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, Pearly Drops, Jaakko Eino Kalevi, Knife Girl 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

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.

Droemsk

Droemsk (stylized in all lowercase) is a music producer, sound artist, and sound design student at the University of the Arts, Helsinki. droemsk produces magical and bouncing chill beats, influenced by 90s boom-bap and jazzy vibes. In the fall of 2024 droemsk will release lofi pop album with US-based singer Myself. Besides the beats music by droemsk, you can find their music also in projects like Anna Brear's album They Shiver on a Spring Evening and the solo ambient project Uniluoto.

Drug Store Raid

With a blend of punk, jazz-funk, no-wave, pop, and indie-dance, Drug Store Raid emerged from the Helsinki underground music scene in 2021. Drug Store Raid's debut album draws influences from bands like Talking Heads, The Birthday Party, Swans, and even Madonna. The band explores themes of fitting in, mental health struggles, sewers, and the quirks of fashion, all wrapped in a package that balances humor and youthful rebellion.

Jesse Markin

Liberian-born singer-songwriter Jesse Markin has been creating music since he was 16 and performing live since he was 18. He’s a veteran of the Finnish hip hop scene as a rapper and producer with his group The Megaphone State since 2004, but his real rise from the margins took place in 2019, when Markin released his first solo album, "Folk", with a sound combining electronic pop, soul and psychedelic rock. It became one of Finland’s big surprises of the year in terms of both popular and critical success. Markin returned in 2021 with his sophomore full-length "Noir", which was followed by "PUMP" in 2024.

Pekka Laine

Pekka Laine is a Helsinki-based musician, songwriter, DJ and journalist.As a driving force of The Hypnomen, a band with a cult following, Laine has explored the world of instrumental music since the 1990s. In his intrepid journeys from primitive noise art to the spheres of soulful psychedelia, he now creates music with an electric guitar, the cosmic echoes tying together the primal 1960's space sounds, dub music and weird film soundtracks to form one futuristic continuum.

Icons of Elegance

Icons of Elegance is a band fronted by two brothers, Anssi and Henri Växby, splitting their time between London and Helsinki. The band debuted in 2007, and they have released a total of five albums so far. Stepping away from 60s retro and americana of previous albums, on the latest full-length "Please Tell Him I Said Hello" their sound is less pedal steels and more Juno synths – not forgetting big tunes.

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".

OH?

Multi-instrumentalist and producer Oskari Halsti’s solo project OH? is an ever-evolving blend of post-punk new romanticism and epic indie-pop. The Finnish, now London-based artist has had an encyclopedic musical history; playing in heavy metal bands, jazz ensembles and as part of the Universal Music signed trio Wedding Crashers. In the music of OH?, you can hear the post-punk influence of bands like The Smiths or The Clash, the atmospheric synths of Joy Division, and the joyful melodies of New Order, as well as the pop motifs of U2 or Oasis, or even an unholy matrimony of Duran Duran and The National.

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.

Jaakko Aukusti

Musician and multi-instrumentalist Jaakko Aukusti performs colorful electro pop, which has been described as ”Mew on ecstasy”. His singles ”Shadow Boxer” and ”Himalaya” have been noted by the likes of Clash, The Line of Best Fit and IndieShuffle, as well as numerous blogs around Europe. Jaakko Aukusti’s debut album "Mountain", produced by Artturi Taira (Rubik, Shivan Dragn), was released in early 2017. After a couple years' hiatus, Jaakko Aukusti returned with new music in 2023.

Us

Us (formerly known as Grandmother Corn) is a youthful and funky indie rock foursome with a decidedly retro sound and approach. Established in 2015, they have released two independent albums and four singles. Between 2019 and 2020 the band toured in Finland and in the UK in support of their second LP “Don't Look Back”. Expect: mod rock, power chords, and nifty vintage button-up shirts!

Liisa Pentti

Versatile singer-songwriter and producer Liisa Pentti combines catchy pop melodies and interesting soundscapes, creating an imaginative world that you can easily jump into. Her genre has been described as experimental pop with influences from trip-hop, reggae, jazz and funk.

Airi's

Airi’s is an indie rock four-piece who have already taken over the airwaves of British and U.S. radio stations. Their single “The Sky” was even picked up by legendary DJ Rodney Bingenheimer on Sirius XM. The Espoo-based band’s debut album “Kind Little One” is due for release in August 2022.

