Funky Finns

“There is something about Funky Finns that makes you smile!”

-Andy Collins/ Scandinavian Soul

FUNKY FINNS

The fresh Finnish group of professional

musicians who serve music with great soul and tight groove.

Photo: Finn Andersson.

FUNKY FINNS

Members

Markus Bäckman

Photos: Teemu Mattsson & Antti Kleemola

*The band can also be expanded either with two background vocals and/or a horn section of three.

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

Markus Bäckman

"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

20.3. Porvoo

21.3. Kangasala

22.3. Korjaamo

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

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

Thomas Törnroos

Finn Andersson

Thomas Törnroos

Teemu Mattsson

Niina Eeva

Teemu Mattsson

Terhi Siirala

Teemu Mattsson

William Suvanne

30.8. 2023 Sellosali

Photos: Teemu Mattsson

FUNKY FINNS

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.