Famous Finnish Musicians

Jean Sibelius was a Finnish violinist and composer. Widely regarded as Finland's greatest composer, Sibelius' music is credited with having kindled nationalism in Finland during the country's struggle for independence from Russia. His work has inspired other important composers like Douglas Lilburn. The International Jean Sibelius Violin Competition, which is held every five years, is named after him.

Ville Valo is a Finnish musician and singer-songwriter. Valo is best known for his association with the gothic rock band HIM, where he performs as the lead vocalist. He is also credited with co-founding the band and has won many awards as part of the band. Ville Valo is also considered a sex symbol by many publications in Finland.

Tarja Turunen is a Finnish singer-songwriter and an exponent of heavy metal. She is credited with co-founding the popular symphonic metal band Nightwish, where she peformed as the lead vocalist. The band's symphonic metal style, which was referred to as opera metal, inspired several other bands and performers.

Alexi Laiho was a Finnish guitarist, vocalist, and composer. He was the founding member of the melodic death metal band Children of Bodom where he performed as the lead vocalist and lead guitarist. He also played the guitar for other popular bands like Sinergy, Kylähullut, and The Local Band. A celebrated guitarist, Laiho is credited with reintroducing flamboyance and melody to metal music.

Saara Aalto is a Finnish voice actress, singer, and songwriter. She achieved national prominence in 2012 when she finished second in the popular reality singing competition, The Voice of Finland. She gained international recognition in 2016 when she finished second in The X Factor UK. Saara Aalto represented her country at the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest.

Finnish musician Tuomas Holopainen, who established the symphonic metal band Nightwish, was just 7 when he began training in the piano. Though he initially studied jazz and classical music, he was later inspired by harmonic film music. He is also known for his love for nature.

Darude is a Finnish record producer and DJ whose music is characterized by its uplifting style. In 2019, he and Sebastian Rejman represented their country at the Eurovision Song Contest with the song Look Away. Over the course of his career, Darude has won many prestigious awards, such as Finnish Grammy Awards and Golden Turntable DJ Award.

Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho, based in Paris, France, had a profound shift in her artistic-direction from strict serialism towards spectralism after hearing spectral-music and conducting research at IRCAM. She has received several commissions from IRCAM including for the BBC; and also from Lincoln Center. She was named the greatest living composer in a 2019 composers' poll by BBC Music Magazine.

Sara Maria Forsberg is a Finnish singer, songwriter, and YouTube personality. She trained for a few years in a music academy in Jakobstad and began her career by posting videos on YouTube. In the mid-2010s, she signed to Capitol Records and released her debut single. She currently releases music as an independent artist. 

Michael Monroe is a Finnish multi-instrumentalist and rock musician. He achieved popularity as a member of glam punk band Hanoi Rocks, where he performed as a vocalist. Along with the band, Michael Monroe is credited with influencing many rock'n'roll bands and artists, including Nikki Sixx, Vince Neil, Slash, and Guns N' Roses. 

Known for his signature bandana and his unique style of spinning his drumsticks, Jukka Nevalainen was 11 when he started playing drums and 17 when he joined the Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish. He later left Nightwish, though he stated he would continue supporting the band behind the scenes.

Emppu Vuorinen is a Finnish guitarist best known for his association with the symphonic metal band Nightwish, which he co-founded alongside Tuomas Holopainen and Tarja Turunen in 1996. Emppu Vuorinen has also played in other popular bands like Brother Firetribe, Almah, and Altaria. 

Esa-Pekka Salonen is a Finnish composer and conductor. He is best known for his service as the artistic advisor and principal conductor of London's Philharmonia Orchestra. He is also associated with the San Francisco Symphony, where he serves as the music director. Esa-Pekka Salonen is one of the most renowned conductors and composers of his genaration.

Finnish rock singer Lauri Ylönen and the founder of the band The Rasmus was just 5 when he began playing the piano. Apart from his quirky hairstyles, he is also known for wearing crow’s feather in his hair. Also known as Lintu, he has toured all over Europe with The Rasmus.

Lead guitarist and songwriter of the Finnish rock band Hanoi Rocks, Andy McCoy started his career with the punk rock band Pelle Miljoona Oy. He is also a talented painter and designer, who designs clothes and accessories. He has published a memoir and participated in the Finnish version of Celebrity Big Brother.

Finnish singer-songwriter Samu Haber is best known as the lead singer of the pop-rock band Sunrise Avenue. Till 14, he had also been an avid ice hockey player. He penned hit tracks such as Hollywood Hills. He was later associated with the German talent reality show The Voice of Germany.