Kaspar

Kaspar is a Finnish band formed by two songwriters John McGregor and Mikael Hakkarainen. Kaspar's sound recalls the classic, versatile and experimental American indie sound of e.g. Wilco, Yo La Tengo or Builkt to Spill. Their first album was recorded in Kingston, New York with producer Malcolm Burn (Bob Dylan, Peter Gabriel, Emmylou Harris, Patti Smith). The musicians on the album are John McGregor, Mikael Hakkarainen, Tuomas Hakkarainen and Malcolm Burn. Kaspar's second album "Calling the Waters" was released in May 2024.

Cats of Transnistria

Cats of Transnistria, formed in 2014 by sound designer Tuomas Alatalo and vocalist/keyboardist Henna Hietamäki, builds slowly swelling guitar and violin feedbacks and melancholic melodies that bring to mind a feverish dream. Their unique style of delicate, slow and experimental pop music has been influenced by post-rock, classical minimalism, shoegaze, dream pop and sound art, resembling something akin to the works of Slowdive, Cocteau Twins and Grouper. After their third album "Aligning" (2019) the duo went on a hiatus, and came back quite unexpectedly in 2024 with a new single.

NEØV

Dream pop band NEØV was formed in Juankoski by brothers Anssi and Samuli Neuvonen. NEØV's back catalogue is three albums deep: "Orange Morning" (2013) and "Dominique" (2015), "Volant" (2019). After reducing to the original duo of the Neuvonen brothers, NEØV's fourth album "Picture a Good Life" saw the light of day in January 2021, combining elements of dream pop, shoegaze and the more ambitious side of alternative rock.

Ina Forsman

The internationally recognized singer and songwriter Ina Forsman has toured both sides of the Atlantic. Originally from Helsinki, Forsman lives now in Berlin and has released three studio albums (2022's "All There Is" being the latest) along with one solo and two collaborative live records. Forsman’s music intersects the sounds of blues, soul, jazz and old school r&b, accompanied by her strong and expressive voice.

Pink Chameleons

Pink Chameleons are a three piece fronted by Black Lizard’s Paltsa-Kai Salama (vocals and guitar) with Antti Sauli (Bass) and Iiro Tulkki (Drums, Keyboards) formed in 2016. Although they may pigeonhole themselves as 'garage/blues/country band', others might say otherwise. "It’s all fuzzy riffs and nods to power pop hooks that leave you with anthemic sing-along choruses you won’t get out of your head", writes the US blog Austin Town Hall about Pink Chameleons' 2021 single "Hot Dog" – which was followed by their debut album "Peace & Love" in the same year.

Sätilä

Singer-songwriter Sätilä combines a fusion of alternative/indie music with rich pop soundscapes. Sätilä spent his formative years in an alternative rock band before moving to Sydney, Australia, where he studied songwriting and eventually he headed back to Europe to follow his own sound. His debut solo single "Always Will" was released in 2017 and has been followed by nearly two dozen more since.

Mot Furu

Mot Furu is an indie newcomer from Finland, sliding between the borders of indie-pop, soft rock and folk – with a little bit of experimental approach thrown in. The band released their second independent full-length "Watersmeet" in April 2024.

Jimi Tenor

Composer and musician Jimi Tenor needs no introduction: after 30 years of career as an established artist, Tenor has redefined his style and sound over and over again and moved from 60s and 70s jazz, psychedelic soul and African funk to techno and experimental rock. Tenor continues to release music in different formats and through different labels at a formidable pace. 2019 Tenor released an ep with another Finnish electronic music mainstay, Freestyle Man (a.k.a. Klas Lindblad or Sasse) on the famed Swedish label Studio Barnhus.

The Bunkers

The Bunkers are an indie rock quintet from Helsinki with about 200 years of combined musical experience. They blend the influences of (at least): garage, krautrock, psychedelia and post-punk in a singularly original way, proving there is no inherent reason why modern rock music should sound like a pastiche or a rerun. As the band themselves put it: "Fuzz. Distortion. Feedback and noise. Melodic. Loud. A little sad. A little philosophical. Never too serious. Always rocks."

Pepe Deluxé

Pepe Deluxé, originally formed in 1996 as a downtempo/big beat outfit, is nowadays something completely different. Calling themselves an "inter-continental collective orchestra" the duo of James Spectrum and Paul Malmström makes really excessive music – think surf rock operas, rococo bubblegum soul or progressive lounge jazz musicals – with some of the rarest instruments found. And get their music placed on commercials for Adidas, Levi's and Angry Birds – to name a few.

Stinako

Stina Koistinen alias Stinako is a Finnish artist and music maker from Helsinki. She is known for her dynamic voice and intriguing music making skills. Koistinen has won the prestigious Finnish music award Teosto Prize with her band Color Dolor's album Love (2018) and was nominated for Hyundai Nordic Music Prize 2020 with her solo album, Stinako's Ikuisuus (2019). In 2024, Stinako will release three ep's, all produced with different collaborators. The first one, "Mind", was made in collaboration with electronic producer Kaukolampi.

