is hosted by Kasper Strömman, Finnish social media influencer and podcaster known for his love of bagels and holding the title of Graphic Designer of the Year 2013.
On this page, you'll find all important information that you need to dive in to the virtual festival!
10am EST: New York 2pm UTC/GMT: Reykjavik 3pm UTC +1: London 4pm CEST: Amsterdam, Berlin, Copenhagen, Paris 5pm EET: Helsinki
Thursday’s schedule (EET):
17:00 START 17:02-17:12 JESSE MARKIN 17:12-17:24 PEKKO KÄPPI 17:24-17:36 OLIVERA 17:36-17:58 KEYNOTE INTERVIEW: Martin Goldschmidt, Cooking Vinyl(UK). Moderator: Tapio Korjus, Rockadillo Records & Production (FI). 17:58-18:25 DISCUSSION/NETWORKING IN SMALL GROUPS 18:25-18:37 PK KERÄNEN 18:37-18:48 O SAMULI A 18:48-19:00 WRAP UP
PLEASE NOTE THE SCHEDULE IS IN FINNISH TIME (EET).
Friday’s schedule (EET):
17:00 START 17:05-17:15 LOUIE BLUE 17:15-17:27 DETALJI 17:27-17:55 PANEL: Live streaming and hybrid events: best practices and monetization. Panelists: Lydia Kirschstein, Trinifold(UK/Germany), Oskar Strajn, Eurosonic Noorderslaag (NL) & Thomas Jepsen, Roskilde(DK). Moderator: Teemu Laitinen, PME Records (FI). 17:55-18:24 DISCUSSION/NETWORKING IN SMALL GROUPS 18:24-18:38 TOMI SAARIO 18:38-18:50 JOENSUU1685 18:50-19:00 WRAP UP
PLEASE NOTE THE SCHEDULE IS IN FINNISH TIME (EET).
Topics for group discussions
Thursday grouped by expertise:
PROMOTION - best ways to promote new acts 2020
LIVE - how to plan tours in a world where you can’t tour?
LABELS – world of releases in 2020-2021
FUTURE OF SHOWCASES - how to showcase your artist better than others?
Friday all groups:
DISCUSSION – LIVE STREAMING AND HYBRID EVENTS: best practices and monetization
Artists & Showcases
The showcase selection consists of nine bands and artists, ranging from glistening electronic beats to shoegazey guitar walls and from ancient folk instruments to bright pop melodies.
Jesse Markin
Jesse Markin is a Liberian-born singer-songwriter from Finland. Originally making his name as rapper from the group The Megaphone State – producing three critically acclaimed hip-hop albums – his solo project moves him forward both musically and thematically, broadening his style from rapping to singing. In Finland, Markin's debut solo album Folk has so far won several awards such as Critics Choice Emma, Indie Awards as well as Teosto prize.
The dark, richly harmonic sounds of jouhikko – the Finnish bowed lyre – have been fueling story-telling across the Baltic region for centuries. Pekko Käppi is a visionary folk music composer, ethnomusicologist and album-award-winning solo artist, whose oeuvre revolutionized the standards of playing the ancient Finnish instrument by plugging it into an amplifier.
The 25-year-old singer and songwriter Olivera is a mixture of a modern indie pop artist and “a goofy little garden gnome”. After releasing her debut solo EP "Flow" in 2015, Olivera has featured huge EDM names such as Tiësto, Zaxx, 3LAU and Sonny Alven. On her solo productions she works with the Finnish producer Lenno. Her latest single "Tomorrows" came out June 5.
PK Keränen, best known from being the guitarist and founder of the band 22-Pistepirkko since 1982, is one of Finland’s most respected rock musician. He’s a self-taught guitarist, singer, performing artist, composer and lyricist. His much-awaited debut solo album "Serobi Songs" was released in early 2020.
A veteran in the Helsinki electro scene, O Samuli A produces electronic music ranging from “soothing dumbient soundscapes to funky chipstep bleeps and styles”. O Samuli A’s new album Condition Yellow, released under through Svart Records, follows the guidelines set of his previous album Field Trip.
18-year-old Finnish-Italian singer-songwriter Louie Blue (Alec Moborg) released his debut single "Confused" in June 2019. His music is a fusion between smooth r&b, soulful indie pop and sophisticated dance beats. Louie Blue first started operating from behind a small Finnish indie label Booa Music, and last September, the team joined forces with Sony Music. Louie Blue dropped his debut album in early 2020 once again convincing both the audience and critics in Finland.
