Playlists

New Indie Music from Finland

Words by Music Finland

Published 13.6.2023

The Finnish indie music scene is blooming with versatility! Some of the internationally known names in the genre are Bobby Oroza, Astrid Swan, Jaakko Eino Kalevi and Jesse Markin, while labels such as Soliti, Playground Music, Svart and Solina bear the torch for Finnish independent music.

Under the admittedly vague umbrella of Finnish indie, you can find anything from 60s influenced psych jangle to gleaming synths and beats, adventurous art rock, laidback alt-country, melancholic shoegaze, lo-fi bedroom soundscapes, otherworldly dream pop and everything in between.

The playlist, available on Apple Music and Spotify, is updated frequently. Please scroll down for artist biographies.

New Indie Music from Finland on Apple Music

New Indie Music from Finland on Spotify

Bobby Oroza

Bobby Oroza is a soul artist hailing from Helsinki, Finland. Teaming up with the Timmion Records house band Cold Diamond & Mink, he has a tight quartet of musicians to support his vision. Despite being a rather fresh artist, his music has already been sampled by rapper Earl Sweatshirt, and can also be heard in multiple Netflix shows and a feature film. Oroza’s sensual and soft music has a dreamy, vintage atmosphere that could flow right out of an old transistor radio on a careless sunny afternoon at the beach.

Fabianossa

Fabianossa, also known as Elias Fabian Durac from Turku, spices up his modulated slacker pop guitar sounds with splashy drum beats, creating fun and infectious indie rock that has been referred to The Strokes. Starting in 2020, Fabianossa has released singles on labels such as Kitsuné Musique and 20XX Entertainment, and is currently signed to Acrophase Records.

Juppe

Singer and songwriter Juppe mixes organic 1970s funk and soul flavours with a bit of 1990s indie electronica and a big bag full of sardonic lyricism. At one second moving and intimate and next assailing into a disjointed funk stumble, Juppe sounds like a 2020s version of young Beck mixed with a slice of Mac Demarco and 90s Jimi Tenor stepping into the studio with Steve Albini.

Von Pearl

"Here" is the debut solo release from Von Pearl, aka Helmi Tikkanen, known from the folky dream pop outfit Karina. Karina was active from 2015 to 2022, during which time they gained acclaim and toured Europe extensively, was e.g. nominated for the Nordic Music Prize. Helmi Tikkanen, currently living in Tokyo, composed, wrote, arranged and performed "Here" in its entirety and also produced it together with Matti Ahopelto (AHO). Von Pearl's first album will be released in autumn 2023.

Paavoharju

Paavoharju is one of the internationally best known and critically acclaimed underground groups from Finland, recording to the respected indie label Fonal Records. The Wire dubbed Paavoharju's music as “home-taped experimentation married to pop ecstasy”, which describes perfectly their combination of hazy lo-fi indie, religious imagery and dreamy/nightmarish ambient atmosphere.

Jaakko Eino Kalevi

In 2013 Finland's lo-fi indie pop singer-songwriter-musician-producer (and former tram driver) Jaakko Eino Kalevi became the first ever Nordic act signed to Domino Records. Two years after his eponymous Domino/Weird World debut (2015) he put out "Orbit Variations" with Man Duo group. "Out Of Touch" was released in 2018 and the EP, "Dissolution" followed in 2019. After a string of one-off singles and cover songs, Jaakko Eino Kalevi finally announced his 5th "proper" solo album "Chaos Magic", slated for release in November 2023.

feelswithcaps

Feelswithcaps is an electro pop group consisting of singer and songwriter Sofi Meronen, keyboardist Mikael Myrskog as well as drummer and producer Aleksi Kinnunen. Feelswithcaps has been delivering their brand of infectious indie pop with a sliver of Nordic melancholy since 2015, releasing a string of singles, one ep and a debut full-length album "Absence" in 2020.

Markus Krunegård

Markus Krunegård is a Swedish-Finnish singer and songwriter. Krunegård, who started his career in the band Laakso in 2001, is one of the most loved Swedish singer-songwriters of recent years. He grew up in Sweden, but Krunegård notices in himself a tug of war between Finnishness and Swedishness, finally resulting in the release his first Finnish-language solo album "Nokia & Ericsson" in 2023.

Knife Girl

Knife Girl (Lili Aslo), formerly known by the artist name “olli” produces tracks full of sonic character, with particular attention paid to capturing authentic, organic feelings. As a songwriter she has been called a musical chameleon, able to adapt her style as necessary to different trends and audiences. Aslo isn’t shy to boast her own successful music career either, already catching the ears of millions on her SoundCloud at the young age of 15, having since gone on to collaborate with known musicians such as Ryan Hemsworth, Blackbear, In Love With A Ghost, and Daniela Andrade.