Crimson Peak

Pop-rock band Crimson Peak are a colourful combination of their shared influences: big melodic choruses nestle amongst driving rock guitars and widescreen indie-folk soundscapes, all driven by alternating vocals from Lina Sandvik and Elias Losinskij-Kovanko. Their debut single Mountainside was released in 2018, and since then been followed by five more tracks, as well as the debut EP “Wonders & Worries” (2021). Crimson Peak’s singles have received support from Spotify on their European New Music Friday playlists, adding up to a nice following on the platform.

Iron Country Sisters

Iron Country Sisters is a band formed formed in 2014 by three sisters Silja, Julia and Paula Rautamaa. The basis for the Sisters' music is americana, country and folk, with catchy melodies as well as sensitivity and beautiful harmonies. Their debut album "The Blue Hidden In" was released in 2019.

Colorblue

Melodic pop-rock quintet Colorblue was formed in 2014. Their debut album "Beyond the Greatest Oceans" (2017), blended contemporary electronic sounds with classic pop-rock anthems. They returned in 2021 with a second full-length, "The Path to Nowhere", an even more arena minded record with anthemic songs that drew from Coldplay, Muse, Mew and the like.

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.

Tuomo & Markus / Pratt & Moody

Tuomo & Markus (alko known as Pratt & Moody) 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.

Emily Frost

Emily Frost is a singer-songwriter and producer from Helsinki. Her music mixes electronic and organic production with expressive vocal melodies and even oriental moods, resulting in an indie pop sound not much unlike artists such as Chairlift, Glasser or Active Child. Emily Frost also plays the electric guitar and sings in the alternative rock band SKYCRY.

Aves

Formed by Antti Ojala, Joonas Hakava, and Eino Anttila, Aves is a Helsinki-based trio known for their blend of synth pop and dreamy, tropical electronic melodies. Aves first popped on the Finnish indie scene around 2011, in the pinnacle of the chillwave wave, with their debut "Sun Sky A Floating" (2013). After several years of silence the trio suddenly came back in 2019 with a new single "Gem of the Ocean" featuring Icelandic singer JFDR. Aves' long awaited second album was released in march 2024 and features a range of collaborations.

Nevala

Founded in early 2020 by Oliver Bentley, Emil Inberg, Sakari Soukka and Ossian Stadigh, indie folk quartet Nevala originated when the four musicians moved into a shared home. A year later, they signed a record deal with Swedish label Ninetone Records, and their debut single, "Lover in the Dark", was released in June 2021. Since then, Nevala has put out a handful of singles as well as their debut album "Wastelands, Nevala", released in February 2022

Mr. Dad

Mr. Dad is an indie pop duo from Helsinki, Finland, consisting of two singer-songwriters, Lionel Burton-Hill (Wilhelm Enckell) and Eugene Farmichaels (HP Siikasaari), formed in 2022. Mr. Dad's music is based on their witty and ironic storytelling, smooth vocal harmonies and catchy melodies. Their nostalgic soundscapes are inspired by the classics of the 70s and 80s and their aim is to make AOR great again, including the sweet disco era. So far, the duo has released a string of singles and remixes.

Klara LaFleur

Indie pop group Klara LaFleur's music combines the sensitivity of Japanese pop and the dreamy rawness of shoegaze. In the band's versatile compositions, you can hear influences from the 17th century to the present day. According to the band, the five-song EP "Mind Sketching", released in spring 2023, is an interesting story about change, self-discovery and letting go. Klara LaFleur's debut album "And She Caught a Glimpse of The Ocean" was released in March 2024.

Franka Oroza

Franka Oroza is a Helsinki-based singer-songwriter whose music is a vibrant fusion of global influences. Raised in a household steeped in South American rhythms, she draws from a wide range of folk, jazz, neosoul, and electronic influences. She has performed with groups in singer-songwriter clubs before embarking on a solo career while living in Copenhagen. Collaborating with Cold Diamond & Mink, Franka has newly discovered a new folk-infused soul sound, where she blends her diverse influences into captivating song-form storytelling.

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.

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.

Brother Alfred

Mathias Hermansson and Julius Sihvonen have been operating on the Finnish indie scene for some time now, playing in bands like Sima, Tiisu, Jaakko Aukusti and Nefer Nefer. As Brother Alfred they want to make "wimpy pop", inspired by imperfect production aesthetics and the slacker attitude of Mac DeMarco.

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.

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