“There is something about Funky Finns that makes you smile!”
-Andy Collins/ Scandinavian Soul
FUNKY FINNS
Funky Finns' music is humane soul music. The songs deal with different themes of life and the aim is to encourage people to find their direction and to be themselves. Funky Finns' first album United Souls is about spreading love, positivity and good mood. The group's sincere intention is to make the world a little better place with the means of music!
Album Covers by Pekka Tuppurainen
Funky Finns has performed at different festivals around Finland and also overseas in San Francisco. The band has recorded original material now also available on Spotify and YouTube.
FUNKY FINNS
New Album
Funky Finns was founded in 2019 and it was built on Mikko Pettinen's previous band called Mikko Pettinen & Happy People.
In the summer of 2020 Funky Finns released their first single United we stand in connection with the anti-racism campaign. United we stand features guest soloists from five different countries and four continents.
Markus Bäckman
FUNKY FINNS
Reviews
"A new soul band from Finland focusing on international co-operation and unlikely connections.
Funky Finns is
a reincarnation of his previous band Mikko Pettinen & Happy People, and the music and lyrics remain undeniably ‘happy’ in nature. With a disco bassline and uplifting lyrics, the horn section, keys and drums party on Do It Like You Wanna. Referring to their music as ‘Humane Soul’, their goal is to make this world a little bit better through their songs. Their desire is sincerely appreciated, and hip-hop can also learn from their approach.
Funky Finns music emphasizes the importance of positivity and self-expression."
-Scandinavian Soul
"United Souls der finnischen Band Funky Finns ist ein beeindruckendes Album, das die Vielseitigkeit und das Können der Band unter Beweis stellt. Die Band kombiniert geschickt Elemente des Funk, Soul und Jazz, um einen einzigartigen und unverkennbaren Sound zu kreieren. Von den satten Basslinien über die knackigen Schlagzeugrhythmen bis hin zu den glatten Keyboard-Melodien und charismatischen Bläser-Sections, jedes Lied auf dem Album bietet eine dichte und fesselnde Klanglandschaft.[.]”
-@brotherfunky
FUNKY FINNS
Gigs
Markus Bäckman
2024
Funky Finns & Umo
28.7. Myyr York Park
3.8. Hamina Tattoo 24
Funky Finns & Umo Porvoo
Our debut concert with
UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra.
Terhi Siirala
Funky Finns & Umo Kangasala
Playing with Umo was a lot of fun.
Matias Itäluoma
Funky Finns & Umo Korjaamo
Our new song.
FUNKY FINNS
Gigs
2023
Markus Bäckman
7.10. Flame jazz Cruise
30.8. Sellosali
6.8. Puotilan Kartano
19.8. Rytmiraide
15.7. Porijazz
12.5. MyyrYork Rhytm
& Jazz festival
Flame jazz Cruise 7.10. 2023
Viking Line offers an exciting place to party with grooving music.
Sellosali 30.8. 2023
Sellosali is a very beautiful
venue for artists to perform.
Puotilan Kartano 6.8. 2023
Kari Paavola organized
Summer Soul Sessions
in Puotila.
Rytmiraide 19.8. 2023
Rytmiraide is held
annually in Kurikka.
Porijazz 15.7. 2023
Pori Jazz is Finland’s biggest festival of jazz music. In 2023 Funky Finns had the privilege to be part of the festival.
MyyrYork Rhytm & Jazz festival
12.5. 2023
The MyyrYork R & J Festival was organized for the first time in the spring of 2023.
Here’s an awesome teaser, check it out!
FUNKY FINNS
Media
Markus Bäckman
FUNKY FINNS
Photo Gallery
Teemu Mattsson
Markus Bäckman
Teemu Mattsson
Teemu Mattsson
Teemu Mattsson
Thomas Törnroos
Finn Andersson
Thomas Törnroos
Thomas Törnroos
Teemu Mattsson
Teemu Mattsson
Niina Eeva
Teemu Mattsson
Terhi Siirala
Teemu Mattsson
William Suvanne
30.8. 2023 Sellosali
Photos: Teemu Mattsson
Sampo Tiittanen
FUNKY FINNS
EN
FI
Press
Markus Bäckman
Funky Finns is a new Finnish soul group whose debut album "United Souls" was released on May 12th 2023. Many people are familiar with the band from the spectacular songs and videos released during the pandemic. On their debut album, a wonderful group of professional musicians serves the music with great soul and tight groove. The album was released through Eclipse Music.
In autumn 2019, Antti Kleemola asked Mikko Pettinen's band Happy People at the time to perform in Helsinki. As a result of this gig, the ensemble soon appeared in California; in San Francisco and Palo Alto. At the San Francisco concert, one of the guest speakers called the band Funky Finns. And that's how Antti’s and Mikko's new band was born!
Antti and Mikko started composing music together for their new line-up. Jonnu Heikkilä was asked to be the lyricist, and she enthusiastically joined the band. The rest of the band took shape around the songs naturally. Energetic and grooving playing on the album is served in addition to the above-mentioned talents by top domestic musicians when Onni Lonka shines on guitar and vocals, Sampo Tiittanen on bass and Markku Heikkilä on drums. The stricter brass players are saxophonist William Suvanne, trombonist Hannu Lamminmäki, trumpeter Teemu Mattsson and baritone saxophonist Joakim Berghäll. The cavalcade of players on record and live is even bigger than the music's multi-talents bringing the tunes to life with the power of a versatile arsenal of instruments. The wonderful singers Jonnu Heikkilä and Jepa Lambert sing background vocals in the band. The young rapper-singer Bentality aka Benjamin Paavilainen is a special guest on the album.
The first single was released in the summer of 2020 when United We Stand was released in connection with the anti-racism campaign. This song featured guest soloists from five different countries and four continents. The song was recorded and videoed during the Corona lockdown so that everyone recorded and filmed their part themselves. The style became familiar to many during the Corona lockdowns and connected musicians and listeners worldwide.
After this, the band has released numerous singles from their upcoming album. In 2021, two singles, Very Dark Winter and Simpler Times, were released. During this spring, two songs from the album were also released; Rebel and the latest Do It Like U Wanna in March 2023. Even before the album release, there will be one single release of the song Fly.
Funky Finns' music is humane soul music, and the group's sincere intention is to make the world a little better place with their music. The songs on the album deal with the different themes of life. The songs are encouraging insecure and anxious young people to find their direction. The lyrics encourage people to be themselves and the band wants to spread love, positivity, and a good mood.
United Souls
United We Stand
-single & video
Very Dark Winter
-single & video
Simpler Times
-single & video
Rebel
-single & video
Do It Like U Wanna
-single & video
Fly
-single & video
FUNKY FINNS
Discography
Markus Bäckman
Previous band
FUNKY FINNS
Get Connected
Markus Bäckman
“There is something about Funky Finns that makes you smile!”
-Andy Collins/ Scandinavian Soul
Get socialized
In co-operation:
Cover art by Markus Bäckman
Drawings by Thomas Törnroos
Videos & photos by Teemu Mattsson
Videos & photos by Finn Andersson
Mikko-Pekka Hanski
Risto Lähdesmäki
Hannu Lamminmäki/Musapaahtimo
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