It all started with Eurovision… Or actually, it began a decade ago in the suburb of Vantaa, Finland. Today, Käärijä is hyping up crowds across Europe with his “Cha Cha Cha,” collaborating on high-profile international tracks, and setting his sights on Japan.

And now for something completely different – Finnish-language, metal-influenced party-EDM-pop for the Japanese audience. Have you ever heard of a wilder idea?

Only Jere “Käärijä” Pöyhönen is crazy enough to try something like that. And so, he’s heading to Osaka for Käärijä’s first-ever gig in Asia on June 12. The performance takes place at the Finland Day of the 2025 Osaka Expo – the “Party like a Finn – Rock & Fashion” evening party, to be exact – with performances by Käärijä, and vocal group Tuuletar.

Then again, it’s a perfectly logical next step on Käärijä’s career path, which has grown into something unexpectedly global. After conquering Europe, it’s time to look elsewhere.

If we can just show people what we do, they’ll get it!

“I’ve always thought the superhero vibe of Käärijä, the bolero jacket, and the bowl cut might appeal to Japanese audiences. And they’re into heavier music and other Finnish stuff too,” says Pöyhönen, speaking via video call from Basel.

“I’ve always seen Japan as the next market after Europe. It’s a massive market, and if you make it there, you can keep touring forever. Of course, it takes a lot of work.”

According to streaming numbers, early signs from Asia are promising.

“Actually, just yesterday here in Basel, I ran into a fan from Tokyo who’s even been to my shows in Finland,” he says, clearly delighted.

“I just need to get out there and show this thing live. That’s what I’ve always believed in with Käärijä: if we can just show people what we do, they’ll get it! And once I learn a few Japanese phrases and chat on stage, I think they’ll love it.”

Return of the people’s champion

Pöyhönen is in Basel for Eurovision, of course. The night before, he performed with Finland’s 2024 contestant Erika Vikman, and in a few days, he’ll hit the stage again during the finals, this time with Croatian artist Baby Lasagna – a fan favorite from last year’s contest – performing their new joint track “#Eurodab” live to the biggest possible TV audience.

If ‘Cha Cha Cha’ had come out without Eurovision, none of this would have happened.

It’s the perfect stage, considering Eurovision is where Käärijä’s global journey began. At the 2023 contest, “Cha Cha Cha” earned a landslide public vote victory and narrowly came in second overall, just behind Sweden’s Loreen.

Since then, things have moved fast.

“It goes without saying that if ‘Cha Cha Cha’ had come out without Eurovision, none of this would have happened. Maybe someone abroad would’ve found it eventually, and something could’ve come from that, but this whole frenzy – that’s thanks to Eurovision,” Pöyhönen says.

Power in collaboration

Let’s rewind a bit. Jere Pöyhönen discovered rap music during his middle school years in the southern Finnish suburb of Vantaa. Around 2014, he began writing his own songs – a fusion of EDM with heavy Rammstein-style influences. Käärijä’s early years were strictly DIY until he caught the attention of Monsp Records, a renowned Finnish hip-hop label under Warner Music.

“I think it was like six years ago that my producer and I were already wondering how we could sell this to Germany. We even thought about taking a boombox to the streets of Berlin to play Käärijä tracks – and we hadn’t even broken through in Finland yet!” Pöyhönen laughs.

The next big question: how do you keep the momentum going once the Eurovision magic wears off?

People keep discovering my music, even those who don’t follow Eurovision.

“People keep discovering my music, even those who don’t follow Eurovision. If this was just about that contest buzz, we wouldn’t still be selling out shows. Eurovision gave it the spark, but now it’s spread beyond that.”

Käärijä and his team already have concrete plans mapped out for the next couple of years.

“We’ve been planning tours and bigger shows in Europe, and then Japan as a special focus. Of course, we’re also thinking further ahead – what’s next after all this.”

A key part of the strategy: collaborations with artists from different countries. So far, Käärijä has linked up with kindred spirits like Croatia’s Baby Lasagna, Estonia’s Tommy Cash, the Netherlands’ Joost Klein, and Sweden’s Hooja. And there’s more to come, Pöyhönen hints.

In it for the laughs

The name Käärijä doesn’t translate easily. Literally, it means “wrapper,” and refers to the Finnish expression ”kääriä rahaa” – to make money fast.

The name is ironic, and Käärijä certainly isn’t in it for the euros and cents. Pöyhönen insists it’s all about having fun.

“I love doing this, and I love every track we’ve made. If the day ever comes when I don’t feel like performing ‘Cha Cha Cha’ anymore, then it’s time to rethink things.”

I love doing this, and I love every track we’ve made.

“We’re just trying to make good stuff and have fun. I want to show myself – and the people of Finland – that this thing can work abroad.”

Pöyhönen doesn’t believe the Finnish language is a barrier.

“I think we’ve already proven that if you’ve got a good song in Finnish that somehow connects with people abroad, anything is possible.”

Anything’s possible – but when asked about his wildest dreams, Käärijä stays true to his Finnish roots: grounded and realistic.

“It’d be cool to do an arena gig in Germany or the UK someday. Let’s start with that.”