SELJA FELIN IN UMK AND VOICE OF FINLAND
Selja Felin is a name to remember. She is one of the first artists to be selected in the new talent show ‘The Voice of Finland’. Besides trying to become ‘The Voice of Finland’, she is also hoping to represent Finland in Baku. Selja is among the 40 artists who participate in the UMK-contest. Lilian met Selja Felin at the UMK press conference earlier this autumn.
Selja Sini and Selja Felin. You use two different names. And you have an instrument with you as well.
- Here in the UMK contest I use my artist name Selja Sini. And my instrument is a ukulele which originally come from Hawaii.
Your song is called “Pack Up”. What kind of song is it?
- It’s about a young couple who pack their stuff into their small car, driving away and looking for adventures. I hope you start to smile and want to dance when you hear it. It’s a happy song and ukulele is a kind of instrument which you can’t combine with sad songs.
“Pack Up” is your own composition. How long have you been writing songs?
- For about five years. I’m 20 now and I started with poems when I was 15.
How come that you decided to play ukulele?
- I think it fits my voice very well and it’s a bit of a jazzy instrument as well. I have been living in USA for eight years and had the possibility to listen to bands playing similar kind of music as I do and I also did some touring with ukulele-bands.
Do you play other instruments than ukulele?
- I play a little bit of guitar. I like instruments which I can play without studying them for several years. I’m always trying to find a certain sound in an instrument. Ukulele is a good example. I could play is after some weeks of practicing.
You recently came back from USA to Finland – what do you do on daily basis?
- I moved back only some months ago so right now I’m working and doing my best to create a career here. There are so many things that need to be done, like creating an internet net-work, fan base, web site etc. Besides that I’m trying to work my way into bars and pubs here in Helsinki to find gigs and places to perform.
Do you have any plans releasing an album?
- So far I don’t know. I’m working on many songs right now.
What was your feeling when you found out that you are one of the 40 selected artists in the UMK contest?
- Exiting! My kind of music is not common here in Finland but I believe here is a huge potential. This new concept of UMK attracted me as they want to find new artists which haven’t been participating before. It’s a new fresh way of pre-selection and I hope it will work out well. I found it very interesting to see all the different artists and music styles.
We wish Selja good luck in ‘The voice of Finland’ and in the UMK selection.
About ‘The Voice’: It is a new concept for talent shows which started in The Netherlands 2010. This is the first season in Finland and the four jury members and coaches are:
- Paula Koivuniemi – one of the most popular singers over the years. She started her career in 1960’s. She is still active and nowadays also a popular gay icon in Finland.
- Lauri Tähkä – singer and composer, leader of the former band Lauri Tähkä & Elonkerjuu.
- Elastinen – a Finnish rap musician and one of the founders of the Finnish independent rap label Rähinä Records.
- Michael Monroe – Finnish rock musician, who became famous as the vocalist in the glam rock band Hanoi Rocks
The contestants in the first program, besides Selja Felin, were Toni Eurasto, Mikko Herranen, Karoliina Kallio, Lauri Mikkola and Krista Sigfrieds. Karoliina Kallio is known among Eurovision fans as one of the members in Waldos People who represented Finland in ESC 2009
The UMK contest will select the Finnish representative in Baku. From today’s 40 entries, 6 will be in the final on the 25th February.
Source: nelonen.fi; Wikipedia; yle.fi/umk