Emilia Sisco

With her powerhouse vocals and ability to weave narratives in her songs, Helsinki-based Emilia Sisco effortlessly fuses soul, jazz and blues. Released on Timmion Records, Emilia Sisco's single "Don't Believe You Like That" quickly gained worldwide admirers. The follow-up, a double a-side "Trouble" b/w "It'll get better" was a collaboration with the acclaimed production house Cold Diamond & Mink. Drawing inspiration from legendary icons like Aretha Franklin, Etta James, and Billie Holiday, Sisco infuses her music with a rich blend of influences, taking timeless traditions of soul and r&b, infusing them with her own style and modern sensibilities.

Jonsjooel

Known from the indie folk trio Lake Jons, singer-songwriter Jonsjooel embarks on a solo career. Jonsjooel is set to release his debut solo album, "Lullabies For Younger Self", in 2023. Jonsjooel's sound is an experimental blend of various genres and influences. Drawing on his roots as a jazz drummer, his music defies easy categorization, and is promised to "create a unique and captivating soundscape".

Creep Season

Creep Season is an indie pop project started in 2022 by four friends with completely conflicting visions. But having no expectations or boundaries are parts make up the puzzle of Creep Season. The band draws from traditional pop song structures to shape a futuristic soundscape, where organic string instruments intertwine into cold, processed, maximalist electronics, with hints of the pioneers of modern indie and hyperpop, such as 100 gecs, Joywave and Kero Kero Bonito in the mix. The band's debut single “Love Rests” was released in June 2023, preceding the band’s first ep release.

Tuomo & Markus

Tuomo & Markus is a musical project from Finnish soul/jazz artist Tuomo Prättälä and singer-songwriter Markus Nordenstreng of The Latebirds. The duo's music is influenced by folk rock and jazz as well as soul, American alt-country and americana. After releasing their debut full-length "Dead Circles" in 2016, the duo toured internationally, playing shows with bands like Wilco. Their 2nd album "Game Changing", which features artists Jonathan Wilson, Pekko Käppi and Verneri Pohjola, was released in January 2023 after several delays.

Babel

Babel plays dreamy electronic, indie pop that builds a bright world where one can escape to. The duo consisting of Karin Mäkiranta (also known from her former band Karina as well as her solo project Ada Aik) and songwriter-producer Mikko Pykäri (known from the indie pop band Regina, as well as his solo career) released their debut ep "Forever" in 2020 and first album "Yoga Horror" in 2022.

Ruissalo Amping

Turku-based dream pop and shoegaze outfit Ruissalo Amping (named after the [c]amping area at Ruissalo island, home to Finland's longest running rock festival Ruisrock) is essentially a solo project of singer-songwriter Samuli Virtanen. Ruissalo Amping emerged in the Finnish indie scene with the debut album "Tähtien suojatit Maan povella" in 2022, followed by a dream pop cover of HIM's love metal classic "When Love and Death Embrace", translated to Finnish as "Rakkaus kuolemassa elää" in 2023. When playing live on stage – which happens quite rarely – Ruissalo Amping expands to a five-piece band.

Job

Previously known from the electronic pop duo Shine 2009, Sami Suova released his first solo album under the title Job in 2021. Written, performed and produced by Suova, the record takes influence from British pop music and creates a melancholic, nostalgic mood – best described in the liner notes: "Suova pairs his husky vocals with songs that never light up in flames, preferring a sustained warmth instead. Combining a sterile, 90's-sexy dryness with MIDI programming that communicates Lutheran modesty, Job is Steely Dan for the precariat". In 2023, Job returned with new a four track EP, "Fun Town Lore".

Meow Piglet

Meow Piglet is an up-and-coming indie pop duo formed by singer and keyboardist Aurora Hentunen and multi-instrumentalist Branislav Vlaisavljevic. The duo explains their sound to be rooted in alternative pop and also influenced by electronic and experimental sounds and even a bit of neo-soul. Meow Piglet released their debut single in May 2023.

I am Majestic

I am Majestic’s music combines electronic elements with rock and pop, finding its place in the middle ground, while attracting listeners to the dance floor. Behind the artist name is Otso Koskelo, who has a long and varied background in music – e.g. as the frontman in the band Lucy Was Driving.

Lake Jons

Indie folk duo Lake Jons uses samples, simple and driving rhythms, delicate guitar progressions and powerful, soulful vocals as the pillars of their sound. After two ep's, Lake Jons released their eponymous debut album in 2018, which was recorded in an isolated cabin deep in the Finnish forest. A second album titled "The Coast" followed in 2019 with a third one following in 2023.