Finnish heavy metal vocalist, bassist and songwriter Marko Hietala, co-founder of heavy metal band Tarot, joined the Finnish symphonic-metal band Nightwish as a vocalist and bassist in 2001. With time he gained international recognition performing with the largely successful band for nearly two decades. He also sang covers of classics as part of the Finnish symphonic-metal cover supergroup Northern Kings.

Finnish singer-songwriter Teemu Brunila soared to fame as the lead singer of The Crash. He later formed Fried Publishing, which transformed to Nordic Music Partners. It is believed he is also part of the international electro-pop band Studio Killers, which doesn’t reveal the identities of its members.

Former guitarist, singer, and songwriter of the Finnish power metal band Stratovarius, Timo Tolkki was 7 when he began playing the guitar. He later formed the bands Revolution Renaissance and Symfonia. He also joined Project Strato, which included the former members of Stratovirus. He is a survivor of bipolar disorder.

Mr Lordi is a Finnish musician, special effect make-up artist, painter, songwriter, graphic designer, comic artist, and businessman. Mr Lordi is best known for founding the popular hard rock band Lordi where he performs as the lead vocalist. He has also contributed to the success of other bands like Rotten Sound and Domination Black.

One of the most prominent composers from Finland, Einojuhani Rautavaara was the son of an opera singer and thus no stranger to music as a child. In his career of over 7 decades, he created numerous masterpieces, including the operas Aleksis Kivi and Vincent. His works include choral, chamber, and electronic music, too.

Finnish guitarist Roope Latvala is best known for his association with the melodic death metal band Children of Bodom. He was apparently fired from the band for his lack of commitment and later complained of being betrayed by his own bandmates. He has also been part of bands such as Sinergy and Stone.

Finnish cellist and composer Perttu Kivilaakso started playing cello as a child. He performed with the Finnish symphonic-metal band Apocalyptica in 1995 and joined them in 1999. He has made several original compositions for the band including Beautiful and Farewell. He has also composed music for documentary films and the video game Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne.  

Best known for his ground-breaking cello-metal band Apocalyptica, Eicca Toppinen is a Finnish cellist and composer. He has also contributed to the scores for movies such as Aquarela and Black Ice, and for various theaters and operas. He was previously married to Finnish actor Kirsi Ylijoki.

Finnish musician-composer-vocalist Tony Kakko is the lead singer, main songwriter and creative lead of the Finnish power-metal band Sonata Arctica that has spawned albums like Ecliptica and Silence. He also sings covers of classics as part of the Finnish symphonic-metal cover supergroup Northern Kings. He received the title of Knight of The Order of The Lion of Finland in 2018.

Finnish-French singer-composer Olivia Merilahti, a student of classical music gradually shifted her artistic direction towards rock music and then jazz and electronic music. She formed the Finnish-French indie pop band The Dø with multi-instrumentalist Dan Levy. First studio album of the band titled A Mouthful topped the French charts becoming the first English-sung pop French record to achieve such feat.   

Finnish singer-songwriter Marko Saaresto co-wrote Late Goodbye with Olli Tukiainen for the game Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max PayneI. Success of the song that became a cult hit led them to form the rock band Poets of the Fall. Since then Saaresto and the band has gained success with singles like Lift and albums like Carnival of Rust.

Leena Peisa is a Finnish keyboard player who has played for famous bands like Lordi and Dolchamar. She is currently a part of Sampsa Astala & Qma, which was formed by Lordi's ex-drummer Kita. Leena Peisa is also renowned for playing an unearthly vampire countess named Awa, her on-stage persona while performing for Lordi.

Tomi Joutsen is a Finnish musician best known as the frontman of the popular heavy metal band Amorphis. He also performs in several other bands, including Hallatar and Corpse Molester Cult, where he is active as a vocalist and guitarist respectively.

Elina Siirala is a Finnish soprano best known as the front woman of the melodic metal band, Angel Nation. She is currently a part of the German symphonic metal band, Leaves' Eyes. Apart from releasing albums and singles, Elina Siirala also performs on stage. She is also known as the second cousin of musician and record producer, Tuomas Holopainen.

Finnish singer-songwriter, actress, and playwright Paula Vesala formed the pop rock band PMMP with Mira Luoti. Vesala gained fame with success of the band that spawned hit albums like Kovemmat kädet and Leskiäidin tyttäret and singles like Oo siellä jossain mun before being disbanded. She later started her solo career and also composed songs for other popular Finnish artists.  .  

Jyrki 69 is a Finnish singer known for founding the popular rock band The 69 Eyes where he performs as the lead vocalist. His operatic bass-baritone and low vocal tone is reminiscent of singers like Peter Steele and Andrew Eldritch. Also a humanitarian, Jyrki 69 has worked in parts of West Africa and Kenya against social problems like child trafficking. 

