Vimma

Experimental ethno rock and poetic lyrics: This is how the Finnish newcomers Vimma from Helsinki have made a name for themselves in their home country. With their debut album “Meri Ja Avaruus” (Ocean and Space), the musicians won the prize for best newcomer of the year at the renowned Etnogaala 2020. Vimma means frenzy or mania in Finnish.

In its songs, the septet deals with themes such as change, crisis and the collective experience of decay. On the second album, “Tornadon Silmässä” (In the Eye of the Tornado), singer Eeva Rajakangas’ stirring lyrics take center stage. The band itself describes its music as “progressive folk”. The musicians have recently performed successfully at major festivals such as Tallinn Music Week and Lost In Music in Tampere.

The single “Antrasiitille” from the new album combines world music with progressive rock and spoken poetry. Vimma succeeds here in creating a massive sound with idiosyncratic arrangements. “It’s a blessing to be in a band like Vimma, where someone has a classical training, another has a metal background and someone has a street dance past. It all has its place,” says Eeva Rajakangas.
Vimma draw inspiration from folk, jazz, hip hop, spoken word, funk and chamber music to create a sound that is both beautiful and emotionally moving. In addition to music, Eeva and main composer Pessi Jouste are involved in the Finnish environmental movement Elokapina. Live, Vimma’s performances with Rajakangas’ expressive vocals sometimes resemble an intense poetry performance.