Rosettes

Already hailed as "Finland's answer to Khruangbin" after their debut single, Helsinki-based quintet Rosettes have found a lot of domestic media interest. Their sound owes a lot to 60s and 70s classic soul, but dipped in soft psychedelia and hazy effects and iced with Tytti Roto's (also known as Ty Roxy) pop sensible vocals. Quite surprisingly, two of the band's musicians are also familiar from the thrash metal band Foreseen and one from hardcore greats Kohti Tuhoa.

Maa Ilmasta

Landing somewhere between prog, post rock and indie, Helsinki-based instrumental quartet Maa Ilmasta debuted with the full-length "Iso yö" ("Big night") in 2021. Two years on, the band readies their sophomore album "Kaunis kesäkaupunki" ("A beautiful summer city"), slated for release in May 2023. The album was first teased with the single "Baana", which was featured by Prog Rock Journal: "The Krautrock-influenced pulse with almost a reckless feeling can be an homage to cycling or represent an adventure one might experience in the nightlife with youthul enthusiasim".

Lala Salama

Indie pop trio Lala Salama was formed during the pandemic by singer/guitarist Rosa Jules, drummer Aliisa Keränen and bassist Santeri Hytönen. Their debut release was the independent single “VHS & Chill” (2021), followed by the EP “Pyydän kyl sit apuu ku tarviin” (2022) and another single “Summer Love” in 2023. Lala Salama’s main reference points are dream pop, shoegaze, indie rock and pop punk – bands such as local favorites Regina, Beach House, DIIV and Wet Leg. The band’s lyrics – sung in their native Finnish – often describe the challenges of a young woman struggling in today’s world, and especially the world of rock, never avoiding their political and feminist views from being heard.

Sir Jay

Sir Jay a.k.a Sergei Vartiainen is a Finnish-Russian singer, producer and songwriter. His musical universe combines 60s and 70s aesthetics with sounds of the millennium, including finger-picked acoustic guitar, analogue synths, vintage beats and poetic lyrics. Sir Jay moved to Berlin right before the pandemic in search of a new artistic vision and the three years spent amidst midnight poppies, maples and moody street lights permanently shaped his sound. Sir Jay’s debut album "Running from Yourself" will be released in fall 2023.

The Holy

Helsinki-based quintet The Holy rely on a massive sound (backed by two drummers!) and adrenaline-filled stage antics. Their brand of epic indie rock has been championed by bands such as The War on Drugs and Arcade Fire, but The Holy’s songs have enough potential to fill stadiums on their own one day. The Holy's debut album "Daughter" was released in 2018 and its follow-up "Mono Freedom" in 2020.

Handshaking

Helsinki based DJ and producer Handshaking combines the sweetness of nostalgic house and contemporary pop with self-aware hints of indie. Handshaking sprinkles cheeky tributes from Finnish countryside culture, like one would expect from an ep named "Garden Clogs", his debut release from 2021. Handshaking's music thrives on honesty, which can feel like a challenge in the often stagnant house music scene.

Anni Pohto

Anni Pohto is a singer-songwriter whose music draws from both traditional songwriting and 90s hip hop, with a touch of contemporary pop music. After a project in Finnish, Anni Pohto started making music in English in 2013, and she has released a steady string of ep's and singles ever after. In addition to being a musician, Anni Pohto is a political scientist who speaks passionately for women's and peace issues, and believes in the power of music and emotional intelligence to empower both individuals and communities.

Gulf Stream Riders

Gulf Stream Riders is a rock duo with one foot in New York and the other in Turku. The band is an American-Finnish-Swedish collaboration that, in addition to Ahlstedt, consists of the American singer Chris Anderson. Anderson and Ahlstedt have played together since the early 90s, when they had a band called Wighthouse Wanderland. Still these days, the band's multi-instrumentalist and producer Nalle Ahlstedt can be associated with many different music projects.

Ty Roxy

Ty Roxy alias Tytti Rohto is known from Finnish indie acts such as Kissa, Plastic Tones and Ghost World. Her solo music celebrates the synthetic lofi-pop of past decades, blending together sounds of the 80’s dance music with an early 90’s twist. She released her debut album “Music” in 2021 on Fonal Records.

Pearly Drops

Pearly Drops (formerly known as Femme en Fourrure) is the electronic indie pop duo consisting of Sandra Tervonen and Juuso Malin. With concise and sparse compositional methods, ethereal vocal performances underlined by dreamy, precise synths and percussion, Pearly Drops explain to be "in the process of weaving - something made for keeping the hope inside and the unmeaningful at bay". The ethereal synth pop duo released their sophomore album "A Little Disaster" in April 2023.

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