Finnish DJ and music producer Herman (Hermanni Kovalainen) has signed a worldwide contract with Armada, a Dutch record label co-founded by famed trance artist Armin van Buuren. Other artists on Armada Music’s extremely wide roster include Paul Oakenfold, Chicane, John Dahlback and Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike.

Herman’s first release on Armada is the single Tonight The World Is Mine, which features American pop star and television celebrity CeeLo Green. The single and its accompanying video were released on 26th February.

Herman has a long career as a performer and songwriter. He started in the early 2000’s as a dj for Finnish hiphop star Paleface, and released an album under the artist name DJ Mobster in 2007. Later he has done songwriting for local artists like Anna Abreu and Robin as well as co-written songs for US and Asian music markets.

We asked Herman a few questions about his deal with Armada and also the production of his new single and his future plans.

How did you end up being signed to Armada Music?

I was lucky enough to have several companies interested in working with me. The most important thing for me is that the people I work with have the dedication, passion and genuine believe in my music. I was also looking for a label that has a good track record in releasing and promoting singles internationally. I felt that Armada fitted these requirements really well, so the pick was fairly easy actually. I did get help from several people down the line. Music business is so competitive that you need a team of experts, everyone focusing on their special set of skills and know-how.

How did the CeeLo Green feature happen?

I've had a strong international focus in my work for the past five years or so. I've been traveling quite a lot and got to know a bunch of people in the industry. In this case, one of my contacts based in the UK was able to get the song to CeeLo. He really liked the tune and said right away that he wants to do it. We had a great recording session in Los Angeles and I must say that after working with him CeeLo is not only an amazing singer and artist, but has one of the warmest personalities. Actually, considering his superstar status in the US, I was surprised how down-to-earth he was all the time.

What are your plans for the rest of 2016?

Firstly, I'm really looking forward to hearing how people actually like my new single, because making it happen has been a huge effort for me. Everything is so dynamic, so It's quite hard to predict what the future holds for me. What I know for sure is that I'm going to keep on working hard, releasing more music and hopefully will also be able to help other Finnish musicians to get international recognition.

Herman's home page