Detalji (Krista Myllyviita) is a Helsinki based artist and producer known for her self-written anthems dedicated to the club culture. In 2019, she was shortlisted for Breakthrough Artist of the Year on Finnish national radio, and won a Femma Award (Finnish "indie Grammy”) for Best Electronic Act. She also played her first shows outside of Finland appearing at Iceland Airwaves and Eurosonic Noorderslag. She released a romantic party anthem "Without You" in February 2020.
Tomi Saario grabbed a guitar at the age of 5, after finding out to be “too blind to be a pilot”. Saario is a compelling storyteller and an artist with an innate knack for writing pop hooks. After a decision to move to London to pursue his music career, he played over a thousand shows in 4 years. His debut single "Just A Little" was released in early 2020 and another one “Don’t hurt yourself” shortly after.
Joensuu 1685 is a rock trio formed in 2007 by two brothers Mikko and Markus Joensuu with Risto Joensuu (no relation). Their music is drowned in overtones, feedback and noise, and paint a soft but sizzling stream of big beauty. In 2018 the band reunited after a break and decided to return with the unfinished album abandoned years ago – which is now finished and will be released in 2020.
Martin Goldschmidt / Managing director, co-founder / Cooking Vinyl (UK) Will Larnach-Jones / General director / Iceland Airwaves (UK) Sindri Ástmarsson / Promoter / Iceland Airwaves (Iceland) Keith Miller / Promoter / Wide Awake / LNZRT (UK) Charlotte Board / Manager Charlotte / Elizabeth International (UK) Anika Mottershaw / A&R / Bella Union (UK) Francesca Ivaldi / A&R / XL (UK) Robert Meijerink / promoter / Eurosonic Noorderslaag (NL) Oskar Strajn / promoter / Eurosonic Noorderslaag (NL) Gis Von Ice / Manager / Hill Media (UK) Thomas Sønderby Jepsen / Promoter / Roskilde (DK) Rev. Moose / Owner / Marauder Group (USA) Andraz Kajzer / Artistic director / MENT Ljubljana (Slovenia) Fabrice Martin / Managing director / La Mission (France) Lydia Kirschstein / Manager / Trinifold (UK/Germany) Juan VanderVoort / Director of Recordings / [PIAS] (UK) Bjørn Pfarr / Promoter / Reeperbahn Festival (Germany)
Artist representatives
Jason White / Detalji / 4ad (UK) Jamie Hole / Tomi Saario / Whole Entertainment (UK) Jonas Wervijnen / Joensuu1685 / Kieku Records (FI) Martin Linnankoski / Jesse Markin / VILD Music (FI) Ninni Wetterstrand / Olivera / Playground (FI) Minna Huuskonen / Pekko Käppi / Minnamurra Agency (FI) Kari Pössi / PK Keränen / Piikkikasvi Agency (FI) Nicholas Klimscheffskij / Louie Blue / Booa Music (FI)
Finland
Tapio Korjus / CEO, founder / Rockadillo Records & Production Timo Kuoppamäki / Head of A&R / Sony Music Finland Riku Pääkkönen / CEO, founder / Ranka Kustannus Semira Ketroussi / A&R / Elements Music Nick Triani / A&R, promotion / Playground Music Fredi Lunden / A&R / Warner/HMC Teemu Laitinen / CEO / PME Records Heta Hyttinen / Manager / Ginger Vine Management & PR Kalle Valkama / Stupido Booking (Pastis) Aki Roukala / Manager, founder / Is This Art? Linda Lundberg / Manager / Checkbox Music, All Good Management, Arctic Rights Olli Halonen / A&R / Sony Music Finland Annika Oksanen / Promoter, Agent / Live Nation Finland Pekka Lehti / Music Finland, Gramex Jani Jalonen / Teosto
Links & Instructions
To attend Luminous Online on Zoom, choose and click the link below.
It is recommended to join on laptop and use headphones to observe the showcase with the best quality.
Please sign in using your first and last name (no nicknames). You may also add your company name: Name Surname, Company
The meeting room will open 15 minutes before starting time, please join before the sharp start at 17.00 (EET Finnish time)
Use the chat to communicate with other participants during the showcases
It is recommended to keep your video on, especially in the beginning, end and the small group networking discussions. But it’s also ok to turn video off at times.
There will also be a “very important” quiz running throughout the showcase, so prepare your brain and reaction speed!
If you haven’t used Zoom before, please download the desktop app here (Zoom Client for Meetings).