Finnish Music Information Centre

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THE FINNISH POP CULTURE PORTAL

Finnish institutions
Interview : Minna Huskonen from the"Finnish Music Information Centre"

When was the Finnish Music Information Centre created and for what purposes?
- In 1963. The purpose of the very beginning has been promotion of Finnish music.

Does the centre mostly inform or does it, as well, promote finnish music abroad?
- We both provide information (sheet music, brochures, CDs, booklets, listings, etc.) and promote Finnish music abroad. We have also similar goals in Finland, where Finnish music has been offered for orchestras, music schools and some festivals, for instance, along some special domestic projects. We also run projects abroad within our regular promotional activities.

What style of music is currently the more active or vivid in Finland?
- All styles, I must say. It's actually amazing how versatile Finnish music life is considering the small size of the country. At the same time you can see contemporay music, electronica, modern folk music and children's music in headlines.

Are the more classical musical style still popular?
- If you mean the music until the early 20th century by classical music, yes, it's still well demanded and played, but modern contemporary music has conquered quite well that field and has become a potential counterpart for it. For instance, the modern Finnish opera productions can be heard almost as often as classical works at the opera sometimes (2001 was a special year in this respect).

The emerging of rap music in Finland during the past years is quite impressive. Do you think that it will continue and last?
- It will propably last as long as anywhere else around the world. Once we've catched the US, for example, with rap's popularity, the success is maybe depending on the same factors as elsewhere i.e. good new artists, media, fashion, and lifestyle. I would espect it go on at least for quite
many more years.

Finnish artists are also quite famous in the heavy and metal music. Could you explain why this style is particularly popular in Finland?
- It must have something to do with Finnish spirits and mentality which are heavy, melancholic and dark - if I dare say so. It's like the Finnish tango; if you can personalize yourself to it, and hear it speaking to you, it's straight away your thing! Also great success of some Finnish heavy/metal bands like Stratovarius, Amorphis and Nightwish, has been inspiring to new-comers, and they want to try to make it the same, well-proofed way.

How about the electronic scene in Finland?
- That's doing great, thank you! It became from underground into the daylight about five years ago big time, when word 'electronica' came into use, too. We have many internationally recognized artists, widely praised and unique Koneisto festival, plenty of new electronica labels, and on top of all, very good reputation abroad. The professionals' eyes have turned from UK and France to Finland at the moment, and we have all the chances keeping them turned here as well.

What finnish artists are succeeding abroad?
- As far as comtemporary music is concerned, Magnus Lindberg, Kaija Saariaho, Einojuhani Rautavaara and maybe Aulis Sallinen; within pop/rock the succeeding ones at the moment are The Crash, Emmi, The Flaming Sideburns, Kwan, Nuspirit Helsinki and Jori Hulkkonen. Of Finnish folk
definately Kimmo Pohjonen, Värttinä, Timo Väänänen and Gjallarhorn. Succesful jazz artists are at least Jarmo Savolainen, Jukka Perko, U-Street All Stars and Trio Töykeät still; the UMO Jazz Orchestra is doing well, too, as always.

Few years ago, finnish records companies or labels wanted to promote and sign mainly artists who were singing in finnish. Why? Is the situation still the same or has it changed?
- We haven't noticed such a phenomenon. Finns buy and have always bought mostly Finnish repertoire, both sung in Finnish and English, therefore Finnish artists generally do well despite the language.

During the course of our interviews, some artists or bands expressed their regret regarding the fact that the "popular" artists get grants and that public institutions don't help that much underground artists. Do you agree with that?
- Not quite. It's all down to quality and potential. Some foundations/institutions award grants for different purposes, therefore all the cases must be handled separately, and are not always comparable.

Do you know if many finnish songs have been adapted and translated by foreign musiciens?
- Not too many. Tangos sometimes are, and some trad. tunes, but otherwise it's rare to hear any. If such adaptation or translation happens, we are not well aware of it.

If you would have to choose 10 groups or artists to present finnish music to our readers, who would you choose?
- I must go for my field of expertise i.e. popular music here if you don't mind (in no special order):
FOLK: Gjallarhorn, Ulla Pirttijärvi and Kimmo Pohjonen.
ROCK: The Flaming Sideburns, Sub-Urban Tribe and 22-Pistepirkko.
ELECTRONICA: Koneveljet and Hypnomen.
JAZZ: Jarmo Savolainen and U-Street All Stars.
Interview by Vincent Lefrançois - 2002