Leif Segerstam is a Finnish conductor, violinist, composer, pianist, and violist. He is credited with writing more than 340 symphonies as of 2021. Segerstam is also known for his energentic on stage performances which, along with his vibrant personality, has contributed to his fame.  

Janne Wirman is a Finnish musician best known for his association with the band Children of Bodom where he performed as the keyboardist from 1997 to 2019. He is currently a part of Warmen, which he formed in the late 1990s.

Mige is a Finnish musician, bassist, and founding member of the popular Finnish gothic rock band, HIM. The band has achieved immense popularity and is already counted among the most successful Finnish bands of all time.

Vesa-Matti Loiri is a Finnish actor, comedian, and musician. He is best known for his portrayal of Uuno Turhapuro, a role which he played between 1973 and 2004 in 20 films. Over the course of his career, Vesa-Matti Loiri also recieved several prestigious awards including A Lifetime Achievement Award at the Black Nights Film Festival in 2010.

Tonmi Lillman, more-famous as Otus, was a Finnish musician, producer and graphics-designer. He gained recognition playing drums with the bands Lordi, Sinergy and To/Die/For. He was associated with the bands Ajattara, Vanguard, Kylähullut, and 3rror before his death. Otus specialized in 3D-graphics and worked as an editor on several music-videos and designed cover art for bands like Sinergy and Kylähullut.

Ilari Sahamies is a Finnish poker player who specializes in pot-limit Omaha cash games. Renowned for his trashtalk at the table, Sahamies is currently focusing on making money online. Ilari Sahamies is also credited with co-founding the online poker hub, Coinflip.com.

Paavo Lötjönen is a Finnish cello player who plays for the symphonic metal band Apocalyptica, which he co-founded along with Eicca Toppinen, Antero Manninen, and Max Lilja. Apart from his work for the band, Paavo Lötjönen also works as a cello teacher and as a skiing instructor.

Juha-Pekka Leppaluoto is a Finnish musician who performed as a vocalist and songwriter for the band Charon until 2011. He is also credited with founding the acoustic rock group Harmaja where he performs as a guitar player, vocalist, and songwriter.  

Juice Leskinen was a Finnish singer-songwriter who was voted 38th in the 100 Greatest Finns poll conducted during the summer of 2004. Widely regarded as one of the 20th century's most important Finnish singer-songwriters, Juice Leskinen is also remembered for his work as a poet and playwright.

Pekka Pohjola was a Finnish composer, multi-instrumentalist, and producer. Although a classically trained violinist and pianist, Pohjola is best known as a bass player. He achieved popularity as the bass player of the band Wigwam, before embarking on a solo career. 

Linda Brava is a Finnish concert violinist. Regarded as one of the most accomplished and versatile players of her generation, Brava has explored various genres of music. Renowned for her good looks, Linda Brava has also tried her hand at acting, modeling, and politics.

Osmo Vänskä is a Finnish clarinetist, composer, and conductor. He has worked for the Minnesota Orchestra and Iceland Symphony Orchestra, serving as the music director and chief conductor respectively. Osmo Vänskä was also associated with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, where he was the chief conductor.

Finnish actor and musician Matti Pellonpaa was a radio performer before stepping into acting. Known for his films such as La Vie de Boheme and Dolly and Her Lover, he led a bohemian life and often acted wearing his own clothes. He often appeared in the films of the Kaurismaki brothers.

Best known as the founder of the Finnish pop band Ultra Bra, Kerkko Koskinen was also the band’s main pianist. He later won the Jussi Award for his score of Nousukausi. His album Agatha, which he composed for the UMO Jazz Orchestra, was inspired by the works of Agatha Christie.

Danny is a Finnish guitarist and singer. Performing since 1966, Danny's singing career is counted among the longest in Finland. He is credited with recording some of the all time Finnish greats. Outside Finland, he achieved notoriety in 2006 when his 1978 duet with Armi Anja Orvokki Aavikko, Tahdon olla sulle hellä, became an internet meme.

One of the bestselling Finnish music artists of all time, pop-rock sensation Kirka was born into a family of musicians and began learning the accordion at age 5. The 2-time Finnish Emma Award winner had also represented his country at the 1984 Eurovision Song Contest.

The daughter of Finnish general Alexander Järnefelt, Aino Sibelius was also the wife of composer Jean Sibelius. She was quite fond of gardening and home-schooled her children. Married to her husband for 65 years, she lived mostly at Ainola, or “Aino’s Place,” their home near Lake Tuusula.